Temporal Dominion

A sharp tension filled the training hall as Darren pulled himself from the cracked wall, his breaths ragged, his body shaking. The force of Lucian's Temporal Strike had done more than just knock him back—it had disrupted his stored momentum.

But Darren wasn't done.

He wiped a trickle of blood from his lip and gave Lucian a wild grin.

"Not bad. Not bad at all."

Lucian kept his stance firm, watching him closely. Darren was strong. His kinetic-based ability allowed him to store and amplify force, meaning that the longer he fought, the deadlier he became.

And right now, he was still building up power.

Elara, standing off to the side, sighed. "Darren, stop this already. You lost."

Darren's eyes flicked to his cousin, irritation flashing across his face. "Shut up, Elara. This isn't over."

Then, his focus snapped back to Lucian.

"You think you're something special now, huh? Just because you got lucky with Dorian and landed a hit on me?" Darren rolled his shoulders, kinetic force rippling through his muscles. "I was going easy. Guess I need to remind you of the difference between us."

Lucian remained silent, tightening his fists. This wasn't just about proving a point anymore—Darren was taking this fight seriously now.

And that made him dangerous.

---

The Kinetic Barrage

Darren stomped his foot—

The floor cracked beneath him as he released a burst of stored force, launching himself forward like a human missile.

Lucian barely had time to react before Darren's fist blurred through the air. He twisted, dodging by an inch—

BOOM!

The shockwave from Darren's missed punch sent a violent gust of air across the room, forcing Lucian to brace himself.

Faster.

Darren's attacks were getting faster. Each missed strike only made him stronger.

Lucian narrowed his eyes. I can't let him keep building momentum.

He needed to finish this.

Now.

---

Lucian took a sharp breath, centering himself.

His Temporal Strike was strong—but it needed refinement. More control. More precision.

More impact.

Time slowed as he focused all his power into a single strike—layering the distortion, allowing the force to build beyond anything he had done before.

Darren lunged.

Lucian moved.

The moment Darren's next punch came, Lucian stepped forward, his fist shooting out like a coiled spring.

The two attacks collided.

And then—

BOOOOM!

A deafening shockwave tore through the room.

The force of Lucian's Temporal Strike ripped through Darren's kinetic field, sending the larger boy staggering back as a deep tremor shook the training hall.

For a moment, it looked like Lucian had won.

But then—

Darren grinned.

"Got you."

Lucian's eyes widened—

Before he could react, Darren twisted his body and redirected the shockwave back at him.

Lucian barely had time to raise his arms before the full force of his own attack slammed into him.

CRACK!

His body skidded across the floor, crashing hard against the barrier wall.

Pain exploded through his ribs. His vision blurred.

The world spun.

Darren exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "You thought I didn't have a counter for your little trick?"

Lucian groaned, forcing himself up.

Darren had taken the shockwave of the Temporal Strike and redirected it back.

He didn't just store kinetic energy. He could manipulate it.

This fight wasn't over.