Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series

Four… Five…"

Aiden clenched his fists against the ground. His ribs throbbed from Lochan's kick, and his vision swam, but he forced himself to breathe through the pain.

"Six…"

Aiden pushed off the ground.

Lochan sighed, stepping back as Aiden rose. "You don't listen, do you?"

"Not really."

Lochan's gaze flickered briefly, almost imperceptibly at Aiden's response.

Aiden's mind raced. If Lochan was predicting every move, then... what if he did something unpredictable?

Lochan shifted his weight slightly- he was already calculating, already waiting for Aiden's next move.

Aiden smirked. Then, without warning, he laughed.

Lochan's eyes narrowed. "What's funny?"

"You," Aiden said, cracking his knuckles. "You're acting like you've already won."

"I have."

"Yeah? Guess we'll see about that."

Then he charged.

Lochan reacted instantly, already adjusting to counter. Aiden saw his body shift. Hisleft foot bracing, hands rising in defense. He knew what Lochan expected.

So he did the opposite.

Instead of aiming for a direct hit, Aiden thought he could do well if he feinted- pretending to strike with his right, then abruptly twisting mid-motion and kicking Lochan's legs out from under him.

Lochan's eyes widened slightly as he lost balance.

For the first time in the fight, he was off guard. Aiden didn't hesitate. He lunged, grabbing Lochan's collar and slamming him to the ground.

The crowd gasped.

Lochan exhaled sharply, eyes locking onto Aiden's, but Aiden didn't let go. He pinned him down, arm pressing against Lochan's chest, using all his weight to keep him there.

The announcer didn't even hesitate.

"One… Two… Three…"

Aiden felt Lochan tense beneath him, already trying to anticipate a way out. But Aiden wasn't moving.

There was nothing to predict.

"Four… Five…"

Lochan's jaw clenched. Aiden could see the calculations in his eyes, the way he was struggling to adjust, but for once, he couldn't figure it out in time.

"Six… Seven…"

Lochan buckled beneath him, muscles shifting as he tried to force Aiden off, but Aiden gritted his teeth and held.

"Eight… Nine-"

And then... Lochan vanished.

Aiden's balance broke as the weight beneath him disappeared, and in the next second, Lochan reappeared behind him, slamming an elbow into his back.

Aiden staggered.

The countdown reset.

The crowd roared.

Lochan landed lightly on his feet, rolling his shoulders.

"That was clever," he admitted. "I'll give you that."

Aiden moved one again and Lochan stepped back, expecting Aiden to lunge, but instead, Aiden rolled, slipping out from under Lochan's foot just as the pressure lifted.

Aiden didn't give him time.With a flick of his wrist, flames burst to life in his hand, twisting and lengthening until a fire whip cracked through the air.

The heat rolled off it in waves, illuminating the shifting walls of the Labyrinth. Lochan stepped back again, just out of range, but Aiden wasn't aiming for him yet.

He swung the whip in a wide arc, flames licking at the ground before curling back toward him. In the same motion, his free hand summoned a fire-forged blade, its edges burning with an intense, flickering heat.

The crowd roared at the sight- Aiden was bringing out his new combo.

Lochan's expression remained unreadable, trying to grasp at what Aiden will do next. He crouched slightly, muscles coiled, prepared.

Then, Aiden attacked. He lashed the whip toward Lochan's side, forcing him to dodge. The moment Lochan moved, Aiden lunged forward with his sword.

Lochan twisted, barely avoiding the flame blade as it cut through the air just inches from his ribs.

Aiden gritted his teeth.

If he couldn't land a direct hit, he'd change the rhythm.

He switched his movements, attacking without pattern.

First, a sharp, erratic slash from his sword. Then a whip crack to the left, then the right, then downward.

Aiden could see Lochan trying to adjust, his calculated footwork getting thrown off bit by bit.

For every two moves Aiden made, the third would be completely unpredictable.

A sudden reverse swing with his sword.

A feint with the whip before snapping it backward.

A kick instead of an attack.

Lochan dodged everything, slipping through every opening with precision. But Aiden noticed something.

Lochan was no longer closing the distance.

He was stuck.

Lochan had to stay defensive because Aiden kept forcing him back. Aiden grinned.

"Not so easy when you can't predict what's coming, huh?" he taunted, twisting his whip in another wild arc.

Lochan didn't respond.

Aiden knew he wouldn't hold the advantage for long. Lochan was smart- he'd figure out a way to counter soon.

He just had to strike before that happened.

With a sharp inhale, Aiden adjusted his grip, preparing for his next, biggest move yet.

But then...

Lochan suddenly smirked.

And Aiden's instincts screamed at him to move.

Aiden moved, but he was not fast enough.

Lochan's smirk wasn't just for show. The moment Aiden lunged, Lochan sidestepped, and then Aiden felt it.

The ground beneath his foot shifted.

Shit-

Aiden barely managed to twist his body mid-air as the floor of the Labyrinth collapsed.

It was a trap.

Lochan had led him into it.

Aiden hit the ground hard, rolling as dust and debris scattered around him. His fire whip flickered, but he tightened his grip, keeping it alight.

The arena roared, but Aiden tuned it out, heart hammering as he pushed himself up.

Above him, Lochan stood at the edge of the pit. "I thought you'd avoid that," Lochan mused, tilting his head.

Aiden's teeth clenched. He felt a sting on his palm from the rough landing, but he ignored it.

"I'm not out yet."

Lochan sighed, stepping back. "I know."

Aiden felt something shift again.

The walls.

The Labyrinth was moving yet again.

Aiden cursed under his breath. He was trapped. He needed to act.

Before the walls closed in completely, he gripped his sword tighter, flames roaring brighter.

Then, he leapt.

His fire exploded beneath him, propelling him up. His sword sliced against the stone wall, creating footholds as he climbed with a burst of momentum.

Lochan took a step back, eyes flickering with something Aiden couldn't decipher..

Aiden reached the top, landing roughly, but he was out.

Before Lochan could react, Aiden lashed his fire whip.

Crack!

Lochan barely dodged, the flames grazing the edge of his sleeve.

Aiden straightened, rolling his shoulders.

"No more tricks," he muttered, flames burning hotter.

Lochan gave a small, unreadable smile. "Oh," he said.

Then his stance shifted- he lowered his torso, preparing and keeping his eyes on Aiden the whole time, squaring him up.

"No tricks," he echoed. "Just skill."

Aiden exhaled sharply.

Now- now- the real fight was beginning.