After the match with Akira, his words still echo in Kael’s mind. But there is no time to think about the past — today is the tournament qualification.

  He speaks to Axiom, which responds with a quiet, pulsing light. Both of them feel it — something big is about to begin.

  Kael energetically heads toward the arena. When he enters, the spectators look him over. Many of them look down on him.

  “Too weak…”

  “He won’t make it…”

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  Kael doesn’t respond. He quietly sits down, watches the matches, and analyzes the opponents. He sees how strong the fighters gathered here are — but that only makes him more determined.

  Finally, his match arrives.

  His opponent mocks him, trying to intimidate him, but Kael remains calm.

  “May the better one win.”

  At the start, both of them launch their peonzas into the arena. At the first collision, Axiom strikes at the perfect angle. At the second impact, the opponent’s peonza flies out of the arena.

  The arena falls silent, then shock spreads through the crowd. The spectators are seeing for the first time what Kael is capable of.

  Kael smiles and raises Axiom.

  “Come on, Axiom… we won’t stop until the finals.”

  However, in the darker part of the stands, someone is watching.

  Virex.

  He has already qualified for the tournament… and now, for the first time, he truly sees Kael fight.

  At the end of the episode, Kael looks up at the sky while Axiom faintly glows in his hand.

  Tomorrow comes the final qualification battle.

  And someone is already following his path like a shadow.