A massive cloud of frosty mist erupted in the middle of the stands.

  Cold air swept outward as ice crystallized in the air, and from within the fog, two figures stepped forward.

  Reito and Hiruzen emerged from the mist and quietly took their seats beside Emma and Jonathan.

  Jonathan: Whoa—! Where did you two just come from?

  Hiruzen: We were just—

  Reito: Just having a conversation about his recent performance in the midterms. Right, Hiruzen?

  Hiruzen hesitated.

  His jaw tightened. He hated lying—especially to them. But the weight of what he’d just learned pressed down on his chest.

  Hiruzen: …Yeah. He just wanted to make sure I was recovering properly.

  Emma’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  Emma: Oh. Well, Jonathan and I were talking about how we’re going to confront Logan’s family.

  Hiruzen: No—!

  He stopped himself, inhaled sharply, then forced his tone to steady.

  Hiruzen: I mean… they really aren’t people we should mess with right now.

  Jonathan: What? Dude, come on. They’re obviously bad news. We can’t just—

  Hiruzen: Yes, we can.

  Jonathan froze.

  Hiruzen: Trust me. We’re not ready to face them yet.

  Emma studied him carefully. She could hear it—the hesitation, the fear beneath his words.

  Emma: Hiruzen… I thought we agreed. No more secrets.

  Hiruzen: I know, but—

  Reito: He’s doing this for me.

  All three of them turned.

  Reito: I asked him to keep this quiet.

  Emma: Reito, sir, I—

  Reito: When the time comes, you’ll understand. And when that day arrives, you won’t face them alone.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Reito: Now focus. The next round is about to begin.

  The stadium fell silent as Dean Frederick stepped forward, his presence commanding the arena.

  Dean Frederick: Ahem. The participants for round nine are Aaron Nanazawa and Jonathan Motarell. Please make your way to the arena.

  Jonathan stood and cracked his neck.

  Jonathan: Guess it’s my turn again. Wish me luck.

  Hiruzen: Yeah… just don’t push yourself too hard.

  Jonathan smirked.

  Jonathan: Don’t worry. I’m not you.

  On the other side of the arena

  Caitlyn leaned against the railing, eyes following Jonathan.

  Caitlyn: What do you think the Sagewells wanted with Hiruzen?

  Aaron: No idea. But whatever it was, it was serious enough to make Reito step in.

  He adjusted his gloves.

  Aaron: That can wait until I’m done.

  Caitlyn: Then make it quick. Mrs. Zinc wants to see us afterward.

  Aaron nodded and stepped forward.

  RefBot hovered into position.

  RefBot: Alright, you two ready?

  Jonathan: You better believe it. I’ve been waiting to show these blue bloods who’s boss.

  Aaron: Then let’s not keep them waiting.

  RefBot: Round nine—BEGIN!

  Jonathan vanished.

  The moment he moved, the arena floor cracked beneath his feet.

  Aaron’s vision exploded with glowing blue equations—vectors, deltas, velocity curves snapping into place around him.

  Aaron (thinking): Velocity spike—Mach two minimum. Acceleration curve exponential. He’s stacking energy fast—

  Jonathan appeared directly in front of him and threw a punch.

  Aaron thrust his palm forward.

  Aaron: Δ-Speed—equalize!

  Jonathan’s fist stalled inches from Aaron’s face.

  The shockwave detonated anyway, splitting the ground beneath them like fractured glass.

  Jonathan blinked.

  Jonathan: …Wow. That’s annoying.

  Aaron smiled faintly.

  Aaron: Don’t worry. Not everyone understands it the first time.

  Aaron countered.

  Δ-Force surged outward.

  Jonathan was hurled across the arena, skidding violently before flipping backward and landing on his feet.

  Jonathan: Okay… I get it now.

  He stomped.

  The arena groaned as stored kinetic energy flooded back into his body.

  Jonathan: You’re not erasing my momentum. You’re delaying it.

  Jonathan exploded into motion—nonlinear, erratic—ricocheting off walls and ground, each rebound compounding the energy inside him.

  Aaron’s fingers twitched, equations multiplying faster than his pulse.

  Aaron (thinking): He’s stacking deltas faster than I can collapse them—

  A kick came from above.

  Aaron slammed his foot back.

  Aaron: Δ-Space—stretch!

  The distance warped—but Jonathan’s heel still connected.

  Aaron was sent flying, skidding dangerously close to RefBot.

  RefBot: HEY—watch it! I almost died!

  Aaron (coughing): …Sorry. Didn’t expect him to break through.

  He pushed himself up, blood dripping from his mouth.

  Jonathan landed lightly, shoulders rolling.

  Jonathan: Momentum doesn’t care about balance.

  He pointed at Aaron.

  Jonathan: You keep trying to equalize things. But you can’t erase the difference between you and me.

  Aaron planted his feet.

  Aaron: Then I’ll redefine motion.

  He slammed his palms together.

  Aaron: Delta-Vector Break!

  Every vector in the arena—speed, direction, force—collapsed toward zero.

  For half a second—

  Jonathan stopped.

  Frozen.

  Then he grinned.

  Jonathan: Found the loophole.

  The stored kinetic energy detonated inside him.

  Aaron’s eyes widened.

  Aaron (thinking): He doesn’t need vectors if the energy’s already internal—

  Jonathan launched forward like a missile.

  The punch hit.

  Ribs shattered.

  Aaron’s body was hurled into open air as the ground rushed up toward him.

  Aaron (thinking): If I hit terminal velocity—

  Jonathan followed, twisting midair, slamming Aaron downward like a meteor.

  Jonathan: Let’s see how you calculate gravity!

  Aaron’s mind screamed.

  Aaron: Delta-Condition!

  The delta between falling and impact collapsed early.

  The arena exploded upward.

  Both fighters crashed into the ground.

  Dust settled.

  Aaron dropped to one knee, vision swimming.

  Jonathan stood—bleeding, shaking, laughing.

  Jonathan: Every hit you block… I get stronger.

  Aaron wiped the blood from his mouth.

  Aaron: Then I won’t block.

  Power surged wildly around him. Equations spiraled, unstable.

  Jonathan felt it.

  Jonathan: …Oh. That’s bad.

  Aaron raised a trembling finger.

  Aaron: You store momentum.

  The delta symbol burned across his chest.

  Aaron: So I’ll remove the difference between motion and rest.

  Aaron: Maximum Technique — Absolute Delta Collapse.

  Aaron: Target: kinetic state.

  Jonathan lunged.

  Too late.

  Aaron: Collapse to zero.

  Every ounce of stored kinetic energy vanished.

  Not dispersed.

  Neutralized.

  Jonathan’s body locked—muscles tearing as motion was forcefully equalized with stillness.

  He collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.

  Aaron coughed, barely standing.

  Aaron: Momentum only wins… when change is unchecked.

  RefBot hovered lower, stunned.

  RefBot: The winner of round nine… is AARON NANAZAWA.

  End Chapter