“The first strike doesn’t count, but the last one does.”

The arena was silent.

An ancient ruin, far from the floating platforms of Prime Eden. Once, this was a battle site of the old warriors, a place where rivals clashed, hidden from the eyes of the great families. The cracks in the stone slabs, the faded symbols on the walls—they told stories of long-forgotten battles.

And now, two new names were about to collide.

Liebe.

He stood calm, an unshakable presence amid the ruins. His grip rested lightly on the kinetic sword Excalibur, his posture upright, his breathing steady. Undō Resonance pulsed in gentle waves around him—an almost invisible force that amplified every movement, shaping every attack into perfection.

Kirah.

Her violet eyes gleamed as her Seishin Resonance activated. Future fragments flickered before her inner eye—images of possible attacks, of mistakes that had not yet happened. She was not a brute fighter. She was a reader of the inevitable.

The other contenders watched in silence.

"This will be over quickly." Neo's voice was neutral.

Ezryel observed Kirah's stance carefully. "Not necessarily. If she uses her resonance wisely, she might surprise him."

Rex scoffed. "Against Liebe? Forget it."

Rioji stepped forward.

"Begin!"

Phase 1: The First Collision

Kirah moved first.

No hesitation. No unnecessary steps.

Testing. Observing. Feeling.

She knew that Liebe could not be defeated by brute force. His body was a reflex— a warrior who could adapt to any situation. But the future was not set in stone.

And she could manipulate it.

A direct attack—a lightning-fast strike aimed at his throat. No ordinary fighter could react in time.

But Liebe was not an ordinary fighter.

His blade barely moved—a subtle shift of his wrist, a slight tilt of his body.

CLANG!

The clash of blades sent Kirah skidding sideways.

She rolled before the kinetic reflection of her own force could slam her into the ground.

"Good speed." His voice was calm. No arrogance. No mockery. Just an objective statement.

But Kirah smiled.

He hadn't noticed yet.

Phase 2: The First Hit

Liebe attacked.

Fast. No wasted steps. No unnecessary movements.

His blade sliced diagonally through the air—a strike whose energy adjusted in real time.

But Kirah saw it coming.

She closed her eyes.

Three future fragments.

1.Block? → No. The kinetic reflection would crush her.

2.Dodge? → No good. He was faster.

3.Counterattack? → Perfect.

She moved into the attack.

At the last moment, she shifted her body close to his side—his slash missed by mere millimeters.

And then she struck.

BAM!

Her elbow slammed under his jaw. The impact made him pause—not out of pain, but out of surprise.

A moment of stillness—then a quiet crack.

Liebe took a step back.

"Hah! She hit him!" Neo shook his head.

"She's reading him." Ezryel saw it clearly. "And she's starting to trust herself."

Phase 3: Kirah's Fighting Spirit Awakens

Kirah's lungs burned. Her heart pounded. But her mind was clear.

"I can hit him."

She could hit him multiple times.

Liebe attacked again.

But this time, his pace changed.

No pattern. No predictability.

But Kirah was ready.

She let him approach, faked an escape to the right—but as she moved, she manipulated his perception of the future.

Liebe saw her dodge to the right.

But in reality, she appeared on the left.

His reaction was a millisecond too late.

BAM!

Another hit. Her knee smashed into his ribs.

Love staggered one step back.

His gaze sharpened.

He had understood.

 Liebe Adapts

Liebe became still.

No pulse of movement in his resonance. No predictable attack. A black void in her perception.

Kirah felt it instantly.

Wait… he's not thinking ahead anymore?

The Seishin Resonance showed nothing. No probabilities. No fragments.

Only emptiness.

She hesitated—for one breath too long.

And in that moment, she lost.

BAM!

His kinetic counterattack was flawless.

Kirah was thrown off balance, her body launched across the arena.

BOOM!

She crashed against a wall, coughing as dust rose around her.

Her muscles twitched.

Her mind… wanted to continue.

Her body… could not.

The End

Silence.

Then:

"Kirah can no longer fight."

Rioji stepped forward, his gaze resting on her.

"The winner is—Liebe."

Liebe slowly turned.

For a moment, he just stood there, looking at her.

"Three hits." His voice was calm.

"That's better than most ever manage against me."

Kirah coughed, slowly sitting up.

Her body ached—but she smiled.

"Three hits." Her voice was quiet but firm. "Next time, it'll be more."

Liebe paused. Then, he nodded.

"I look forward to it."

Then, he left the arena.

But for Kirah, the fight was not over.

He had shown her where she stood.

And next time… she would not lose.

End of the Fight.