“A Mirror Match”

Ezryel vs. Neo – The Duel of Adaptation

The air in the arena still crackled with the tension of the previous battle. The battlefield bore the marks of the last encounters—scattered cracks in the ground, traces of stirred sand—but no ruined wasteland. This wasn't about brute force. It was about precision.

Rioji (arms crossed, eyes fixed on the fighters):

"The next match begins. Ezryel vs. Neo."

A murmur spread through the audience as the two fighters faced each other.

Ezryel (grinning, spinning his amulet playfully):

"Hope you last a little longer this time, imitator."

Neo (calm but with an edge in his voice):

"Last time, you beat me in the first phase. During the crystal hunt. But this time, I'm prepared—and I won't underestimate you."

Nia (tense, fists clenched):

"Neo… you need to fight smart. He's playing with you."

Rioji (short and to the point):

"Begin."

Kirah (thoughtful, slight frown):

"Ezryel is fast, but Neo has something that makes him dangerous… He doesn't just copy—he adapts."

Liebe (mildly interested, arms folded):

"But is adaptation enough against someone who controls multiple Resonances?"

A flash of lightning streaked through the arena.

Ezryel vanished in a burst of light, the ground vibrating from the force of his speed. In a blink, he was in front of Neo, his fist wrapped in electric energy.

Neo saw it coming—but it was too fast.

He reacted instinctively.

Time Fracture.

The world slowed.

Ezryel moved through a sluggish stream of light, his movements briefly predictable. Neo dodged, his breath steady.

(Resonance is a sound. A song that exists in frequencies.)

He felt it. The vibrations, the lightning—the rhythm.

Ezryel (in slow motion, still amused):

"Oh? Using that trick again?"

Suddenly—

A surge of light!

Ezryel's energy broke free and discharged in an electric pulse. Neo gasped as a shock ran through his body, paralyzing his muscles for a fraction of a second.

Nia (shocked):

"Neo!"

Neo forced his body to move, rolling aside as Ezryel pursued him.

Ezryel (grinning, slicing the air in front of him):

"You can slow time, imitator, but if you don't know how to use it, it won't help you."

Neo narrowed his eyes.

(I have to adapt.)

He listened to the sound of the lightning. The resonance hummed in his perception—and then…

Lightning danced over his hands.

Ezryel's eyes flickered.

Ezryel (slightly surprised):

"Oh?"

Then Neo vanished—in his own burst of lightning.

A punch—straight at Ezryel.

Kyro (whistling softly, slightly impressed):

"Okay… He really copied him."

Nia (tense but proud):

"Of course. He just needs a moment to understand your pace."

Ezryel tried to evade, but this time, Neo was just as fast.

The punch slammed into his ribs, making him stagger back.

Neo didn't let up.

A kick, a hook, an uppercut—Ezryel dodged, blocked, but the pressure was intense.

Kirah (amazed):

"He… he's fighting exactly like Ezryel."

Ezryel's grin faded.

He slowly raised his hand to his amulet—and turned it.

A chilling breath spread through the air.

The temperature in the arena dropped instantly.

Neo felt it.

His breath became visible.

Ezryel had changed his Resonance.

Rex (smirking, as if he expected it):

"There he is… The real fight starts now."

Liebe (arms crossed, neutral):

"Neo will have a hard time. The rules just changed."

The ground began to freeze.

Neo leapt back—but his movements were no longer as fluid.

Ezryel (cold smile, forming a spear of pure ice):

"Let's see how you handle the cold."

The spear flew toward Neo.

Neo dodged, but—

The spear shattered on impact with the ground—sending a wave of ice shards toward him.

A shard sliced through Neo's arm.

Neo cursed, slipping on the frozen ground.

A kick—brutal, freezing.

Ezryel's foot crashed into Neo's chest, sending him skidding several meters backward.

Nia (shocked, digging her nails into her palms):

"Neo!"

He tried to get up—but Ezryel was already above him.

Another spear in his hand.

Ezryel (breathing deeply, triumphant):

"Game over, imitator."

But then—

Neo touched the ice.

He felt it.

The sound of the cold.

And then… it was his.

Kirah (stunned):

"He… he can absorb elements that quickly?"

Kyro (grinning):

"Now it's getting interesting."

Ezryel's eyes widened.

"What…?"

Neo stood up, his own resonance now freezing.

"Not so fast."

A mist of ice rose around him.

Ezryel reacted immediately—but Neo was already behind him.

A shift—a spear of ice pressed against Ezryel's throat.

The audience held their breath.

Then—

A smirk spread across Ezryel's lips.

Ezryel (whispering):

"Not bad, imitator. But…"

In a blink, he turned his amulet again.

The lightning returned.

A shockwave pulsed through Neo, forcing him back.

Before he could react—

Ezryel was above him.

Nia (shocked, wide-eyed):

"Neo, move!"

Rex (serious, but without sympathy):

"It's over."

A punch—charged with electricity.

Neo gasped, his body convulsing from the discharge.

A final kick—straight to his chest.

Neo crashed hard into the ground.

He coughed blood. His body couldn't move anymore.

Ezryel stood over him, his spear of ice and lightning mere inches from Neo's throat.

Silence.

Then, Ezryel lowered the spear.

Ezryel (grinning, offering Neo his hand):

"Not bad, imitator. But not good enough yet."

Neo stared at him. Then, he took the hand.

Neo (with a hint of exhaustion but determination):

"That will change."

Nia (tense, eyes locked on Neo):

"He could have won… if he had more time."

Kirah (sighing, glancing at Ezryel):

"But time isn't always on your side."

Liebe (thoughtful, voice calm):

"He'll come back stronger. This wasn't his end."

Ezryel laughed. "I hope so."