Chapter 14: Kai’s Gamble

The weight of Seraphina's revelation still hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Kai exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, let's say I believe all this—"

Seraphina cut him off. "You don't have a choice."

Kai's smirk faltered slightly.

Luna's voice was softer, but still urgent. "Kai… the government can't know about this. If they find out you have a class higher than SSS, they won't see you as a person anymore."

Kai chuckled dryly. "Oh, great. So I'll go from class clown to classified threat. Love that."

Seraphina's golden eyes were sharp. "This isn't funny. You saw how the Rift Champion targeted you. The Hellions want you. If the government finds out why, they'll want you too. And trust me—"

Her expression darkened.

"—they won't ask nicely."

Kai leaned against the railing of the ruined rooftop, his usual arrogance fading into something colder. "So, what, I just keep my head down? Pretend I don't have powers? Yeah, that's worked out great so far."

Luna stepped closer. "You don't have to do this alone."

Kai glanced at her. There was something in her eyes that made his heartbeat skip.

Seraphina crossed her arms. "If you don't want to be a pawn, then you need to make the next move first."

Kai's smirk returned, but this time it was sharper. "Alright, then. Time to gamble."

Luna frowned. "What does that mean?"

Kai pushed himself off the railing, stretching. "If the world's already hunting me down, might as well make it interesting."

Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "What are you planning?"

Kai grinned.

"Simple. I'll make them think I'm still just a useless E-Class nobody."

Luna's jaw dropped. "Kai, that's—"

"Stupid? Reckless?" Kai finished for her. "Yeah. That's my specialty."

Seraphina studied him, then sighed. "You're an idiot."

Kai winked. "Yeah, but a lucky one."

Luna groaned. "This is going to be a disaster."

Kai grinned wider. "That's the fun part."

A Dangerous Bluff

Two days later, Sector 7 Academy's combat trials began.

The trials were designed to evaluate students' power rankings, determining who would advance into the Hellion Defense Corps (HDC).

Luna watched from the side of the training field, arms crossed. "This is a terrible idea."

Seraphina stood next to her. "You think he's going to slip up?"

Luna sighed. "No. I think he's going to win too easily."

Kai stood in the center of the arena, lazily cracking his neck. His opponent?

Ryker Graves—an A-Class student. A brute of a fighter, known for his enhanced strength and speed.

The instructor raised a hand. "Begin!"

Ryker charged, moving like a bullet, his fist crackling with impact energy.

Kai yawned.

At the last second, he sidestepped effortlessly, letting Ryker's punch slam into the ground instead. The earth shattered beneath the force of the attack.

The audience gasped.

Kai put his hands in his pockets. "You done?"

Ryker growled. "Quit dodging and fight!"

Kai sighed dramatically. "Ugh, fine."

Ryker lunged again—this time faster.

Kai ducked under his strike, swept his legs out from beneath him, and flicked his wrist—barely tapping Ryker's back as he fell.

Ryker hit the ground hard.

Silence.

Then—

The instructor blinked. "…Ryker Graves has been eliminated."

The crowd exploded.

"Wait, what?"

"Did Kai just win? Without using an ability?"

"How the hell did that happen?"

Luna pinched the bridge of her nose. "He's not even trying to lose properly."

Seraphina smirked. "No. He's making them underestimate him."

Kai stretched his arms, still looking completely bored.

The instructor hesitated. "Kai Takashi… remains E-Class."

Kai grinned. "Great. Can I go now?"

The whispers spread instantly.

"He's definitely weak."

"Just got lucky."

"Yeah, no way he's strong."

Seraphina watched as Kai walked away, whistling.

The Academy still saw him as a joke.

Just as he planned.

The Rift Watches

That night, Kai sat alone on the Academy's training field, looking up at the sky.

Luna found him there, stepping beside him.

"Your plan worked," she said, sitting down.

Kai smirked. "Yeah. Guess I'm a pretty good actor."

Luna didn't laugh. Instead, she asked, "Does it bother you?"

Kai glanced at her. "What?"

"Letting them think you're weak."

Kai was silent for a long moment.

Then, he grinned. "Nah. I don't care what they think."

Luna frowned. "You're lying."

Kai chuckled, shaking his head. "You're getting too good at reading me, Cherry Blossom."

Luna rolled her eyes. "You're not that hard to read."

Kai stared up at the Rift, watching the dark clouds swirl.

He could still feel it.

Watching.

Waiting.

His silver flicker of energy pulsed for just a second before fading.

Luna saw it.

But she didn't say anything.

Instead, she simply sat next to him, the quiet almost comfortable.

For the first time in a long time, Kai didn't feel alone.

And in the distance, deep within the Black Hole Rift, something stirred.

A whisper echoed through the void—

"Let the games begin."