Specter’s Trial

Chapter 64 – Specter's Trial

Kael-X didn't wait. The moment Specter finished speaking, he moved.

A burst of speed sent him forward, his fist coated in dark energy. If they wanted to test him, he'd make sure they regretted it.

But—

Specter dodged.

Not by a large margin. Not in a panicked scramble.

No, Specter tilted his head ever so slightly, making Kael-X's punch miss by mere inches.

Then Specter countered.

A precise palm strike to Kael-X's ribs.

It wasn't a heavy blow—not like Deadeye's sniper rounds or the brute force of past opponents. But the moment it connected, Kael-X's body lurched. His balance momentarily shifted, his speed thrown off.

His mind processed it instantly—Specter wasn't trying to deal damage.

He was analyzing.

Kael-X's eyes narrowed. Clever.

But he wasn't about to play along.

A flicker of movement—Kael-X lashed out again, a spinning kick aimed at Specter's head. The Zypheron-5 creation ducked, smoothly avoiding the strike.

Then he spoke.

"Impressive. Your reflexes exceed expectations. Your balance, however, can be disrupted under specific conditions."

Kael-X felt something shift beneath him—a delayed impact.

The same palm strike from earlier. The energy from it suddenly surged through his body, destabilizing his footing.

Specter wasn't just analyzing.

He was adapting.

Kael-X stumbled back slightly before regaining his stance. "Huh… you're not just some brute force machine, are you?"

Specter didn't answer.

Instead, he raised his hand. The glowing circuitry along his suit shifted, forming intricate lines that pulsed with crimson light.

Veyron's voice hummed in Kael-X's mind.

"Ah. This one isn't playing fair. He's using predictive combat analysis. Fascinating."

Kael-X smirked. "Yeah? Let's see how well he predicts this."

He vanished.

Or at least, that's what it looked like.

Kael-X moved at a speed faster than before—not in a straight line, but erratically. He flickered from side to side, leaving afterimages in his wake, a storm of motion that made it nearly impossible to track him.

Specter's red eyes flashed.

Kael-X appeared behind him—and swung.

Boom!

The punch connected. Hard.

Specter's body shot forward, crashing into the rooftop and skidding across the surface. Dust and debris scattered into the air.

But Kael-X wasn't done.

Before Specter could recover, Kael-X was already on him. He slammed a foot down, aiming to pin his opponent—

Only to hit empty air.

Specter phased. His body shimmered like a mirage before reforming a few feet away, standing tall, untouched.

"New data acquired," Specter intoned.

Kael-X exhaled sharply. "Alright. That was cool."

Nyx's voice was sharp in his mind.

"He's adjusting faster than expected. Be careful, Kael-X."

Oblivion's deep growl followed.

"This opponent… feels unnatural."

Kael-X grinned despite himself. "That's what makes it fun."

Specter tilted his head.

"Engaging Phase Two."

The glow in his circuitry shifted. The air crackled with something new.

Kael-X rolled his shoulders.

"Let's dance."

Chapter 64 – Specter's Trial (Continued)

Kael-X didn't hesitate.

The moment Specter activated "Phase Two," the air around them shifted. It felt like static crawling over his skin, a subtle yet unmistakable pressure weighing down on his every movement.

Then—

Specter vanished.

Not like Kael-X's speed-based movements. Not like the flickering tricks Veyron pulled. This was different.

It was as if Specter had stepped out of reality for a moment—then reappeared behind Kael-X in an instant.

"Adaptation complete," Specter's voice echoed.

Kael-X barely dodged the incoming strike. Specter's palm cut through the air, just inches from his spine. Even though it didn't connect, Kael-X could feel the force radiating from it.

If that had landed…

No time to think.

Kael-X twisted mid-air, using his enhanced reflexes to counter. His fist **lashed out—**but it passed right through Specter as if he were made of mist.

Damn it—

A heavy impact slammed into Kael-X's ribs.

Specter's attack had landed.

Kael-X flew backward, crashing against the rooftop. He barely had time to recover before Specter followed up, his movements eerily precise.

Every attack was calculated. Every step accounted for.

Nyx's voice rang through Kael-X's mind.

"He's phasing in and out of physical form. If you don't predict when he solidifies, you'll never land a hit."

Kael-X gritted his teeth. "Easier said than done!"

Veyron chuckled darkly.

"Ah, but that's the game, isn't it? He moves between states—real and unreal, touchable and untouchable. The trick, dear Kael-X, is to catch him the moment he chooses to be real."

Kael-X's mind raced. If that was true, then he had to—

Specter struck again.

Kael-X narrowly dodged, feeling the air pressure crack the rooftop where he had been standing a moment before.

Specter was fast.

But Kael-X was faster.

His eyes burned with determination. "Alright, then…"

Specter moved again, but this time, Kael-X didn't try to react after the attack.

He anticipated it.

There.

He saw the moment Specter re-solidified.

Kael-X's body tensed. He moved.

With explosive force, Kael-X met Specter's attack head-on.

His fist slammed into Specter's torso—and it connected.

Boom!

A shockwave erupted as Specter was sent flying. He crashed into a rooftop antenna, bending the steel like it was paper.

Kael-X exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Not so untouchable now, huh?"

Specter slowly stood, his glowing eyes analyzing.

"New data acquired. Adjusting combat parameters."

Kael-X groaned. "Oh, for fu—"

Before he could finish, Specter charged again.

And this time, he was even faster.

Chapter 64 – Specter's Trial (Continued)

Specter moved like a phantom, shifting between states of existence with impossible speed. Every time Kael-X tried to counter, his attacks passed through empty air.

But now—

Kael-X had found the pattern.

His golden eyes locked onto Specter as he dashed forward. Every movement, every blink of phase-shifting, he tracked it all.

Specter blurred—appearing above him, a blade of energy forming in his hand.

Kael-X twisted.

He felt it.

That half-second where Specter had to become solid before striking.

With a burst of speed, Kael-X dodged to the side and countered.

His fist crashed into Specter's chest.

Boom!

Specter's body twisted in the air before he landed in a crouch. His head snapped up, glowing red eyes narrowing. "Confirmed: Adaptation successful."

Kael-X smirked. "Damn right."

But before he could press forward, a pulse of violet energy spread from Specter's body. The air crackled.

Veyron's voice slithered through Kael-X's mind.

"Ah… it seems our ghostly friend has another trick."

Kael-X tensed. "What's he doing now?"

Nyx answered, her voice sharp.

"He's forcing the battlefield to match his abilities. The energy shift—he's changing the space itself."

The rooftop beneath them darkened. The city lights dimmed, and the world took on an eerie, purple hue.

Then Kael-X felt it.

His speed—was slowing down.

"What the hell?" He tried to move, but his reflexes weren't responding the same way.

Specter tilted his head. "Field of Nullification: Activated."

Kael-X barely dodged as Specter appeared behind him, striking with a speed that was now beyond his reach.

He gritted his teeth. "This bastard—he's messing with my speed."

Oblivion growled, its deep voice vibrating in his chest.

"You have four of us, Kael-X. Use us."

Kael-X's eyes flashed.

He had been relying too much on his own speed.

But the shadow beasts were not affected.

A slow grin formed on his lips. "Yeah… you're right."

Specter lunged again—

But this time, Kael-X didn't dodge.

He raised his hand. "Umbra—NOW!"

The shadows around him exploded outward.

A whip of pure darkness shot from Kael-X's hand, wrapping around Specter's arm mid-strike.

Specter's eyes flickered. "Uncalculated variable."

Kael-X yanked the whip hard, pulling Specter off balance. Before the assassin could phase again—

Veyron chuckled.

"My turn."

A surge of void energy formed around Specter—locking him in place.

Specter struggled.

Kael-X grinned. "Oh yeah. You're mine now."

He clenched his fist—

And punched Specter through the roof.

— To Be Continued in Chapter 65 —