Swap Vs Blink

For three days, they kept him in the dark.

Execution day.

Cid got dragged out like trash. Barefoot and shirtless.

Chained in front of nobles who smelled like perfume and rotten money.

The sky was grey, thick and heavy.

They tied him to a stone post. He couldn't move.

Someone threw a tomato.

"Trash like you deserves worse!"

Cid didn't flinch.

Then he saw him.

The King.

His father.

"Look at me."

"LOOK at me."

The king blinked... and turned away.

Then came Yami.

Golden cloak. Stupid smug face. Holding a knife like he was about to peel an orange,

not a person.

"This blade," he announced, twirling it for the nobles,

"is for traitors, murderers and freaks."

He stepped closer.

"You got any last words, Cid?"

Cid's neck cracked as he tilted his head. Calm.

"Yeah."

"...Come closer."

Yami grinned and leaned in.

Big mistake.

Cid lunged like a starved wolf and bit down on his hand, hard.

Three fingers gone.

Yami SCREAMED.

"He bit me! YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

Blood splattered the ground. The crowd erupted.

Cid spat the fingers out.

"Oops. Thought they were sausages."

Then

Pop.

An old man stood in the middle of the execution ground with a staff.

No one saw him appear. He was just there.

Cid's chains shattered.

He collapsed, gasping.

"M-Master…?"

"You came to save me…?"

The old man turned to Yami. Calm as ever.

"Why are you dragging it out?"

Yami clutched his bleeding hand, scowling.

"Sorry… Master."

Cid blinked.

"...What?"

"You're not dying today, kid," the old man said.

Then

WHAM.

A punch blurred through the air.

Kai appeared. Muscular. Black eyes. Yellow hair.

Yami blocked it, slid back, ready to fight.

From the crowd

"Kai's here!"

"Kill them! Kill them!"

Chants and screams. Chaos.

The old man calmly tossed a small stone toward Yami.

"Take the boy. Get out."

"But, Master…"

"Go."

Yami grabbed Cid and dashed. But Kai blurred forward, fast.

"You think I'll let you escape?"

Pop.

The old man hit the staff on the ground.

Kai was suddenly kicking at empty air.

He'd been swapped.

The old man appeared behind him, staff raised.

Yami used the chance. Ran with Cid.

Kai exhaled, annoyed.

"You and your dirty tricks."

"That's no way to greet an elder."

Kai struck again, blinking(i.e small teleport) from angle to angle.

A punch but was dodged, a kick but swayed.

But then Kai smirked. A blur.

He blinked again, above the old man, stone in hand

Threw it at the old man's face.

The old man flinched, blocked.

In that instant Kai blinked behind him and snatched the staff.

"Got it," Kai grinned. "Now what?"

The old man took a single step back. Silent.

Kai laughed.

"You've got nowhere to go. Just surrender."

The old man looked… briefly concerned.

Then he tore a strip of cloth from his robe.

And hit a hand to his shoulder.

Kai was confused.

He looked down.

The staff was gone.

All he held... was a piece of cloth.

From behind, the old man spoke.

"You've improved, Kai."

The crowd hushed. Eyes wide. Murmurs rose.

"Can Lord Kai… not beat him?"

The old man walked past Kai. Calm.

"I had fun today."

"Let's talk another time."

He tapped the ground with his staff—

Pop.

Gone.

Not exactly.

[Unseen to all:

Kai's Power attribute: Blink

Kai can instantly teleport ("blink") short distances within a 10–20 meter radius, without any visible prep or build-up.

He can appear behind or above opponents mid-fight.

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The old man's Power attribute: Swap

Can instantly switch places with any object or person within 30 meters by creating a triggering sound. e.g tapping his shoulder, hitting his staff etc.

For longer distances, he must touch the object beforehand. Swaps expire after 3 hours.

He can swap injuries to who injured him but has to look at him.

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