"All right, enough standing around!" Kuromi's voice cut sharply across the training grounds, silencing the idle murmurs instantly. Her amber eyes narrowed as she assessed each of them. "His Majesty believes you're ready to face gods, but from what I've seen, none of you could handle even a lesser Elemental."
Nathan rolled his eyes, muttering quietly. "Fuck elementals..."
Lucio shot him a quick warning glance, while Rhea shifted nervously beside him. Only Jalen seemed unfazed, stretching lazily as if Kuromi's words were mere background noise.
Kuromi turned sharply toward Kullen, who stood observing with calm amusement. "With your permission, Your Majesty, I'd like to test them directly—to identify their strengths and weaknesses firsthand."
Kullen gave a subtle nod, arms folded casually. "They're yours, Kuromi."
Her gaze snapped back to the group, decisive. "We'll begin with Jalen and His Majesty. The rest of you—observe carefully."
Lucio settled onto the stone benches surrounding the training grounds, eyes intent. Nathan leaned against a nearby pillar, skeptical but watchful. Rhea sat next to Lucio, eyes wide with anticipation.
Jalen confidently strode forward, taking his place at the center of the expansive training grounds. The arena itself was a marvel—a perfect circle of polished obsidian ringed by pillars etched with glowing protective runes. Magical wards shimmered visibly, ready to contain even the most devastating powers. The very air hummed with anticipation, charged and prepared to test their limits.
Kullen stepped onto the field, calmly removing his coat and handing it to Kuromi. He rolled his shoulders, a knowing smirk forming. "Try not to destroy my palace, Jalen."
Jalen grinned, eyes briefly flickering gold with excitement. "No promises."
Kuromi raised her hand sharply. "Begin!"
Jalen moved first, his eyes igniting fiercely gold. His aura expanded into radiant hues of deep violet and shimmering gold, wrapping around him like a living tempest. Instantly, two curved blades materialized in his grip, their edges vibrating with barely contained power as he lunged forward.
Kullen sidestepped fluidly, hands clasped behind his back. "Your first mistake: you're still relying on predictable strikes."
Jalen smirked, pivoting immediately and shifting his blades into a storm of bladed chains whipping violently toward Kullen. "Your first mistake: thinking I can't adapt."
Kullen's eyes glowed faintly emerald as he gracefully weaved through the chains, dodging each strike effortlessly, movements almost precognitive. "Your intentions scream loudly to me, Jalen. You might adapt physically, but your mind remains easy to read."
On the sidelines, Nathan leaned forward, voice low. "He's reading every move Jalen makes before it happens."
Lucio nodded slowly. "Jalen needs to stop broadcasting his moves. He's relying too heavily on raw power and instinct."
Rhea frowned. "Then what's he supposed to do?"
Kullen's voice cut through their murmurs, calm yet authoritative. "Stop thinking, Jalen. Act."
Jalen scowled briefly but took a breath, steadying himself. 'He's right. If I'm predictable mentally, I need to be spontaneous. Something even Kullen can't anticipate.'
Without hesitation, Jalen dispersed the chains into dozens of floating daggers, each one trembling with potential energy. They surged forward in chaotic, unpredictable patterns—some feinting, some spinning erratically, forcing Kullen to move with genuine urgency.
Kullen's brow furrowed slightly, his movements sharper as he dodged the "unpredictable" barrage. "Better."
Jalen pressed his advantage, instantly closing the distance and manifesting a long, crystalline spear. With calculated timing, he thrust forward, the spear extending at light speeds. Kullen barely twisted aside, the spear grazing his arm and tearing his sleeve.
"Well that was interesting..." Kuromi turned to the others with a smirk "Let's hope he can keep this up."
Jalen then summoned a dagger rushing in as Kullen pulled out his own.
The two proceeded to clash furiously, their daggers ringing with sharp, resonant impacts. Each strike was fluid, precise, and delivered with a lethal elegance that drew audible gasps from Rhea and even quiet approval from Kuromi.
Jalen's blade danced aggressively, driven by instinct and creativity. His aura pulsated with intense gold and violet hues. Yet, every strike met Kullen's calm, calculated parries. The king's emerald eyes continued glowing subtly, effortlessly reading Jalen's intentions moments before they became actions.
"You're too reliant on pure instinct," Kullen warned, pivoting gracefully and redirecting Jalen's thrust past his shoulder. "It makes you predictable to someone who can read your impulses. And is it not apparent enough that your eyes change color with your emotion?"
Frustration flickered briefly across Jalen's expression. He adjusted swiftly, suddenly conjuring a second blade mid-motion, slicing horizontally in an unpredictable follow-up. Kullen barely ducked beneath it, strands of his black hair floating down as proof of the close call.
On the sidelines, Nathan whistled appreciatively. "Okay—now we're talking."
Lucio nodded thoughtfully. "Jalen's improvisation is improving, but he's still fighting too emotionally."
Kuromi's sharp gaze remained fixed on Kullen. "And His Majesty is over-reliant on his mental prowess. He's forgotten how to trust his physical instincts."
Kullen seemed to sense this critique, briefly narrowing his eyes. He stepped back, opening distance, dagger held loosely. "You're holding back, Jalen."
Jalen exhaled, regrouping mentally. 'He's right. But I can't just rush him. He's reading me like a book.'
"Maybe you're right," Jalen admitted aloud, stretching out a hand and letting his dagger dissolve into shimmering particles. "But so are you."
Kullen raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet cautious.
Jalen's golden eyes burned brighter, power flaring through his body as he channeled energy he hadn't dared to use before. Reality rippled gently around him. "I've never tried this before—but now that I'm no longer bound by a regulator this should work just fine."
Kuromi tensed visibly. "What's he—?"
Jalen spoke clearly, authority vibrating through his words:
"Ultimate Skill: Joker's Playground."
A sudden, tense silence gripped the training grounds.
Nathan straightened abruptly, disbelief clear in his wide eyes. "The hell is he doing? Did anyone else know he could do that?"
Jalen lunged forward, his laughter suddenly cutting into eerie silence. Weapons swirled chaotically around him, launching themselves unpredictably toward Kullen from every angle.
Kullen's eyes widened, flickering with uncertainty for the first time as he desperately parried each strike, forced purely into instinctive defense. His precise movements became rushed, his normally unshakable composure faltering under Jalen's erratic onslaught.
"Come on, Kullen!" Jalen taunted, his voice carrying a chilling, playful edge. His demeanor switched again suddenly, his expression going dark, utterly devoid of amusement. He threw his hand forward, manifesting jagged black chains erupting from the ground and snapping toward Kullen like living serpents.
Kullen barely evaded, twisting with visible strain. His breath quickened, sweat dripping down his forehead as he realized something unsettling—he truly couldn't anticipate Jalen anymore. The mental connection that always gave him the advantage now failed him completely.
Kuromi crossed her arms, eyes sharp. "Now he's finally understanding the danger of overreliance on his mental powers."
Jalen surged forward, conjuring an immense crystalline sword in one hand, while his other hand generated a storm of black flames. Without hesitation, he swung both simultaneously, forcing Kullen into desperate defensive maneuvers. The impact drove Kullen back, heels skidding against the obsidian ground, sparks trailing from beneath his boots.
Jalen paused, briefly allowing a wicked grin to cross his face as his eyes blazed wildly between gold and violet.
"Can't read me anymore, can you?"
Kullen shook his head slowly, a strained smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Not even a little."
"This I guess you'll just try to have to keep up!" Jalen appeared in front of Kullen delivering a gut-wrenching kick to the stomach.
"Double impact."
Kullen's body was sent flying into the wall, as he crashed into it he felt another strike from the same spot jalen kicked him. Causing him to crash into the ground.
Jalen's laughter filled the arena, deep and unnerving, as golden-violet energy erupted around his hand, rippling with unstable power. He swept his arm forward violently, his fingers slicing directly through reality itself. The air around Kullen fractured into small, jagged tears—portals shimmering with chaotic energy.
Kullen's eyes widened, barely having time to react as streams of fire surged from one tear, scalding his skin. From another, razor-sharp shards of ice exploded outward, slicing through his defenses. Lightning crackled suddenly from above, striking downward and forcing him to roll desperately to the side.
"I concede."
The entire arena froze at Kullen's words, the sudden quiet punctuated only by the faint sizzling of dissipating magic. Jalen halted mid-step, eyes rapidly shifting back to their familiar golden hue, the sinister grin fading into a look of surprise.
"Huh..."
Kullen slowly rose to his feet, breathing heavily, his normally impeccable attire scorched and torn, his skin bearing visible scrapes and bruises. Yet he stood tall, composed despite his defeat. A small smile flickered across his lips.
"You win," he admitted calmly, a hint of amusement returning to his voice. "I didn't see that coming. Literally."
Kuromi stepped forward briskly, breaking the stunned silence. "That's enough. Both of you." Her gaze flickered toward Kullen, her expression critical yet respectful. "Perhaps now you'll reconsider relying solely on your mental prowess, Your Majesty."
Kullen exhaled slowly, nodding. "Perhaps you're right, Kuromi."
Jalen swayed slightly, the golden-violet aura fading away completely, replaced with evident exhaustion. He grimaced, a hand pressed against his temple as the strain of his ultimate skill finally took its toll.
Jalen managed a weary smirk, though his eyes betrayed lingering pain. " Never tried that before."
Nathan stood, shaking his head in disbelief. "Well, whatever that was, it was badass."
Kuromi raised her voice again, bringing everyone's attention back to the training ground. "Don't think we're finished yet." Her eyes locked firmly onto Nathan and Lucio, a challenging smirk crossing her lips. "Nathan. Lucio. You're up next."
Nathan cracked his knuckles, flashing a cocky grin at Lucio. "Guess it's our turn to entertain. I'll try to take it easy on ya."
Lucio merely sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he stepped forward. "Let's just get this over with."