Ash sprinted across the asteroid's jagged surface, his boots grinding against the rocky terrain. The gravity was light, making every step feel slightly off, but he didn't slow down. The device in his grip pulsed, a faint blue glow flickering against his fingers.
[Unknown energy detected.]
His breath came steady, but his mind raced.
Then the air shifted.
A sudden force slammed into him like a shockwave, lifting him clean off his feet. His body twisted midair before he crashed back down, skidding across the uneven ground. Sharp edges tore at his suit, and dust curled around him in a weightless cloud.
He forced himself up, bracing against the low gravity.
A figure stood ahead, completely unbothered by the asteroid's unstable pull.
Messy blond hair drifted slightly, weightless in the void. A sleek visor covered his eyes, reflecting the distant light of a shattered moon. Hands still stuffed in his pockets, he tilted his head, smirking.
"You're in a rush," he mused, voice carrying eerily clear in the thin atmosphere.
Ash rolled his shoulders, shaking off the impact. His fingers found the hilt of his blade. "So you're the obstacle."
The man chuckled, nudging his visor with a flick of his finger. "Not the obstacle. Just one of them. Name's Speedy." His smirk widened. "And before you ask—yeah, that's what they call me."
Ash ignored the taunt, his focus sharpening.
Then he noticed it.
The dust around Speedy's feet didn't settle. It hovered, swirling in delicate, shifting currents. Not random. Controlled.
'Wind Veinflow.'
Ash adjusted his stance. No hesitation. No wasted movement. He lunged—
His blade cut through space—
But Speedy was gone.
A rush of air. A blur of motion.
Ash barely caught the shift before a gust slammed into his back. He staggered forward, spinning around, but Speedy had already reappeared a few meters away, standing just as before—hands tucked in pockets, completely at ease.
"That all?" Speedy asked, tilting his head. "Thought you'd be more interesting."
Ash exhaled, adjusting his grip. Not teleportation. Not raw speed. Short, controlled bursts of wind launching him in precise directions.
His gaze locked onto Speedy. "Breeze family."
For the first time, the smirk faltered.
Ash's grip tightened on his sword. His breath came slow and steady, but his ribs ached from Speedy's last hit. Across from him, Speedy adjusted his visor with a smirk, the lenses catching the dim asteroid light.
Speedy's smirk widened. "Took you long enough to realize. Yeah, I'm from the Breeze family. One of the finest, if I do say so myself."
Ash's expression darkened. The Breeze family was infamous—their mastery over wind manipulation made them nearly untouchable in combat. He had fought fast opponents before, but none who became the wind itself.
Speedy sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Now that introductions are out of the way… shall we begin?"
Before Ash could react, a powerful gust of wind surged from behind Speedy, launching him forward at impossible speed. Ash's instincts screamed at him to dodge, but before he could move—
WHAM!
A sharp impact slammed into his ribs. He barely saw the blur before the hit connected, his body lurching sideways. His boots scraped against the ground as he staggered, breath hitching in his throat.
"Tch." Ash gritted his teeth, spinning on his heel, his blade slashing through the air in a counterattack—
But Speedy was already behind him.
"Come on," Speedy taunted, his voice echoing from all directions. "You really think you can hit me like that?"
Ash's jaw clenched. 'He's fast, but he's not untouchable. I just need to find the pattern.'
Another burst of wind. Speedy disappeared and reappeared in front of him, his fist already in motion.
THUD!
Ash barely twisted in time to reduce the impact, but the punch still landed hard against his side, sending a jolt of pain through his ribs. He grunted, pushing through it, adjusting his stance just as—
WHAM!
Another hit—this time to his shoulder. The force drove him a step back, but he planted his feet. His grip tightened around his sword. His muscles burned from the repeated blows, but he refused to show weakness.
Speedy clicked his tongue. "You're tough, I'll give you that. But tough doesn't mean much if you can't touch me."
Another gust of wind.
Ash barely caught the flicker of movement—this time, Speedy was on his right, aiming a low sweep at his legs. Ash jumped back, narrowly avoiding the strike, but before he could recover—
BAM!
A kick landed squarely against his chest, sending him skidding backward.
His heartbeat pounded in his ears. This wasn't just speed—it was control. Speedy wasn't blindly moving; he was reading Ash's reactions and adjusting on the fly. Every attack was precise, forcing Ash into unfavorable positions.
Ash exhaled sharply. He had fought strong opponents before, but this was different. This wasn't a battle of brute force. It was a battle of timing.
A cold, ancient voice echoed in his mind.
"[Vein Energy: 75%]"
Ash's eyes widened slightly. 'What?' He hadn't even realized—he had been using his abilities the entire time.
Storm Vein. Static Surge.
Even now, as his body burned from the strain, his veins pulsed with energy, keeping him moving faster than he should be. He hadn't been consciously activating them—his instincts had.
That meant…
He was keeping up.
Barely.
Ash took a slow breath, adjusting his grip on his sword. His legs felt lighter, his body reacting just a fraction quicker than before. Speedy was faster, but he wasn't invincible.
Speedy tilted his head. "Oh? You look a little more confident all of a sudden." His smirk returned. "Did I wake you up?"
Ash didn't respond. Instead, he watched.
Speedy sighed. "Fine, let's see if you can keep up this time."
Another burst of wind.
But now—Ash saw it.
Not just Speedy's movement.
The wind itself.
And he was ready.
The wind screamed around him, a chaotic force ripping at his clothes. Speedy's laughter cut through the storm, sharp and mocking.
"Come on, don't tell me that's all you've got!"
Ash exhaled hard, his grip tightening around the hilt of his blade. His ribs throbbed, each breath stoking the dull ache spreading through his body. If he kept reacting, he'd lose. He had to anticipate.
Speedy blurred out of sight again.
This time, Ash didn't hesitate. He twisted his body, his blade carving through empty space—
A sharp hiss.
Speedy jerked back mid-dash, the tip of Ash's sword grazing his sleeve. A thin line of red surfaced beneath the torn fabric.
For the first time, Speedy's smirk faded. His gaze flicked to the cut, then back to Ash.
"Not bad."
Ash rolled his shoulders, the ghost of a grin forming. "Not so untouchable now, huh?"
Speedy chuckled, but the amusement in his voice carried an edge.
"Guess I'll have to stop playing around."
He raised his hand.
The air shifted.
The wind, once chaotic and wild, bent to his will. It twisted, curled, then fractured into a ring of whirling cyclones. The ground trembled beneath their force, the sound of tearing air filling the battlefield.
Ash braced himself, his mind racing.
"You got lucky once," Speedy said, his voice colder than before. "Let's see you dodge this."
The tornadoes converged.
Ash sprang sideways, but a sudden gust slammed into his side, hurling him backward. He barely had time to react before another vortex pulled him in, its spiraling force threatening to rip him from the ground. His fingers tightened around his sword—
Then he drove it down.
Steel bit into the earth, anchoring him against the pull. Dust and wind clawed at his face as he held firm.
A shadow flashed in front of him.
Speedy shot forward, using the storm's force to propel himself. A fist struck Ash's stomach, the impact stealing his breath and folding him in half.
Ash staggered, vision blurring.
He saw the second strike coming—barely. He twisted just in time, blade swinging in a desperate arc.
Speedy swayed back, avoiding the slash by a hair's breadth. His feet barely touched the ground before he flipped away, landing with an easy grace.
His eyes gleamed.
"You're actually keeping up." He rolled his shoulders. "Guess this won't be a waste of time after all."
Ash wiped his mouth, his stance shifting. The fight was starting to make sense now. Speedy's movements weren't random. He was fast, but not invincible.
He was following a pattern.
Wind surged as Speedy blurred into motion again, circling Ash in a whirlwind of speed. The pressure of his movements sent dust spiraling upward, distorting his figure into shifting shadows.
Ash remained still, eyes half-lidded, listening.
A memory surfaced.
His mother's voice, firm yet calm.
"Speed isn't invincibility. Fast opponents rely on momentum. You don't need to match them—just stop them in their tracks."
The tension in his body eased.
He loosened his stance—
And let go of his sword.
The blade hit the ground with a dull clang.
Speedy hesitated.
His charge slowed for half a second, just enough for doubt to flicker in his expression.
Ash struck.
A flicker of heat pulsed through his veins.
"[Activating skill: Scorch Palm]"
His palm shot forward, fingers curling into a fist. Fire surged to life, a smoldering glow racing up his arm.
Speedy's eyes widened.
Then Ash's fist slammed into his chest.
A burst of heat exploded from the impact, rippling outward in a fiery shockwave.
Speedy's body lifted off the ground. His breath hitched as the force sent him crashing back, his limbs slack as he tumbled across the dirt.
The wind stilled.
Ash lowered his hand, watching the faint embers flicker before fading into the night air. He flexed his fingers, his knuckles raw from the strike.
Weak.
But enough.
He retrieved his sword, giving Speedy one last glance.
"Too fast for your own good."
Then he turned and ran, disappearing into the night.
————
Aboard the Apex Carrier Ship
The old man leaned back, fingers idly swirling the crimson liquid in his glass. Holographic screens floated around him, casting a cold glow across his face. His sharp gaze flicked between them, scanning each battle with quiet amusement.
Then his eyes settled on one feed.
A lone figure stood before the Apex troopers, flames writhing around his body like a living entity. The fire pulsed, wild and relentless, illuminating his fierce stare. The weaker soldiers hesitated, their weapons trembling in their hands.
The old man chuckled. He took a slow sip, savoring the taste as he watched the boy's flames lash out, scorching the ground beneath him.
"So... he's finally embraced it," he murmured. "What a fascinating transformation."
The fire surged, consuming the air in waves of heat. Even through the screen, its intensity was undeniable. But the old man's smile didn't fade. He tilted his head slightly, watching Kael's every movement with calculating precision.
"This level of output…" He tapped a finger against his glass. "Barely holding himself back. If he had been born in the Apex, perhaps he could've been something great." A smirk tugged at his lips. "Instead, he wastes it fighting against us."
The door slid open with a low hiss. A trooper stepped in, posture rigid, hand raised in salute.
"Sir! The asteroid is too large to transport. Even our strongest ships can't move it." His voice held urgency, but he kept it steady. "What are your orders?"
The old man didn't turn. He took another slow sip before setting his glass down with a soft clink.
"We do the simplest thing possible," he said.
A pause.
"Blow it apart."
The trooper stiffened. "Sir… what about Jov and Speedy?"
Silence.
Then, finally, the old man turned. His smirk widened, but his gaze remained unreadable.
"They failed." He exhaled softly, almost as if the words bored him. "And failure has no place in the Apex."
The trooper didn't move.
"They are weak," the old man continued, waving a dismissive hand. "Let them die."
The trooper's throat bobbed, but he nodded. No argument. No hesitation. He turned sharply, making for the exit.
"Ah, and one more thing."
The trooper froze.
"Make sure the clean-up is thorough," the old man said. "No survivors."
The trooper swallowed hard, nodded again, and left.
The old man leaned forward, activating the ship's primary weapon systems.
A deep hum rolled through the carrier, the metal floors vibrating under the surge of energy. Across the ship, warning lights bathed the corridors in an eerie red glow. Troopers moved in synchronized urgency, engineers adjusting controls with swift precision.
Outside, the cannons rotated, locking onto their target—the asteroid.
The hum intensified.
Then—
A burst of purple and blue light erupted from the carrier's underbelly.
The beam tore through the void, a colossal wave of destruction splitting the silence of space. The moment it struck, the asteroid convulsed, its surface cracking in jagged, glowing fissures. Energy surged through its core, warping the rock from the inside out.
For a fraction of a second, everything hung still.
Then—
BOOM.
The asteroid detonated.
Fragments burst outward, scattering in every direction. A shockwave rippled through space, hurling dust and debris into the abyss. The sheer force sent smaller wrecks spiraling, their glowing remnants swallowed by the endless dark.
The old man exhaled slowly, watching the destruction unfold. The soft hum of the ship's systems returned, settling into a steady pulse.
His fingers traced the rim of his glass. A slow, satisfied smile crept onto his face.
'perfect.'