The transformation was instant.
Crimson armor unfurled from the gauntlet like living scales, coating both of Leo's arms and shoulders. Energy shimmered around him — a kinetic aura like a red stormcloud trapped in human form. Behind him, glowing afterimages of dragon wings flickered into existence.
> "Leo just jumped to Mythos Breaker. Not what I expected," said Sariel, eyes narrowing. "This'll push Marcus."
> "Or get Leo hospitalized again," Estelle muttered.
Leo surged forward, three kinetic dashes chaining with explosive grace. He dashed past Marcus's guard, delivering a kinetic-enhanced uppercut that detonated on impact. Marcus was lifted off the ground — the first clean hit of the match.
> "Boom!" Leo grinned. "Come on, don't disappoint me now!"
Marcus's feet hit the ground, his expression unreadable. His arm shimmered.
> "Very well. If you insist."
He tapped the side of Orenmir.
> "Celestial Pathway — Mode Three: Divine Locking Protocol."
His blade condensed into a narrow, almost needle-like edge. Thin golden rings formed around it — orbiting like planets — a gravity field compressing around the tip.
Leo dashed again — Marcus side-stepped using a divine acceleration glyph, and countered with a single forward thrust.
The needle-arm pierced through Leo's kinetic afterimages and detonated with holy backlash, not at Leo — but behind him, disrupting his dash trail and blowing him into the air like a ragdoll.
> "He predicted the kinetic trail and collapsed it with divine feedback. That's… tactical," whispered Kairos.
Leo hovered mid-air, coughing, his armor smoking.
> "One more round. Come on, Marcus."
> "I admire your tenacity," Marcus replied, raising his blade.
Both men launched at each other one final time — Leo's gauntlet flaring with a kinetic storm, Marcus's silver blade glowing with divine sigils.
The clash exploded like a comet strike. A ring of golden light and red shockwaves flattened the sparring ground. Dust filled the arena.
When it cleared, Leo was kneeling, the armor of his gauntlet steaming and cracked. Marcus stood calmly, his arm deactivated, steam rising from his left shoulder.
> "Yield," Leo grunted. "Before this thing cooks my bones."
> "Accepted."
The match ended. Applause broke out. The Hero Faction members descended into the ring, offering comments and jabs.
> "Not bad, dragon boy. You almost fried him," Haldrin smirked.
> "His reactions are terrifying," Leo muttered, looking up at Marcus. "You sure you're not part machine?"
Marcus offered a faint smile. "No. Just trained harder than most."
Estelle approached, offering Leo a cooling vial. "Next time, don't try to out-kinetic the man who rewrites motion laws. Still — impressive use of Varkhaz'tor's gifts."
The duel was over, but respect had bloomed between them — one forged in the heat of combat, sealed by the clash of relics ancient and divine.