The arena hadn't calmed down from the fog battle between Rexton and Li Wei when the announcer's voice thundered again, booming through enchanted speakers that shook the seats.

"Up next! A debut fighter! Registered under the name Kael-X!"

The crowd stirred. Some murmured in curiosity, others jeered. A few laughed.

"Another rookie. Probably thinks he can handle the Red City pit."

"Kael-X? What kind of name is that?"

"He'll be eaten alive."

From the shadows of the tunnel, Kael walked out. His hood was still up, the long black mafia coat swaying around him, boots clicking with calm rhythm. The stadium lights caught only a glint of his chin, his eyes still hidden beneath his hair.

The referee gestured him forward to the chalked circle. Opposite him stood his opponent: Darius, a broad-shouldered man with jagged scars down his arm, glowing with faint sparks of electricity. A semi-pro elemental of thunder.

The crowd roared as Darius lifted his fists, lightning crackling. He was a crowd favorite, having already knocked out four rookies in the past month.

Kael, on the other hand, simply tilted his head. His coat shifted as he rolled his shoulders.

"Both fighters ready?" the referee asked.

Darius bared his teeth. "Ready to fry him."

Kael's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Let's make it interesting."

Phhrrrrrr!

The whistle blew.

---

Round One – Testing the Waters

Darius wasted no time. He lunged forward, fist crackling, throwing a heavy straight aimed right for Kael's face.

Kael didn't block. He didn't even dodge dramatically. He leaned back—just enough. The punch missed by a hair. The crowd gasped.

Darius snarled and threw a quick jab. Again, Kael tilted his head lazily, letting it whizz past his cheek.

He's… not even trying? Samantha thought from her VIP box, leaning against the glass. Her heart thumped nervously, her eyes locked on him.

Kael finally moved. A single step, forward this time, slipping inside Darius' guard. His elbow shot up and tapped Darius in the chin.

Pak!

Not a knockout. Not even enough to stagger him properly. Just enough sting to humiliate.

The crowd booed, confused.

"What is this rookie doing? Hit him properly!"

"He's mocking Darius!"

---

Round Two – Sparks and Shadows

Furious, Darius summoned a surge of electricity around his fists, arcs dancing in the air. He charged again, slamming a crackling punch toward Kael's ribs.

This time, Kael blocked. A lazy raise of his forearm, coat sleeve smoking as the electricity discharged harmlessly.

Interesting, Kael thought, feeling the current. He's got some juice. But too linear.

Before Darius could retract, Kael spun lightly, sweeping his leg. Darius stumbled but recovered.

Kael didn't press. Instead, he stepped back, hands in his pockets.

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"He's toying with him!"

"This rookie's dead meat once Darius gets serious."

---

Round Three – A Glimpse of Power

Darius, humiliated, gathered a huge ball of lightning between his palms. It sparked violently, humming with raw force.

"Die here, rookie!" he roared, launching the thunderball across the arena.

It tore through the air like a cannon shot.

Kael didn't move. At the very last second—

Swoosh!

He tilted his body just enough for the ball to whip past, grazing his coat. The explosion behind him rocked the ground, dust cloud rising.

But Kael was already in front of Darius. The crowd hadn't even processed it.

BAM!

A palm strike, clean to the chest. Not brutal. Controlled. Darius staggered back, coughing.

Kael could've ended it there. Everyone knew it. But instead, he stepped away, rolling his neck as if warming up.

The crowd screamed in confusion and excitement.

"Who IS this guy?"

"He dodged that thunderball like it was nothing!"

"But why didn't he finish?"

---

Round Four – The Prolonged Dance

Minutes ticked by. Kael danced around Darius' furious assaults, blocking, dodging, striking just enough to show skill but never landing the killing blow. Every punch, every kick looked casual—almost lazy.

"Fight seriously, dammit!" Darius yelled, sweat dripping down his face. His lightning flickered weaker now, his stamina burning out.

Kael chuckled under his breath. "You'll thank me later. I'm giving you screen time."

The crowd roared at his arrogance. Samantha pressed her hand against the glass, her lips curving into a worried smile. This idiot. He's dragging it out on purpose.

Kael raised a hand, curling his fingers in a taunt. "Come on. Last minute. Show me everything."

---

And as the clock neared the final seconds of the round, Kael's eyes finally glowed faintly beneath his hood. His aura flared, just for a breath.

The crowd fell silent.

The finishing blow was coming.

---

Perfect—let's stretch Chapter 22 to its full weight. Since Kael is intentionally dragging the fight until the very last minute, we'll keep building the tension, add crowd reactions, Samantha's emotions, Kael's inner dialogue, and finally end the chapter right before his finishing blow. That way, Chapter 23 can explode with the actual ending of the debut fight.

Here's the continuation:

---

The fight timer ticked down. Five minutes left.

Darius' chest heaved, each breath harsher than the last. Sweat poured down his forehead, mixing with sparks that now barely flickered. His stamina was being carved away—not by Kael's blows, but by the sheer humiliation of striking empty air again and again.

Kael, in contrast, looked untouched. His hood still hung low, his hair dangling in front of his face. Not a single bead of sweat. His breathing was calm, almost bored.

The crowd noticed too.

"Look at him! He's not even sweating!"

"Is this some kind of sick joke? Darius is fighting for his life and this Kael-X dude is… is strolling!"

"I don't know whether to hate him or worship him."

---

Dragging the Clock

Darius let out a furious roar, summoning the last of his strength. Lightning engulfed his entire body, veins glowing like molten lines under his skin. His feet stomped the ground as he charged, each step sending sparks across the ring.

"Lightning Rampage!!" he bellowed, swinging wildly in a furious barrage.

Finally, Kael thought, narrowing his eyes. He's burning his reserves.

To the audience, it looked like chaos—blinding fists, sparks bursting, the ring lighting up in white arcs. But to Kael, each movement slowed down, predictable, laughably easy to read.

He leaned right—fsshh! A fist missed.

He crouched low—zzzap! A kick of lightning grazed the air above him.

He stepped sideways—crash! The ground where he stood a second ago cracked.

The entire sequence was like a dance, Kael weaving through the storm with a casual grace.

Finally, as Darius overextended with a reckless swing, Kael caught his wrist.

Pak!

The sound echoed sharp. Kael twisted it slightly, just enough to bring Darius crashing to one knee.

The arena went wild.

"WOOOOOAHHHHH!"

"He… he caught him!"

"This guy's reactions are insane!"

---

Kael's Restraint

Instead of finishing him with a knee to the jaw or a slam, Kael simply let go and stepped back.

"Stand," he said softly, though the mic crystals around the ring amplified his voice for everyone to hear. "I'll give you one more shot."

The crowd lost it.

"He's insane!"

"He LET him go? What kind of rookie does that!?"

"This Kael-X is playing goddamn mind games!"

Samantha pressed her lips together in frustration. Kael… you're enjoying this too much.

Up in the rafters, a group of shady men in cloaks whispered.

"That hooded brat… his movements. Too sharp for a rookie."

"Keep an eye on him. If he survives, he might be trouble."

---

Final Minute Approaches

The big screen above the arena ticked down.

[00:59]

One minute left.

Darius stumbled to his feet, chest heaving like a dying engine. His arms trembled. His lightning crackled weakly, like sparks from a failing bulb.

Kael rolled his neck, a faint grin tugging his lips.

Time's up.

He tightened his fists. For the first time in the match, his aura stirred—a ripple of raw force that rolled across the arena like a sudden gust of wind. Dust lifted off the ground. Even the referee took a cautious step back.

The crowd fell silent. All that mocking, all the laughter, all the jeers… replaced by a hush of anticipation.

"What… what is he doing?"

"Why do I feel scared?"

"Is this rookie about to—?"

Samantha's hand trembled on the glass, her eyes wide. He's finally going to end it…

Kael raised his head just enough for the lights to catch the faint glow under his hood. His voice came low, calm, and certain:

"This ends now."

---

And just as Kael stepped forward, his aura exploding like a storm about to break—

BEEEEEP!

The buzzer blared. The round timer hit zero.

The referee rushed in between them, arms raised. "End of round!"

The crowd erupted into madness.

"NOOO, what the hell!"

"He was about to finish it!!"

"That aura—what was that!?"

Darius collapsed onto his stool, gasping, his entire body shaking. He looked less like a fighter and more like a man who had st

ared death in the eye and barely escaped.

Kael simply walked back to his corner, sitting calmly, hands resting on his knees. His hood shifted just enough for the camera to catch a faint smirk.

The arena went berserk.

"Kael-X! Kael-X! Kael-X!"

---

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