The rhythmic crash of waves filled the air as Kei stood on the beach, his bare feet digging into the cool sand. The soreness from the fractured zone fight lingered in his muscles, but his breathing remained steady, synchronized with the rhythm of the waves. Practicing Wing Chun had become his way of centering himself, each deliberate motion sharpening his focus and calming his mind.


    Behind him, Mia moved through the graceful, flowing motions of Tai Chi. Her fragile frame moved with precision, her breathing aligned with her Equilibrium Breath, which radiated a soft, steady glow. Despite her exhaustion, her Balance Talisman pulsed faintly, stabilizing her energy.


    The fractured zone they had just neutralized felt like a distant memory, but the looming threat of more zones weighed heavily on both of them.


    <h4>The Sparring Request</h4>


    As Kei transitioned into a series of rapid strikes against an imaginary opponent, Mia’s voice interrupted him.


    “Kei,” she said firmly, her voice cutting through the sound of the waves. “Let’s spar.”


    Kei froze mid-motion, his hand still extended in a strike. Slowly, he turned to face her, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. “You want to spar? With me?”


    Mia nodded, planting her scythe into the sand beside her. “I’ve been watching you practice. I think it would be beneficial to test my Tai Chi against your Wing Chun.”


    Kei’s eyes narrowed as he processed her words. Then, with no conscious thought in his head, he muttered, “Bitch?” His tone was filled with pure, unfiltered confusion, as though her request had short-circuited his brain.


    Mia raised an unimpressed eyebrow. “Excuse me?”


    Kei blinked, his hands going up defensively. “I mean… uh, are you sure? You’re, you know, not exactly built for this.”


    Mia sighed, her patience thinning. “I’m not asking for a full-contact fight. I need to refine my movements and test my precision. Besides,” she added with a faint smirk, “you’re not exactly delicate.”


    Kei scratched the back of his head, still unsure. “Alright,” he relented, “but if you break something, it’s not my fault.”


    Mia stepped into her stance, her Balance Talisman glowing faintly. “Don’t worry. I can handle myself.”


    <h4>Sparring Session</h4>


    The two began to circle each other, the golden light of the setting sun casting long shadows on the beach. Kei’s Wing Chun stance was sharp and reactive, his movements precise and efficient. Mia’s Tai Chi, by contrast, was fluid and deliberate, her motions embodying balance and grace.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Kei launched the first strike, a quick jab aimed at her shoulder. Mia flowed with the attack, redirecting his momentum with a subtle shift of her arm. She countered with a sweeping motion, her movements slow but intentional.


    “Not bad,” Kei admitted, taking a step back to reassess. “But can you keep up with this?”


    He surged forward, his strikes coming faster and harder. His hands moved in a blur, testing Mia’s ability to react under pressure. She matched his pace, her Balance Talisman glowing brighter as her movements became more precise. Her Tai Chi allowed her to deflect and redirect his strikes without losing her composure.


    Kei grinned, a flicker of pride in his voice. “Alright, Mia. Maybe you’re tougher than I thought.”


    Mia’s response was a faint smirk as she flowed into another counter, her balance never faltering.


    <h4>The World’s Response</h4>


    While Kei and Mia honed their combat skills, the rest of the world began to respond to the challenges posed by the fractured zones. The trial participants who had returned to Earth were quickly recognized as key figures in the fight to stabilize the planet.


    Elias Lorne


    <ul>


    <li>Law of Fire (4% Progression)</li>


    <li>Elias had aligned himself with the government, his fiery charisma and combat prowess making him a natural leader. He spearheaded efforts to coordinate fractured zone containment, his presence galvanizing others into action.</li>


    <li>In one of his first missions, Elias incinerated a Riftborn before it could fully emerge, cementing his reputation as a decisive and powerful protector.</li>


    </ul>


    Sofia Ramirez


    <ul>


    <li>Law of Wind (3% Progression)</li>


    <li>Sofia found her place in the military, though her journey there had been anything but smooth. Before the trials, she had been a lackluster recruit, on the verge of being discharged for poor performance.</li>


    <li>The trials awakened her potential, transforming her into a deadly and agile fighter. Her mastery of the Law of Wind allowed her to neutralize threats with precision and efficiency. Now, she trained elite squads in fractured zone combat techniques.</li>


    </ul>


    Ahmed Khalid


    <ul>


    <li>Law of Stone (5% Progression)</li>


    <li>Ahmed chose a quieter role, using his abilities to fortify Earth’s crumbling infrastructure. His mastery of the Law of Stone allowed him to stabilize fractured zones before they expanded, earning him the respect of civilians and officials alike.</li>


    <li>His calm demeanor and methodical approach provided a stark contrast to Elias and Sofia, but his contributions were no less critical.</li>


    </ul>


    <h4>Kei and Mia’s Resolve</h4>


    Back on the beach, Kei and Mia sat in the sand, catching their breath after the sparring session. The sky was painted in fiery hues as the sun dipped below the horizon, the waves providing a soothing soundtrack.


    “You’ve improved,” Kei said, leaning back on his elbows. “Not that you were bad before, but… you know.”


    Mia smirked, her exhaustion evident but her resolve unwavering. “You’re not so bad yourself. Maybe we’ll survive this after all.”


    Kei chuckled, the sound light but genuine. “Survive? Mia, we’re gonna thrive. Just wait and see.”


    The fractured zones loomed as an ever-present threat, but for now, they had found a rhythm—a balance. Together, they would face whatever came next.