Everything slowed. Not figuratively....truly slowed. The jagged claw that had been inches from his face now hung there, suspended mid-swing, frozen in a moment that had not yet happened. The screeches of the clones behind it faded into a muted hum, like a choir holding its breath. The distorted chaos of the battlefield became distant and dreamlike, a smear of noise and color on the edges of Kai's awareness. He took in a deep breath, and exhaled. A slow, steady breath.
And in that breath, he felt it...his inner rhythm. Clearer now. No longer a faint thrum but a living cadence, pulsing with his heartbeat. He didn't think about it. He didn't try to shape it. He let it move. His Temporal Energy flowed into that hollow point he had created, the dip in the tempo that mirrored the rhythm of his soul. And then, with calm resolve, he gave it a simple command. "Accelerate." The shift was instantaneous. His body ignited....not with fire, but with raw, untamed speed. Power surged through his limbs as if a dam had broken. His muscles felt spring-loaded, every fiber alert, light, and unburdened. His senses expanded, catching every subtle movement, every flick of air, every glint of crimson energy on the edges of the Leviathans' malformed forms.
Time hadn't stopped. He had just begun to outpace it. Kai stepped to the side, his movements effortless and fluid. The clone's claw sliced through empty air where his head had just been. In that same motion, he twisted, raised his blade overhead, and brought it down in one smooth arc. The blade cut through the air like it was cleaving water, shearing through the clone mid-lunge, leaving a bright azure trail. Its body split apart, as it began to dissolve mid-air, before it hit the ground. And then Kai moved. He was a blur across the field, a shadow given speed and purpose. Every motion, every pivot, every strike aligned with the rhythm beating inside him. A step. A swing. A twist. A strike. Clone after clone fell as he dashed through the storm of bodies. Wings and claws tore through the air to intercept him.....too slow. Jaws snapped at his limbs...missed by inches. His sword surged, cutting arcs of luminous azure through the dark.
In this accelerated state, Kai was untouchable. The hoard began to thin. He didn't stop until a wide radius around him lay cleared, the blackened earth littered with half-formed remains twitching before crumbling to dust. And still, he wasn't panting. His body didn't ache. The rhythm inside him had carried him, lifted him, drove him beyond his former limits. Then...he let go. The flow of energy slowed, gradually easing. The rhythm of his soul settled, steady and natural once again. He grounded himself, planting both feet into the earth as he exhaled once more. And that was when it happened.
Every slash he had landed, every mark he had carved into the clones while moving faster than sight.....all of them appeared at once. Deep, glowing azure cuts manifested across dozens of bodies in the same breath. They collapsed like puppets with severed strings, their forms unraveling into red mist that shimmered faintly before vanishing into nothing. Kai stood at the center of it all, the silence around him absolute for the first time since the battle began. His eyes flicked around the battlefield, watching as the last remnants of his assault faded. A slow grin spread across his face. Not cocky or reckless...but confident. And for the first time since the Leviathan's roar shook the sky, Kai felt it down to the depths of his soul-
He wasn't just surviving anymore. He was fighting back. "Pretty sick moves back there big bro" Umbra's voice rang through Kai's mind, "Good job turning your inner rhythm into a lethal tempo." she said, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Lethal tempo eh?" Kai thought back, "That's a pretty sick name..." Umbra suddenly interrupted his thoughts, "Yo Big bro Zyren back there could use some help." Kai snapped his head towards Zyren, he saw that the main body of the Leviathan was about to send out clones at close range, and Zyren was right in front of it, his Hex in mid-swing. He wont be able to parry in time!
Kai took in a deep breath, as he commanded his Temporal Energy to accelerate once again. His sense of urgency caused the acceleration to be far stronger than what he had intended. He exhaled as he slammed a foot on the ground before launching himself forward. His increased strength and speed accelerated him like a rocket. In a moments notice, he zipped past Zyren and landed right in front of him. He swung his sword, cutting through the first clone in a clean arc. The creature dissolved away into a haze of crimson mist, which Kai absorbed with his blade. Lorith dashed towards them, as he cleaved through the clones in his path with his giant sword. Shards of broken Leviathans flew in all directions, as Lorith anhilated everything in his path.
"Zyren, don't worry" Kai said, trying to keep his voice calm, but his words came out sharper than expected. "We'll handle the clones, you take that bastard down!" The main body of the Leviathan reared up, its wings flaring open. Then, a tail spike shot toward Zyren. He barely managed to twist away before it detonated on impact. The shockwave ripped through the air, sending him skidding backward as shrapnel flew in the air. "Alright, you rabid mutt," Zyren muttered, "Let's end this." He pushed off the ground, charging towards the beast like a bolt of crimson lightning. The Leviathan roared, its maw pulsing with energy as it fired another searing beam of destruction. Kai couldn't keep standing and watching, he dashed away, and resumed to blitz past hoards of clones, shredding them down in the blink of an eye.
"Big bro....Zyren is running out of energy, you gotta help him." Umbra's voice rang out, her tone heavy with concern. Kai turned and noticed that Zyren was crouching, the energy around him flickering. "Wh-what do I do?" Kai asked, a chill running down his spine. "Focus! find his rhythm and sync yours to match his. Then you will be able to transfer some of your on energy into him." Umbra instructed. Kai began to focus, trying his best to reach out and pierce into Zyren's soul. He could hear something...but it was too vague to figure it out. "C'mon.....c'mon..." Kai began to strain himself as he tried to listen to the rhythm, while simultaneously creating a hollow point to match it. He managed to roughly create a stream, but it as far from perfect. "Ugh....damn it this will have to do for now..." Kai thought as he dashed towards Zyren.
"Put your hand on him and connect your energy to his." Umbra instructed, "Think of it like connecting a tube for a blood transfusion. Once you have a clear path, pour your energy through the hollow point." Kai let out a deep breath as he put his hand on Zyren's shoulder, commanding his energy to flow through the hollow point. Zyren jerked his head up, looking at Kai with a surprised expression. Kai stood behind him, his expression calm, steady. Zyren's ember-like eyes widened. "What the hell are you-?" Kai gave a small, lopsided smirk. "Giving you my energy." After a short pause, Zyren snorted. "Tch. You're full of surprises, kid." Kai shrugged. "Questions later. Just finish the damn thing."
Zyren's grin returned, wilder and sharper. "Oh, you don't have to tell me twice." He stood, his renewed strength crackling around him like an inferno. His scarlet aura roared to life, the ground beneath him fracturing from the sheer force of his power. The Leviathan snarled, sensing the shift. Too late. Zyren moved. His Kusarigama's blade flashed, severing the Leviathan's arm as he rushed in. The beast howled, but Zyren was already on it, Kai watched as Zyren swung his weapon, the chain wrapping around the beast's neck as he yanked himself onto its back.
The Leviathan thrashed, but Zyren was already moving. He ripped his weapon free....then, with all the power surging through him, he drove the blade straight into the core. CRACK! A deafening shatter rang through the battlefield. The Leviathan's roar cut off, its massive body seizing as the light in its hollow eyes faded. The remaining clones froze mid-motion, their forms unraveling, breaking apart as their existence ceased. Then, it was pure silence. The Leviathan's body collapsed, disintegrating into nothingness. Zyren landed hard, his breath coming in short, ragged bursts. He stood there for a moment, taking in the ruined battlefield, the absence of monstrous roars. Then-
He threw his head back and laughed. A wild, victorious, exhilarated laugh. "HELL YEAH! NOW THAT'S A FIGHT!" Kai walked towards him, with Lorith following close behind. The battlefield eerily still now that the Leviathan was gone. Lorith let out a low, satisfied grunt, resting his greatsword on his shoulder. "Took you long enough." Kai smirked, shaking his head as a sense of relief spread through him, "Well that was one hell of an experience." Zyren wiped a streak of golden blood from his cheek, his grin still plastered across his face. "Damn right it was." Then, rolling his shoulders, Zyren turned towards them. "Alright, boys. Let's head back."