The impact hurled him away.

  He slid across the layer before finally stopping.

  The sword almost slipped from his hand.

  For a few moments, he remained motionless.

  The two creatures did not rush.

  They didn’t need to.

  They walked side by side.

  Slow.

  Certain.

  The twisted structures across their bodies formed something resembling a smile.

  Macabre.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Kaelion tried to rise.

  He managed to get onto his knees.

  He gripped the sword tightly.

  Watching them approach.

  If this continues…

  I won’t survive.

  The smaller creature tilted its head slightly.

  The larger one stepped forward.

  Kaelion breathed slowly.

  The conclusion was simple.

  Strength was not enough.

  Speed was not enough.

  He needed both.

  The words left him without a shout.

  Without challenge.

  Only necessity.

  “At this rate… I won’t survive.”

  The smaller creature began to accelerate.

  “I need to become stronger…”

  The larger creature leaned forward for the strike.

  “…and faster.”

  Silence.

  No light appeared.

  No explosion followed.

  But something inside him responded.

  Something changed.

  The smaller creature vanished.

  Appearing where he should have been.

  But he was no longer there.

  He had moved.

  Barely.

  But he had moved.

  The larger creature struck the ground.

  The layer split open with deep fractures.

  Kaelion raised the sword.

  Blocked.

  The impact was still heavy.

  But no longer devastating.

  He slid backward.

  Still standing.

  The creatures stopped again.

  Watching.

  The layer rippled slowly beneath them.

  Something had changed.

  The

  adaptation was active now.

  The second order had begun.