Fragments of Dawn

Chapter 23: The Weight of Power

The wind howled through the ruins, carrying the scent of burning metal and scorched earth. Kai forced himself to his feet, his body aching from the impact of Ava’s last attack. Dust and debris still clung to his skin, but he barely noticed.

His focus was locked on the figure standing atop the crumbling structure.

Ava.

She stood motionless, the golden glow of her eyes cutting through the darkness. Around her, the warriors of her faction remained still, watching, waiting. They were ready to strike, but they wouldn’t move unless she commanded it.

This wasn’t just a fight.

It was a test.

A challenge to his resolve.

Kai wiped the blood from his lip and exhaled sharply. “You really think I’m just going to let this go?”

Ava’s smirk was faint but unmistakable. “No,” she said simply.

Then she vanished.

Kai’s instincts screamed.

He barely managed to shift into Temporal Shatter—his mind accelerating his perception of time. The world around him slowed, giving him just enough space to react.

Ava reappeared behind him.

He twisted, dodging her palm strike by a fraction of a second. The sheer force of the attack shattered the ground where he had just stood, sending a shockwave through the ruins.

She was faster than before.

Kai didn’t hesitate.

Using the residual time distortion, he struck back—his fist laced with fragment energy, aimed directly at her ribs.

Ava caught his wrist effortlessly.@@@@

Her grip tightened, a pulse of energy racing up his arm. “You’re hesitating again.”

Kai gritted his teeth. “You think I’m holding back?”

Ava leaned in slightly. “I know you are.”

Her knee shot up toward his ribs.

Kai reacted on instinct—rewinding the last second of movement, allowing himself to sidestep before her strike could land.

Ava’s eyes flashed.

She anticipated it.

Instead of following through with the attack, she shifted her weight, spinning mid-air and slamming her heel toward his head.

This time, Kai wasn’t fast enough.

The kick connected.

He felt the impact before his body even registered the pain. His vision blurred as he was launched backward, slamming through a rusted-out vehicle. The metal groaned beneath the force, crumpling under his weight.

For a few seconds, he just lay there, gasping for breath.

Ava slowly walked toward him. “You’ve improved,” she admitted. “But not enough.”

Kai forced himself up. His fingers dug into the dirt, his mind racing.

She was stronger than him.

But she wasn’t invincible.

He had to think.

Ava was powerful, but Kai had fought her before. He knew her habits, her movements, her fighting style.

She was relentless, always pushing forward. She had the advantage in raw power and speed, but there was one thing she lacked.

Restraint.

Kai took a slow breath. If he wanted to win, he needed to outthink her.

And then she spoke.

“This is the difference between us, Kai.”

The glow around her intensified.

“I embraced what I became.”

The ground beneath Kai cracked.

“You?” Ava’s eyes burned brighter.

“You’re still pretending to be human.”

And then—

She struck.

Kai had never seen her move this fast.

One second she was standing yards away.

The next—

Her hand was at his throat.

Kai’s entire body froze.

Ava lifted him off the ground, golden energy crackling around her fingertips.

“Do you see it now?” she whispered. “The weight of power?”

Kai struggled, his vision blurring from the energy surging through his body. He tried to activate Temporal Shatter, but—

Nothing happened.

Ava’s grip tightened. “I can feel it in you, Kai. You’re afraid of what happens if you go too far.”

Her other hand pressed against his chest. Energy surged, burning through his veins like liquid fire.

Kai gasped, barely managing to choke out, “And you’re not?”

Ava’s expression darkened.

Then—

She let go.

Kai collapsed to the ground, coughing. His limbs trembled, the aftershocks of her energy still coursing through him.

He looked up.

Ava stood over him, her gaze unreadable.

“You don’t understand yet,” she murmured. “But you will.”

She turned away.

And just like that—

She was gone.

The warriors watching the fight hesitated. Then, one by one, they followed, vanishing into the ruins.

Kai remained on the ground, staring up at the crimson sky.

His body ached. His mind raced.

Ava had won this round.

But the battle wasn’t over.

It was just beginning.

Kai exhaled.

Next time—

He wouldn’t hesitate.