From Fire to Fog (II)

Esper Duel: From Speed to Smoke

The arena was alive with murmurs and whispers as the second match was announced. My gaze shifted to the new pair stepping into the ring. The first was a girl dressed in a traditional ninja-style outfit—a Kunoichi. Her black attire hugged her frame snugly, adorned with small pouches and spherical objects tied at her waist. Smoke bombs? Light bombs? I couldn't tell yet, but they added to her aura of precision and preparation.

Her opponent was a boy with an athletic build, his outfit resembling tight running gear. It lacked flair, but there was something about his posture—poised, ready to spring at any moment—that hinted at his speed. I had seen him earlier, isn't he the one who used the <X-Ray > skill earlier? Can he perform well with that skill? 

"Get ready!" Mr. Alan's voice rang out, pulling everyone's focus back to the arena.

I wondered how their abilities would clash. A fight between Espers was always unpredictable—less about preparation and more about improvisation in the heat of the moment.

"Begin!"

As soon as the command left Mr. Alan's lips, the boy vanished. 

Not literally, but his Dash skill was so fast it gave the illusion of invisibility. Gasps rippled through the audience as he reappeared in a blur, already closing the distance between himself and the Kunoichi.

At the same time, my mind received information about <Dash >, and I was a bit surprised because it appeared while I was relaxed and without warning.

"Dual, huh?" I muttered softly, almost to myself.

"How do you know?" The voice beside me startled me. It was Putri, my sparring partner, her tone as flat and unreadable as ever. She was watching the match, her expression calm and detached, but her question lingered, breaking the rhythm of my thoughts.

I hadn't meant to share that observation out loud. For a moment, I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I had nearly forgotten she was even there, so silent and still.

"From the data, he only has one skill, which is Dash," she added, her voice tinged with faint curiosity.

"I don't know," I replied quickly, trying to shrug it off. "I just like to guess. Don't think about what I said." I waved it away with a forced casualness, hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"Oh... okay." She nodded lightly, her attention drifting back to the arena as easily as it had left it.

I exhaled quietly, relieved she didn't press further. It wasn't like her to poke into someone else's thoughts. If anything, that was one of the things I appreciated about her—she respected boundaries without me even needing to ask.

Back to the match.

The kunoichi girl didn't flinch. Her calm demeanor caught my attention—she wasn't rattled by his speed. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she read his trajectory, her movements deliberate as she shifted her footing. I think she has good eyesight. Yeah, although I can also slightly notice from here. But seeing from a distance is definitely different than in the arena. I'm also not sure I can respond to that without using my power.

The runner struck first, throwing a swift punch aimed at her right side. But the Kunoichi raised her arm, parrying his attack with precision. The sound of their collision echoed through the arena—his brute force against her deliberate control. The moment his momentum faltered, she took a quick step back, creating just enough space to assess her next move.

Her hand darted to her waist, fingers curling around one of the small spheres attached to her belt. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled it at the ground.

Smoke erupted, thick and impenetrable, engulfing the arena in an instant. The once-clear battlefield was now an impenetrable haze, leaving the audience completely blind to what was happening inside.

My lips twitched in faint amusement. A smoke bomb, huh? Textbook ninja tactics, but it worked. The runner's speed meant nothing if he couldn't see his target.

As the smoke billowed and lingered over the arena, I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes. Something was… off. Normally, smoke would begin to thin and spread out, carried by the wind or dissipating into the open air. But this wasn't happening. The fog clung stubbornly to the confines of the arena as if trapped inside an invisible barrier.

<Compressed Air> I muttered under my breath.

Her skill—it wasn't about the smoke. It was about the air. She was controlling it, shaping it, using it to cage the smoke within the arena's bounds. It was a deliberate act, ensuring that she moved unseen, while her opponent floundered in the murky haze.

The sheer potential of her ability hit me hard. If she could manipulate air, she could do far more than hide in smoke. Compressed Air wasn't just a tool for concealment; it was a weapon, a defense, an endless array of possibilities waiting to be unleashed. She could create barriers to block attacks, traps to immobilize enemies, or even solid footholds in midair to give herself an unpredictable edge in movement. The idea of suffocating an opponent, cutting off their air supply… I shuddered. The thought alone was chilling.

But before I could dwell further on her capabilities, a familiar sensation washed over me—a faint buzz, rippling at the edges of my consciousness. It wasn't something physical, but rather a mental nudge, as if a puzzle piece had been nudged into place.

Seeing the smoke in the arena, I was ready for another information I might receive. And sure enough, <X-ray > reappeared in my mind.

As the name suggests, this ability can penetrate objects, not for minimal visibility. I dont know but, he cannot see through living organisms, But there was a significant advantage to this weakness during this game, or so I think.

By the way, my information only appears when I see him or when his power is directed at me, or when he is not far from me. Which means when he looks around using his ability, he accidentally looks at me. I'm also confused as to why he faces upward.

The arena fell silent, the tension growing unbearable as the crowd waited for the fog to clear. My mind raced, trying to piece together the unseen battle unfolding within.

If the Kunoichi was aware of his X-Ray ability—and I doubted it, given Putri's earlier comment about him only having one skill—then she would need to rely on agility and split-second timing to counter him. But if she didn't know… then the runner had an overwhelming advantage.

To see through the fog meant he could predict her movements, counter her strikes, and attack with precision while she remained blind. Still, something told me she wasn't the type to falter so easily. Her calm demeanor and calculated actions hinted at a deeper understanding of combat—one that might just outmatch raw skill.

The seconds felt like hours as the smoke began to thin. Shadows started to form, vague outlines that slowly sharpened as the arena came back into view.

And then, there they were.

The runner stood frozen in place, his arms and legs bound tightly by ropes. They cut into his movements, rendering him completely immobile. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the strain of resistance etched on his face. Behind him, the Kunoichi knelt with one knee pressed firmly into his back. A glint of metal caught the light—a kunai, poised at his throat, held with unwavering precision.

The runner gritted his teeth, struggling futilely against the ropes before letting out a shaky breath. "I… I surrender," he said, his voice strained but calm.

"The winner is Lucia!" Mr. Alan's voice rang out, breaking the silence.

Lucia released the kunai, stepping back as the runner dropped to his knees. She straightened her posture, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a casual elegance that belied the intensity of the fight.

The crowd erupted into applause, though my focus remained on her. Her ability had more potential than what she showed. The way she controlled the arena with precision and decisiveness hinted at someone who could turn even the smallest advantage into victory.

As she exited the arena, my mind lingered on the fight. The contrast between Espers and Wizards was becoming clearer. Wizards thrived on preparation, intricate circles, and calculated strategy. Espers, on the other hand, embraced immediacy and unpredictability, relying on instinct and adaptability in the chaos of battle.

"Alright, the next pair," Mr. Alan called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

The matches were just beginning, and I had a feeling the best was yet to come.

I leaned back in my seat, anticipation bubbling within me. This was only the beginning, and I was eager to see what came next.

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