Clouded Thoughts

Team Lunar and Team Astra found themselves back in the arena, a clear sign that the second battle had concluded. The atmosphere spoke volumes about the outcome, and it wasn't a pleasant one.

A collective sigh emanated from Team Lunar as they descended from the spot where they had materialized, their spirits as heavy as the air. Despite the lingering headache, they couldn't even muster a chuckle about it.

"We gave it our all, team," Trent voiced, his tone reflective. "But there was no countering Mr. Ash's smoke manipulation."

"Clearly, YOU did amazing. You took them all on single-handedly at the end and brought down two of them. The rest of the team was just lackluster," Mia chimed in with a hint of self-assuredness. "Except for me, of course."

Klaus, his frustration palpable, interjected, "Says the girl who didn't land a single shot."

Mia hesitated for a moment, her embarrassment evident. She finally retorted, "Well, at least I contributed something to the fight. You might as well have been absent."

Klaus knew deep down that Mia was right, but he chose to brush off her comment.

"Besides," Mia added, her voice softer, "I didn't want to use my ability. I was afraid it might kill me."

Trent intervened to mend the strained atmosphere, "Let's not dwell on the negatives, my friends. We all did our best. It's essential to acknowledge our mistakes and aim to improve next time."

Soon, XVII entered the arena, ready to reveal what was next on the divine agenda. "As per the Gods' wishes, you all have a one-hour break before the next set of challenges. You are free to spend your time as you see fit until then."

As everyone dispersed, before Klaus could depart, XVII approached him and initiated a conversation. "Klaus Walker, it appears your father has summoned you."

Klaus sighed, aware that there was no evading the demands of the divine beings.

After a while, Klaus and XVII were transported to the realm of the Gods, where Klaus was directed to the meeting point with Sol.

As Klaus entered the room, he immediately found himself on his knees, a reaction that Sol noticed and promptly suppressed.

"Welcome, Klaus," Sol began, his presence commanding.

Klaus acknowledged the greeting with a simple wave, his demeanor subdued. Sol continued, "How has the tournament been for you?"

Klaus replied with a hint of disappointment, "I've been better."

Sol nodded, understanding the weight of Klaus's emotions.

"The outcomes of battles don't always align with our desires. It's our duty to turn inconveniences into fuel for what lies ahead," Sol advised, offering a semblance of solace.

Klaus yearned for the games to be over but recognized the wisdom in Sol's words. He remained silent, allowing Sol to proceed.

"Well, I called you here to give you something you need," Sol said, extending his hand.

A small vortex of light materialized above Sol's palm, eventually revealing a small pod. Sol explained, "I believe you lost this during the battle with Team Solar."

It was a pair of contact lenses, not just any, but the exact ones Klaus had been using. He hadn't noticed the lack of clarity in his vision due to his frustration and anger until Sol brought it up. Klaus accepted them gratefully, removing them from the pod and placing them in his eyes.

"Thank you," Klaus expressed his gratitude.

"It's the least I can do for you. After all, I'm the one who creates them for Natalie to give to you," Sol revealed, leaving Klaus surprised by this revelation.

After a brief conversation, it was time for Klaus to return. Before he departed, Sol called his attention one last time.

"Klaus, keep your head held high. I know you'll find a way out of your current plight," Sol assured him, demonstrating that he was aware of Klaus's situation but chose not to intervene directly.

As Klaus returned to his apartment, frustration weighed heavily on him. "Why didn't Sol address the situation if he knew what Rose did?" he pondered.

Lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, Klaus's mind began to drift. He seemed to be in a trance, his eyes open yet unseeing, when a knock on the door jolted him back to reality.

Klaus made his way to the door and opened it, revealing Quinn. She entered without waiting for an invitation and greeted him, "Hey, Walker. How's it going?"

Klaus, still standing by the open door, responded curtly, "What do you want?"

Quinn tried to maintain her cheerful demeanor as she continued. "Come on, can't I just say hi to a good friend of mine?"

Klaus, demonstrating his astute perception, cut to the chase, "She asked you for help, didn't she?"

Quinn's smile faded, and she admitted, "You really are too perceptive for your own good."

"Says you," Klaus retorted as he walked back, sitting on his bed, awaiting Quinn's explanation.

For a few moments, silence enveloped the room, before Quinn finally broke it.

CONVERSATION

Quinn: You know... she told me everything that happened.

Klaus kept his silence, causing Quinn's decision to continue.

Quinn: But it wasn't her intention. You know that, right?

Klaus's expression immediately shifted upon hearing the absurd statement.

Klaus: Are you serious right now?

Quinn: I understand that it was bad, and to be honest, I don't blame you for being upset. But when she approached me, tears streaming down her face, unable to complete a full sentence without sobbing, I realized just how much it meant to her.

Klaus: That doesn't change what happened.

Quinn: Yes, and you're correct. However, you have to realize that she's someone who's too accustomed to getting her way. When you have feelings for someone, it can lead you to make unwise decisions just to be with them, so I'm not shocked about what she did. And I know you're aware of this too.

Quinn attempted to offer a rational perspective, but the discussion only appeared to be fueling Klaus's anger even further.

Klaus: Why exactly are you here, Quinn? What do you plan to get out of helping her?

Quinn went silent for a few more seconds, knowing the truth.

Quinn: Look, Walker, she messed up. To be completely honest, there's just no way to sugarcoat it, I tried. But, in all honesty, she wasn't the one who requested that I come here. All she did was seek advice on how to handle the situation, and I gave her an honest answer: that all she can do now is hope for your forgiveness.

Klaus laid back on the bed and faced the ceiling as Quinn continued.

Quinn: I'm not here to ask your forgiveness on her behalf because I don't have the authority or the right to alter your opinion, as I'm not directly involved. However, I can literally sense the pain you're experiencing after being betrayed by one of the very few people you allowed into your life. So, you're wondering why I'm here, right? It's because I understand how painful this is, especially for someone as reclusive as you, and I don't want this incident to hinder your growth as a demigod.

Klaus acknowledged Quinn's wisdom. It hurt, yes, but he realized it didn't have to be the sole reason for him to disregard his responsibilities.

In a mere moment of reflection, Klaus confronted the reality of his actions in the previous battle, fueled by anger. He comprehended that if he had stuck to his role, his team would have had a better shot at victory, and that was what truly mattered.

Moreover, Klaus grasped that everyone had to start somewhere, and although it appeared that Lance, X, and Ash had surged ahead, it didn't mean he couldn't catch up.

"You're right," Klaus murmured to Quinn, surprising her with his acquiescence.

"Wait, really? So you'll continue giving your all?" she asked in astonishment.

Klaus sighed and reluctantly responded, "I guess."

Quinn beamed, realizing she had broken through his initial resistance. She knew he had been in denial before her intervention, but ultimately, it was Klaus himself who made the decision to move forward.

"Well, let's head back to the arena then," Quinn suggested.

Klaus, puzzled, questioned, "Wait, why?"

Glancing at the time, Klaus was shocked to discover he had been away for nearly an entire hour. He chose to ignore it and, alongside Quinn, made his way back to the Arena of Valor.

Before reaching their destination, Klaus turned to Quinn, feeling compelled to express his gratitude. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

Quinn smiled, recognizing that Klaus wasn't one to freely offer thanks. "I'm always happy to help," she replied before heading to rejoin her team.

After a few minutes, as all the other demigods gathered at the arena, XVII proceeded to announce the next set of games.

"It should be evident by now which team will play offense or defense, but the order and opponents will be revealed shortly," XVII clarified.

Klaus's team, having previously played on offense against Team Astra, was slated for defense in the upcoming game.

"Now, I will reveal the order. The second batch will begin with Team Astra on offense against Team Stellar on defense, leaving the final game of the second round between Team Lunar on defense and Team Solar on offense."

After XVII's announcement, the teams grouped up and prepared to depart for the location.

XVII emphasized, "While it's not mandatory to spectate the games, I strongly advise it, as both team leaders are the highest-rated among the demigods."

X was well known for his unwavering resolve and surreal tactical prowess, and Ash hadn't suffered a single defeat since his introduction as part of the demigods. It was a clash between an unstoppable force and an immovable object.

Realizing that returning to his apartment was not an option, Klaus decided to seize the opportunity to witness the strength of the strongest among them.

Shortly after the teams departed, a large screen appeared at the arena stage, offering a view of the battleground where the participating teams would compete.

As Team Stellar assumed the defensive role, they awaited Team Astra's strategy and entry onto the battlefield before the countdown began.

This room differed from the one in Klaus's previous match, consisting of three distinct sections.

After thorough strategizing and planning, the game finally commenced.

Team Stellar's strategy appeared promising, designed for potential effectiveness. Tyler and Iris occupied the first section, Arthur in the second, and X in the final room where the alarm was situated. Team Astra, on the other hand, seemed to favor a straightforward approach, advancing to confront Team Stellar one-on-one until they reached the alarm.

As they approached Iris and Tyler, Quinn took on Iris while Siren confronted Tyler, leaving the rest of the team to move forward.

Klaus observed both teams making decisions and executing them with speed and precision. However, his attention soon focused on the duel between Quinn and Iris.

He recalled Iris's ability to conjure fire wherever she looked, a detail that had momentarily slipped his mind, perhaps because he rarely witnessed her using it—until her confrontation with Quinn.

Initially, it seemed Quinn held the upper hand, employing her telekinetic abilities to manipulate objects around her and hurl them at Iris. To everyone's surprise, Iris expertly dodged each projectile, revealing a level of skill that caught them off guard.

"I guess flirting isn't the only thing she's good at," Shade commented, his team and Klaus's team riveted by the fight.

Iris was indeed impressive, but another real standout of the ongoing battles was Tyler.

This realization led people to notice that Tyler and Iris were almost absent in the first game mode. Klaus recalled that they even appeared to be asleep after Quinn had claimed the first victory by retrieving the fifth flag.

"To think I assumed that those two were just slackers from the first event," Klaus remarked on the situation.

"Well, to be fair, they didn't have much to do. X had complete oversight of their tower, so they knew he would handle any threats to the flag," Riley explained, demonstrating her awareness of the prior events.

"And here I thought they were just lucky," Klaus continued as they watched Tyler's battle with Siren.

Riley paused for a moment before addressing Klaus again. "Uhh, by the way, I don't believe we've officially met before. I'm Riley Greene, daughter of Zenith," she said, extending her hand toward Klaus.

Klaus hesitated briefly but decided to shake her hand, finding it less cumbersome. "Klaus Walker," he replied.

"I know. You're the son of Sol," Riley continued, indicating her knowledge of his identity.

"I... uhh, heard about your duel with Lance directly from Lance himself. It seems you really gave him a challenge," Riley added, realizing that conversing with Klaus was a bit challenging.

Klaus, knowing the reality, responded truthfully before returning his attention to the screen, "It appears you were lied to. He just went too easy on me."

"I wonder," Riley murmured, also turning her attention back to the screen.

Returning to the battle, Siren unleashed supersonic charged shots at Tyler, who initially struggled to dodge and even suffered some hits. However, as time passed, his evasions became second nature.

The dynamics of their battle shifted dramatically from its initial state, which favored Siren. Moreover, for every attack Siren launched, Tyler countered and responded almost instantly.

Tyler appeared not to employ any visible abilities, yet it was evident that he was growing stronger as the battle endured.

"It's as if he's adapting to the fight," Riley observed with curiosity.

Lance then offered an explanation, drawing the attention of those around them.

"The son of Ultion, the God of Retribution," he declared.

"If my knowledge serves me correctly, that would imply an ability to exact vengeance for a wrongful act. So, for every attack with malicious intent aimed at him, he would respond similarly. However, in his case, he enacts retribution against the intent of the wrongful act rather than the act itself."

This revelation left everyone stunned.

Trent added, "That means the more malicious or anger-fueled the intentions behind the attacks, the stronger his ability becomes."

"Casting judgment even before the action, where is the elegance in that?" Lance expressed his disapproval of the ability.

And indeed, Lance's words reflected the reality of the situation. The more Siren's frustration grew, the more potent Tyler's retaliations became.

However, the attention shifted abruptly from this battle to the previous one as something unexpected occurred.

Quinn had maintained a slight edge in her battle with Iris, primarily because she could use her telekinesis to stall, wearing Iris down from dodging debris before she exhausted her own powers. Quinn's ability to sense danger, as evident in the first game with X, meant she could react and evade Iris's attacks when she switched to an offensive stance—or so she believed.

While Iris dodged the rubble debris hauled at her, Quinn remained alert for any possible move from her opponent. But out of nowhere, fire suddenly ignited on Quinn's right arm, as her hand briefly disrupted the connection between Iris's visuals and her lifeline. The flames burned through Quinn's sleeve, causing her to scream in agony. She swiftly summoned a force field from her skin to extinguish the fire.

This unforeseen development left everyone in shock, as they had been certain Quinn would sense the attack.

Quinn, on her knees with her left hand clutching her right, endured the searing pain in her hand for a brief moment.

Iris spoke apologetically, "My apologies, Mija. But my target was your lifeline."

Quinn remained silent, overwhelmed by both pain and genuine surprise.

In her thoughts, Quinn questioned herself, "Why didn't I sense it?"

Quinn was baffled. How had Iris managed to send an attack her way without triggering her danger senses? She was confident that her ability was still active and should activate regardless of her awareness.

It became clear that the issue didn't lie with her ability.

Then, a sudden realization hit her. "What if there was no danger in the first place?"

Despite the pain from her burns and her exhaustion from using unexpected force to extinguish the fire, Quinn stood up.

"Oh, mami, I wish you'd make this easier for me," Iris stated, seemingly eager to conclude the battle.

Quinn then suddenly stood tall, leaving her lifeline surprisingly exposed for Iris to strike. Iris smiled as she wasted no time in gazing at Quinn's lifeline, instantly igniting it, seemingly eliminating Quinn from the game.

Or so everyone believed.

As everyone turned their attention to Quinn, they noticed that her lifeline, though still burning, remained intact.

"What?" Iris, and likely everyone else watching the battle, exclaimed in confusion as Quinn smiled.

"It seems like she placed a force field around her lifeline, there's no other explanation," Iris thought to herself, smiling back at Quinn in an attempt to mask her concern.

"Why isn't it burning?" Trent asked the others while spectating, echoing their shared assumption. "Is it some kind of force field?"

Lance chimed in, "I doubt it. A force field would require a significant amount of energy to continuously maintain against an attack, and knowing her, she wouldn't make unnecessary moves."

"So how is she doing it?" Riley inquired, as they continued to watch the battle, hoping for more answers.

Klaus, too, attempted to comprehend what was happening, searching his memories for clues that might explain the mystery.

Iris ceased the fire on Quinn's lifeline, devising a risky plan that could secure her victory. "That annoying barrier of yours, let's see how long you can keep it up," Iris confidently remarked. Almost immediately after, Quinn appeared to burst into flames.

Hearts raced as it seemed like the fight was escalating too quickly, and there was a genuine concern that Quinn might end up seriously harmed or worse.

Then, Klaus noticed something. Quinn was still smiling. Not only that, but she was also calmly walking toward Iris, seemingly unharmed by the blazing flame.

"How is this even possible?" Trent exclaimed. "She's completely unscathed."

Klaus examined the situation closely, desperately attempting to decipher the enigma. "Even Miss Haze appears shocked," Trent continued as something struck Klaus.

He recalled his initial conversation with Quinn, the discussion about the recurring theme among the demigods. He also recollected his first interaction with Iris.

Then, it all fell into place.

As he turned his attention back to their battle, Klaus realized something had changed in just a few seconds.

"What the hell," Klaus whispered softly, his gaze fixed on the screen in shock, capturing everyone's attention.

"What happened?" Trent inquired.

Klaus then delivered an answer that left everyone astonished.

"I see what's happening."