Chapter 34 - Jace Refused to Go Easy
Jace entered the semifinal with his war hammer over one shoulder.
“You want me to withdraw?” he asked.
“No.”
“Good.”
Jace was Qi Gathering VI.
He hit harder than anyone Eli had faced.
He was also his friend.
Which meant Jace knew every trick.
Street Step?
Jace attacked the destination instead of the current position.
Borrowed Force?
Jace shortened his swings.
Improvised weapons?
Jace kicked every loose object out of the ring before the bell.
Eli stared at the empty floor.
“You prepared.”
“I know you.”
“That feels unfair.”
The match became simple.
No tricks.
No emotional opponent.
No secret corruption.
Just skill.
Eli took a hammer strike to the ribs and nearly blacked out.
He stood.
Jace smiled.
“Again.”
They fought for nine minutes.
Eli learned more in those nine minutes than in a week of easy wins.
He stopped reacting.
Started predicting.
Street Step became quieter.
Borrowed Force became smaller.
At the final exchange, Jace swung low.
Eli stepped inside, placed one palm on the hammer shaft, and redirected it just enough.
Jace’s momentum carried him over the boundary.
Silence.
Then he laughed.
“Nice.”
[VICTORY]
[SKILL EVOLUTION]
[STREET STEP III → FLOW STEP I]
Jace pulled Eli into a hug that hurt more than the match.
“Beat Lucas.”
Eli looked across the arena.
Lucas stood alone under the lights.
Black veins had reached his jaw.
Elias spoke inside the system.
May you like
“That isn’t Lucas anymore.”
