Chapter 6:The Partial Unlock Fight

The city’s skyline glimmered under the moonlight, but the abandoned warehouse district below was shrouded in shadows. Kian crouched atop a rusted container, his breath heavy. His partial unlock thrummed beneath his skin—an unstable, raw energy that made his nerves vibrate like live wires.

Not enough… he thought, staring at the shadows gathering below. But if I push further… I could break myself.

The enemy had arrived: a squad of six, each cloaked in darkness, moving with a deadly grace. Their leader, a tall figure with a jagged scar across one cheek, stood back, observing.

“You’ve come far,” the leader’s voice echoed across the empty space, “but far is not enough.”

Kian flexed his fingers. Sparks of light danced across his knuckles as the partial unlock responded to his focus. The first enemy lunged. Kian met them with a strike that shattered the concrete beneath, sending shards flying like rain.

Focus… feel the flow… don’t let it consume me.

Each movement was a dangerous dance. The partial unlock amplified his reflexes and strength, but it was unpredictable. A wrong move could backfire, injuring him—or worse. Yet, every punch, every kick, every dodge felt almost… natural, as if the power had been waiting for him all along.

---

Kian Reaches Over-Limit

One enemy after another fell back, and Kian’s senses sharpened. But then he felt it: the low rumble in his chest, the burning heat spreading through his muscles. His body screamed for rest, for mercy.

I can’t stop now…

A shadow moved behind the others—faster, more precise. The leader was preparing something, and Kian knew it could end him in an instant. He gritted his teeth and pushed past the limit, forcing the partial unlock into over-limit, a forbidden state few had survived.

A wave of energy erupted from him, knocking back everything within meters. The warehouse shuddered, and Kian felt clarity surge through his mind, heightened senses, precognition of every incoming strike. He could see the trajectory of attacks before they even began.

But with this clarity came agony. His vision blurred, muscles burned, and his lungs gasped for air. Yet, still he fought, moving with fluid, impossible speed.

---

Amara Makes a Dangerous Choice

From the upper balcony, Amara watched with wide eyes, her heart pounding. He’s gone too far… She clenched the talisman hanging around her neck, feeling its warmth in her palm.

The enemy leader raised his arm, summoning a crackling sphere of dark energy, aimed straight at Kian. Without thinking, Amara leapt from the balcony, her own awakened power surging as she intercepted the blast.

“Step back, Kian!” she shouted, her voice straining against the force of the attack.

Energy collided around her like fire and ice. Pain shot through her arms, but she held, redirecting the attack just enough to shield Kian. He turned, eyes wide, and for a fleeting second, they locked gazes—an unspoken understanding passing between them.

Amara hit the ground, rolling to absorb the impact. Her body trembled, her energy nearly depleted. But she had succeeded—Kian was safe, for now.

---

A New Villain’s Introduction

The dust hadn’t even settled before a chilling voice sliced through the air.

“You think this is a battle? You’ve only begun to awaken.”

From the shadows stepped a figure taller than the rest, cloaked in black with eyes that glowed like molten silver. Every instinct screamed danger. Kian’s aura flared instinctively, warning him of a power unlike any he had felt before.

The figure’s smile was slow, deliberate, and cold. “I’ve been waiting for you, Kian. And Amara.”

The city lights flickered as the stranger moved closer, and the temperature dropped. Amara staggered to her feet, feeling the weight of this new presence. Even together, they would have to rethink everything.

Kian clenched his fists, the over-limit power still coursing through him. This new enemy was no ordinary foe—this was someone who could push them beyond anything they’d faced so far.

The real fight… starts now.