That night, Minh once again stepped into the Chaos Realm.

  The air around him was heavy, dark currents twisting without form.

  He listened, but no voice came,

  Tài’s presence was nowhere to be found.

  He made his way toward where Tài’s domain had once been, but the place no longer existed.

  It had vanished, leaving no trace behind.

  Minh sighed.

  With no way to summon Tài, Minh chose to wait.

  He knew Tài hadn’t mastered his strength, and forcing a call might do more harm than good.

  As he lingered in the shifting void, a ripple of energy flared nearby an unsettling surge of Chaos, rising from one of his own connections.

  Minh turned toward it, narrowing his focus.

  That was when he finally heard it:

  The voice rang clear, trembling but certain.

  Minh’s heart steadied.

  Without hesitation, he traced the source of the call and, in a blink, crossed through the realm.

  And there, lost among the swirling shadows, was Tài, reaching for him.

  The moment Tài saw Minh appear beside him, his face lit up.

  Minh smiled quietly.

  Tài was bursting with excitement, unaware of how frightening this place could truly be.

  Minh said gently,

  Tài’s eyes widened, sparkling with energy.

  Minh nodded. Tài’s enthusiasm was good, it meant he wasn’t afraid.

  Better to let him enjoy the moment, at least for now.

  He raised his hand and demonstrated how to transform, showing Tài step by step.

  Then, with focus, he formed small glowing pills in his palm.

  Minh explained, handing one to Tài,

  Tài held the pill carefully, his excitement mixing with curiosity, ready to begin.

  Minh led Tài through the shifting darkness, careful not to teleport blindly, too dangerous for a beginner.

  Instead, he searched for an opponent that Tài could handle.

  The Chaos near Tài’s Safe Place was weak compared to Minh’s current strength, but just right for training.

  Minh quietly drove away the stronger ones, leaving only a frail shadow to test Tài.

  Minh said.

  Tài nodded, transformedRobot, raw powerWith a shout, he charged.

  Tài’s attacks were blunt but forceful

  Minh decided, guiding Tài slightly deeper.

  This time, the battle wasn't so simple.

  Tài was forced to adaptthinkStep by step, his power didn't just explode, it took shapeMinh saw Tài’s blows grow sharper, and the boy began to spontaneously invent new techniques:

  A heavy Split ChopLaserBuild Up

  When the Chaos dissolved, Tài stood breathing hard, intoxicated with the victoryHe had truly fought and he was hooked

  Minh noticed something surprising:

  Tài’s Robot suit was significantly strongerAnd what shocked him more was how quickly Tài adapted.

  He moved with confidence, as if the Robot had always been a part of him.

  Minh thought, mixing pride

  with caution

  Tài plunged into the next fight, and the one after that.

  He was absorbingBy the third engagement, Tài was drenched in sweat, but his eyes were burning with even greater desireHe was simply too good for a beginner

  Finally, Tài staggered, his energy nearly spent.

  He swallowed one of Minh’s pills and felt his strength instantly return.

  His eyes lit upexcitementimmediate urge to fight again.

  But Minh stepped in firmly.

  Tài hesitated, frustration flickering across his face.

  He loved this realm, the rush of power, the thrill of battle.

  But he saw the seriousness in Minh’s eyes and slowly nodded.

  Reluctantly, he let the Chaos Realm dissolve around him.

  Still, before he left, Minh gave him a reassuring smile.

  But Tài wasn’t ready to leave yet.

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  His eyes shone with curiosity as he asked,

  Minh hesitated for a moment, then smiled.

  Watching Tài battle had stirred something in him an itch to stretch his own strength.

  he said.

  He chose a spot where the shadows thickened.

  Two Chaos creatures emerged at once, snarling.

  Minh’s body blurred, he cast a teleport, and in the same breath, his blade struck clean through the first.

  It vanished instantly.

  The second Chaos froze, unable to react.

  Minh vanished again, reappearing right beside it.

  Another swift thrust, perfect, precise and the fight was over.

  It all happened in the blink of an eye.

  Tài’s mouth dropped open. He could hardly believe what he’d just seen.

  He whispered.

  But Minh only shook his head.

  Tài’s excitement softened into understanding.

  He nodded, and this time, he accepted leaving the realm.

  Minh stayed behind a moment longer, watching until Tài’s presence faded completely.

  Only then did he let the Chaos Realm dissolve around himself.

  The morning came. The hot Sunday sunlight made Minh lazy on the bed, but his mother called out,

  “Tài’s calling, hurry up!”

  Still not washed up, Minh rushed down to the phone and answered,

  “Minh here.”

  On the other end, Tài’s excited voice rang out,

  “Let’s meet up today, Minh!”

  Minh grumbled, “Too soon, Tài.”

  But Tài begged,

  “Please, Minh. Last night made me too excited.

  If we don’t meet now, I won’t be able to study. Please!”

  Minh sighed,

  “Okay, thirty minutes. Where, Tài?”

  Tài’s voice stayed just as excited,

  “Let’s go drinking, Coca, 7Up, whatever.

  Wait there, I’ll come to your place.”

  Minh teased,

  “Stop sounding so excited, man.

  If someone overhears, they’ll think you and I… you know.”

  Tài burst out laughing,

  “Okay, friend. But I really can’t stop being excited.”

  Minh hung up, smiling to himself.

  Tài came very soon, so Minh hurried to wash up and have some breakfast.

  Tài arrived sooner than Minh expected. Minh teased,

  “You must have flown here.”

  Tài just grinned and politely asked Minh’s mother if Minh could hang out with him.

  She smiled and nodded, giving her permission.

  The two boys set off together and stopped at a soft drink stall run by a street vendor.

  It was one of those public stalls, plastic chairs, metal table, bottles clinking in a cooler of ice.

  A place where anyone could sit, drink, and chat without drawing too much attention.

  There, Minh and Tài finally sat down, the sweat of the hot Sunday fading as they cracked open glass bottles of Coca.

  Tài downed his glass of Coca in one go, trying to calm his excitement, then quickly ordered an iced tea.

  Too much soda wasn’t good, he knew.

  Minh leaned back, waiting for Tài to open the conversation after all, this meetup had been his idea.

  Tài needed to ease that buzzing energy before he could talk.

  Finally, in a steadier tone, Tài said,

  Minh made a face.

  He rolled up his sleeve and showed his arm with a grin.

  Tài ignored the tease and corrected himself.

  Minh chuckled.

  Tài nodded, then took a deep breath.

  Minh shook his head.

  Tài dropped his gaze.

  Minh shook his head again.

  Tài glanced around, then lowered his voice.

  Minh grinned.

  Tài pouted.

  Minh smirked.

  Tài groaned and shoved his arm.

  Minh laughed, shaking his head.

  Tài slumped back in his chair.

  Minh shot back with a grin.

  They both cracked up, their laughter spilling out across the little stall.

  Still, behind Minh’s smile, he kept something to himself, something he wasn’t ready to tell Tài just yet.

  Minh and Tài parted ways, each heading back home.

  Tomorrow was school, and their studies still waited.

  They had already made a pact, Minh would come to Tài’s house every Saturday to help him study, but Sundays they’d manage on their own.

  That night, the two met again in the Chaos Realm.

  Minh hesitated, his thoughts heavy.

  he thought.

  Tài noticed his expression and tilted his head.

  “I’m listening.”

  Minh drew in a breath.

  “Do you remember those bullies who attacked us?”

  Tài smirked lightly.

  “Who attacked who? Of course I remember.”

  Minh pressed on.

  “Did you recognize any of them?”

  Tài frowned, then shook his head firmly.

  “No. Not anyone in my class. None of them were my friends.”

  For a heartbeat, Minh felt his chest tighten. His heart seemed to stop.

  Tài looked at Minh, waiting. Minh met his eyes and spoke quietly.

  Tài frowned.

  Minh shook his head.

  Tài blinked, confused.

  He gave a half-smile, half-grimace.

  But Minh’s expression stayed serious.

  The smile faded from Tài’s face as the meaning sank in.

  Minh let the silence hang before finishing:

  Tài’s eyes clouded as if the memory of every nightmare he’d endured came rushing back.

  His voice trembled.

  Minh gave a slow, heavy nod.

  “I don’t know who yet.

  But there’s a clue.

  We both felt that same strange pull and now, I can sense one Chaos growing stronger.

  That means the one bearing the pain isn’t far.

  It’s someone close to us, Tài.

  One person, a friend to you, a friend to me… a friend to us both.”

  Tài froze, the last bit of his excitement fading into silence.

  The night around them seemed deeper, heavier.

  For a moment neither of them spoke, their thoughts pulled toward the same hidden question.

  The game was joyful.

  Their bond was real.

  But somewhere close, someone they both cared for, was already falling into the Chaos.