**Volume 2: Upper World**

  **Chapter 85: Vein & Fate**

  February 10th, 4:03 p.m. – Vein Clan House (Vault Room)

  The vault room was cold — stone walls sweating with condensation, the single blue gem floating in its glass case casting a soft, eerie light across everything. Mei stood in the doorway — silver braid tight, white aura flaring sharp like frost on a blade. Her sword was already drawn — long, thin, edge glowing pale white. Kira faced her — red threads pulsing under her skin, yellow aura igniting around her like a halo of fire. The air between them crackled — two wills about to collide.

  Mei spoke first — voice calm, but edged.

  “You really think you can take the Gem? That power isn’t yours.”

  Kira didn’t answer with words.

  She moved.

  Fast — faster than Mei expected. Kira closed the gap in a blink — fist snapping forward — punch landing hard on Mei’s cheek. The impact echoed — Mei’s head snapped sideways, blood spraying from a split lip. Mei stumbled back one step — then flipped — sword arcing down in a perfect crescent aimed to take Kira’s head clean off.

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  Kira leaned back — blade missing by millimeters — cutting a thin line across her upper arm instead. Blood welled up — dark red against her skin — dripping slow to the stone floor. Kira looked at the cut — held it for a second — then smiled. Small. Cold.

  Mei reset her stance — sword low — white aura flaring brighter.

  Kira’s eyes narrowed.

  Her fps started building.

  The more fps — the faster she got.

  The faster she got — the more strength poured into every move.

  500 fps.

  800 fps.

  1,000 fps.

  The room seemed to stutter around her — Mei’s movements turning choppy, like a video stuck on low frame rate. Kira blurred — yellow afterimages trailing — and drove a punch straight into Mei’s chest.

  Mei gasped — sword dropping from numb fingers — clattering to the stone. She staggered back — ribs cracking under the force — blood trickling from her mouth.

  Kira didn’t stop.

  She punched again — faster — Mei flew back, slammed into the wall — stone cracking behind her. Mei pushed off — grabbed her dropped sword — swung wild — but Kira was already behind her.

  Mei turned — eyes wide.

  Kira kicked her — boot to the face — Mei crashed through a glass display case — shards exploding outward in slow motion. Mei hit the ground rolling — blood on her face — but got up fast.

  Kira was on her again — dropped kick to the chest — Mei slammed into the floor — gasping.

  Before Kira could finish it — the doors burst open.

  Over 100 guards poured in — black uniforms, swords drawn, white aura flaring in unison. They formed a half-circle — blades leveled at Kira.

  Kira froze — looked around — heart pounding.

  She needed to find something out. Fast. Or she’d die here.

  She reached down — grabbed Mei’s dropped sword — the white-glowing blade humming in her hand.

  The guards tightened the circle — footsteps echoing, metal scraping stone.

  Kira closed her eyes.

  Took one breath.

  Opened them.

  Her aura exploded — bright yellow — threads pulsing red along her arms like veins of fire.

  She whispered — so quiet only she heard.

  “Let’s get started.”

  The chapter ended.

  To be continued…