**Volume 2: Upper World**

  **Chapter 88: No Heart**

  February 10th, 4:37 p.m. – Vein Clan House (Courtyard)

  Kira dropped the sword — it clattered against the cracked stone, the white-glowing blade spinning once before going still. Her breathing was ragged, ribs aching from Jason’s earlier hits, arm still bleeding slow from Mei’s cut. She didn’t have time to think.

  Jin moved.

  **Frozen Eternity** — open realm — snapped into place.

  The courtyard warped — air turning thick, cold, like stepping into a freezer. Everything slowed — wind froze mid-gust, dust particles hung suspended, the distant sound of the city dulled to a low hum. Kira felt it instantly — her movements dragging, like pushing through water that was turning to ice.

  Jin closed the gap — fist snapping forward — punch landing hard in her stomach. Air exploded from her lungs. She doubled over — gasping — but before she could recover, Jin’s hand shot out — fingers splayed — and a thin white chain of pure energy wrapped around her heart.

  She felt it — cold, tight — squeezing.

  Kira saw white.

  The world faded — the courtyard, Jin, the pain — gone.

  She was standing in a small kitchen — sunlight pouring through a window, warm and golden. Her mother was there — younger, hair tied back, apron on, stirring something on the stove. She turned — smiled that soft, tired smile Kira remembered from when she was small.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Keep fighting, baby,” her mom said — voice gentle, like a lullaby. “Don’t stop. Not for anyone.”

  Kira’s eyes burned — tears she didn’t know she had left.

  In the real world — the chain tightened around her heart — white energy pulsing, trying to crush it.

  Kira’s eyes snapped open — yellow aura flaring wild — and she roared — raw, broken — and yanked.

  The chain shattered — white fragments dissolving into nothing. Jin staggered back — surprised — hand still outstretched.

  Kira kicked him — fast — boot to the chest. Jin flew — hit the wall — stone cracking behind him.

  Blood dripped from Kira’s mouth — thick, dark — but she stood — legs shaking but holding.

  Then — footsteps.

  Fast at first — running — then slowing to a deliberate walk.

  The aura hit them like a wave — strong, cold, blue.

  They turned.

  Sky stood at the courtyard entrance — baggy white pants torn at the knees, blue shirt open showing scars, Reaper slung across his back, light blue aura steady around him like frost on steel. His face was calm — too calm — eyes hard.

  Jin tilted his head — small smile.

  “Isn’t it John Carter’s son?”

  Sky fixed his pants — casual — like he was adjusting for a sparring match.

  “I’m tired of people like you.”

  He walked forward — slow — until he stood right next to Kira.

  Kira looked at him — blood on her lip, aura flickering.

  “Deal with them.”

  Sky nodded once.

  “Okay.”

  He stepped forward — light blue aura growing brighter — and started to box them up.

  First — **Frame Vein Lock** — he snapped his fingers — red threads (borrowed from Kira’s scroll) projected from his hand — locked Jin’s perception to 24 fps. Jin’s movements turned choppy — slow — like a broken film reel. Sky moved smooth — untouched — and punched Jin’s ribs — crack — then elbow to the jaw — blood sprayed.

  Next — **Sovereign Pulse** — Sky accelerated his own blood flow — 1000+ fps — flickered behind Nimb in a stuttered blur. Nimb swung twin blades — too late — Sky pulsed Nimb’s veins — blood lagged — Nimb’s arm moved half a second behind his brain. Sky punched — chest caved — Nimb flew back — hit the ground hard.

  Then — **Projection Chain** — Sky slashed with Reaper — one swing — chained delayed void cuts — seven echoes arrived in sequence. Jin blocked the first — took the rest — body opening in red lines — blood misting.

  Sky explained — voice low, cold — as he fought.

  “Frame Vein Lock — locks your perception. You move like you’re in a slideshow. Sovereign Pulse — I move faster than you can think. Projection Chain — every hit delays your reaction. Stacks until you can’t move at all.”

  Jin coughed blood — pushed up — white aura flaring desperate.

  Nimb staggered to his feet — blades shaking.

  Sky kept going — calm — like he was teaching a lesson.

  Then — footsteps behind them.

  Jason stepped into the courtyard — sandals scuffing dirt, white socks dirty, grin wide.

  “You look like you have no heart,” he said — voice lazy, mocking.

  The chapter ended.

  To be continued…