The Forbidden King: Path To Power

 The wind rolled across the open plains, rustling the tall grass. The evening sun cast long shadows over the landscape, painting the sky in soft hues of orange and violet. I stood alone in the vast, empty field, feet planted firmly, fists clenched.

 I took a deep breath and launched forward. My fist struck the air, followed by a swift kick. Pivot, sweep, rise. My body moved on instinct, each motion crisp and controlled. I stepped back, adjusting my stance, then dashed forward again, my fists cutting through the air.

 I extended my hand, focusing on the energy within. The air around my palm wavered slightly. In an instant, I vanished from my spot, reappearing several feet away. The grass beneath me flattened from the force.

 I steadied myself, exhaling slowly. Again. 

 I reset my stance and prepared for another round, letting my body take over. Strike. Move. Repeat.

 My foot slammed into the ground as I lunged forward, my fists snapping outward in rapid succession. A left jab followed by a right cross, then a sharp elbow strike aimed at an imaginary opponent's ribs. My movements were fluid, a sequence ingrained through endless practice. I dropped low, sweeping my leg through the grass, then twisted my body mid-motion to spring up with a powerful uppercut.

 My breaths were steady, measured. I stepped back, rolling my shoulders before surging forward again. My knee shot up, stopping where an opponent's gut would be, before I spun on my heel, delivering a fierce roundhouse kick. The impact would have sent a real opponent staggering. I followed through, shifting into a defensive stance, keeping my weight balanced, eyes focused on an unseen enemy.

 I needed to be faster. Stronger. My foot dug into the dirt as I pushed forward, striking with relentless speed. My arms burned, my legs ached, but I didn't stop. My muscles screamed for rest, but I ignored them. Strike, evade, counter. My movements were sharper now, more precise, a rhythm I had trained to perfect.

 I blurred forward again, this time unleashing a devastating sequence of blows. Jab, cross, elbow, knee. A swift backstep, then another forward charge—my palm shot out, releasing a surge of force that sent dust and grass flying. The impact echoed through the quiet plains.

 I stood still, breathing hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. The sweat on my skin was cool against the evening breeze. Slowly, I straightened, rolling my wrists, feeling the dull ache settle into my muscles. One more round.

 I sank into my stance once more, ready to go again.

 Just as I was about to move again, a familiar voice rang out behind me.

 "Hey! Are you seriously sparring without me?"

 I exhaled, already recognizing the playful edge in her tone. Turning my head, I spotted Kendra leaning against the red-leafed oak tree, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at her lips. Her crimson eyes practically glowed in the fading sunlight, her dark red hair catching the breeze.

 She pushed off the tree and strolled toward me, her white jacket fluttering slightly before she slid it off her shoulders. She swung it over one arm, revealing the black long-sleeve shirt underneath. The sleeves clung snugly to her arms, just loose enough for movement, and as she adjusted her bracelets, they jingled faintly against her wrist.

 I wiped the sweat from my forehead before rolling my shoulders. "Figured you'd show up eventually."

 Kendra let out a dramatic sigh. "And you didn't think to wait for me? Rude."

 I cracked my knuckles, keeping my expression neutral. "Didn't think I needed to."

 With a huff, she tossed her jacket onto a nearby rock. "Jasper told me what happened," she said casually, adjusting the cuffs of her sleeves.

 I let out a slow breath. "Figured."

 She studied me for a moment, then placed her hands on her hips. "You gonna pretend like it doesn't bother you?"

 I shrugged. "Not worth thinking about."

 "Oh, right," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's why you're out here, in the middle of nowhere, swinging punches at the air like you're exorcising rancids."

 I clenched my jaw slightly, but my voice stayed even. "I just wanted some time alone."

 Kendra shifted her weight onto one foot, tapping the side of her black pants with her fingers. "And you thought I'd let you stew out here by yourself? You should know me better than that."

 I finally turned to face her. "Kendra. I'm fine. You don't have to stick around."

 She scoffed. "Yeah, and I'm the Queen of Rivenden." She took a step closer. "Look, if you're gonna let them get in your head, at least do something useful with that frustration."

 I shook my head. "I'm not frustrated."

"Even if I was, what does it matter? There's nothing I can do about them running their mouths."

 "Maybe not. But there is something you can do about letting it get to you." She reached up and adjusted one of the earrings dangling from her ear, then raised her fists. "C'mon. If you need to hit something, why not spar with me instead?"

 I glanced at her stance, then back at the open field around us. The last thing I wanted was to deal with her usual stubbornness, but at the same time, I knew she wouldn't leave me alone until I gave in. And… maybe she had a point.

 I rolled my shoulders, exhaling as I stepped into my stance. "You sure you wanna go through with this?"

 Kendra grinned, shifting her footing. "Oh, I'm counting on it."

 She wasted no time. The moment my stance settled, she lunged forward, her movements quick and aggressive, just like always. I barely had time to raise my arms before her fist came flying toward my ribs.

 I twisted, letting her punch skim past me, and countered with a quick jab of my own. She ducked under it and swept her leg out in an attempt to trip me, but I hopped back, the grass shifting under my feet.

 She was always like this—reckless, fast, and relentless.

 I met Kendra when I first moved to Wellwood. Back then, I didn't know a single soul, and I didn't particularly care to. Jasper was the first person to talk to me, the type to strike up a conversation about anything. But Kendra? She made herself known in a much different way.

 I sidestepped another punch, only for her to twist and send a kick straight for my chest. I barely managed to block, but the force still made me skid back a few inches.

 "You're holding back," Kendra huffed, shaking out her hands. "Come on, I know you can hit harder than that."

 I adjusted my stance, rolling my wrists. "You in a hurry to get knocked down or something?"

 Kendra smirked. "I'd like to see you try."

 Back when we first met, I thought she was annoying. She was loud, brash, and had no problem getting in someone's face, mine included. We got into a fight on my second day in town—nothing serious, just some childish scuffle over who was stronger. She had this stubborn confidence about her, and even though I beat her, she only got back up and declared that she'd win next time.

 She never did, but that never stopped her from trying.

 She darted forward again, throwing a feint with her left before twisting into a spinning kick. I caught her ankle before it connected, but before I could push her away, she used the momentum to swing her other leg toward my shoulder.

 I barely managed to block before she flipped back, landing lightly on her feet. "There it is," she said, grinning. "You're actually paying attention now."

 I exhaled through my nose. "I was always paying attention."

 Kendra smirked. "Could've fooled me."

 No matter how much time passed, she never changed. Even as we got older, even as the world around us became more complicated, she remained the same—hotheaded, quick to fight, but always looking out for me and Jasper in her own way.

 I stepped forward, sending a punch straight toward her midsection. She barely dodged, but this time, I pressed forward, not giving her room to breathe. A jab, a low kick, a quick elbow strike—each one forcing her to stay on the defensive.

 "You sure you wanna keep this up?" I asked, my breathing steady.

 Kendra wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Don't get cocky now."

 Suddenly, she pushed me back and jumped away from me.

 Kendra rolled her shoulders, the light fabric of her long-sleeve shifting as she flexed her fingers. Her nails darkened, elongating into sharp, claw-like points. It wasn't a drastic transformation, but it was enough. Enough to tell me that she wasn't playing around anymore. The air felt heavier, charged with something raw—something instinctual.

 I clenched my fists, rolling my weight onto the balls of my feet. "You're really bringing that out already?"

 She grinned, baring her teeth slightly. "You're not the only one who needs to blow off steam."

 Kendra was always like this—wild, reckless, but never without reason. Even when we were kids, she never hesitated to fight someone bigger than her if it meant standing her ground. It's what made her different from me and Jasper. While we tried to keep our heads down, Kendra threw herself into every challenge, fists swinging and teeth bared. I used to think it was just her being hotheaded. But now… I wasn't so sure.

 She moved first.

 A blur of motion, a streak of red as she lunged forward, claws slashing through the air. Her movements were erratic, unpredictable—less like a trained fighter and more like a predator striking at wounded prey. I barely twisted out of the way of her first swipe, but she was already following up with another. The sharp curve of her nails sliced through the air where my chest had been a second ago.

 I countered, stepping in with a quick palm strike to her ribs, but she twisted unnaturally, her flexibility far beyond what should've been possible. She landed on all fours for a brief second before launching herself upward, claws swiping toward my throat. I jerked back, narrowly avoiding the strike, only for her to pivot midair and send a vicious kick toward my side.

 I barely managed to block, my forearm bracing against the impact. Even through the fabric of my sleeve, I could feel the force behind it.

 She landed lightly, her stance low, her nails digging into the dirt. Her crimson eyes gleamed under the sun, locked onto me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

 "Come on, Kin," she said, her voice breathy but teasing. "You're not scared, are you?"

 I exhaled through my nose, steadying my breath. "You wish."

 But truthfully, Kendra was different when she fought like this. This wasn't just training anymore—this was her instincts taking over, her body moving on something deeper than just technique. Every step, every swipe, every shift of her weight was completely unpredictable. She didn't fight with form or discipline. She fought like a cornered beast.

 I had to change my approach.

 Resetting my stance, I kept my eyes on her, watching for the smallest movement. If I let her control the pace, I wouldn't stand a chance. She was faster than me like this, more aggressive. But she was also impulsive.

 I needed to find an opening.

 Kendra's assault grew even more relentless, her strikes cutting through the air with a ferocity that made my heart pound harder. I dodged a quick jab to my side, barely managing to block her next swing, when she stepped back, eyes blazing with intensity. Her voice came out low and urgent, almost a warning.

 "Kin, use your matter!"

 For a split second, the words hung between us, charged with expectation. I knew what she meant. I hesitated, but she knew exactly what I was thinking as a nasty snarl came across her face.

 She lunged again, her movements sharper, her strikes almost feral. Her fists, tipped with those claw-like nails, moved in a furious blur. 

 The air around us seemed to crackle with the tension of our exchange, the rustling grass and distant river nothing more than background noise to the roar of our battle.

 "Come on, Kin!" she shouted, voice rising in both challenge and exasperation. "I need you to fight with everything you've got!"

 I bit my lip as I felt my legs begin to buckle under the relentless assault of Kendra's beast matter. Her strength was overwhelming, and I knew deep down that I had to let my own power out—it was the only way I could beat her.

 In the midst of her furious slashes, I managed to dodge one of her strikes and, with a burst of determination, kicked her hard in the side. The blow sent her reeling, and I heard a low grunt as she stumbled backward. I quickly adjusted my stance, inhaled deeply, and closed my eyes to focus my energy.

 I could feel the air around me begin to crackle as my Matter core trembled beneath the surface—a dark, raw power rising within me. For a long moment, that matter built up, a quiet storm waiting to be unleashed.

 Then, I heard Kendra let out a soft, challenging laugh as she dashed at me again. As her claws swept toward me, I reacted without hesitation. I caught her wrists mid-swing, suspending her in mid-air as if time had momentarily frozen. I opened my eyes to find her fierce orange gaze locked onto mine, and there, shrouding my hands, was a dark aura—the unmistakable sign of the power I'd just unleashed.

 A small, satisfied smile tugged at my lips as I held her steady, the energy humming between us. In that charged moment, nothing else mattered but the surge of power in my veins and the silent understanding that I had, at last, taken control of the fight.