CHAPTER 153: SPATIAL MANIPULATION

As Principal Thompson stepped down from the podium, the hall buzzed with renewed energy. The students whispered excitedly, eyes darting between the EVA agents and the glowing tournament brackets overhead. The stakes had just skyrocketed.. this wasn’t just a school competition anymore. This was a chance to be seen.

Mrs. Valerie, the combat instructor, took the mic next, her red hair pulled into a tight bun.

She stepped onto the stage with her usual commanding presence. The murmurs of the students quickly faded as her heels echoed against the polished floor.

"Before we begin," she started, her voice sharp but controlled, "You should all be aware... there’s been a change in the tournament structure this year."

A few whispers rippled through the crowd.

She continued, "Each duel will now come with a modifier, randomly assigned before the fight. There are two types: Martial Arts and Ability."

A low wave of mixed reactions stirred the room. Mrs. Valerie raised a hand to silence them.

"If a fight is labeled Martial Arts.. no abilities are allowed. Only hand-to-hand combat, skills, and standard weapons if needed—those will be provided. But if it’s Ability, then you’re free to use your powers."

Groans erupted from some students, clearly not pleased. Others perked up, visibly excited by the twist. Jayden remained composed, unfazed, as if he had expected something like this.

Without missing a beat, Mrs. Valerie motioned toward the large holographic screen behind her, displaying class rosters and brackets.

"You’ve are all divided into three classes... 3-A, 3-B, and 3-C. But don’t get comfortable. Matchups will be completely random."

The students murmured again, trying to mentally map out the possibilities.

"You may be paired against someone from your own class." she added. "Everyone fights and advances until there’s only one winner."

She paused for emphasis, then continued, her tone hardening. "The rules of each duel are simple: win by knockout, surrender, or.. if weapons are involved, gunpoint. You are not allowed to seriously harm or kill your classmates. This is still an academy-sanctioned event, not a battlefield. Break the rules..." she glanced across the students, her eyes sharp, "And you will not just be disqualified, but also punished. Severely."

A heavy silence followed.

Then she tapped her holo-tab. And the large screen shifted, now displaying two portraits side by side.

"Alright," she announced. "Let us begin."

The screen flashed with the first pairing:

[Kyle Turner, 3-A vs Theo Anderson, 3-C]

[Modifier: Ability]

The crowd stirred again, some whispering excitedly as the two students stepped forward.

Kyle Turner stepped out from the cluster of students, his jacket swinging behind him with each confident stride. His dark hair was tousled like he hadn’t slept, but his eyes gleamed with focus. Sparks danced faintly across his knuckles... static electricity already forming in anticipation. He was known for his short temper and lightning manipulation, a dangerous combo even among the most gifted.

Across the arena, Theo Anderson moved more slowly, deliberately. Short and wiry, with a sharp, analytical gaze behind square glasses. He didn’t look like much of a fighter... but those who knew him understood otherwise. His specialty was spatial manipulation, the ability to fold short distances and redirect momentum. It wasn’t flashy, but it made him a nightmare in duels.

The arena began to shimmer as the system initiated the "Ability" protocol. The floor shifted, glowing lines forming a circular boundary. A pulse swept over the space, disabling all non-sanctioned tech and locking down external communication.

Mrs. Valerie raised a hand. "Fighters, step into the ring."

Kyle cracked his neck, electricity sparking up his arms. Theo adjusted his glasses, his fingers twitching slightly as he eyed the perimeter.

"You will fight until surrender, knockout, or clear incapacitation," Mrs. Valerie said. "Begin on my mark."

A beat of silence. Then:

"Begin."

Kyle moved first.. fast. A bolt of electricity surged from his hand, aimed straight at Theo’s chest.

But Theo vanished. Not with speed... he’d folded space, warping both himself and the bolt away from the spot.

Gasps rippled through the watching students.

Jayden furrowed his brows from his seat. "That looks like a really cool ability." he muttered.

Luna scoffed inside his head. [Not as cool as the one you recently acquired]

Jayden didn’t respond. He simply smirked.

Back in the ring, Kyle cursed and spun.. just in time to dodge a redirected version of his own bolt, now flying back at him from behind. Theo smirked, holding up his palm as the distortion field around him shimmered faintly.

"You gonna keep throwing sparks, or actually fight?" Theo called.

Kyle didn’t respond. His stance dropped lower, more grounded now, electricity coiling around both arms like whips.

Theo narrowed his eyes, anticipating.

Kyle didn’t waste another word. He launched forward, a streak of white-blue lightning propelling him like a missile. The ground scorched beneath each step, the raw charge humming with barely contained fury.

But just before he made impact—Fwip

Space warped, and Theo disappeared again.

Kyle’s punch passed through thin air. His momentum sent him skidding across the ring, lightning scorching a line in the arena floor.

Theo reappeared ten feet to the left, unbothered, one hand still in his pocket.

But Kyle had adapted.

He didn’t stop moving, instead, he bounced using a crackling arc to redirect himself midair, his feet not even touching the ground. A jagged bolt forked toward Theo like a living serpent—

WHAM!

It hit— and passed straight through.

The crowd gasped.

Theo’s form shimmered fading into transparency as the illusion broke.

"Decoy," Jayden muttered from the sidelines, arms crossed. "He’s already three steps ahead."

[Okay, I have to admit. That was cool] Luna said in excitement. [I’ll begin checking for beasts with that kind of ability. You simply must have it, Jayden]

Jayden chuckled. "Alright, let me know what you find." he said, and continued watching the fight.

Kyle landed, panting slightly, eyes scanning the arena in frustration.

Then suddenly, a ripple tore in the space behind him—Theo folded space again, stepping through reality like a curtain and reappearing behind Kyle.

And with a surgical precision, he struck... two fingers jabbing into Kyle’s shoulder. Kyle spun to counter. But he too late.

SNAP!

Theo twisted space just as Kyle turned, throwing off his center of gravity. Kyle stumbled, off-balance for just a heartbeat.

But it was enough.

Theo kicked upward, the momentum multiplied by a localized warp... and what should have been a light jab became a crushing blow to Kyle’s chest.

Kyle flew.

He bounced off the arena wall with a thunderous crack, groaning, the lightning around him flickering chaotically.

The students screamed and cheered, some on their feet. A few of the EVA agents near the wall leaned in, visibly impressed.

But Kyle was not done.

His eyes burned.

The sparks died—then flared white-hot.

The entire ring buzzed as static swirled around him in a growing sphere. His voice, low and guttural, echoed over the arena.

"You want power, space-boy? I’ll show you power!"

Then he slammed both fists into the ground.

BOOM!

A dome of electricity exploded outward.. raw energy in a ten-meter blast radius. The front crowd ducked behind barriers as the wave surged.

Theo’s eyes widened, he folded space to escape—But Kyle had anticipated it.

Lightning arced through the folds. And Theo reappeared mid-blink, only to get blasted square in the chest.

He screamed as the bolt connected with his body, his distortion field failing for the first time. He slammed into the ground, smoking, rolling once before coming to a stop.

The arena fell silent.

Mrs. Valerie raised a hand, but Theo moved. Barely. He coughed, dragging himself up on one knee. Glasses shattered. Blood on his lip. Eyes burning.

"You’re not the only one..." he growled, "Who learns mid-fight."

Then without warning, he ripped open a fold.. not to escape, but to invert the gravity beneath Kyle.

Kyle shot upward like a bullet, slamming hard into the top of the arena barrier with a sickening crack, then plummeted down with a bang.

He hit the ground, coughing violently. Sparks sputtered. One of his arms twitched, clearly dislocated.

Mrs. Valerie stepped forward, brows furrowed. Her eyes scanned both fighters.

Theo was on his feet, barely. Kyle was still down, struggling.

A long moment passed.

Then Kyle raised one shaky hand— and dropped it, his body unmoving. He had passed out.

The screen blinked:

[Winner: Theo Anderson – 3-C]

The arena exploded into cheers and shouts.

Mrs. Valerie nodded once. "Medics, take them."

Two medics rushed in, helping Kyle to a stretcher, his pride clearly more wounded than his body. Theo refused assistance, walking off the field under his own power despite the pain.

As the screen reset for the next match, Jayden leaned forward in the crowd. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

If the first match was this intense... then his just got Interesting.