CHAPTER 17: ADAPTATION

Rin woke up to someone shaking his shoulder.

"Hey, you’re up in thirty minutes." One of the medical staff, a young guy with tired eyes who probably hadn’t slept either. "Breakfast is in the main hall, your match is second today so eat fast."

Rin sat up, his entire body protesting, the burns on his arms had healed enough that the bandages came off easy but the skin underneath was still tender, pink and new like it didn’t quite belong to him yet.

He stumbled to the bathroom, splashed water on his face, stared at his reflection.

’Second match of the day means I’m fighting someone who also won yesterday, someone good.’

[Correct assessment]

[All remaining opponents have demonstrated combat proficiency]

[Recommendation: Review available footage before your match]

The main hall was packed with the remaining fighters, everyone eating in silence or reviewing tablets showing opponent data, the energy was different now, less bravado, more focus, everyone knew they were one loss away from going home.

Joy sat at a corner table picking at scrambled eggs, she looked up when Rin approached. "Morning, you look like shit."

"Thanks, you too."

"Rude but accurate." She pushed a plate toward him. "Eat something, protein and carbs, doctor’s orders apparently."

He sat down, forced himself to eat even though his stomach felt like it was tied in knots, the eggs tasted like nothing but he finished them anyway.

"You see the bracket update?" Joy pulled up her tablet, showed him the screen.

Match 2: Rin Matsuda vs Onma Kael

Wait.

"That’s wrong," Rin said. "I already fought him yesterday."

"Rematch," Joy scrolled down to show the explanation. "He appealed the decision, claimed you used an illegal ability or something, review board watched the footage, couldn’t determine what you actually did so they’re making you fight again."

"That’s bullshit."

"That’s bureaucracy." She put the tablet away. "But hey, you beat him once, you can do it again right?"

Except last time he’d caught Onma off guard, used fracture energy in a way the fire guy wasn’t expecting, now Onma knew what to watch for, knew Rin could absorb his attacks.

’This is going to be harder.’

[Significantly harder]

[Onma will adjust his strategy]

[Recommend alternative approach]

’Like what?’

[Offense instead of defense]

[End the fight before he can adapt]

Aggressive wasn’t really Rin’s style but sitting back and letting Onma control the pace hadn’t worked great yesterday either.

"Match 1 starting in five minutes!" The announcement echoed through the hall.

Everyone moved toward the viewing screens, first match was some water manipulator versus an earth guy, would probably take a while.

Rin used the time to review what little footage existed of Onma’s other fights, the guy had won three matches yesterday, all of them by overwhelming his opponents with fire, never lasting more than two minutes.

Fast, aggressive, no patience for drawn-out combat.

’So if I make it last longer he’ll get frustrated, make mistakes.’

[Possible but risky]

[Your endurance is limited after yesterday’s fights]

[Prolonged combat favors the opponent]

The first match ended with the water guy winning after flooding the arena floor then electrocuting it somehow, creative but brutal, his opponent got carried out on a stretcher.

"Match 2: Rin Matsuda vs Onma Kael, fighters to the arena!"

Joy grabbed his arm. "Hey, you got this, just don’t let him get in your head."

"I won’t."

He walked through the tunnel, the noise hit him again, louder today because the crowd had grown, more people wanted to watch the rematch, wanted to see if yesterday was a fluke.

Onma was already in position, he looked different though, more focused, less cocky, arms already wreathed in flames before the match even started.

"You got lucky yesterday," he said, voice carrying across the arena. "Not happening again."

Rin took his position, rolled his shoulders, tried to ignore how much his body still hurt.

The referee stepped between them, same woman from yesterday. "Same rules apply, fight until surrender or incapacitation, try not to kill each other, fighters ready?"

"Ready."

"Been ready."

"Begin!"

Onma didn’t rush this time, he stayed back, launched three fireballs in rapid succession, each one aimed at different angles.

Rin dodged the first two but the third caught him in the leg, heat seared through his pants, burned skin underneath.

He gritted his teeth, kept moving, couldn’t afford to slow down.

Two more fireballs, one high, one low, forcing him to choose.

He went low, rolled under the high one, came up sprinting toward Onma who immediately backpedaled, creating distance while launching more fire.

’He’s playing keep-away, not letting me get close.’

[Correct]

[He learned from yesterday]

[Recommend ranged counter]

’I don’t have ranged attacks.’

[Incorrect]

[Fracture energy can be projected]

[Would you like instructions?]

’Yes but make it fast.’

[Focus the energy in your palm]

[Compress it]

[Release on exhale]

Rin dodged another fireball, focused on his right hand, felt the fracture energy gather there, purple light flickering across his palm.

He compressed it, shaped it into something solid, then threw.

A bolt of purple energy shot across the arena, faster than the fireballs, hit Onma square in the chest before he could dodge.

The fire guy flew backward, flames extinguishing on impact, hit the ground hard.

But he got back up immediately, smoking but standing. "So that’s your trick, some kind of energy projection, fine, two can play that game."

His entire body ignited, flames so intense they turned white-blue, heat radiating off him in waves that made the air shimmer.

He thrust both hands forward, a massive column of fire erupted from his palms, turned the entire arena into an inferno.

Rin couldn’t dodge this, the fire was everywhere, he brought up both hands, channeled fracture energy into a barrier.

The flames hit, crashed against the purple shield, temperature spiking so high that the concrete under his feet started cracking.

His arms shook from the effort, the barrier flickering, he couldn’t hold this forever.

’I need to counter while he’s committed to the attack.’

[Agreed]

[Recommend: Absorb the fire, redirect it]

’I can do that?’

[Fracture energy consumes other energy types]

[Theoretically you can convert his fire into fuel]

’Theoretically?’

[I have never attempted this before]

’Great time to experiment.’

He dropped the barrier, let the flames hit him directly, felt them trying to burn, to consume, but he channeled the fracture energy through his entire body, absorbed the heat, converted it into something else.

The pain stopped, the flames touching his skin but not burning, flowing into him, feeding the fracture energy instead of destroying him.

Onma’s eyes went wide. "What the hell are you?"

Rin didn’t answer, he absorbed more fire, felt the energy building inside him, pressure mounting until it needed release.

He exhaled, thrust both hands forward, all that converted energy erupted outward in a wave of purple-tinged force.

It hit Onma like a tsunami, lifted him off his feet, carried him backward, slammed him into the barrier wall hard enough that the protective shield cracked.

He dropped to the ground, didn’t move.

The referee rushed over, checked him, raised her hand. "Winner: Rin Matsuda by incapacitation!"

The crowd was silent for a moment then exploded into noise, half cheering, half confused, some people were already pulling out phones, recording, posting.

Rin let the fracture energy fade, immediately felt the exhaustion hit, his legs gave out, he caught himself on his hands before face-planting.

Medical staff rushed past him toward Onma who was being loaded onto a stretcher again, this time with visible burns across his chest, ironic considering he was the fire guy.

Joy appeared, helped Rin stand. "Okay so you definitely need to explain what that was because you just absorbed fire then shot it back at him, that’s not normal energy manipulation."

"Later."

"No, now." She pulled him toward the medical tent, sat him down on a cot. "You’re glowing purple, your eyes were purple for like three seconds, that’s not a normal awakening, what’s going on?"

Rin looked at her, at the genuine concern on her face, decided she deserved at least some truth.

"It’s complicated."

"Try me."

"I have this, system thing, it lets me manipulate fracture energy directly, the energy that creates dungeons, the portals, all of it." He kept his voice low so nobody else could hear. "I can absorb it, convert it, use it for other things."

"Like closing portals."

"Yeah."

"And absorbing fire."

"Apparently."

Joy sat back, processed this. "So you’re not a normal awakened, you’re something else entirely."

"Pretty much."

"Does the Association know?"

"Some of it, they saw the purple energy during my first match, Director Ashford wants to ’discuss’ it after Stage 2 ends."

"Which means they’re going to want to study you, test you, figure out how you work." She rubbed her face. "Rin, you realize how dangerous this is right, if the wrong people find out what you can actually do, they’re going to either try to use you or eliminate you."

"I know."

"Okay, okay." She stood up, paced. "So we need a cover story, something that explains the purple energy without revealing the whole fracture manipulation thing."

"The system suggested claiming it’s a secondary ability."

"That could work, dual abilities are rare but documented, we just need to make it sound less impressive than it actually is." She stopped pacing. "What if we say you have energy absorption as your primary, the purple stuff is just a visual side effect when you convert absorbed energy back into attacks?"

That actually made sense, covered the basics without revealing how deep the rabbit hole went.

"Yeah, I can sell that."

"Good, because your next match is in three hours, top ten determination round, you need to be ready." She grabbed a water bottle, made him drink. "Rest now, I’ll handle any questions from reporters or officials, just focus on recovery."

She left him alone in the tent.

Rin lay back on the cot, closed his eyes, tried to ignore the noise outside, the cameras, the speculation.

[Performance assessment: Adequate]

[Energy conversion technique successful]

[However, you revealed more capability than advisable]

’I didn’t have a choice, Onma was going to cook me.’

[Understood]

[Future recommendation: Establish power ceiling]

[Do not exceed it regardless of opponent threat level]

’You want me to lose on purpose?’

[I want you to remain hidden]

[Your true capabilities must stay concealed until you are ready]

’Ready for what?’

[For Kazriketh]

Right, the whole reason he was doing this, getting stronger, getting licensed, building toward the day he could face that thing again.

His phone buzzed, message from an unknown number.

We need to talk. Private. After your next match. - Ashford

’Can’t wait.’

Three hours passed faster than he wanted, medical staff checked his vitals, cleared him for combat, wished him luck in a way that suggested they didn’t think he’d need it.

The bracket board showed his next opponent.

Match 7: Rin Matsuda vs Fiona Treacher

He pulled up her profile, female, twenty-five, gravity manipulation, finished Stage 1 in twelve hours, won all four of her Stage 2 matches in under ninety seconds each.

’She’s fast.’

[Gravity manipulation is highly versatile]

[Can increase weight to immobilize opponents]

[Can decrease weight to enhance mobility]

[Estimated threat level: High]

The viewing screens showed Match 6 concluding, some guy with ice powers versus a girl who could turn invisible, ice guy won by flash-freezing the entire arena floor then waiting for her to slip.

"Match 7: Rin Matsuda vs Fiona Treacher, fighters to the arena!"

Rin stood up, stretched, his body still hurt but the pain was manageable now, adrenaline would carry him through the next fight.

Joy caught him at the tunnel entrance. "Hey, this girl’s dangerous, don’t underestimate her because she’s small."

"How small?"

"Like five-two, maybe a hundred pounds, but she’ll crush you with gravity if you’re not careful."

"Noted."

He walked into the arena, the noise washing over him, cameras tracking his movement.

Fiona was already there, Joy wasn’t kidding, she was tiny, short black hair, sharp features, wearing what looked like workout clothes that probably cost more than his entire wardrobe.

She looked bored.

"So you’re the portal guy," she said, voice flat. "Everyone’s making such a big deal about you, let’s see if you’re worth the hype."

The referee stepped between them. "Standard rules, fight until surrender or incapacitation, try not to die, fighters ready?"

"Ready."

Fiona just nodded.

"Begin!"

The moment the word left the referee’s mouth, Rin felt it, weight, crushing pressure slamming down on him from above, his knees buckled, the concrete under his feet cracked.

’She increased gravity around me.’

[Correct]

[Current gravitational force: Approximately 5G]

[Your body cannot sustain this for long]

He tried to move, every step felt like walking through concrete, his muscles screaming.

Fiona walked toward him casually, no rush, she knew he couldn’t escape. "Most people tap out right here, saves everyone time."

Rin focused on the fracture energy, channeled it through his body, used it to reinforce his muscles, counteract some of the gravity.

The pressure lessened slightly, enough that he could stand upright.

Fiona’s eyes narrowed. "Interesting."

The gravity doubled, ten Gs now, Rin dropped to one knee, blood vessels in his eyes bursting from the pressure.

’I can’t move like this.’

[Then do not move]

[Counter with ranged attack]

He gathered fracture energy in his palm, compressed it, fired.

The bolt shot toward Fiona but she waved her hand, the projectile’s trajectory curved, flew harmlessly past her, crashed into the far wall.

"Gravity affects everything," she said. "Including your attacks."

She increased the pressure again, fifteen Gs, Rin’s vision went dark at the edges, his heart struggling to pump blood against the force.

’I’m going to pass out.’

[Recommendation: Release fracture energy in omni-directional burst]

[Will disrupt her gravitational field temporarily]

’Will it hurt her?’

[Unknown]

’Good enough.’

He let go of all control, fracture energy exploded outward from his body in every direction, purple light filling the arena, slamming into Fiona’s gravitational field.

The two forces collided, her gravity versus his fracture energy, the air between them shimmered, cracked, reality itself straining from the pressure.

Then something broke.

The gravitational field collapsed, pressure vanishing instantly, Fiona stumbled backward, surprise crossing her face.

Rin launched himself forward before she could recover, closed the distance, drove his fist toward her stomach.

She tried to dodge but he was faster, enhanced by fracture energy, his punch connected.

She flew backward, hit the ground, rolled, came up on her feet already adjusting her stance.

"Okay," she said, wiping blood from her lip. "Maybe you are worth the hype."

The gravity around her intensified, she launched herself at him, moving faster than should be possible, probably decreased her own weight while increasing her momentum.

Her fist hit his ribs, he felt something crack, pain exploded through his side.

He countered with an elbow, she ducked under it, swept his legs, he went down hard.

She was on him immediately, hand pressed to his chest, gravity increasing to crush him into the floor.

Twenty Gs, twenty-five, thirty, his ribs creaking under the pressure.

’I can’t breathe.’

[Recommendation: Absorb the gravitational energy]

[Same principle as the fire absorption]

He reached for her power, tried to pull it into himself like he’d done with Onma’s flames, felt the gravitational force flowing into him, converting into fracture energy.

Fiona’s eyes went wide. "How are you doing that?"

He absorbed more, the pressure lessening, his chest expanding, air flooding his lungs.

She pulled her hand away, created distance, stared at him. "You’re absorbing my gravity, that shouldn’t be possible."

Rin stood up slowly, ribs still broken but the pain dulled by adrenaline. "Yeah, I’m getting that a lot."

They circled each other, both breathing hard, both hurt, the crowd completely silent watching.

Then Fiona smiled. "You know what, I give up."

"What?"

"I surrender." She raised her hand toward the referee. "He wins."

The referee looked confused but raised her hand anyway. "Winner: Rin Matsuda by surrender!"

The crowd erupted, half confused, half disappointed, some people were already booing.

Fiona walked over to Rin before medical staff could intervene. "You’re interesting, I’ll give you that, but I’m not risking permanent injury just to advance, I know my limits."

"That’s, smart actually."

"I know." She headed toward the exit tunnel. "Good luck in the finals, you’re going to need it."

She disappeared into the crowd.

Rin stood there, still processing, he’d won but it felt weird, anticlimactic.

Joy rushed over. "Holy shit your ribs, can you breathe?"

"Mostly."

"That’s not reassuring." She helped him toward medical. "Come on, we need to get you looked at before Ashford shows up."

Too late.

Director Ashford stood at the entrance to the medical tent, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"Mr. Matsuda," he said. "We need to talk, now."