The university courtyard is in chaos. Broken glass litters the ground, and overturned tables and chairs from the outdoor café scatter across the plaza. The air crackles with tension as students flee, some screaming, others frozen in terror. Tall, modern buildings surround the courtyard, their windows reflecting the stormy sky above.

Skyward hovers in mid-air, their midnight blue suit gleaming faintly as wind swirls around them. Across from them stands The Revenant, his crimson cloak billowing unnaturally as his blood-red eyes lock onto his rival.

Skyward thrusts their hands forward, sending a concentrated burst of wind at The Revenant. Tables and debris are hurled toward him, but he sidesteps with an unnatural grace, his cloak swirling around him like liquid shadow.

"You think the wind will stop me?" The Revenant sneers. He flicks his wrist, and blood snakes from his palms, forming into jagged tendrils that shoot toward Skyward like spears.

Skyward twists in mid-air, narrowly dodging the attack. "No, but it'll keep you on your toes." They somersault backward, gathering momentum before diving at The Revenant, a gale-force wind funneling around them like a missile.

The Revenant slams his hands into the ground, and blood erupts around him in a crimson dome, deflecting the attack. The impact sends a shockwave rippling across the courtyard, shattering windows and knocking over lampposts.

Skyward flips back, landing lightly on their feet. "You're going to pay for what you did to those people!"

The Revenant laughs, low and menacing. "I've barely started. Let me show you what real hell looks like."

The Revenant plunges his swords into the ground, and the blood from his body surges outward, forming tendrils that snake toward the terrified students still trying to escape. He smirks as they scream.

Skyward reacts instantly, creating a massive gust of wind that pushes the blood tendrils away. They push themselves higher into the air, scanning for an opening.

But The Revenant is already moving. His body contorts, bones cracking audibly as he begins to transform into a grotesque, twisted creature called Wildmutt. His claws extend, and his jagged teeth gleam as he growls, his voice distorted but still chillingly recognizable.

Skyward's heart races. They summon the wind, swirling it around their hands like twin cyclones. "You're not the only one who can adapt." They dive again, wind slicing through the air like blades.

The Revenant leaps to meet them mid-air, slashing with his claws. The two clash, the impact of their powers creating a shockwave that ripples across the courtyard.

Skyward created burst of wind slamming into The Revenant and sending him crashing into a nearby library building. Glass shatters as he disappears into the wreckage.

Skyward lands, breathing heavily. "Stay down, Revenant!"

But the rubble begins to shift. A low, guttural laugh echoes from within as The Revenant emerges, his body morphing again—this time into a creature asked XLR8. His form is sleek, terrifyingly fast, with jagged bones jutting from his limbs.

He moves before Skyward can react, a blur of crimson slicing through the air. Skyward barely manages to deflect the attack with a wall of wind, but the speed catches them off guard.

"You're too slow!" The Revenant taunts, zipping around them in circles. He lashes out with his swords, forcing Skyward to go on the defensive.

Skyward plants their feet, summoning every ounce of their strength. The air around them condenses, forming a visible barrier of swirling wind. "I'm not letting you win."

The Revenant smirks, his speed slowing as he assesses the situation. "Let's see how strong that wind really is."

He charges, his blood swords glowing with a sinister light. Skyward counters, sending a massive tornado spiraling toward him. The two forces collide, the impact shaking the ground and sending debris flying in all directions.

In the chaos, Skyward manages to slip behind The Revenant. With a focused burst of air, they slam him into the ground, pinning him with crushing pressure.

Skyward stands over The Revenant, who lies in a small crater of shattered concrete and blood-soaked debris. For a moment, it seems the battle is over. But the silence is broken by a sickening crack as The Revenant's body begins to shift back into his human form. His crimson cloak reforms, fluttering around him as he slowly rises, blood dripping from his smirking lips.

"You're persistent. I'll give you that," The Revenant says, his voice dripping with mockery. He wipes the blood from his mouth and flicks it to the ground, where it forms into a wickedly sharp dagger. "But all that wind—so flashy, so loud. What happens when there's no space to run?"

Skyward doesn't flinch, holding their ground. "You don't scare me, Revenant. You're all show. No substance."

The Revenant chuckles darkly. "Let's test that theory."

With a flick of his wrist, the blood dagger shoots toward Skyward, but they counter with a precise burst of wind, deflecting it harmlessly into the rubble. The Revenant doesn't stop. He sprints toward the university's main building, crashing through the glass doors with inhuman strength.

"Get back here!" Skyward shouts, launching themselves into the air to follow.

The hallways are dimly lit, flickering lights casting eerie shadows as The Revenant stalks through the corridors. Students who didn't escape earlier peek around corners in terror before scrambling for cover.

Skyward bursts in through a shattered window, landing with a thud. "You're not going to hide from me!" Their voice echoes through the halls.

"I'm not hiding," The Revenant calls back from somewhere above. His voice is cold and taunting. "I just thought we should take this somewhere... more intimate."

Skyward barely has time to react as blood-red spikes shoot down from the ceiling. They leap back, dodging the deadly rain of projectiles. The Revenant drops from the second floor, landing in front of them with his twin swords in hand.

Skyward lunges, sending a focused gale of wind toward The Revenant, but the confined space limits their range. The Revenant deflects the blast with a swirl of blood, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Their swords clash with Skyward's reinforced air barriers, sparks and wind scattering books, desks, and debris around the hall. The two trade blows in a deadly dance of power and precision.

"You really think you can stop me?" The Revenant snarls, slashing with his left sword. "You can barely keep up!"

Skyward counters, sending a concentrated burst of wind directly into his chest, slamming him into a row of lockers. "I don't need to keep up—I just need to knock you down!"

The Revenant laughs, coughing up blood but grinning as he rises. "Good luck. You're already running out of tricks."

The battle intensifies, the building groaning under the strain of their powers. The Revenant lashes out with a wave of blood, slicing through support beams and causing the walls to crack.

"You're going to bring the whole place down!" Skyward shouts, panic flashing across their face.

"Exactly," The Revenant replies coldly, driving his swords into the ground. Blood seeps into the foundation, splintering it apart.

————-

Outside, students and faculty gather, staring in horror as the university building crumbles to the ground. Dust fills the air, obscuring the wreckage.

For a moment, there's silence. Then, from the rubble, a figure emerges.

The Revenant strides forward, dragging Skyward by their collar. His cloak is tattered, his face smeared with blood and dirt, but his expression is triumphant. Skyward, battered and lifeless, as a bone shard was stabbed in his heart

———

"Ugh. Ouch. What? What is this? Where am I?"