I Was Born With A Bloodline That Ended The World-Chapter 90: Lightning Strain

Rhian looked at her. "Come on... stop holding back."

Nia narrowed her eyes. There was something off. He knew what that ability did to her.

He knew the strain it put on her body, the way it left her aching for days after even a short use. And yet here he was, taunting her to bring it out. Again.

It wasn’t just this moment, either. She had noticed it lately, Rhian had been fighting rougher, hitting harder, and demanding more from every spar.

It wasn’t like before, when they exchanged moves and respected each other’s limits. Now, he pushed her like he had something to prove.

And deep down, she had a feeling it wasn’t about her at all.

She wondered what was going on with him, what was driving this shift in the way he fought. But the thought barely settled before Rhian lunged forward without hesitation.

His right fist came fast, a bait. Nia sidestepped on instinct, only to realize too late that it was what he wanted.

She had dodged right into his left.

The punch slammed into her ribs, forcing the air from her lungs as her feet left the ground. She gritted her teeth, twisting her body mid-air to land on her feet, but the force had her stumbling back a few steps before she could recover.

Rhian didn’t wait. He was already moving again.

Nia’s body tensed. Her eyes narrowed, and her jaw locked.

She wasn’t going to do what he said.

Rhian could push her, challenge her, provoke her all he wanted. But she wasn’t going to be dragged into Lightning Body just because he wanted it. If he wanted intensity, she’d give it to him on her terms.

The second punch came faster than the last. She ducked low, pivoted to her right, and twisted upward with a sharp elbow toward his side.

Rhian blocked it mid-turn, bracing with his forearm, and countered with a knee that forced her to backstep.

She didn’t give ground easily. As she slipped out of range, she sent a jolt of golden electricity across the floor.

It surged under Rhian’s feet, crackling upward like lightning-fused vines, but he didn’t freeze.

He jumped forward, clearing the surge completely, and landed with a low sweep aimed at her ankles. Nia kicked up, flipping overhead in a clean arc.

She used the momentum to fire two rapid bursts of lightning mid-air, forcing Rhian to shield his face.

She landed behind him and immediately charged. Her right leg glowed gold as she slammed a charged kick toward his spine.

It connected.

The blow sent Rhian forward, but he caught himself, twisting mid-fall and planting a hand against the ground to rebound into a roll. By the time she tried to capitalize, he was already facing her again.

He smirked. "That’s more like it."

She didn’t reply. Her eyes sparked with frustration.

Again she rushed him, fast footwork, body low. She launched a feint with her left and ducked under his return jab.

Her fingers grazed the mat as she spun into a sweeping kick, electric sparks dancing off her heel.

Rhian leapt over it, and Nia exploded up with a follow-up uppercut, trying to catch him mid-air.

But he dropped his weight early, slamming his palm onto her extended shoulder and flipping over her instead, letting her momentum carry her too far forward.

She stumbled. It was a split-second slip, but Rhian capitalized on it immediately.

He struck her back with an open palm charged with shadow, sending a pulse through her core.

Nia rolled forward, coughing from the pressure that had rattled her lungs.

"Damn it," she hissed.

She stood quickly and let lightning pulse across her arms, boosting her striking speed. She wasn’t going to transform, but she would push her limits as far as she could.

They clashed again, fast hands, tighter spacing. Nia scored a hit to his ribs. He responded with a hook to her shoulder.

She ducked a spinning kick and tried to lock his waist, but Rhian slid his foot behind hers and twisted, sending her crashing to the mat.

The floor cracked faintly beneath her. Reinforced or not, Rhian’s strength was making itself known.

Nia rolled, kicked off the wall, and flipped back to her feet with a sharp exhale.

Her whole body was tingling. Not from the lightning, she was used to that, but from the effort. Her limbs ached. Her chest burned.

Still, she charged again.

She sent bolts flying from both hands. Rhian ducked, dodged, then disappeared behind one of his illusions.

Nia spread her awareness and moved to strike the illusion, but her shadow twisted again, another trap.

She narrowly avoided the binding, but the hesitation cost her.

Rhian appeared from behind, shoulder-first. He rammed into her with full momentum.

She barely got her arms up to block as the force launched her halfway across the room.

Her body hit the mat, skidding as she tried to brace with her palms. Sparks flew off her boots.

She coughed once and sat up.

He was walking toward her.

Nia stood. Her hands were shaking.

She activated Static Repulsion, letting excess energy crackle off her skin. It made her harder to grab.

She shot forward again, rotating mid-step and throwing a palm strike into Rhian’s chest with her full weight behind it.

This one hit hard. Rhian grunted and staggered back.

Nia followed up with a flurry, jab, cross, knee, elbow.

Rhian blocked most of it, but her knee slipped through. It hit his side with enough force to make him backpedal.

"Got you," she breathed.

She wasn’t sure if it was true. But she needed to say it.

Rhian shook it off, cracked his neck, and grinned. "Closer."

He dashed forward.

She tried to dodge, but he feinted with his shadow again. One flicker in the wrong place, and she hesitated. It was all he needed.

He closed the distance with frightening speed, grabbed her by the waist, spun, and slammed her down onto the mat. The floor shuddered.

Nia gasped. She lay still for a second, catching her breath.

Then she rolled to her feet again, slower this time.

Everything hurt.

And Rhian was still calm. Breathing heavy, sure, but composed. Focused.

He hadn’t even used his full arsenal yet.

And she knew it.

She was giving everything she had without Lightning Body, and he was still ahead.

Still pushing her.

Still watching her carefully... almost like he wanted her to break the limit.

She wiped blood from her lip and narrowed her eyes. Her fingers curled with sparks.

She ran again. One last push.

And he met her without flinching.

Again.

And again.

Until—

Mr. Callor’s voice boomed.

"Enough!"

Both students froze, panting hard. Their clothes torn, bruises forming, sparks still trailing Nia’s fingertips.

Rhian’s knuckles bled faintly, and his back rose and fell with sharp breaths.