Titan Rumble Ch 29: A New Challenge, New Fights!

The dojo was quiet when Aurora carried me inside, her palm warm beneath my feet, the light thuds of her bare steps echoing through the large chamber like thunder. I crossed my arms, bracing myself as she glanced down at me like I was a weird bug someone had politely asked her not to squash.

"What are we doing here this early in the morning?" she asked, lifting one brow. She was wearing a baggy black hoodie and shorts, hair still messy from sleep. She clearly hadn't planned to do anything serious today.

I pointed a thumb at myself. "We're here to talk about the deal I'm about to make with you."

Her expression shifted, amused. "And what is this 'deal' you're offering, tiny man?"

"I want to challenge you to a fight. If I win, you join training starting today."

Aurora tilted her head. "And if I win?"

"I'll leave you alone. Like before."

She let out a loud sigh, one hand on her hip. "Cain, everyone already leaves me alone. That's not exactly a prize." Her tone was light, teasing, like this was all a game. Then, with a quick flick of her fingers, she tossed me up into the air like I was a pebble. "How boring..."

I flipped head over heels before catching my posture midair, landing on the mat below in a neat crouch. The ground shook beneath me as she turned her back and walked toward the door, completely done with the conversation.

"Are you scared?" I called out, voice sharp enough to echo across the room.

Aurora froze.

She didn't fully turn around at first—just a slow pivot of her head, her dark eyes narrowing like she'd just heard something that needed confirming.

"...What?"

"I already beat your sister," I said, loud enough to make sure she didn't miss it. "You're not afraid I'll do the same to you, are you? Yuna's little sister."

Aurora spun all the way this time, fully facing me now. Her eyes were sharper, her casual smirk replaced with something more serious.

"My skills are a lot better than Yuna's," she said flatly.

"Sure. They were. Back when you actually trained. These days? Honestly, our weakest student might be able to give you trouble."

She gave me the driest look I've ever seen. "Is this seriously your big strategy? Poke the angry Alpha with a stick until she fights you?"

I didn't say a word. I just stood there, arms crossed, letting the silence do the rest. The dojo shook with her approaching steps.

"I wouldn't dare," I said smoothly. "I'm just speaking the truth."

And it was working. Alphas were tough, proud, and—if I'm being honest—egos the size of planets. Yuna had it. Aurora clearly had it, too. All I had to do was press the right buttons, and the match was mine.

"But," I added, "I'll sweeten the deal."

She stopped, leaned down, and with one finger lifted me back into the air until I was hovering inches from her face. "Oh? And what would that be?"

"If you beat me..." I grinned. "I'll be your slave for the rest of the time I'm here."

Her expression lit up like I just told her Christmas came early. "Now you're talking. Alright, it's your death wish." She gave a lazy shrug. "Shall we fight in the mindscape?"

I remembered the massive machine Yuna and I used. "We don't have to. We can do this right here."

She shook her head. "No excuses later. We fight in the mindscape. Fair and square."

I sighed. "Alright. Let's get to it."

She carried me down the hallway like a queen heading to her throne room. The mindscape room was dim until she flipped on the lights, revealing that giant chrome beast of a machine. It hummed with dormant power.

Aurora set me down gently on the counter, watching me like I was a toy about to do a trick. I ignored the smirk she was wearing. Let her think she's better. It made winning that much sweeter.

I walked toward the tiny chair meant for my size and slipped into it. Behind me, I heard her massive footfalls as she stepped over to her station, fingers tapping quickly across the giant keyboard.

She looked over her shoulder at me as she sat in her equally massive chair. "See you on the other side."

I strapped on the headset, and she did the same.

The hum of the machine became a roar, and in a flash, reality blinked out.

When I opened my eyes again, the headset was gone. I was standing tall.

And standing right in front of me? Aurora, but she was smaller, much smaller, equal in hight to me, if not slightly bigger.

"Where are we?" I asked, glancing around the endless white void. "Is the mindscape broken?"

She rolled her eyes. "It's just booting up. Relax, a battlefield will spawn in a sec."

Sure enough, the world began to rumble. Ground formed under our feet. Towering buildings erupted from the earth like mountains rising out of nowhere. In seconds, we were standing in the middle of a massive city, complete with glass towers, concrete streets, and alleyways that vanished between the blocks.

I cracked my knuckles.

Aurora smiled at me, standing confidently, her long black hair caught in a gentle simulated wind. "So," she said, casually cracking her neck. "Shall we get to it?"

I smirked. "Let's."