Kaizen Vale had never been one to follow the rules, especially when those rules were made by sky-pirates who thought they could catch him.

The wind howled around him as he soared through the skies, his silver hair whipping across his face. Below him, the pirate ship Nightshade was a distant blur—fools, really. They'd been chasing him for hours, thinking they could stop someone like Kaizen. They had no idea what they were up against.

He raised his arm, and in a flash, the air rippled as the power of his Volare surged to life. With a devilish grin, Kaizen snapped his fingers.

Gravity Snap.

The world twisted in a heartbeat. The moment Kaizen’s gravity switched, he was no longer falling straight down. Instead, he ran sideways along the hull of the ship like it was the ground beneath his feet.

“Whoo-hoo! This is too easy!” he shouted, laughing as the ship’s crew scrambled to catch him. His feet barely touched the ship's surface as he sprinted along the edge, his mind racing.

“Oi! Get back here, thief!” yelled a pirate, charging toward him with a sword in hand.

Kaizen flashed a cocky smile and dodged the strike by flipping over the pirate’s head, his movements graceful as if he were gliding through air. But as soon as he landed, he snapped his fingers again, sending gravity swinging in all directions. A crew member got caught off-guard, and with a mighty crash, his sword went flying into the air, twirling like a leaf in the wind.

“That’s not how you use a sword, my friend!” Kaizen shouted over his shoulder. “If you’re going to fight, at least try to look cool doing it!”

In the distance, the massive fortress-island of Aetherfall loomed like a titan in the sky—its high walls and spires calling to him. If he could make it there, he could lose them for good. But there was one thing standing in his way.

A loud, booming voice echoed from behind him.

“GET BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE WRETCH!”

Kaizen grinned as a massive figure appeared above him. The ship’s captain, a mountain of a man with a cybernetic arm and an eye patch over one eye, leapt into the air, defying gravity with a single snap of his own. His ability? Stormbringer's Rage—the power to control the air itself, turning it into a violent storm at will.

The captain slammed his fist down toward Kaizen, but the younger thief had already prepared.

With another snap, Kaizen flipped backward, his body flipping through the air with precision. His foot landed hard on the captain’s fist, and with a swift twist of gravity, Kaizen launched himself into the sky like a rocket.

“Not bad for an old man,” Kaizen shouted, flashing a wink at the captain as he rose higher. “But you’ll have to do better than that!”

The captain roared in frustration, but Kaizen didn’t stay to listen. He shot toward the clouds, leaving the ship behind. The island was getting closer. He could feel it.

His Drift Core pulsed with energy, but he could feel it weakening. Each snap of gravity drained him more. Kaizen smirked. It was always like this. A few more moments, and he'd be too tired to make another move.

He had to get to the island before that happened.

But Kaizen had one last trick up his sleeve.

Zero Drift.

The air around him shifted—gravity disappeared completely. For a full seven seconds, Kaizen’s body became weightless, a blur in the sky. His body twisted and turned effortlessly, a streak of silver flying through the open sky. He shot forward, like a comet streaking through the heavens.

This is it. This is my edge.

The island’s landing platform was just ahead. As his feet touched the surface of Aetherfall, he snapped gravity back into place. He landed with a soft thud, rolling forward with a grin that was pure mischief.

“Well, that was fun. I need to find a place to crash for the night.” He stood up, brushing dust from his clothes, his wild silver hair falling over his eyes. The sky above was now filled with the soft glow of evening, the clouds swirling as if in response to the battle he'd just left behind.

But Kaizen didn’t care about the chase. What mattered was what lay ahead—The Sky Sovereign.

That was his ultimate goal. To unite the Drift Realms, control the skies, and make a place where no one had to fall again. But first, he had to figure out how to stop being chased by angry sky-pirates.

Kaizen Vale stood at the edge of the island, watching the drifting clouds roll by as the sun began its descent. A faint shimmer of violet light danced across the horizon, marking the beginning of another evening in the Drift Realms. His crew wasn’t far behind, still recovering from the chaos of their escape from the Nightshade.

They’d landed on Helios Peak, a floating island known for its dangerous air currents and ancient ruins. Kaizen had heard rumors that the first Drift Core was hidden deep within the island’s ruined city. But he wasn’t the only one looking for it.

"Kaizen!" came a voice from behind.

Turning around, Kaizen saw his first crewmate approaching—Lira, a sharp-shooter with a heart as sharp as her aim. She was the one who had saved his life during the chase with the pirates earlier. Her hair was tied back in a neat braid, her leather jacket hanging loosely as she adjusted her belt.

"Ready to go treasure hunting, Kaizen?" Lira asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She wasn’t the type to sit around. She lived for adventure.

Kaizen flashed her a grin. "Always. The first Drift Core’s waiting for us, and I’m not about to let anyone beat us to it."

Lira raised an eyebrow. "You really think it’ll be that easy?"

Kaizen shrugged. "Why not? No one’s ever tried to steal it before. Maybe we’ll just waltz in, grab it, and waltz out. Piece of cake."

Lira sighed, adjusting her rifle over her shoulder. "Sure. Piece of cake," she muttered, clearly not buying it.

"Come on, we should head out before someone else does," Kaizen said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "It’s not like we’ve got a shortage of enemies."

They began walking toward the entrance to the ruins, a large stone archway partially obscured by overgrown vines. The city beyond was ancient, with crumbling buildings that looked like they had been abandoned for centuries. But Kaizen could feel it—there was something powerful hidden here, something that had been waiting for someone like him to find it.

---

As they ventured deeper into the ruins, the atmosphere grew heavier. The air was thick with dust, and the sound of their footsteps echoed through the empty streets. Lira kept her rifle at the ready, scanning every corner, but Kaizen’s mind was elsewhere.

The Drift Core... It’s here. I can feel it.

"Are you sure you know where we’re going?" Lira asked, her voice cutting through the silence.

Kaizen stopped in his tracks, his eyes scanning the ruins. "Of course. I’ve been here before. I think."

Lira gave him a skeptical look, but said nothing. They had been traveling together for days now, and she had learned to just follow his lead, even when it didn’t make sense.

They rounded a corner and stopped dead in their tracks.

In front of them was a massive door, old but intricately carved with symbols that pulsed faintly with light. The door was sealed shut, but Kaizen knew this was it—the entrance to the inner chamber where the Drift Core was hidden.

"Well, that was easy," Kaizen said, running his fingers along the markings on the door. He tilted his head. "Hmm... Looks like it needs a little... adjustment."

Lira shook her head. "Kaizen, we don’t have time for your antics. What if someone else is already here?"

"Then we’ll beat them to it, like we always do."

Kaizen grinned as he pulled out a small device from his pocket. He slapped it against the door, and it immediately began to glow brighter, the symbols flashing in sequence. Lira’s eyes widened.

"Wait... you actually brought a device for this?" she asked, genuinely impressed.

Kaizen smirked. "Of course I did. You think I’m just going to wing it every time?"

The door groaned, and with a sudden burst of energy, it slid open, revealing a large chamber filled with strange, glowing stones. In the center of the room was a pedestal, and atop it lay the Drift Core—its translucent surface swirling with energy, casting a soft blue light across the chamber.

"There it is," Kaizen said, his voice filled with awe. "The first Drift Core."

But just as they stepped forward, a loud crack echoed through the room.

Before they could react, the floor beneath their feet began to tremble, and a large figure emerged from the shadows. A man, tall and muscular, with a long cloak billowing behind him. His face was obscured by a mask, but the glow of his eyes pierced through the darkness.

"I suggest you step away from that Drift Core," the masked man said, his voice deep and cold.

Kaizen smirked, not the least bit intimidated. "And who might you be?"

"I am Kaen, the last guardian of this city," the man replied, stepping forward, his hands glowing with a strange, dark energy. "You will not take what is not yours."

Lira’s grip tightened on her rifle. "This guy doesn’t look like he’s here to negotiate."

"Well then," Kaizen said, grinning even wider, "it looks like we’ve got ourselves a little challenge."

Without warning, Kaizen snapped his fingers.

Gravity Snap.

The room shifted as the gravity inverted, sending Kaizen flying toward the ceiling. But Kaen reacted instantly, twisting the air around him, forcing the gravity to return to normal in a flash.

Kaizen landed smoothly, still grinning. "That was a nice little warm-up. Let’s see how you handle this!"

The fight had begun.

The sounds of battle echoed through the crumbling ruins. Kaizen darted across the chamber, using the unpredictable pull of gravity to his advantage. He shot off the walls, twisting his body midair to dodge Kaen’s dark energy blasts. His smile never faded—this was exactly the kind of challenge he lived for.

"Not bad, Masked Man!" Kaizen shouted, his voice full of energy. "But you’ll have to do better than that to stop me!"

Kaen’s glowing eyes narrowed. "You are reckless," he said, his voice a low growl. "This Drift Core is a force that should not be taken lightly. It is not a toy for your games."

Kaizen landed in a crouch, a playful grin still plastered across his face. "Oh, I know," he replied, standing up. "But I don’t plan on letting anyone keep me from my goal. The Drift Cores are my ticket to something big. And if you’re in my way… well, then we’ll just have to see who’s more serious."

Lira stood back, watching Kaizen and Kaen. She had already figured out something—Kaizen wasn’t just playing around. He had a plan, and he was holding back something big. But Lira wasn’t sure what that "big" was yet. All she knew was that the more she saw him, the more she had to admit: this guy was different. And maybe, just maybe, that was the reason he was the one leading them.

"Kaizen, be careful!" Lira called, raising her rifle. "You don’t know what you’re dealing with!"

Kaizen shot her a look, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "I’ve got this. You just keep an eye out for anyone else who might be trying to steal our prize!"

With a sudden shift in the air, Kaizen darted forward. He bent gravity around himself, turning it into a spinning vortex of momentum. As he approached Kaen, he unleashed his signature move.

"Gravity Snap!" Kaizen shouted.

The ground beneath Kaen’s feet cracked as the gravity shifted abruptly, throwing Kaen off balance. The masked man staggered backward but quickly regained his footing, his dark energy swirling around him.

"You think that’s enough to stop me?" Kaen growled, his hands glowing brighter.

But Kaizen wasn’t finished. With the quick snap of his fingers, the gravity around the room shifted again, this time pulling Kaen toward the ceiling. The masked man grunted in surprise, his feet lifting off the ground, but he reacted quickly, twisting the gravity around him so that he hovered in midair. Dark tendrils of energy shot from his hands, firing toward Kaizen with deadly precision.

Kaizen dodged with ease, twisting his body in a mid-air flip, landing on his feet as the dark blasts crashed into the walls. The tension in the air was thick, both fighters testing each other’s limits.

"Not bad," Kaizen said with a laugh, "but I’m just getting started."

Kaen's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, a hint of frustration showed on his face. "You are stronger than I expected. But that means you are a greater threat than I imagined. I will not let you leave with the Core."

With a wave of his hand, Kaen summoned a massive barrier of swirling dark energy, forming a shield that covered the entire chamber. The room pulsed with ominous power, and Kaizen could feel the air grow heavier as the gravity within the chamber shifted once more, becoming even more oppressive.

Lira’s eyes widened as she noticed the change. "Kaizen, this is bad. That energy—it’s warping the gravity around us. We can’t fight like this."

"I know," Kaizen said, his voice a mix of determination and excitement. "But we’re not just here for a fight, are we? We’re here for something much bigger."

Without warning, Kaizen slammed his hands into the ground, sending a shockwave through the chamber. The ground beneath Kaen’s feet cracked open, and gravity bent in all directions. Kaen’s shield shattered in an instant as the force of the attack threw him off balance.

Kaizen’s smile widened. "I told you, I’m just getting started."

---

Meanwhile, Outside the Ruins

As the battle raged on inside, a shadowy figure stood at the entrance to the ruins, watching the chaos unfold. The figure was tall, cloaked in a long, dark coat that billowed in the wind. His face was obscured by a wide-brimmed hat, and his eyes were hidden beneath the shadow of his cloak.

The man watched the struggle between Kaizen and Kaen intently, his fingers twitching as if ready to strike at any moment. His lips curled into a slight smile. "So, this is the one they’ve been talking about. Interesting."

He stepped forward, disappearing into the shadows of the ruins.

---

Back Inside the Ruins

Kaizen was now in his element, using his abilities in sync with the environment to keep Kaen on the defensive. Gravity flowed around him like water, and every movement was a calculated step in the dance of battle.

"You’re tough," Kaizen said, his voice a mix of admiration and challenge. "I’ll give you that. But I don’t have time to waste."

Kaen snarled, his dark energy swirling violently. "You’re a fool, boy. You have no idea what you’re up against."

Kaizen’s eyes flickered with a sudden understanding. "You’re right about one thing," he said, locking eyes with Kaen. "I don’t know exactly what I’m up against. But that’s not going to stop me."

In a flash, Kaizen moved forward again, his body flickering in and out of focus as he manipulated the gravity around him, making himself nearly impossible to track. He reached out, his hand landing on the pedestal.

For a split second, the room fell silent.

And then, with a sharp crack of energy, the Drift Core in the center of the room pulsed brightly, its power flooding the entire chamber. Kaizen had claimed the prize, but the battle was far from over.