The cafeteria buzzed.
Students packed the halls staring at the glowing board on the stone wall. Names shifted. Lights flashed. The hierarchy of survival updated every week.
Top 50 meant food. Resources. Protection.
Fall off and you starve.
Azel walked in.
He carried nothing. Wore the same torn uniform. Blood stains never cleaned.
Eyes followed him.
The board shifted again.
Rank 12 – Kael Varin → Demoted to 37
Rank ??? – Azel Raen → Promoted to 49
Gasps.
Whispers.
He ignored them.
Kael sat alone in the corner. Face bruised. Eyes burning.
Azel walked past him.
No words.
That silence cut deeper than any insult.
> System update
New passive unlocked: Strategic Presence
Your silence applies pressure
Nearby targets lose 2 percent focus
He grabbed a tray. Sat in the corner. Alone. Always.
Across the hall, a girl stood watching. White uniform. Silver eyes. Rank 3.
Sera Veyr.
She tilted her head. Curious.
She wasn't scared.
She was calculating.
He met her eyes.
She smiled.
He didn't.
> New target of interest: Sera Veyr
Threat Level: Unknown
Connection: Inevitable
The tray food tasted like ash.
He ate it anyway.
Strength never came from comfort.
It came from hunger.