The academy grounds were alive with tension. The air was thick with anticipation as the candidates for the trial continued their tests. Hundreds of them had been pushed to their limits—physically, mentally, and spiritually—yet only a fraction had shown real promise. Among them, Hoshigami had proven herself a force to be reckoned with. Her aura flared with an intensity that even the instructors had to take note of.
Hoshigami's final trial was a spectacle in itself. She moved like liquid fire, her attacks precise and devastating. The younger candidates watched in awe, scribbling notes on her technique while trying to keep up with her rapid movements. Yet, it wasn't just brute strength that set her apart—it was her adaptability, her uncanny ability to read and predict the flow of combat.
By the time she finished, she stood at the center of the trial arena, chest heaving, eyes shining with determination. The test monitors—a mixture of author candidates and elder instructors—nodded in approval. She had passed.
Her classmates and competitors, exhausted but inspired, gathered around, whispering praises. Hoshigami, with a small, triumphant smile, accepted their admiration gracefully. But her mind was already moving ahead, thinking of the challenges that awaited her with her new rank. She would be assigned a master soon, and she knew the lessons she would learn next could change her life forever.
Meanwhile, other students began to settle into the rhythm of the academy. The C-class outer students started practicing diligently, B-class inner students strategized in groups, A-class upper students meditated and refined their techniques, and the S-class master students maintained their air of untouchable authority, occasionally glancing at the newcomers with faint amusement or disinterest. The academy had become a living organism, each student a pulse in its growing body.
Far above this bustling scene, in the metaphysical plane, the battle between Lucien and Kaelix had reached a fever pitch. The atmosphere around Nax crackled with raw energy, invisible threads of power twisting through space, dimensions subtly warping to accommodate the intensity of their confrontation.
Lucien floated with a calm, almost lazy posture, his abyssal eyes sweeping over Kaelix as if evaluating a chessboard. "You've grown stronger since the last time," he said lightly, almost teasing, "but I hope you're ready… because this is where the fun begins."
Kaelix's grin widened, a streak of red hair flashing in the warped light of Nax. "Fun? Oh, I live for this, Dreamveil. Don't think I won't enjoy pushing you to your limits."
A subtle tension rippled across the battlefield. Every flick of their hands, every step forward or backward, was measured—but underneath the control, latent power simmered dangerously. Lucien's movements were deceptively casual, yet the air seemed to bend around him with every motion. Kaelix mirrored him perfectly, every step a counterweight, every glance a calculated risk.
The spectators—Kaelith, Kaelitharion, and the other author candidates—watched with rapt attention. Some leaned forward, others crossed their arms, but none spoke. Even the normally impassive Kaelitharion allowed a faint smile to curl at the corner of his lips. "Observe closely. Every move, every aura shift… even in controlled form, this is a display of mastery few could ever comprehend."
Lucien's voice cut through the tension, casual yet carrying a weight that seemed to warp the very air. "I'll start lightly. Don't worry, this is just a warm-up." He shifted, and suddenly the space around him exploded into motion. Each movement generated ripples in reality—subtle distortions that made it impossible for the untrained eye to follow.
Kaelix responded instantly, their aura flaring, red streaks weaving through the metaphysical fabric like living lightning. "Warm-up, huh? Then let's see whose 'light touch' can leave a mark."
The battle had begun. Hand-to-hand strikes were fluid and precise, each blow creating shockwaves that could be felt across layers of Nax. Martial arts choreography met metaphysical manipulation, each combatant anticipating the other's next step. A punch aimed at Kaelix was met with a block that seemed almost casual, yet the force behind it could shatter small asteroids. A kick launched from Lucien's side was countered mid-air with a twisting somersault, Kaelix's aura flaring red as sparks of dimensional energy scattered like shattered glass.
Even without using their full power, the controlled nature of the fight caused the surrounding space to warp, fragments of reality bending, twisting, and snapping back into place with each strike. Lucien moved with a smile, teasing with every feint, every deliberate pause. "You've got to do better than that," he said lightly as he dodged a mid-range strike with a flick of his wrist.
Kaelix, smirking despite the subtle strain in their expression, responded, "Oh, don't worry. I will. But I like watching you dance around my attacks."
The author candidates, watching from a safe distance, whispered among themselves. "Even without full power… this is absurd." "Look at the ripples in Nax—reality itself is bending around them." "They're playing with physics and dimensions like it's a game."
Lucien's hand shot forward, a precise strike aimed to test Kaelix's reflexes. The impact didn't break the metaphysical plane but sent a subtle shockwave across Nax, enough to make the observer's hair stand on end. Kaelix countered with a flash step, their movement faster than the eye could track, leaving faint streaks of light trailing behind.
As the battle escalated, the playful banter continued. Lucien's voice, calm and amused, cut through the energy. "Honestly, Kaelix… you're improving. I almost expected this to be sloppy."
Kaelix laughed, a low, dark sound. "Keep underestimating me, Dreamveil. You might be in for a surprise."
The fight stretched onward, both combatants trading blows, strikes, counters, and parries, all while maintaining their controlled power levels. Their movements were a dance of perfection—chaotic to the untrained eye, yet masterful in precision and timing. Each strike and parry whispered promises of devastation held just at bay, a teasing display of what true power could do.
From the sidelines, Kaelitharion leaned forward slightly. "Remember this… they're both holding back. This is only a glimpse of their base power. If either of them fully unleashed… the metaphysical plane itself might fracture."
Lucien, sensing the weight of the spectators' gazes, allowed himself a rare moment to smirk directly at them. "Relax. You're not going to get erased today… at least not if you watch quietly."
Kaelix, grinning, darted forward with a sudden flurry of strikes. Lucien responded with Omni-directional reflexes, dodging and countering each strike with precision. The metaphysical plane shivered and rippled under the subtle force of their blows, a silent symphony of power that resonated even in the minds of the watching author candidates.
The duel continued, a perfect blend of comedy, arrogance, and sheer awe-inspiring skill, each moment teasing the limit of the controlled power they were using. Even in the heat of combat, Lucien maintained a teasing air, playfully baiting Kaelix while simultaneously testing their reaction, pushing them just enough to reveal skill, cunning, and strategy.
And then, as the sun-like lights of Nax glimmered across the distorted horizon, a new energy stirred—an unseen ripple from beyond the current duel, hinting that the events unfolding here were about to catch the attention of something far greater…