Location: Imperial Academy — Grand Tournament Arena
For several seconds after the chains shattered…
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The arena — once filled with cheers and excitement — had fallen into absolute silence.
At the center of the destruction stood Kael Solaris.
Silver light radiated from his body in slow, rhythmic pulses, like the heartbeat of something ancient awakening after a long slumber.
The marble floor beneath his feet had fractured into a spiderweb of cracks.
The dagger still protruded from his side.
Blood dripped steadily onto the ground.
Yet…
He stood unmoving.
Unshaken.
Untouched by pain.
Rowan stumbled backward, terror flooding his face.
"T-That's impossible…" he whispered.
Raven Duskhorn's confident smirk had completely vanished.
The oppressive pressure filling the arena made it hard to breathe.
Even he — a prodigy feared across the academy — felt his instincts screaming in warning.
Danger.
Absolute danger.
From the noble viewing balcony, chaos erupted.
"What is that energy?!"
"That's not mana!"
"A sealing array was deployed — who authorized this?!"
Several professors attempted to activate the emergency suppression barriers.
The crystal control panels sparked violently.
Cracks spread across their surfaces.
The system refused to respond.
High Chancellor Valemont rose slowly from his seat, his face pale.
"…Divine resonance," he murmured.
The words sent a chill through every noble nearby.
"Impossible," another noble said sharply."That would mean—"
"Yes," Valemont interrupted quietly.
"…A Fragment of Authority."
Back in the arena—
Aria forced her way past the stunned guards, sprinting onto the battlefield.
"Kael!"
Her voice broke as she reached him.
Up close, the pressure was overwhelming.
It felt like standing beside a star compressed into human form.
Yet when Kael's silver eyes shifted toward her…
The pressure eased slightly.
Recognition.
Control.
"Aria…" he said softly.
Hearing her name in his voice — still gentle despite the terrifying power surrounding him — made her chest tighten painfully.
She grabbed his arm.
"You're bleeding — we need to stop this now!"
Kael glanced down at the dagger in his side as if noticing it for the first time.
Then he looked toward Rowan.
Rowan had fallen to his knees.
"I'm sorry…" Rowan choked."I didn't want this… they said they'd spare my sister… I—"
His words dissolved into sobs.
Kael watched him quietly.
No anger.
No rage.
Only a calm, distant sadness.
"…You should have trusted me," Kael said.
Rowan's shoulders shook violently.
"I know…"
Before anyone could react—
A pulse of black energy erupted from Raven.
"ENOUGH!"
Dark flames exploded outward, forcing everyone back several meters.
Raven's expression twisted with fury and disbelief.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" he snarled.
His gaze locked onto Kael.
"…You were supposed to stay sealed."
The words echoed across the arena.
The nobles froze.
The professors froze.
Aria froze.
Stay… sealed?
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
So.
It was confirmed.
The Fallen Ones were involved.
Raven's body began to change.
Black veins spread across his neck.
His pupils fractured into jagged shapes.
Power surged violently — unstable, corrupted.
"I don't care what you are," Raven growled."If I kill you now, the prophecy ends!"
He lunged forward.
The attack never landed.
Kael raised one hand.
The space in front of him distorted.
Raven stopped mid-movement — frozen in place.
Not restrained.
Not blocked.
Simply…
Unable to move.
Horror flooded Raven's face.
"…What did you do?"
Kael's voice was quiet.
"I remembered."
A faint ripple passed through the air.
Raven's flames extinguished instantly.
His body slammed into the ground as if gravity had multiplied tenfold.
The entire arena shook.
Gasps erupted everywhere.
From the highest balcony, the cloaked observer who had been watching since the beginning slowly stood.
Golden eyes gleamed with excitement.
"So it's true…" the figure whispered.
"The Fallen God lives."
Back below—
Kael swayed slightly.
The silver glow flickered.
The Mooncore Seed pulsed violently — unstable.
Aria caught him before he could fall.
His weight dropped against her shoulder.
The overwhelming pressure vanished instantly.
Students across the arena collapsed in relief, gasping for breath.
Kael's eyes were half-closed now.
"…Too soon," he murmured weakly.
Aria tightened her grip on him.
"Don't talk," she said, voice trembling."I've got you."
Across the arena, royal guards finally stormed onto the field.
Healers followed.
Professors shouted orders.
The tournament was officially in chaos.
But the political storm…
Was only beginning.
Because in the noble balcony—
Multiple aristocrats were already whispering urgently.
"The First Prince… possesses divine power."
"If this reaches the Emperor…"
"The succession balance will collapse."
"And if the Church learns of this…"
Fear spread like wildfire.
The world had just changed.
And at the center of it all—
Was the boy they once called useless.