⚔️ Chapter 25
"Sometimes the greatest wars begin not with armies, but with whispers in shadows."
📍 Setting: End of the Tournament – Chaos Unleashed
The top 10 teams stood in the final arena — a hovering battlefield suspended over the Crosnic Lake. The floating platform was shaped like a five-pointed star, each point leading into a different environment for the final round.
Aeren's team, still ranked 9th, was cautious. Anshi was back in the medical wing after pushing too hard during training. Aeren stood silently, still haunted by the serpent mark and the image of the pod.
💥 The Sabotage Begins
Just as the countdown for the final match began, the sky split open.
A strange red-black mist emerged, distorting the light.
Suddenly — BOOM — an explosion rocked the central platform.
The crowd screamed. Seekers panicked.
"Security breach! Someone's hacked the barrier controls!"
"What's going on?! Who authorized—"
From above, a gigantic obsidian serpent appeared in the sky — a holographic sigil of the Eclipse Fang.
Then, four cloaked figures dropped onto the arena, each wearing silver masks, each emitting monstrous energy.
☠️ The Traitor Within
From Team 2 — one of the strongest groups — a student pulled off their uniform to reveal the Eclipse Fang sigil.
"We've waited long enough… The Seekers' Era ends today!"
They unleashed black energy that stunned nearly half the elite students.
Director Valor immediately activated the Guardian Seal and summoned the Diamond-tier Seekers to engage.
But it was too late.
The rogue team had planted monster glyphs all around the barrier field — summoning dozens of elite beasts, including Level 8 chaos hounds and void eaters.
💀 Anshi Awakens Her True Bloodline
Meanwhile, inside the medical facility, Anshi, sensing Aeren was in danger, forced herself to her feet.
As she tried to get up, her bloodline burst.
Her eyes turned crimson gold, her veins lit with fire, and her body lifted off the bed.
"I will not let him fight alone."
She began rushing toward the battlefield — her power burning like a phoenix.
🧠 Aeren's Mind Unlocks — Again
In the chaos, Aeren suddenly felt a voice in his mind:
"You are not just a seed. You are the root of what's to come."
Everything around him slowed. He saw the battlefield as if frozen in time.
His eyes turned completely silver again.
He saw the real intention of Eclipse Fang — not to win the battle, but to mark chosen ones with the Serpent Sigil and awaken the sealed gateway hidden under Crosnic Lake.
He whispered:
"They're trying to awaken it... The monster below…"
🌀 The Dream Realm Overlaps Reality
Suddenly, time broke.
The realm around Aeren split like glass, revealing a dimension underneath — where the Watcher (cloaked man from his visions) stood.
All Level 9 and Level 10 monsters were shown kneeling again.
This time, the Watcher spoke directly:
"Soon, your choice will matter. Eclipse or Salvation. Decide... Aeren."
The scene vanished.
Aeren was back in battle — but something in him changed.
He could now see the future 3 seconds ahead.
🔥 Aeren Fights Back
With just agility, foresight, and incredible reaction, Aeren began dodging, disarming, and even redirecting energy attacks of the rogue Eclipse Fang students.
He still didn't use raw power — but mind reading, precise vision, and instinctive strategy made him a nightmare.
Even the Diamond-tier seekers watching paused.
"That... was prediction. How did he—?"
👁️ The Mark on His Back
As he moved, the sigil on his back began to glow.
It pulsed.
It sent a wave across the entire battlefield — freezing all monsters and Fang members in place for 1 second.
That single second saved 20 students from near death.
No one could explain what happened.
Not even Aeren — who collapsed unconscious seconds later.
🌌 End of Chapter 25