The fight had ended, but the aftermath had only begun.
Both finalists were immediately placed into advanced medical recovery pods, their vitals stabilized and monitored by military-grade diagnostics. Auren's bruised ribs and microfractures healed in hours, his body replenished by fusion-grade stem tech.
Damien, however, was different.
For the first time since his birth, the Academy ran a full-body analysis on the boy who had taken their world by storm. What they discovered shook the core of Xyprus' scientific division.
His muscle fibers were unnaturally dense, coiled tight like steel cables under pressure. Not grown, not enhanced. Born that way.
His bone structure was even stranger—denser than high-level fusion athletes, yet still growing. At just fourteen, he carried the frame of a war machine. A human weapon without need of fusion or AI.
Dr. Ilara Vos, head of Xenophysiology, stared at the holographic muscle scans with a frozen expression.
Ilara: "That density's not artificial." "We triple-checked. No fusion. No serums. No tampering. He was born like this."
A junior tech, Klem: "It's not possible. That level of density would rupture tendons by twelve. He'd have torn himself apart just walking."
Ilara (flatly):"He didn't."
She switched the feed to the skeletal scan.
Ilara: "Look at his bone matrix. Denser than anyone in Gen-7... and he's still growing. His epiphyseal plates are active. He's not done yet."
Klem (quietly):"He's fourteen..."
Meanwhile, Across the Room:
A military liaison watched the data scroll across the feed.
Officer:"Can it be replicated?"
Ilara: "No. There's no enhancement signature. No predictable markers. His genome isn't optimized—it's resilient. Wild. Adaptive."
Officer: "Then what is he?"
She didn't answer immediately. Just stared at the image of Damien suspended in recovery gel—eyes closed, brow furrowed even in sleep, as if still bracing for war.
Finally, Ilara whispered:
"He's not a product."
"He's a consequence."
The files were locked immediately. Red-level clearance only. Only the highest-ranking officials at Xyprus Academy had access.
Two Days Later
Damien stood before the rankings board with swollen eyes and wrapped knuckles. His name was there—#3.
Second place in the tournament. But third overall.
He stared.
"Third?"
He turned to the rankings officer.
"I beat four older seniors. No coach. No AI. No serum. And you put me behind a guy who passed math class?"
No answer.
"I thought this was a place where fists rule," he muttered. Then, louder, for the hall to hear: "Who gives a shit about history class?"
Xyprus Academy Combat Rankings (Top 12)
Updated: Post-Tournament Cycle
Auren Valebright AI Neural Combat System Mk.8 / Fusion Tier-S / Tyson-Ali Hybrid Variant Flawless academic record. Tournament Champion.
Sereph Kaidenn Seraphim-class Fusion Wings / Aerial Combat Spec Strategic prodigy, undefeated until injury.
Damien Thorne Unaugmented / Unknown Genetic Class Tournament Runner-Up. No enhancements. Highest raw power index.
Draven Vox Cybernetic Reflex Framework / Fusion-BRecord: 42 wins / 3 losses. Team captain.
Lyka Solace Psi-Linked Fusion Type / Precision Combat AITop 3 in strategic AI interfacing.
Rikuu Marr Kinetic Redirector / Hyper-Athletic Class C FusionBest reaction time recorded in Xyprus.
Vas Lemorak Full-Body Dermal Armor / Brawler-Class FusionGround & pound specialist.
Tessa Myrrh Neural Hacking Support / Stealth Combat TypeVictory through subversion.
Kael Droven Multi-Form Muscle Architecture / Gene-Sync FusionBalanced, durable, loyal.
Echo Vharn Null-Class Fighter / Partial Serum Reversal ProjectClassified origins.
Mika Renn AI-linked speed variant / Dual-blade specialistFastest on foot in Academy.
Thorne Vance Fusion Tier-C / Traditional power strikerLast year's #3, currently dropping.