The quarterfinals had ended in thunder.
But the storm only began after the fists stopped flying.
With the semi-finals postponed for two days to allow recovery, the academy halls fell quiet. Too quiet. And in the silence, whispers bloomed like rot.
"Kairon Vex? He's not even registered with the Academy until this year."
"Where'd he even come from?"
"I heard he's from the slums. Trash-tier. Sector Nine."
"With bones like that? Must be illegal serums."
"You saw his reaction time. That's black-market fusion. No doubt."
"Not even a birth record. He's either engineered, or a weapon."
The more people talked, the less they believed in skill—and the more they reached for explanations soaked in fear.
Because no one normal moved like Kairon.
No one untouched by tech should stand at the top.
So it was easier to believe he was cheating.
A Hollow Truth Planted
In the shadows of the Academy's bureaucratic system, a single report was uploaded:
Anonymous Tip Subject: Kairon Vex Allegation: Possible usage of unregistered BioFusion serums Flagged for review under Genetic Integrity Code: Tier Alpha Request: Invasive scan authorization for latent enhancements
It was unsigned.
But not untraced.
Had anyone looked closely, they'd have seen the request linked to a restricted node—cleared only for users with S-class student rank and noble override protocols.
A privilege held by exactly one student:
Vaelric Thorne.
Elite Dorms – That Night
Vaelric stood by the window, watching storm clouds roll in.
Instructor Rhys' voice echoed from earlier:
"You can't stand that someone's outshining you."
But it wasn't about envy.
It was about control.
About order.
About reminding everyone who the real heir was.
And if the Academy wouldn't question Kairon, Vaelric would make them.
"Let's see what he really is," he murmured.
Sector Nine – Mira's Home
Far below, in the filth and rust of the lower sectors, Mira—now aged, bones bent from years of scavenging—watched the tournament feed from a cracked holoscreen.
When she saw Kairon's face, her hand trembled.
She touched the screen.
"Not yet, my son," she whispered. "They don't see what you are… but they will."
Xyprus Medical Division – The Next Morning
Kairon was summoned for a "routine scan."
He said nothing. Did not flinch. Let the machines hum and buzz and probe.
But deep inside, something stirred.
Not anger.
Not fear.
Memory.
The machines didn't find anything. Not yet.
But the data was incomplete, the DNA signature unreadable—encrypted by something ancient, something not meant for human archives.
The technician blinked. "What the hell…?"
The screen glitched. The file corrupted itself seconds later.
And Kairon?
He stood up, dressed quietly, and left without a word.
Rumors Reign
By sundown, posters were defaced. Kairon's name was scratched off listings. Students gave him wide space. Some jeered.
"Freak."
"Slum-blood."
"Thorne wannabe."
But he didn't react.
He kept walking.
Unshaken. Unbroken.
Final Line of the Chapter
In two days, fists would fly again. But the first blow had already been struck — not in combat, but in reputation. And its source… sat smiling in his chamber, unaware:
He hadn't weakened Kairon.
He'd provoked him.