Volume 2, Chapter 24: Final Rounds and Shadows Stirring
The grand arena of Aurelius Magic Academy was alive with energy. Nobles, princes, princesses, and elite students had gathered from all neighboring kingdoms to witness the final rounds of the Inter-Kingdom Magic Tournament.
> "The stakes are higher now," Selene whispered, shadows coiling around her like living serpents.
"The strongest students, the princes, the princesses… everything is in front of us."
> "Yes," Cael replied, his aura completely suppressed.
"And they still think I am weak. That is exactly how it must remain for now."
The Final Rounds Begin
The tournament proceeded with intense matches:
Princes wielding flames, ice, and lightning clashed with princesses skilled in illusion, time magic, and dimensional spells.
Students with latent talent unleashed powerful spells that shattered portions of the arena, yet Cael moved among them like a mere spectator.
Every subtle movement of his a blink, a shadow shift, a faint gust of wind remained unnoticed, a whisper of Absolute Atomic resonance hidden beneath his facade.
Even when facing powerful princes, Cael intentionally lost, bowing politely, letting them score points, and yet leaving a faint imprint of control over the battlefield.
The Hidden Threat Emerges
Unknown to the tournament attendees, remnants of the evil organization had infiltrated the academy again, attempting to unleash forbidden magic to influence the outcome and destabilize the kingdom.
> "Master… shadows of evil are here," Selene whispered, sensing their presence.
"They seek to interfere with the tournament… and possibly awaken monsters from other worlds."
> "Let them try," Cael replied calmly.
"They will not succeed. Not while Absolute Atomic watches in silence."
At night, when the tournament paused, Cael and Selene moved unseen:
Cultists attempting forbidden rituals were silently neutralized their bodies never seen, their magic collapsing instantly.
Hidden monsters summoned to attack key contestants were erased across dimensions, leaving no trace.
Not a single student noticed the interference; the battlefield remained intact.
Even in the darkness, Absolute Atomic presence remained undetectable, yet subtly reshaped events to prevent catastrophe.
Glimpses of True Power
During several matches, subtle anomalies caught the attention of a few observant spectators:
A prince's fire spell suddenly dispersed mid-air, leaving him confused.
A princess's illusion fractured slightly, as though shadows moved to block her magic.
One contestant felt an invisible force push them slightly, causing a small misstep at a critical moment.
> "Something's… wrong," one whispered.
"I can't see it, but the air… it feels different around him."
To the crowd, these were minor oddities, easily dismissed. But Cael's control over even the tiniest disturbances hinted at something far beyond mortal comprehension.
Cael's Intentional Defeat
As the final round of the day concluded, Cael faced Princess Lyria again, the strongest contestant he had met so far.
He dodged with barely noticeable precision, always letting her land a "winning" strike.
Every attack he countered subtly shifted the battlefield in ways no one could perceive.
When the final bell rang, Cael bowed, allowing Lyria to "win" the match.
> "You fought well," he said softly, his aura calm and hidden.
"Your skill is impressive."
Selene hovered near him, whispering:
> "You could have ended them in one move."
> "Exactly," Cael said with a faint smirk.
"But the world must remain blind to the shadow that walks among them. Patience… patience is everything."
Aftermath of the Final Rounds
The tournament concluded with Lyria declared the victor.
The audience murmured about Cael's unusual movements, but no one suspected his true power.
The evil organization's remnants had been completely neutralized, unaware of the Absolute Atomic force watching them from the shadows.
> "This is only the beginning," Cael said quietly, standing on the balcony as the sun set.
"The tournament, the kingdom, my old world… all of it is part of the chessboard. And Absolute Atomic controls every shadow on it."
Selene's shadows flickered in agreement:
> "Master… they remain oblivious. Perfect."
> "Exactly," Cael said.
"Let them parade their strength. When the time comes, Absolute Atomic will show its true face… and no one will escape its reach."
The arena fell silent in the twilight, yet the faint whisper of hidden atomic shadows lingered in the air unseen, unstoppable, and eternal.