The sun hung high over the Ardent Academy, casting harsh light on the stone courtyard where students and nobles gathered in a tight circle. Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd like restless wind, every eye fixed on the two figures at the center.
Kael Ardyn stood steady, his breath slow but controlled, his muscles aching from the bruises he had earned over the last few days. The scars of his past life burned beneath his skin, fueling a quiet fire in his chest. Around him, nobles sneered and whispered insults, yet none dared step forward.
Across from him, Aric Dorne, heir to Duke Halverin, radiated confidence and disdain. His tall frame was clad in gleaming armor, and his sharp eyes glittered with malicious delight. With a flick of his wrist, his sword caught the sunlight, sending a deadly glint toward Kael.
"Prepare to be crushed, weakling," Aric called out, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Kael met his gaze evenly. "I'm not the weak one here."
The crowd gasped at the exchange. Challenges like this weren't mere tests they were battles for survival, respect, and power within the academy's ruthless hierarchy.
---
The duel began suddenly. Aric charged forward with blinding speed, his sword slashing in a deadly arc. Kael barely dodged, the blade scraping air where his head had been moments before. His heart hammered as his senses sharpened to a razor's edge, the Soul Devouring System humming softly inside him.
"Battle mode activated. Recommend skill: Soul Shield. Maximum defense advised."*
With a flicker of will, Kael summoned the Soul Shield a shimmering barrier of ethereal energy that wrapped around his body like a protective shell. The next strike from Aric clanged against it, sparks flying.
Kael's muscles tensed, and he countered with a swift blow of his own. The system guided his movements, blending memories and instincts stolen from countless souls into fluid, practiced strikes.
Around them, the crowd leaned in closer, breath held tight. Nobles whispered bets and curses, some refusing to believe the sickly boy could hold his ground against their champion.
---
Elira stood quietly on the sidelines, her delicate hands folded over her chest. Her violet eyes never left Kael, watching with a mixture of hope and worry. She understood the stakes better than anyone: defeat here would mean humiliation, possibly death.
"Be careful," she whispered to herself, "they won't show mercy."
---
Aric's attacks grew fiercer, each swing more desperate to end the duel quickly. But Kael felt something new awakening within him—a surge of stolen power pulsing like wildfire through his veins.
Then, with a steady breath, Kael tapped into his hidden strength.
"Skill activated: Soul Strike. Channeling absorbed souls into concentrated attack."
A brilliant glow flared from Kael's fist, the air crackling with raw energy. He lunged forward, delivering a powerful strike to Aric's side. The blow shattered the noble's defenses, sending him stumbling back with a gasp.
Shock rippled through the crowd.
Aric's face twisted in rage and disbelief as he fought to regain his footing. The once confident smile vanished, replaced by a cold glare that promised revenge.
Kael stood tall, chest heaving, soul burning with a mix of triumph and newfound determination.
---
When the duel ended, silence blanketed the courtyard. The nobles dispersed slowly, their whispers darker, filled with fear and grudging respect.
Elira stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "You have a power that scares them," she said softly, her voice like a soothing balm after a storm.
Kael met her gaze, the weight of her words sinking deep into his bones. "I will need more than power. I need allies, knowledge… and strength to survive."
She smiled faintly. "Then you have already begun."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the academy in a twilight glow, Kael felt the faintest spark of hope flicker inside him a hope that he could reclaim not only his power but his destiny.