Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Gathering Storms
The academy tournant did not slow down after Aether’s victory.
If anything, the intensity increased.
Skygate Academy had always been a place where strong students erged, but this year felt different. Rumors spread that several major factions from across the Lower World were observing the competition more closely than usual.
So believed it was because of new rare beasts discovered in nearby regions.
Others believed it was because certain students had begun to stand out.
And among those nas...
Aether was now frequently ntioned.
Despite that, Aether himself remained focused on sothing much simpler — steady progress.
Over the next several days, his routine beca consistent.
Morning training.
Midday academy classes.
Evening research and observation of tournant matches.
And every night, he could feel the signal from the Ashen Wildlands growing slightly stronger.
Still distant.
But slowly aligning with his own resonance.
---
One afternoon, the academy’s main training arena was filled again with spectators.
Another round of the ranking tournant had begun.
Students were excited, whispering and pointing at the large board displaying upcoming matches.
Liora stood beside Aether while reading the list.
"You’re up again today."
Aether nodded.
"Yes."
She scanned the opponent’s na.
"Kellan."
Aether looked at the board.
The na was familiar.
Liora explained quietly,
"He’s from the Ironclad Training Group."
Aether rembered hearing about them.
One of the stronger internal factions inside Skygate Academy.
They specialized in defensive beasts and endurance battles.
Which ant this fight would likely be very different from the previous one.
The Fire Pup looked up at Aether, flas flickering calmly.
Aether crouched slightly and placed a hand on its head.
"Another learning opportunity."
The small beast barked happily.
---
anwhile, on the opposite side of the arena, Kellan stood with his teammates.
Unlike Darek, who had relied on overwhelming strength, Kellan appeared calm and disciplined.
His beast stood behind him.
A large armored turtle-like creature with crystal plates covering its shell.
Several students whispered when they saw it.
"That’s a Crystal Bastion Turtle."
"It’s nearly impossible to break its defense."
"Those battles take forever."
But Aether wasn’t concerned.
Because every beast had weaknesses.
And he intended to find it.
---
The instructor stepped onto the platform.
"Next match — Aether versus Kellan."
The crowd reacted imdiately.
Many students leaned forward.
Because after Aether’s previous fight, everyone wanted to see what he would do next.
Aether walked onto the battlefield calmly.
The Fire Pup followed beside him.
Kellan stepped forward from the other side.
Unlike Darek, he did not show arrogance.
Instead, he nodded respectfully.
"I’ve been watching your matches."
Aether nodded back.
"And I’ve heard about your defenses."
Kellan smiled slightly.
"Then this will be interesting."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin."
---
Kellan didn’t attack imdiately.
Instead, his beast moved forward slowly and positioned itself between him and Aether.
A defensive formation.
The Crystal Bastion Turtle’s shell began glowing faintly as energy gathered around it.
Aether observed carefully.
"Energy reinforcent layered over crystal armor," he thought.
The Fire Pup waited patiently.
Aether did not rush.
Instead, he began walking slowly around the battlefield.
The turtle rotated slightly to maintain its defensive position.
Kellan watched calmly.
"You’re analyzing again."
Aether replied,
"Yes."
The crowd murmured.
Unlike the previous battle, this one started much slower.
But experienced students imdiately realized sothing important.
This was a strategic fight.
Not a clash of power.
---
Kellan raised his hand.
"Let’s test sothing."
The Crystal Bastion Turtle stomped the ground.
A shockwave of crystalline energy spread across the arena floor.
Small crystal pillars began rising from the ground.
Within seconds, the battlefield had transford into a defensive zone.
Barriers.
Obstacles.
Narrow pathways.
Liora watched from the stands.
"He’s turning the arena into a fortress."
Indeed.
Kellan had built a battlefield that favored defense.
Aether looked around calmly.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Interesting."
The Fire Pup’s flas flickered with excitent.
---
The turtle launched its first attack.
A burst of crystal shards shot forward like arrows.
Aether moved instantly.
"Left."
The Fire Pup dashed across the battlefield, flas deflecting several shards while others shattered against the ground.
But more pillars were forming.
Kellan was slowly closing off movent routes.
"Defensive pressure," Aether thought.
The opponent wasn’t trying to defeat him quickly.
He was trying to exhaust him.
Aether raised a hand slightly.
The Fire Pup responded imdiately, releasing a controlled wave of fla that lted part of the crystal barrier.
Students in the stands reacted.
"He’s testing the defense."
But Kellan didn’t look worried.
Instead, he said calmly,
"You’ll need more than that."
The Crystal Bastion Turtle’s shell glowed brighter.
The damaged crystals began reforming.
Aether noticed.
"Regenerative defense."
This battle was becoming more interesting.
---
anwhile, high above the arena, inside one of the academy’s observation towers, several important figures were watching.
Among them were representatives from two major factions of the Lower World.
One of them spoke quietly.
"That boy is unusual."
Another replied,
"Yes. His resonance is strange."
A third observer added,
"And dangerous."
They continued watching carefully.
Because the more Aether fought...
The more certain they beca that he was not an ordinary student.
---
Back in the arena, the battle continued slowly.
Kellan maintained the defensive fortress.
Aether and the Fire Pup continued testing different approaches.
The crowd had grown quiet.
Because everyone understood that this fight would not end quickly.
But then—
Aether suddenly stopped moving.
He looked at the battlefield again.
Not at the turtle.
Not at Kellan.
But at the structure of the crystals themselves.
And then he said quietly,
"I see."
The Fire Pup looked at him.
Aether smiled faintly.
"We’ve learned enough."
The small beast’s flas intensified.
Across the arena, Kellan noticed the change.
His eyes narrowed.
"Finally."
But what neither he nor the crowd realized yet...
Was that Aether had just discovered the flaw in the entire fortress.
And the real battle...
Was about to begin.
---
At the sa ti, far beyond the academy walls, deep within the Ashen Wildlands...
A hidden presence stirred again.
The signal connecting to Aether pulsed stronger.
And sowhere within the forest...
A pair of glowing eyes opened.
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