Chapter 67: Chapter 67: The Emperor Tournant Begins
Skygate Academy had returned to what most would consider normal.
At least—on the surface.
The wide courtyards were filled with movent as students walked in groups, their voices lively with anticipation. So discussed battle strategies with serious expressions, while others debated rankings as if they could predict the future through speculation alone. Beneath towering stone arches, factions gathered quietly, observing potential candidates and evaluating strengths.
The training grounds were even more intense.
Beasts clashed relentlessly.
Elental energy burst into the air in controlled explosions.
Instructors shouted commands, their voices sharp and authoritative as they pushed their students beyond their limits.
Everything felt structured.
Disciplined.
Predictable.
And yet—
Beneath that carefully maintained order...
Sothing had changed.
Sothing subtle.
Sothing unseen.
And only a very few could truly sense it.
---
Aether stood alone in one of the outer training fields.
The open ground stretched around him, marked with countless scars from previous battles. Burn marks spread across the stone like dark mories, deep claw imprints carved into the earth, and shattered fragnts of reinforced training constructs lay scattered nearby.
Every mark told a story.
Every scar whispered of conflict.
And at the center of it all—
The Fla Sovereign Pup moved.
Crimson flas flowed around its small body like a living aura, smooth and controlled. The fire no longer burned wildly as it once had during its earlier growth stages. Instead, it moved with precision—tight, refined, and deadly.
It had changed.
It had evolved.
It had beco sothing far more dangerous.
Aether’s gaze followed every single movent with unwavering focus.
"Run the sequence again," he said in a calm, steady voice. "But this ti, don’t just focus on speed. I want complete stability during your acceleration. If your flas destabilize at the mont you increase velocity, your entire attack loses efficiency."
The Fla Sovereign Pup let out a soft sound, as if acknowledging the instruction.
Then—
It moved.
Its body blurred forward, leaving behind a streak of crimson light. The flas did not scatter or explode outward. Instead, they remained tightly compressed around its form, flowing like liquid fire.
It reached the training construct in an instant.
Its claws struck forward.
A burst of fla erupted at the point of impact.
Controlled.
asured.
Precise.
Aether observed carefully, his eyes sharp and analytical.
"Better," he said slowly, though his tone remained neutral. "But you’re still allowing the flas to react to the impact instead of maintaining structural cohesion. You need to control the output even after the strike connects."
The pup tilted its head slightly, as if processing his words.
Aether continued, his voice steady but firm.
"Listen carefully. Speed alone will not win your battles. If your flas break formation at the wrong mont, you lose both offensive pressure and defensive stability. You need to treat every movent as a complete sequence—not separate actions."
The pup gave a soft growl in response, determination flickering in its eyes.
"Good," Aether said. "Now do it again. This ti, slow down your initial movent and build montum gradually. I want control first. Speed will follow naturally once your foundation is stable."
The Fla Sovereign Pup didn’t hesitate.
It moved again.
This ti—
Smoother.
Cleaner.
More refined.
Aether remained still.
But his mind...
Was not entirely focused on training.
---
"You’re dividing your attention again."
The voice echoed softly within his mind.
Smooth.
Calm.
And faintly amused.
Aether did not react outwardly, but internally, his focus shifted.
"I’m still observing everything," he replied silently. "I haven’t missed anything."
A soft, knowing laugh followed.
"That’s not the point," she said. "You may still be watching, but your thoughts are sowhere else. Your body is here, but your mind... is not fully present."
Aether’s gaze remained fixed on the Fla Sovereign Pup.
"...The ruins," he said after a brief pause.
There was silence for a mont.
Then her tone shifted—losing so of its playfulness.
"You’re still thinking about that place?" she asked.
Aether’s response was calm, but firm.
"Yes. Because I don’t believe everything that happened there has truly ended. Sothing about it feels... incomplete."
Another pause followed.
Then—
She spoke again.
"He’s gone."
---
The Fla Sovereign Pup halted mid-motion, its flas flickering slightly as it sensed Aether’s shift in focus.
Aether raised his hand gently, signaling it to stop.
"...Explain what you an," Aether said internally, his tone sharpening slightly. "When you say ’gone,’ are you referring to destruction... or absence?"
Her response ca imdiately.
"Absence," she said. "The presence I felt before—the one that did not belong to this world—is no longer here. Not in this layer."
Aether’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You’re certain?" he asked.
"I wouldn’t make that claim without certainty," she replied. "Before, it was faint... almost hidden. But it was there. I could sense it. Now..."
She paused briefly.
"...there is nothing. Not even a trace."
Aether remained silent for a few seconds, carefully processing her words.
Then he asked,
"Did it disappear... or did it leave on its own?"
A faint chuckle echoed.
"That’s a much better question," she said. "You’re learning to think beyond what’s imdiately visible."
---
"He didn’t vanish," she continued slowly. "And he wasn’t destroyed either. If he had been, there would have been a reaction—so kind of disturbance in the surrounding layers."
Aether listened carefully.
"He left," she said simply.
Aether’s gaze lowered slightly.
"...Why would sothing like that leave?" he asked.
There was a longer pause this ti.
As if she were choosing her words carefully.
"Because this world no longer had what he was searching for," she replied. "Or perhaps... he already found what he needed."
Aether’s eyes narrowed.
"And if that’s the case?"
"Then his next step is obvious," she said.
Aether didn’t hesitate.
"The middle world," he said quietly.
A soft hum of approval followed.
"Exactly. A being like that would not remain confined to this layer. If his objective extends beyond this world, then moving upward is the only logical step."
---
Aether exhaled slowly.
"So he hasn’t disappeared," he said. "He’s just... moved on."
"That’s right," she replied. "And more importantly, he has no reason to stay here anymore."
Aether looked across the training grounds.
Students continued their activities, completely unaware of what had just been discussed.
"...So for now, there’s no imdiate threat," he said.
"For now," she repeated softly.
---
Aether’s gaze shifted toward the main academy building.
Large banners had already been placed across the entrance, each one bearing the symbol of the academy’s most prestigious competition.
Students were gathering.
The atmosphere had changed.
It felt heavier.
More serious.
"The tournant begins today," Aether said.
"Yes," she replied. "And this is where your real journey begins."
Aether turned and began walking.
The Fla Sovereign Pup followed closely behind.
---
The central courtyard was filled with hundreds of students.
The air buzzed with excitent and tension.
At the center stood a massive stone platform.
The Head Instructor stepped forward.
Slowly—
The noise faded.
Then he spoke.
"The Skygate Young Emperor Tournant will officially begin today."
The crowd erupted instantly.
Excitent surged through the students like wildfire.
Because this—
Was not just another academy event.
---
"This tournant," the instructor continued, his voice steady and authoritative, "will determine the three representatives of Skygate Academy who will advance to the National Emperor Championship."
A heavy silence followed.
Everyone understood.
This was their future.
---
"The top 512 ranked students will participate," he said. "The format will be single elimination. There will be no second chances."
He paused.
"If you lose even once... your journey ends.
"You’ll need to win seven consecutive matches," she said inside Aether’s mind.
Aether replied calmly,
"I’m not planning to lose even one."
---
A massive projection appeared above the platform.
Hundreds of nas filled the air.
Aether scanned them carefully.
Searching.
Calculating.
"There," she said softly.
He found his na.
---
Then his gaze shifted upward.
Valen.
Rank 1.
She spoke slowly,
"He is not soone you can treat lightly. His strength is real—and unlike most here, he has already begun stepping beyond this level."
Aether nodded.
"I expected nothing less."
---
Then—
He found another na.
Liora.
Placed in the opposite bracket.
aning—
They would only et in the final.
"You’re thinking about her," she said.
Aether replied calmly,
"She’s strong. That’s all. Also I didn’t see her after getting out of the ruins. As i were at training most of ti."
A soft laugh echoed.
"That’s not what I ant."
---
The instructor’s voice echoed one last ti.
"The first matches begin tomorrow. Prepare yourselves."
---
The crowd dispersed.
Excitent filled the air.
Aether turned away.
"You’ll rely only on the pup?" she asked.
"Yes."
"And ?"
"Not yet."
She laughed softly.
"Good. I have no interest in fighting weak opponents."
---
The sky darkened as evening approached.
A calm wind passed through the academy.
Students trained.
Prepared.
Waited.
And at the center of it all—
Aether walked forward.
Calm.
Focused.
Unwavering.
Because this ti—
He would not remain in the shadows.
He would rise. He had to win the tournant for getting recourses so he could have beast gears and so rare tresures for himself.
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