Chapter 68: Chapter 68: The First Match
The next morning arrived with a silence that felt... different.
It was not the gentle quiet of dawn, nor the peaceful stillness that usually settled over Skygate Academy before the start of a new day.
This silence carried weight.
It pressed against the air, heavy and expectant.
It was the kind of silence that ca before sothing inevitable—
Like the stillness before a storm finally broke.
---
The arena of Skygate Academy stood open in its full glory for the first ti in months.
Massive stone platforms had risen from the central battlefield, each one reinforced with multiple layers of protective formations. Intricate patterns glowed faintly beneath the surface, designed to absorb impact, disperse energy, and prevent destruction from spilling beyond the designated combat zones.
Around the battlefield, towering barriers shimred like translucent walls.
They pulsed faintly with controlled energy, ensuring that no attack—no matter how powerful—would reach the audience stands.
Hundreds of students had already gathered.
So sat calmly, their expressions composed but their eyes sharp.
Others leaned toward their companions, whispering strategies, predictions, and quiet speculations about the matches to co.
And so—
Said nothing at all.
They simply watched.
Carefully.
Calculating.
Because everyone present understood one thing—
This was no longer training.
This was the beginning of sothing real.
---
Near the participant’s entrance, Aether stood quietly.
His posture was relaxed, his breathing steady, and his gaze calm as it swept across the arena.
Beside him, the Fla Sovereign Pup sat with quiet composure.
Its crimson flas flickered gently around its small body, controlled and contained, as if every movent of fire was guided by intention rather than instinct.
Unlike many other beasts nearby—
It showed no aggression.
No restlessness.
No excitent.
Only readiness.
---
Aether’s eyes moved slowly across the battlefield.
He observed everything.
The distance between platforms.
The patterns of the energy barriers.
The behavior of other participants.
The subtle reactions of instructors.
Nothing escaped his attention.
---
"You are doing it again," a familiar voice echoed softly within his mind.
Smooth.
Calm.
And faintly amused.
---
Aether did not turn.
His gaze remained fixed ahead as he responded internally.
"And what exactly am I doing this ti?" he asked, his tone steady and unbothered.
---
A soft laugh followed.
"You are analyzing everything as if the outco has already been decided," she said. "You are not just watching the arena—you are dissecting it. Every movent, every detail, every possibility... you are already turning it into a strategy."
---
Aether exhaled slowly.
"Because every detail matters," he replied. "If I overlook even a small variable, it could cost
the match."
---
There was a brief pause.
Then her voice returned, quieter this ti, yet carrying a hint of approval.
"That way of thinking will keep you alive," she said. "But it will also make your path far more dangerous."
---
Aether did not respond.
Because he already knew that.
---
A deep sound echoed across the arena.
It was not loud—but it carried authority.
The instructors had taken their positions.
At the center platform, the Head Instructor stepped forward once again, his presence commanding imdiate attention.
The murmurs in the crowd faded.
Silence spread outward.
Then—
He spoke.
---
"The first round of the Skygate Young Emperor Tournant... will now begin."
---
The reaction was imdiate.
The crowd erupted with energy.
Voices rose.
Excitent surged.
Anticipation filled the air like a rising tide.
---
"Participants will be called in sequence," the instructor continued, his voice steady and clear despite the noise. "When your na is announced, step onto your assigned platform without delay."
He paused briefly before adding,
"Victory will be determined by surrender, incapacitation, or forced removal from the battlefield. Any violation of the rules will result in imdiate disqualification."
---
Aether listened carefully.
Every word.
Every condition.
---
Beside him, the Fla Sovereign Pup shifted slightly.
Its flas flickered once—then settled again.
---
The first few matches began almost imdiately.
---
Explosions of energy erupted across the platforms.
Beasts clashed.
Students shouted commands.
So battles ended in seconds.
Others stretched longer, filled with struggle, hesitation, and desperation.
---
Aether watched them all.
Not casually.
Not passively.
But with precise attention.
---
After a few monts, he spoke quietly within his mind.
"Most of them are relying entirely on their beasts," he observed.
---
"Of course they are," she replied. "That is the standard here. The bond between summoner and beast defines their strength."
---
Aether shook his head slightly.
"The bond is incomplete," he said. "They are issuing commands—but they are not synchronizing their intent. Their beasts act, but not as extensions of themselves."
---
A faint chuckle echoed in his mind.
"And that," she said, "is exactly why you will surpass them."
Then—
A voice rang out across the arena.
Clear.
Direct.
Unavoidable.
---
"Aether."
A brief pause.
"Platform Seven."
---
The mont his na was spoken—
The atmosphere shifted.
---
Whispers spread through the crowd like ripples in water.
"That’s him..."
"The one who climbed the rankings so fast..."
"I heard he jumped multiple tiers in a single week..."
"Is he really that strong?"
---
Aether did not react.
He simply stepped forward.
Calmly.
Without hesitation.
---
The Fla Sovereign Pup followed beside him, its flas trailing softly behind as it moved.
---
Each step he took was steady.
asured.
Unhurried.
---
As he ascended Platform Seven—
His opponent was already waiting.
---
The student standing across from him was tall and well-built.
His posture was firm, his gaze steady, and his expression calm.
Not arrogant.
But confident.
---
Beside him stood his beast.
A massive creature with a body that looked like a fusion of stone and muscle.
Its gray hide resembled layered rock, and its limbs carried imnse strength.
Its claws scraped against the platform, producing a heavy, grating sound.
---
A Granite Fang Bear.
---
The opponent spoke first.
"So you’re Aether," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I’ve heard quite a bit about you over the past few days."
---
Aether nodded slightly.
"Rumors tend to spread quickly in places like this," he replied.
---
The student gave a faint smile.
"They do," he admitted. "But I’ve learned not to trust rumors too easily. I prefer to see things for myself."
---
The Granite Fang Bear let out a low growl, its body tensing slightly as it prepared for combat.
---
Aether’s gaze shifted briefly toward the beast.
Then back to the student.
---
"You’re a close-range fighter," Aether said.
---
The student raised an eyebrow.
"That was quick," he said. "You figured that out already?"
Aether did not answer.
The instructor’s voice echoed across the platform.
"Begin."
---
The Granite Fang Bear moved instantly.
It charged forward with explosive force, its massive body shaking the platform beneath it.
"Direct pressure," Aether said quietly.
The Fla Sovereign Pup responded imdiately.
But instead of moving forward—
It shifted sideways.
---
Its body blurred into a streak of crimson light, avoiding the charge with effortless precision.
---
The bear slamd into the ground where Aether had been standing monts before.
The impact cracked the stone surface.
Fragnts scattered outward.
---
The crowd reacted instantly.
"That speed...!"
"He didn’t even try to block!"
But Aether remained still.
Watching.
---
The Granite Fang Bear turned again, its eyes locked onto its target.
It roared.
Then charged once more.
Faster.
More aggressive.
"Again," Aether said calmly.
The Fla Pup moved.
Light.
Fluid.
Precise.
This ti, as it dodged—
It left behind a small burst of fla.
---
The bear ran straight through it.
But its movent slowed—just slightly.
Aether’s eyes sharpened.
"Moderate resistance," he murmured. "Not immune."
---
The opponent frowned.
"You’re not attacking," he said. "You’re just observing."
Aether finally spoke aloud.
"I am fighting," he said calmly. "Just not in the way you expected."
The Fla Sovereign Pup stopped.
Just for a mont.
Then—
Its flas deepened.
The air around the platform began to heat.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
But steadily.
The Granite Fang Bear hesitated.
Just slightly.
And Aether saw it.
"That hesitation," he said quietly, "is your weakness."
---
The bear roared and slamd its paws into the ground.
Stone fragnts rose into the air.
Then—
Shot forward.
It is a mid-range attack.
Unexpected.
"Adaptation," Aether noted.
---
The Fla Pup leapt into the air.
Spinning.
Releasing a controlled arc of fla.
The incoming stones lted mid-flight.
Dripping harmlessly onto the platform.
The crowd gasped.
"He neutralized it instantly!"
Aether raised his hand slightly.
"Now," he said.
The Fla Sovereign Pup moved forward.
This ti—
Directly.
The Granite Fang Bear charged to et it.
---
The two forces collided.
Claws t.
Flas erupted.
The impact pushed both back slightly.
But this ti—
The bear’s fur was scorched.
The opponent’s expression changed.
"...That heat... it’s increasing."
Aether stepped forward.
"You rely on strength," he said. "But your defense cannot keep up with sustained pressure."
The Fla Pup moved again.
Faster.
Sharper.
Strike.
Disappear.
Strike again.
The bear tried to counter—
But it was too slow.
Aether raised his hand once more.
"Finish it."
---
The Fla Sovereign Pup stopped in front of the bear.
Its flas condensed.
Compressed.
Then—
Released them towards the bear beast.
---
A focused explosion of fire struck directly at the bear’s chest.
BOOM.
---
The massive creature staggered.
Its legs trembled.
Then—
Collapsed.
Silence fell over the platform.
The opponent exhaled slowly.
"...I understand now," he said.
He raised his hand.
"I surrender."
---
The instructor’s voice followed imdiately.
"Winner: Aether."
He is completely stunned as no one has started observing for that long to opponents beast rather they want to finish it in hurry so they save their ti by recovering their beast. But arther just observed his opponents attack pattern and style.
---
The crowd erupted once more.
---
But Aether—
Had already turned away.
---
Because to him—
This was not a victory.
It was only the beginning.
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