The silence in the battle hall was deafening, something unexpected had happened, The newcomer had just challenged Damian Knight, the student second only to Isaiah in the entire first year
"Are you sure about that, mister...."
"Malakai, Malakai Blackwell " Kai answered
"Remember it well Mrs Eris, you will be hearing it for quite some time "
Eris chuckled softly. It had been a while since she'd seen a student with such bold confidence.
"Be careful, Mr. Malakai," she replied. "Many have come through those doors with that same attitude. This place has a way of breaking them—permanently."
Kai was unfazed by her words, he is a man on a mission, simple words wouldn't be enough to discourage him
" I will keep that in mind, Mrs Eris"
"Good. Damian, what do you make of all this?" Mrs. Eris asked, shifting everyone's attention to the blonde boy who had been silently watching.
Damian's icy, expressionless gaze didn't waver as he finally spoke. "I'm not surprised," he began. "I've seen plenty like him—people who get a taste of power and think they're untouchable. They start to feel like gods."
He stepped forward, a faint smirk curling his lips. "But nothing would satisfy me more than showing him how insignificant he really is. So yes, I accept your challenge. But I promise you'll regret this."
A shiver ran through the crowd. Damian's voice was cold and condescending, instilling a sense of dread in all who heard it. But Kai merely grinned wider.
"Very well, let the two combatants step on the stage " Mrs Eris announced
Both combatants began an epic stare down as Damian stepped on to the stage
Damian wielded a sliver longsword, an elegant and Clearly expensive weapon, suited to Damian's style
"Let's get this over with," Damian said dismissively.
Kai's expression shifted, a hint of reflection crossing his face. "You talked about people feeling like gods... you're wrong. After watching everyone's performances today, I realize I'm really nothing."
The words hung in the air, leaving the audience puzzled. But then Kai's eyes hardened. "That's why I'm here—to change that. From nothing to everything. Remember this day, Damian Knight, the Damian Knight, the day you lost to absolutely nothing."
Kai's eyes began to glow red as he outstretched his arm
"Come forth... Bane "
The black crown levitating over his head began to violently spin as a large amount of Curse energy filled the room, soon a black majestic katana took shape in Kai's hand and only then did the crown stop spinning
Bane was in full display to every one in the room, the intricate design was so incredible that no one could take their eyes off it
"So that's why he didn't need a weapon, Lucky bastard"
Michael thought
"Good luck, roommate"
Even Mrs Eris was mesmerized by Bane, as a weapons specialist, only she could fully appreciate such a blade, However now was not the time for that
"Are all combatants ready? "
After a nod of confirmation from both fighters
"Begin"
Miss Eris declared
********
The sound of clashing steel echoed through the hall. But it wasn't the epic battle the spectators expected. Instead, Kai was a bloodied mess, using Bane as a crutch to stay upright. His uniform was torn, blood dripped from his lips, and bruises covered his body.
"Is that it?" Damian sneered. "All that bravado for this?"
He was unscathed, his every movement calculated and ruthless. The confidence Kai had shown earlier seemed meaningless now
Kai, desperate, launched another wild swing, hoping for a lucky hit. Damian easily parried it and drove his knee into Kai's stomach. The blow sent Kai crashing to the ground, blood splattering from his mouth.
Kai immediately fell to the floor and spat out blood.
"He is absolutely nothing like the training dummies"
Kai said inwardly
Kai wasn't a trained swordsmen, the only thing he knew was the moves that was ingrained in his mind the moment he held Bane. Moves that he barely had time to practice.
And for that reason
"Damian's destroying him," Michael thought from the sidelines. "Just give up already, man."
But Kai refused to stay down. He struggled to his feet, shaky but determined. He stared Damian down, his resolve unwavering.
"Why aren't you using your Gift?" Kai asked through gritted teeth.
Damian's cold laughter filled the hall. "Are you serious? Have you even looked at yourself? You're a joke, Blackwell."
Kai shrugged. "You still didn't answer the question."
Damian's eyes narrowed in annoyance. Without another word, he dashed forward and unleashed another brutal flurry of strikes. Kai was too weak to block and could only focus on dodging.
In a desperate move, Kai spotted an opening and lunged. But Damian countered, slamming Kai's head into the stage floor, creating a crater.
The fight was over—or so everyone thought. Damian crouched beside Kai and whispered, "Using my Gift against someone as pathetic as you would be a disgrace to my family."
Damian walked away, leaving Kai crumpled on the ground. The audience's hopes were shattered, especially among the Cursed students who had believed they'd found a new hope against the Gifted. Even Mrs. Eris was disappointed by the lackluster match
Alexandria was the only cursed student in the top ten. She was strong but not strong as Isaiah and Damian. A realization began to sink in. "Maybe they are just better than us after all".
"What a waste of time" Mrs Eris thought
She prepared to declare Damian the winner when an unexpected sound pierced the air— laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!" Kai's laughter echoed through the hall, surprising everyone, including Damian.
"Hahahahahaha"
"Huh?"
The laughter halted Damian's foot steps
Kai began laughing as loud as he could as he slowly stood up
"Pfft- pathetic, haha- he really said it hahaha"
"Now I haven't heard those words in while"
Kai became teary eyed from all the laughter
The last time he heard those words was the day he met Richard, the day miss Agatha died, the day everything changed for him
Azrael's first words
The laughter was more than just mockery—it was a release, a defense against the memories those words had triggered. The last time he'd heard them was the day everything changed—the day Richard came, the day Miss Agatha died.
"Oi, where do you think you're going? We're not done here," Kai taunted, wiping away a tear.
"How are you even standing right now?" Damian asked, genuine shock creeping into his voice. The damage he'd dealt should have left Kai unconscious, if not dead.
"I honestly have no idea," Kai admitted, grinning through the pain. "What are you gonna do about it?"
Gesturing with his arms to Damian, inviting him for one last dance
His eyes began to glow blue as he focused his power, the air around him crackled with static electricity. His sword, which had been laying dormant at his side, began to glow with an unearthly light. The blade seemed to come alive as it became charged with electricity, arcing and flickering like a lightning bolt.
"You wanted to see my Gift?" Damian asked, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Here it is."
Electricity surged through the air, and Damian's sword now blazed with energy. This was the Knight family's Gift—lightning infused with their very essence.
If I don't beat you at your best, what's the point?" Kai muttered, gripping Bane tightly.
Damian shot forward like a lightning bolt, aiming to end it with one strike. At the same time, Kai steadied himself, taking a deep breath. "Blur," he whispered.
The two combatants dashed past each other at blinding speed. The audience barely registered the exchange—just a flash of light and darkness colliding.
Both fighters stood still, backs to each other, as silence returned to the hall. Damian's voice cut through the air, filled with disbelief. "How...?"
Blood sprayed as slashes began appearing all over Damian's body. He collapsed, blood pooling around him.
White-clad medics teleported in, rushing to Damian's side and whisking him away for treatment.
Turning his attention to Isaiah, who had observed silently, Kai declared, "When I become stronger, you're next."
With those words, Kai collapsed on the stage. His watch beeped, signaling a message:
[ The Cursed King is pleased with you.
Congratulations!!! He wishes to grant you a little gift ]