Kael's POV
As the dust settled from the sparring match, Kael stood over Damian, his sword lowered and a mix of emotions swirling within him. He felt a strange satisfaction from his victory, but there was something else—a nagging feeling that lingered in the back of his mind. He glanced around the training yard, noticing the hushed whispers among the other recruits. What are they saying about me?
With a deep breath, Kael closed his eyes for a moment, focusing his mind. In his head, he called out to the system that had become an integral part of his life. A translucent screen flickered to life before him, displaying familiar stats and notifications.
Congratulations, Host! You have gained 4000 EXP for defeating a future Rank S villain in a sparring match.
Kael's eyes widened slightly at the notification. He felt a rush of adrenaline as he opened the information about Damian.
Name: Damian Cade
Affiliation: Unknown
Potential Threat Level: Future Rank S Villain
Projected Actions: Will wreak havoc across the continent, resulting in the deaths of millions. Member of a high-ranking terrorist organization.
Alias: The Black Fist
Current Rank: Unknown
Future Rank: Rank 7 powerhouse
Kael's breath caught in his throat. The implications of that information struck him like a physical blow. A terrorist? A future villain? He couldn't fathom it. The boy he had just defeated was destined to become something so terrible? The weight of that realization pressed heavily on his shoulders.
With furrowed brows, Kael continued to examine his own status.
Name: Kael Feron
Current Rank: Peak Rank 1 Aura Practicioner
Skills:
Danger Sense (Passive): Heightened awareness of surrounding threats.
Regeneration (Active): Accelerated healing over time.
Martial Eyes (Active): Enhanced perception of opponents' movements and weaknesses.
This system predicted the future of the world, binding itself to him with a singular purpose: to change its destiny. Damian was just one of many villains he needed to eliminate.
Kael shook his head, forcing the thoughts away. He wouldn't let himself be burdened by the weight of what he had learned just yet. He had a mission, and that mission was to protect the continent, to prevent the chaos that Damian would inevitably bring.
As he looked back at Damian, who was still on the ground, breathing heavily, a sense of determination filled him. I will change the course of history, he vowed silently.
Damian's POV
The world around him was shrouded in a haze of pain and confusion. Damian blinked slowly, the bright lights of the infirmary stinging his eyes. He groaned, attempting to shift but feeling the weight of soreness settle over him like a heavy blanket. Two days, he thought, recalling the nurse's words. Two days to recover from a single spar.
The memories of his fight with Kael replayed in his mind like a broken record. The strikes, the feeling of his ribs shattering under Kael's fist, the overwhelming force of his opponent's blade. Each moment weighed heavily on his pride, driving home the truth: he was weak, and in this academy, weakness could lead to disaster.
He sat up slowly, wincing as his body protested. I can't let this happen again, he thought, the determination to train surging through him. I need to train harder, faster. I can't be the weakest link.
Days passed. Each day, he pushed himself to analyze the fight, mentally breaking down his moves, assessing what went wrong. I relied too much on brute force. I need to be smarter, more strategic.
One day, as he practiced his footwork in the small infirmary room, someone unexpectedly covered his eyes from behind.
"Guess who?" a voice chimed playfully, a soft giggle dancing through the air.
Confused, Damian turned around, his heart racing. His breath caught in his throat as he faced the girl before him. Her striking white hair framed a beautiful face, and her violet eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Long time no see, fish eyes!" she teased, a grin stretching across her lips.
It was the Duke's daughter, a figure he had seen only in passing, someone whose identity had been hidden during their previous encounter. She's the last person I expected to see, he thought, still trying to process the sudden shift in his reality.
"Mira?" he asked, incredulous. "Is that you?"
The chapter ended with Cassandra's playful smile, her presence igniting a spark of warmth in the cold, sterile atmosphere of the infirmary.