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The air inside the academy grounds grew heavier as the first round of the battle royale unfolded, and the students' chatter was laced with a mix of awe and tension. Caelum's name was whispered everywhere, yet none of the murmurs reached the silver-eyed figure moving through the battlefield with an air of indifference. His beautiful silver eyes glowed faintly, cutting through the chaos like moonlight in a storm, and his dark black hair fell gracefully across his forehead, further accentuating his striking appearance.
Caelum had never been one to bask in attention, but there was no avoiding the spotlight now. With every encounter, his reputation seemed to grow, fueled by the swift and decisive victories he claimed over his opponents. His movements were fluid, almost unearthly, and his control over his Void Affinity left spectators and adversaries alike unnerved. Those who thought to challenge him quickly learned their folly, for the seemingly restrained young man was far beyond what they had anticipated.
The battlefields of the academy were vast and diverse, crafted to test both skill and adaptability. From lush forests to desolate plains, the settings shifted, and each terrain presented its own unique challenges. Yet, regardless of the environment, Caelum moved with the same calm precision, as if the world itself bent to accommodate his will.
When faced with groups, he used his Void Affinity to conjure illusions that blurred the line between reality and deception. Entire teams found themselves swinging at shadows or chasing after mirages, only to be caught off-guard when Caelum appeared behind them with a decisive strike. His ability to disorient his opponents was more than a mere tactic; it was an art form, one he wielded with cold efficiency.
In one particularly tense skirmish, a trio of students cornered Caelum, their faces set with determination. Each was ranked higher than most participants, boasting attributes solidly in the D rank range. They moved in unison, surrounding him with well-coordinated precision.
"We've got you now," one of them sneered, a flicker of confidence lighting his eyes.
Caelum merely tilted his head, his silver eyes glowing faintly as a subtle smile touched his lips. He raised his hand, and the air around him seemed to ripple like water disturbed by an unseen force. The trio hesitated, sensing something was amiss, but it was too late.
The first of the three lunged forward, his weapon aimed for Caelum's torso. Instead of dodging, Caelum stepped forward and disappeared into thin air, leaving only a fading shadow in his wake. The attacker stumbled, his blade cutting through empty space. Before he could recover, he felt a sharp blow to the back of his neck, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The other two hesitated, scanning their surroundings for any sign of Caelum. The battlefield had become eerily quiet, and an unnatural fog began to creep in, distorting their vision.
"Where is he?" one whispered, his voice trembling.
A soft laugh echoed through the fog, sending shivers down their spines. Caelum's voice, calm yet laced with a faint edge of amusement, seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Are you looking for me?"
Panic set in as the fog thickened, and the two remaining students found themselves surrounded by shifting silhouettes. Every figure looked like Caelum, their silver eyes glowing faintly through the mist. The students swung their weapons wildly, but their strikes only hit air. One by one, the illusions vanished, leaving the real Caelum standing behind them.
The fight ended before they even had a chance to react. A single strike for each was enough to render them unconscious. As the fog dissipated, the three bodies lay on the ground, while Caelum walked away without sparing them a second glance.
Word of his growing power began to spread rapidly. Students whispered about the boy with the glowing silver eyes and the unyielding calm, whose abilities defied explanation. They spoke of how he moved like a phantom, how he seemed to control the battlefield itself, and how no one could lay a finger on him.
"Did you see him take down that group of five?" one student murmured to her companion. "They didn't even know what hit them."
"I heard his bloodline is something terrifying," another replied, lowering his voice as if the very mention of Caelum's name might draw his attention. "Endbringer, they're calling it. No wonder he's so strong."
Yet for all their speculation, no one could truly grasp the depth of Caelum's power. What they saw was only the surface, a fraction of the potential that lay within him. He was careful to hold back, to avoid revealing too much too soon. But even with his restraint, his dominance was undeniable.
Despite the growing attention, Caelum himself remained unchanged. He neither celebrated his victories nor gloated over his opponents. Each battle was merely another step forward, a means to an end. His indifference was both a strength and a mystery, leaving others to wonder what drove him, what purpose lay behind his piercing silver gaze.
As the days passed and the battle royale continued, the number of participants dwindled. Those who remained were the strongest, the most cunning, and the most determined. But even among them, Caelum stood apart. He had yet to face a single loss, and his name had become a rallying cry for some and a source of dread for others.
It wasn't long before even the instructors took notice. From their vantage point in the observation room, they watched the battles unfold with growing interest.
"That boy," one of them remarked, his tone laced with disbelief. "He's unlike any student we've ever had. His control over his abilities, his tactical mind… it's as if he's been trained for years."
Another instructor nodded, his gaze fixed on the screen displaying Caelum's latest match. "He's holding back," he said quietly. "There's more to him than what we're seeing."
And they were right. Caelum's strength was far from fully realized. Each battle sharpened his skills, pushed him further, and brought him closer to unlocking the full potential of his bloodline, his Void Affinity, and his Shadow Titan Physique.
But for now, he was content to move at his own pace, to let the others underestimate him if they wished. He had no need for their validation, no desire to prove himself to anyone but himself.
As the sun set on another day of battles, Caelum stood alone atop a hill overlooking the academy grounds. The wind ruffled his dark black hair, and his glowing silver eyes reflected the fading light. He clenched his fist, feeling the pulse of power within him, a constant reminder of what he was capable of.
The whispers of the students, the curiosity of the instructors, and the challenges of his opponents—all of it was noise to him. His path was clear, and he would walk it with the same calm determination that had carried him this far.
For Caelum, this was only the beginning
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