Noah stood at the edge of the clearing, his gaze fixed on the horizon, but his thoughts were far from the distant view. The **Abyssal Maw** trial was behind him now, its trials a distant memory. But the aftermath—the consequences of his victory—was just beginning to unfold.
His participation in the trial had been a simple necessity, a stepping stone on his path, yet now it had led him into the public eye in a way he could not ignore. His performance, the ease with which he dismantled even the most powerful creatures, had exposed the vast gulf between his actual strength and the façade he had so carefully constructed. The world believed he was a **Level 5**, but the truth was far more dangerous.
He had spent countless years honing his abilities, concealing his power, yet here he was—his prowess now known by all who had witnessed his feats. They would be talking about him for weeks, whispering rumors, making bets, trying to decipher how a "mere Level 5" could be so effortlessly dominant.
Noah clenched his fists in frustration. His victory wasn't the problem—it was the **unwanted exposure** that came with it. He had been thrust into the center of attention, and now that everyone knew he was more than they had assumed, the consequences were inevitable.
Factions would begin to circle. They would want to know who he was, what his class truly was, and why he had been so powerful in the face of the dungeon's most challenging threats.
It wasn't just curiosity that would drive them to investigate—it was fear. Those who were powerful knew that those with hidden potential could pose a threat. Factions would either seek to recruit him or, more dangerously, **subdue him** before he could threaten their hold on power. He had no illusions about the way the world worked. In the shadows of every powerful organization, there were people who would not hesitate to use whatever methods necessary to keep someone like him under control.
Noah knew that if he wasn't careful, he could easily find himself caught between two warring factions, used as a pawn in someone else's game. And that was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't about to let anyone dictate his path, his future.
His mind quickly began to calculate, the thoughts racing as he turned over the problem in his head. He needed a shield—a buffer, someone who could provide protection while he played his own game in the background. And that's when his thoughts turned to **Siena Avaros**.
Siena had no direct influence at the academy—she had no political clout, no network of powerful allies within those walls. But she had something valuable nonetheless: **her clan's backing**, and that alone would give him a degree of protection. The Avaros clan , while not a powerhouse in the academy itself, still held significant sway in the larger political landscape outside its walls. Her family's influence could shield Noah from the more audacious or forceful attempts to control him.
In many ways, Siena was just as ambitious as the factions that would likely try to subdue him. She was a woman driven by the desire to secure her own place in the world, and the more Noah learned about her, the clearer it became that her ambitions and his might align in certain ways. If he played this carefully, he could use her—just as she might eventually try to use him.
But Noah knew he had to tread carefully. He had no intention of being anyone's pawn, not even hers. He would never let himself fall into the trap of depending too heavily on someone else, no matter how useful their influence might be. **Siena's ambitions** were her own, and they didn't always align with his. He couldn't afford to let his own goals become tangled in hers.
Still, the academy was now inevitable. The trial was over, and now all eyes were on him. His performance would be analyzed, dissected. The academy's trials were no mere formality—they were **a proving ground** where the truly powerful would rise to the top, and the weak would be crushed underfoot. Noah had been forced into this world of spectacle, and now he had to play his part in it, even if it was against his will.
His **Level 5** facade had served its purpose, but now, it was growing more difficult to maintain. He couldn't hide the truth for long. The **Night Sovereign** was too powerful a class for anyone not to notice. He had to continue playing the role of a **Level 5** for as long as possible, but with each passing day, the cracks in his disguise would become harder to cover. People would start asking questions, and when they did, his true nature would become a threat, not just to the factions that sought to control him, but to the academy itself.
He didn't want to expose himself too soon. The risks were too high. And yet, he knew he couldn't just let the world around him swallow him whole. He had to make the right moves, hide in plain sight, and use the environment of the academy to his advantage.
Noah gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to lash out. He wasn't the kind of person to be pushed into a corner—he was the one who put others there. But right now, it felt as though the walls were closing in. He didn't want to be forced into the role of some hero or savior. His path had never been about garnering fame or admiration—it had always been about control.
His gaze shifted toward the distant academy building, its looming spires cutting through the sky like jagged teeth. He was heading into the heart of the storm, and there was no turning back now.
With a slow, deliberate exhale, he made his decision.
He would seek shelter behind Siena Avaros for now. Not because he trusted her—far from it—but because it was the least risky option. She would be his temporary shield, someone who could buy him enough time to maneuver through the political maelstrom that was about to unfold around him. And, when the time came, he would take his leave. He would make sure that no one could control him, not even Siena. She would have a role to play in his rise, but Noah would always remain the one pulling the strings.
Noah took one last look at the academy before walking away. His future was no longer something he could navigate alone, not without risking everything. But the time would come, sooner rather than later, when he would stop hiding and make his move.
He wasn't going to let anyone dictate his path—not even Siena Avaros.
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