The day before,
Kael sat cross-legged on the floor of his dormitory, his storm-gray eyes fixed on the faintly glowing lines of text hovering in the air before him. The status window, his constant companion since his awakening in this world, flickered faintly with an ethereal hum.
He rarely took the time to study it in detail. Its contents had always felt more like a reminder of his limitations than a source of hope. But tonight, something was different.
"Status," Kael muttered, his voice barely audible.
The window sharpened, its text becoming clearer:
[Status Window]
Name: Kael Kaelward
Potential: S (X-Level Potential Locked Due to Soul Conflict)
Current Skill: Infinite Nexus (Dormant)
Condition: Soul Remnant Detected (Parasitic Influence: Life Force Drain Ongoing)
Kael frowned. The words hadn't changed, but something about the way they hovered in his vision felt... heavier. Almost as if they carried a weight he hadn't noticed before.
With a flick of his thoughts, he focused on Infinite Nexus. To his surprise, a new set of details expanded beneath the skill's description:
[Skill Expansion: Infinite Nexus]
Dormant Skill Abilities Detected:
God's Eye (Passive): Grants the user the ability to perceive the status windows of others within range.
Kael's breath hitched, his mind racing.
"God's Eye…" he murmured, testing the name on his tongue.
He hadn't noticed the skill before, likely because it operated passively. It explained how he'd been able to see the status windows of everyone he encountered. A passive skill tied to Infinite Nexus, working without his conscious control.
For now, God's Eye was more than enough to spark his interest.
Kael decided to test the skill immediately. He left his dormitory and headed toward the central courtyard, where students often gathered even in the late evening.
The air was cool, and the faint buzz of conversation drifted through the courtyard. Kael's storm-gray eyes scanned the crowd, his focus sharpening as he activated the skill intentionally for the first time.
Status windows began to pop up around him, faint outlines of text appearing above the heads of nearby students.
[Status Window: Unknown Student]
Name: Alric Vayne
Genesis Skill: Blade Call (Summons and controls spectral blades in combat.)
Rank: Adept
[Status Window: Unknown Student]
Name: Marla Fenwick
Genesis Skill: Earthbound Guardian (Manipulates terrain to create barriers and traps.)
Rank: Novice
Kael's lips curved into a faint smirk. The ability wasn't omnipotent—he could only see the windows of those within a certain range. But the potential applications were staggering.
He scanned further, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Lucian Vale standing near the fountain, his green eyes glinting in the moonlight as he spoke with Seren Delacroix.
Kael hesitated. Testing the skill on Lucian felt like walking a razor's edge. But curiosity won out, and he focused his gaze on the protagonist.
[Status Window: Lucian Vale]
Name: Lucian Vale
Genesis Skill: Aetherial Stride (Manipulates spatial energy to enhance speed and agility, with limited teleportation capabilities.)
Rank: Adept
Kael frowned. Aetherial Stride was as strong as he remembered from the novel, but Lucian's rank hadn't progressed much since the start of the academy arc.
"Interesting," Kael muttered, stepping back into the shadows. "He's strong, but not untouchable."
As he withdrew, his gaze fell on Seren, her golden hair shimmering in the moonlight.
[Status Window: Seren Delacroix]
Name: Seren Delacroix
Genesis Skill: Glacial Veil (Manipulates ice to create defensive barriers and offensive spikes. Can also slow enemies' movements.)
Rank: Expert
Kael's smirk faded. Seren's skill wasn't just powerful—it was dangerously versatile. Combined with her noble heritage and sharp personality, she was a force to be reckoned with.
Kael exhaled sharply, dismissing the skill. The flood of information was exhilarating, but it also carried risks. The more he used God's Eye, the more he painted a target on his back.
Kael returned to his dormitory, his mind racing with possibilities.
The ability to see others' status windows wasn't just a tool for understanding—it was a weapon. Kael could exploit weaknesses, avoid unnecessary conflicts, and predict his rivals' moves before they made them.
But it also came with dangers. If anyone discovered his ability, it would make him a target for both envy and fear.
This stays between me and the system, Kael thought, his gaze hardening.
He turned his attention back to the map of the academy grounds, his finger tracing the line to the Restricted Zone.
The Soulbound Prism is there. If I can retrieve it, I'll finally have the leverage I need.
His storm-gray eyes gleamed with determination. The pieces were falling into place, and Kael was ready to move.
Present day,
The next morning, Kael found himself standing in the academy's Training Grounds, the sun casting long shadows across the stone arena. The Dominion Course's practical combat session was in full swing, and the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as students sparred under the watchful eye of Instructor Garrick.
Kael's opponent was Reynard Drestan, the scion of House Drestan, whose hulking frame seemed to radiate confidence. Reynard cracked his knuckles, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he squared off against Kael.
"You should've chosen another course, Kaelward," Reynard taunted, his voice laced with mockery. "Dominion is for those who can fight, not for those who hide behind clever words."
Kael's expression remained calm, his storm-gray eyes assessing Reynard's stance.
"Talk is cheap," Kael replied evenly.
Reynard growled, activating his Genesis Skill. His arms swelled grotesquely, muscles bulging as they doubled in size. The ground beneath his feet cracked as his enhanced limbs pulsed with energy.
Kael's God's Eye activated instinctively:
[Status Window: Reynard Drestan]
Name: Reynard Drestan
Genesis Skill: Titan's Grasp (Increases physical strength and allows temporary enlargement of limbs for enhanced combat.)
Rank: Expert
"Titan's Grasp," Kael murmured under his breath. He'd already deduced its weaknesses during Reynard's earlier matches: immense strength at the cost of speed and precision.
"Come on, Kaelward! Let's DANCE!" Reynard roared, lunging forward with a fist the size of a boulder.
Kael sidestepped at the last moment, the ground shattering where Reynard's punch landed. The impact sent tremors through the arena, and several students gasped as the sheer force of Reynard's attack became clear.
Kael moved fluidly, circling Reynard as he probed for openings. Reynard swung again, a horizontal strike aimed at Kael's torso.
Too wide, Kael thought, ducking beneath the blow and countering with a quick slash of his practice blade.
The wooden sword struck Reynard's ribs with a sharp crack. Though the hit barely fazed him, Reynard stumbled slightly, his balance momentarily compromised.
"You're fast," Reynard admitted, his grin widening. "But let's see how long you can keep running."
Reynard charged, swinging wildly. His attacks grew more aggressive, each strike coming closer to connecting. Kael felt the wind of one near miss brush his face, but he kept his composure.
He's trying to corner me, Kael realized, his gaze darting to the edges of the arena.
Reynard was cutting off his escape routes, forcing him into a defensive position. Kael's mind raced as he considered his options.
Then he saw it—a slight hesitation in Reynard's movements. The enlarged limbs were putting too much strain on his body.
Kael sidestepped another massive punch, his eyes narrowing. "You're strong, Reynard, but strength means nothing if you can't hit your target."
Reynard growled, his swollen arms trembling slightly. "Shut up and fight!"
Kael darted in close, his practice blade slashing upward. The wooden edge struck Reynard's forearm, eliciting a grunt of pain. Kael didn't stop. He moved with calculated precision, targeting Reynard's joints and forcing him to defend awkwardly.
"Stop running!" Reynard bellowed, swinging both fists in a wide arc.
Kael ducked low, rolling beneath the attack. As he came up behind Reynard, he delivered a sharp thrust to the back of Reynard's knee.
The larger boy stumbled forward, his balance faltering. Kael seized the opportunity, spinning around to strike Reynard's ribs again.
This time, Reynard fell to one knee, his enhanced arms shrinking as the strain of Titan's Grasp finally overwhelmed him.
Kael stood over him, his blade resting lightly on Reynard's shoulder. "Yield."
Reynard glared up at him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. After a tense moment, he nodded. "Fine. You win."
The training grounds were silent as Kael lowered his blade and stepped back. The other students whispered among themselves, their gazes flitting between Kael and Reynard.
Instructor Garrick strode forward, his expression unreadable. "A clever strategy, Kaelward. You used your opponent's strength against him. But remember—outthinking your enemy isn't always enough. In the heat of a dungeon, brute force often determines who walks out alive."
Kael nodded, though his gaze remained distant. He'd proven himself today, but he knew this was only the beginning.
As Reynard limped away, muttering curses under his breath, Kael's thoughts drifted back to the Restricted Zone.
The time to act is drawing near, he thought, his storm-gray eyes glinting with determination.