The victory in the arena had earned Li Feng a measure of respect, but it also painted a target on his back. The academy was a crucible, and those who stood out too quickly often found themselves crushed by the weight of jealous peers and scheming rivals.
Zhu Yan leaned against a pillar in the academy courtyard, watching Li Feng. "You keep surprising people, Piercing Sight."
Li Feng rolled his eyes at the nickname but didn't argue. After their brief conversation the previous day, Zhu Yan had started following him around, much to Li Feng's annoyance.
"What do you want now?" Li Feng asked, crossing his arms.
"Relax," Zhu Yan said, grinning. "I'm just saying, you've got potential. You've got brains, and I've got firepower. We'd make a good team."
Li Feng considered the offer. He knew that alliances were key to survival in the academy, especially for someone like him who lacked raw power. But trust was still a thorny issue.
Before he could respond, another voice cut in.
"You two planning a tea party?"
Li Feng turned to see a girl approaching, her jet-black hair tied in a high ponytail. Her piercing green eyes scanned them with a mix of curiosity and disdain. Her CS briefly flickered:
Name: Xu Mei
Ability: Mirage Blade
Zhu Yan chuckled. "And here I thought you hated socializing, Xu Mei."
"I hate wasting time," she retorted. "But I saw your little performance in the arena, Li Feng. Not bad for someone with a... unique ability."
Li Feng raised an eyebrow. "That's not exactly a compliment."
"Take it however you want," Xu Mei said. "I'm just saying you're not as hopeless as everyone thought. And since you're not entirely useless, you might want to keep an eye on Chen Yuan. He's been asking about you."
The mention of Chen Yuan sent a chill through Li Feng. He had seen the hostility in Chen's eyes after the arena match.
"Noted," Li Feng said.
Later that evening, as Li Feng walked back to his dorm, he felt the weight of eyes on him. The academy halls were nearly empty, the faint hum of runes the only sound.
He stopped abruptly, his hand hovering over the hilt of his training sword. "Who's there?"
A shadow detached itself from the corner of the hall, revealing a boy with a sharp, angular face. His CS flickered:
Name: Chen Yuan
Ability: Iron Veil
"You've been getting a lot of attention lately," Chen said, his tone cold. "It's annoying."
Li Feng didn't back down, meeting Chen's glare head-on. "And what does that have to do with you?"
Chen smirked. "Everything. Weaklings like you don't deserve the spotlight. You got lucky in the arena, but luck won't save you forever."
Before Li Feng could respond, Chen lunged. His Iron Veil ability activated, enveloping his arms in a shimmering metallic sheen. Li Feng barely managed to dodge the punch, the force of it cracking the wall behind him.
Li Feng's mind raced. He knew he couldn't match Chen in raw strength, but he had something Chen didn't: strategy. Activating Abyssal Gaze, he analyzed Chen's movements. The metallic sheen didn't cover his entire body—there were gaps around his joints.
As Chen charged again, Li Feng sidestepped and struck at the exposed area behind his knee. Chen stumbled, his shield flickering for a moment.
"You're faster than you look," Chen admitted, his smirk turning into a scowl. "But it won't matter."
Chen pressed the attack, his punches coming in rapid succession. Li Feng ducked and weaved, using his smaller frame to stay out of reach. But he knew he couldn't keep this up forever.
As Chen lunged again, Li Feng activated Abyssal Lash, the shadowy tendrils snapping out to ensnare Chen's legs. Chen yelped as he was yanked off balance, falling to the ground.
Li Feng didn't waste the opportunity. He pressed the tip of his training sword against Chen's throat. "Yield."
Chen's eyes blazed with anger, but he didn't move. "This isn't over," he spat.
Li Feng stepped back, releasing the tendrils. He watched as Chen got to his feet, his pride clearly more wounded than his body.
"You'll regret this," Chen growled before storming off.
When Li Feng returned to his dorm, Zhu Yan and Xu Mei were waiting.
"Heard you had a run-in with Chen," Zhu Yan said, his grin lopsided. "Word travels fast around here."
Li Feng sighed, sitting down on the edge of his bed. "He's not going to let this go."
Xu Mei crossed her arms. "Chen Yuan is a bully, but he's also connected. His family is one of the wealthiest in the Azure Crescent Zone. He won't come after you directly—not yet. But he'll make your life miserable if he can."
"Great," Li Feng muttered.
Zhu Yan clapped him on the shoulder. "That's why you need us. With the three of us working together, we can handle anything."
Li Feng looked at them, his hesitation clear. But deep down, he knew they were right. The academy was a battlefield, and alliances were the only way to survive.
"Fine," he said at last. "We'll work together. But if either of you tries to betray me—"
"We won't," Zhu Yan interrupted, grinning. "Trust me, Piercing Sight. You're stuck with us now."
That night, as Li Feng lay in bed, the Abyssal Nexus pulsed again.
New Ability Unlocked:
Abyssal Shroud: Generate a field of darkness that obscures vision and senses, granting the user a tactical advantage.
Li Feng's eyes widened as he read the description. The system was evolving faster than he had anticipated, granting him abilities that complemented his strengths.
As he stared at the faint glow of his Celestial Screen, a thought struck him: the Tower's rules no longer applied to him in the same way. With the Abyssal Nexus, he had the power to forge his own path.
But power always came at a price.
In the days that followed, Li Feng, Zhu Yan, and Xu Mei began training together, honing their skills and preparing for the next academy trial. Their bond grew stronger, but the shadow of Chen Yuan loomed over them, a constant reminder that the academy was as much a battlefield of politics as it was of strength.
For Li Feng, the journey was just beginning. The Tower awaited, its secrets buried beneath layers of danger and mystery. And with the Abyssal Nexus guiding him, he was determined to rise above it all.