Chereads / Systembreaker: Unparalleled Strength / Chapter 30 - Layers of Authority

Chapter 30 - Layers of Authority

The testing hall had grown eerily quiet, the faint hum of the shattered Impact Analysis Column now barely audible. Sparks still flickered from its broken conduits, and the crater in the far wall loomed like a scar on the polished stone. Rynar stood amidst the wreckage, his broad shoulders taut as evaluators whispered and knights exchanged glances. The tension in the air was thick, almost suffocating.

The wiry evaluator stepped forward cautiously, her sharp eyes scanning the fractured column. "Eighty-eight thousand kilos," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of awe and disbelief. "No aura. No mana. Just... raw force."

The scarred instructor let out a low whistle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kid," he said, his voice gruff but oddly respectful, "you didn't just break the column. You've thrown our evaluations into chaos."

Rynar glanced at the mangled column, his green eyes narrowing. He felt no pride in the destruction, only the familiar unease that came with standing out. He shifted his stance slightly, his fists unclenching as he looked at the evaluators. "What happens now?" he asked, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him.

The wiry evaluator adjusted her clipboard, her expression unreadable. "You'll undergo additional evaluations," she said. "Strength like yours requires deeper analysis—especially given the lack of any discernible energy source."

Rynar frowned. "What kind of evaluations?"

"Precision, endurance, reflexes," she replied, her tone brisk. "The kind that will help us understand what you're truly capable of."

The scarred instructor crossed his arms, his gaze sharp. "And until we know more, you'll be kept under observation. We can't risk you causing... unintentional damage."

---

From her elevated platform, Lady Kaelis Vallin watched the exchange with quiet intensity. She hadn't moved since Rynar's second strike, her silver robes pooling around her like liquid moonlight. Her sharp eyes tracked every movement, every subtle shift in posture, her expression a mask of regal calm.

When the wiry evaluator spoke of further tests, Kaelis tilted her head slightly, her pale hair catching the light. "He's unrefined," she murmured, her voice soft yet deliberate.

A knight standing beside her turned, his brow furrowed. "Your Grace?"

Kaelis gestured faintly toward Rynar, her fingers brushing the air as if sketching his outline. "Look at him," she said. "No polish, no training, yet he stands there as if he belongs. That kind of presence can't be taught—it's inherent."

The knight hesitated, then nodded. "Do you think he knows what he is?"

Her lips curved into a faint smile, though it carried no warmth. "No. And that makes him all the more intriguing."

---

Rynar was escorted through the labyrinthine corridors of the Dominion's grand facility, flanked by two knights whose armor clinked softly with each step. The further they walked, the quieter the atmosphere became, the hum of the evaluation hall fading into the distance.

The knights stopped in front of a door etched with glowing runes. One of them inserted a key-like device into the slot, and the door clicked open, revealing a modest yet meticulously designed room. Polished stone floors gleamed under the light of a softly glowing orb on the desk. A neatly made bed stood against one wall, while a small window offered a view of a secluded garden.

"This will be your quarters," one of the knights said. His tone was polite but firm. "You're to remain here unless summoned for evaluations. Meals will be brought to you."

Rynar nodded silently, stepping inside. The door closed behind him with a faint hiss, leaving him alone in the stillness.

---

As he sat on the edge of the bed, the events of the day replayed in his mind—the shattered column, the evaluators' stunned reactions, Lady Kaelis Vallin's piercing gaze. He reached into his pocket, retrieving the smooth Aetherium card she had given him. Its surface glowed faintly, the runes etched with precision and elegance.

Lady Kaelis Vallin. The name carried a weight he didn't fully understand. She had watched him with an intensity that felt almost predatory, yet her words had been measured, almost encouraging.

"What does she want from me?" he muttered, turning the card over in his hands. He slipped it back into his pocket, exhaling slowly as he leaned back against the wall.

His thoughts drifted to Whisperwood—to the quiet life he had left behind. He pictured his father, Kael, standing by the chopping block, his hands steady on the axe. He thought of his mother, Erynn, her soft smile and the way she hummed while tending to the herbs in their garden. And Lyra—her brown eyes filled with determination, her fire affinity flickering to life as she practiced in the clearing.

"Are they all right?" he wondered. The weight of their absence settled over him, heavier than he had anticipated. Whisperwood felt like a distant memory now, a world that no longer belonged to him.

---

Elsewhere in the Dominion's halls, Lady Kaelis Vallin walked with the measured grace of royalty. Her silver robes swayed lightly as she moved, the golden filigree catching the light with every step. Beside her, the knight who had spoken earlier walked in silence, his posture stiff.

"Your Grace," he ventured cautiously, "was it wise to engage him so directly?"

Kaelis stopped, turning her sharp gaze on him. "Engage him?" she repeated, her tone cool. "I offered him a sigil. That's hardly engagement."

The knight hesitated, then lowered his gaze. "Still, he doesn't know who you are."

Kaelis's lips curved into a faint smirk. "And I prefer it that way. For now."

She resumed walking, her voice softening slightly. "The boy is raw, but he's far from ordinary. Whether he realizes it or not, he's taken his first step into a world far beyond anything he's known. And we," she added, her tone sharpening, "will be watching."

---

Night fell quietly over the Dominion. In his private quarters, Rynar sat by the window, the faint light of the moon casting shadows across his face. The sprawling garden below was still, its neatly trimmed hedges and vibrant flowers a stark contrast to the chaos he had left in the evaluation hall.

He clenched his fists, the vibrations of his strike still echoing faintly in his muscles. Whatever these new tests entailed, he knew he couldn't afford to falter. The Dominion had taken notice of him, and whether that was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen.

For better or worse, his life would never be the same.