The arena was still buzzing with whispers as Zayn walked away from Kael's unconscious body. He didn't look back.
There was no need to.
The first move had been made. The weak had been crushed. And now, the real game began.
When Zayn entered the Academy's main hall, the energy in the air shifted immediately.
Hundreds of students were gathered—noble heirs, prodigies, and war-hardened elites. Every single one of them had heard about what happened.
Some whispered in hushed voices.
Others stared openly as if seeing him for the first time.
A prince from a low-ranked kingdom, humiliating a Draymoor heir in front of everyone?
It shouldn't have happened.
And yet—it had.
"Is he insane?" "He broke Kael like he was nothing…""The Draymoor family won't let this slide." "Or… maybe he's stronger than we thought."
Zayn smirked. Good. Let them wonder. Let them be afraid.
He wasn't the same foolish prince they once ignored.
This time, they'd all bow.
[Tyrant's Game System Notification][New Achievement: First Enemy Crushed!][Reward: +5 to Strength, +5 to Agility]
Suddenly—he felt it.
A surge ran through his veins, hot as molten fire yet crisp as a winter wind. His muscles pulsed, his bones hardened, his body came alive.
It wasn't just an illusion. It was real.
His arms—heavier, stronger. His legs—lightning-quick, brimming with power. His senses—sharper, clearer.
He clenched his fists. The sheer force behind his grip was tangible, overwhelming.
This wasn't just a simple stat boost.
This was evolution.
In his past life, he had spent years forging himself into a warrior. Training. Bleeding.
Now? The System was handing him power on a silver platter.
And he had only just begun.
A strong voice cut through the whispers.
"Zayn."
Raiden.
The towering warlord-in-the-making strode toward him, his storm-gray eyes sharp. Raiden Velkar was no ordinary student—he was one of the rising stars of the Warrior Faction.
More importantly, he had been one of Zayn's greatest generals in the previous timeline.
Raiden crossed his arms. "What the hell was that?"
Zayn smirked. "A lesson."
Raiden's gaze didn't waver. "You realize you just made an enemy out of the Draymoor family, right?"
"I'm counting on it," Zayn replied smoothly.
Raiden exhaled, shaking his head. "You're reckless, but…" He studied Zayn for a long moment, his sharp instincts kicking in.
"...You're different."
Zayn's eyes gleamed. "And you'll see just how different I am soon enough."
The Royal Academy wasn't just a school.
It was a battleground.
Every student here was either heir to a noble house or a prodigy groomed for war.
And every faction wasn't just an alliance.
They were power structures that dictated the future of the Empire.
The Imperial Faction — Made up of royal heirs and high-ranking nobles. They dictated politics, alliances, and controlled the flow of power and influence. If you weren't part of them? You were an obstacle.
The Warrior Faction — The strongest military prodigies. Generals, knights, commanders—the ones who would wage wars and conquer territories in the future. Strength was the only currency they acknowledged. Raiden was already one of their rising stars.
The Scholar Faction — The tacticians, magic researchers, and strategists of the Empire. They weren't as physically powerful, but they controlled information, tactics, and secret knowledge.
Outside the Academy, these factions weren't just student organizations.
They were the future rulers of the Empire.
If a prince like Zayn wanted to claim the throne, he couldn't ignore them.
He had to dominate them.
"Prince Zayn Valor."
A mocking voice interrupted the tension.
Zayn turned.
Standing in front of him was Cedric Vaughn, heir to the Vaughn Duchy.
A tall, lean noble draped in wealth and arrogance. His blue eyes glinted with amusement.
"I must say," Cedric drawled, "I didn't expect a prince from a backwater kingdom to be so… vicious."
Zayn's smirk didn't fade. "Did that impress you?"
Cedric chuckled, but his eyes were sharp. "It intrigued me. Kael may have been a fool, but the Draymoor family won't let this go unpunished. You've put yourself in a difficult position."
"Have I?" Zayn asked lazily.
Cedric smirked. "I'll give you a piece of advice. Align yourself with a stronger faction. If you don't, you won't last a year in this Academy."
Zayn's golden eyes glowed slightly.
"Then I suppose," he said, stepping forward, "you'll have to decide quickly."
Cedric's smirk faltered.
"Decide what?"
"If you want to follow me."
The air between them shifted.
Cedric had expected arrogance. Expected defiance.
He had not expected dominance.
Zayn wasn't looking at him like a rival.
He was looking at him like a pawn.
Cedric didn't respond immediately. He just studied Zayn for a moment, as if reassessing him entirely.
Then, with a small smile, he stepped back.
"We'll see."
He turned and walked away.
...
Zayn sat in the training hall, the scent of sweat and blood heavy in the air. Around him, students were still whispering about what had happened.
Kael Draymoor had been destroyed.
Not just beaten. Not just embarrassed.
Crushed.
And now, Zayn was no longer just another forgotten prince.
Now, they watched him.
Now, they feared him.
Zayn ran a hand over his fingers, feeling the strength coursing through him. The System's boost had transformed him. His body was stronger, his movements sharper, his mind clearer.
But this was only the beginning.
[New Mission: Establish Your First Faction][Objective: Recruit Three Key Members][Reward: Unlock Advanced System Functions]
Zayn smirked. Time to start building his empire.