The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the training grounds. The day had been grueling, but Ray could feel his body adjusting. His movements were becoming more fluid, his instincts sharper. He had spent hours sparring with the warriors in the private hall, each fight more intense than the last. Kael had been relentless, pushing him to the edge. And yet, Ray hadn't lost.
There was a growing sense inside him—he was getting stronger.
But as night fell, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was still missing something.
The Grand Combat Selection was only a few weeks away, but Ray didn't feel ready. No, it wasn't about his strength—it was about his purpose. Why was he doing this?
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden presence—someone watching him.
Turning sharply, Ray's hand instinctively reached for his sword, but he relaxed when he saw who it was.
"Valen."
The older swordsman leaned against the stone wall, his arms crossed, looking at Ray with an unreadable expression.
"You've improved," Valen said, his voice low. "But you're still holding back."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Valen took a step closer, his eyes never leaving Ray's. "You're not fighting with everything you've got. Your Void Stride is powerful, yes. But it's not enough. You have to push yourself beyond that."
Ray clenched his fists, but before he could respond, Valen continued. "And then there's the matter of your true power."
Ray froze. "My… true power?"
Valen's gaze grew sharper, a hint of something darker in his eyes. "You've unlocked something, haven't you? Something that's not just about speed or strength."
Ray felt his breath catch in his throat. He had tried to suppress it, burying it deep inside himself. Void Stride had come so naturally—it was instinct. But there was more, something beneath the surface.
"I… I don't know what you mean," Ray lied.
Valen's expression softened slightly, but it was clear he didn't believe him. "I know you're hiding something, Ray. And you're going to have to face it. Soon."
Ray swallowed hard. What had he done? What was this strange power that lurked within him, something far more dangerous than any magic or technique he had learned?
Before he could respond, the sound of footsteps interrupted them. A figure stepped into the moonlight, the air around them crackling with an unusual energy.
Ray's hand shot to his sword once more. This presence—it was different. It felt unnatural.
The figure emerged from the shadows, a tall man with jet-black hair and a crimson cloak that seemed to ripple with energy. His eyes glowed faintly red, as if something ancient lay within them.
"Ray."
The voice was calm, almost eerily so, but there was an undeniable weight behind it. Ray's grip on his sword tightened. He had no idea who this man was, but he could feel the power emanating from him.
"Who are you?" Ray demanded, stepping into a defensive stance.
The man smiled, his lips curling into a cold, knowing grin. "I've been watching you, Ray."
Ray's heart skipped a beat.
"You've been chosen," the man continued. "But not by chance. Your destiny has already been written."
Ray's mind raced. Chosen? What did he mean? Who was this man?
"Chosen for what?" Ray growled, trying to steady his voice.
The man's eyes glowed brighter. "You have a power unlike any other. A power that will awaken in the tournament. But first, you must face the truth."
Ray was taken aback. "What truth?"
Before the man could respond, Valen's voice cut through the tension. "Ray, don't listen to him."
Ray turned to see Valen standing firmly, his expression now serious. "This man is not who he seems."
The man's smile widened, and Ray felt an unsettling chill crawl up his spine. "Oh, but I am exactly who I seem to be. I am the one who has come to test you, Ray. To see if you are truly worthy."
"Worthy of what?" Ray demanded.
The man stepped closer, his presence growing more oppressive. "Worthy of the Emperor's favor."
The name sent a jolt through Ray. The Emperor? What did this man have to do with the Emperor?
"I will be waiting for you in the tournament," the man said, his voice low, filled with a strange finality. "If you survive, you will understand. If not…"
He didn't finish the sentence. Instead, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only a lingering feeling of dread.
Ray stood there, his heart pounding.
Valen walked toward him, his face grim. "You're in more danger than you realize."
Ray looked at him, confused. "What was that about? Who was he?"
Valen shook his head. "That man is a Herald—a scout of the Emperor's inner circle. And I have a feeling he wasn't just there to watch you fight."
Ray swallowed, his hands still shaking from the encounter. "What do you mean?"
"The Emperor has many eyes," Valen continued. "And if that man's words are true, you've caught his attention."
Ray's thoughts raced. His mind kept going back to the masked assassin—had they been working for the Emperor too?
"You need to be careful," Valen warned, his voice hardening. "You're not just fighting for prestige anymore. You're being tested."
Ray nodded, his resolve hardening. The tournament had always been about proving himself, but now, it was about something much larger.
The stakes had just been raised.
And Ray would have to face whatever the Emperor's eyes saw in him.
The weight of Valen's words lingered in Ray's mind long after the mysterious man had vanished. A test? The Emperor's favor? None of it made sense, yet a deep instinct told him that this was only the beginning.
Standing in the dimly lit training ground, his thoughts were a whirlwind. He had spent years honing his swordsmanship, pushing his limits, but now it felt like he had been fighting blind. What was this power within him? And why did others seem to know more about it than he did?
Valen's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"You need to be careful, Ray. That man wasn't here by accident."
Ray exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Then what was he here for?"
"To measure you."
Ray turned to Valen, narrowing his eyes. "Measure me?"
Valen crossed his arms. "He was testing your resolve. The way he spoke—it wasn't a challenge. It was an evaluation."
Ray clenched his fists. "And if I fail?"
Valen's gaze darkened. "Then you won't live long enough to regret it."
Silence hung between them.
Ray knew he had no choice now. The Grand Combat Selection wasn't just about proving himself anymore—it was about survival.
But there was something else… something even Valen wasn't saying.
Before he could press further, a new voice cut through the air.
"Ray!"
He turned just in time to see Liana, her long silver hair reflecting the moonlight, running toward them. She was breathless, her emerald eyes filled with concern.
"Liana?" Ray stepped forward. "What's wrong?"
She stopped just in front of him, gripping her sides as she caught her breath. "The Elders… they've summoned you."
Ray's eyes widened. "Now?"
She nodded. "It's urgent."
Valen and Ray exchanged glances. If the Elders of the Academy were calling for him in the middle of the night, it could only mean one thing—they knew something.
Without another word, Ray followed Liana through the empty stone corridors of the academy. The torches flickered with an eerie glow, casting shadows that seemed to stretch unnaturally.
He felt it again—that watchful presence.
Someone—or something—was observing him.
Reaching the towering double doors of the Elder's Chamber, Liana pushed them open. Inside, a grand hall stretched before them, lined with ancient statues and banners bearing the academy's emblem.
At the far end, seated on a raised platform, were the Four Elders.
Each of them held immense power, their mere presence enough to command respect from even the strongest warriors.
The center Elder, an aged man with piercing golden eyes, leaned forward.
"Ray." His voice carried through the chamber like a thunderclap. "Do you understand why you are here?"
Ray met his gaze, standing tall. "No, Elder. But I have a feeling it has to do with my power."
A murmur spread among the Elders.
The golden-eyed Elder's expression remained unreadable. "You are more perceptive than most."
Another Elder, a woman draped in dark robes, spoke next. "Your Void Stride is impressive, but it is merely a fragment of something much greater. Tell me, Ray—have you felt… something else?"
Ray hesitated. His thoughts drifted back to his last battle, the moment he had instinctively warped space to dodge an attack. It wasn't just speed. It was something beyond normal movement—something unnatural.
"Yes," he admitted. "But I don't understand it."
The Elders exchanged glances before the golden-eyed one spoke again.
"That is because you are not meant to—yet."
Ray's fists tightened. "Then what am I meant to do?"
The Elder's gaze bore into him. "Survive."
A deep silence filled the chamber.
Then, without warning, the doors behind him slammed shut.
The air shifted. The very atmosphere inside the room became heavier, thick with unseen energy. A deep hum resonated through the chamber, and in an instant, something changed.
The torches flickered wildly. Shadows stretched unnaturally across the walls. The Elders remained seated, unmoving.
Ray felt a pulse of something ancient ripple through his bones. This was no ordinary meeting.
A voice, deeper than anything he had ever heard before, rumbled through the chamber.
"Awaken."
Ray's vision blurred. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. And then—everything went dark.