As the dust settled from Kelvin’s ominous departure, the atmosphere in the coliseum remained thick with tension. Bowen, still reeling from the exchange with his son, clenched his fists tightly. His heart raced, and his mind whirled with questions he could no longer contain.
Without thinking, he turned sharply towards the Vice Chancellor, who remained standing calm and composed in the aftermath of Kelvin’s chilling display.
"Vice Chancellor!" Bowen’s voice echoed across the coliseum, louder than he intended. His eyes burned with a mixture of grief and fury. "What connection is there between my daughter’s death and the leader of the First Magi? You owe me an explanation!"
The words barely left Bowen’s mouth before an overwhelming pressure suddenly crashed down upon him, as though the very air had turned into a crushing force. The Vice Chancellor’s aura burst out like an invisible storm, radiating an intense, suffocating energy. His expression remained unchanged, but his presence alone was enough to silence the entire arena.
Bowen staggered under the weight of the Vice Chancellor’s power. His eyes widened in shock as he realized he couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. It was as if the Vice Chancellor’s mere existence was an unshakable command to be silent. The entire coliseum held its breath, the tension now unbearable as Bowen was forced into submission without the Vice Chancellor even uttering a single word.
’So strong...’ Even Kaelen whom the aura wasn’t directed at felt the weight of the aura as he was completely unmovable.
Finally, after a long, dreadful pause, the Vice Chancellor’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.
"Bowen," he said softly, but his words carried the weight of mountains. "Now is not the time for you to question matters beyond your understanding. I have told you what you need to know. You will get your answers in due time. But for now, remain silent."
Bowen trembled, not from fear but from the sheer magnitude of the Vice Chancellor’s power. He knew then that this man was far more than a mere academic leader; his strength was beyond anything he had ever felt before. Swallowing his pride, Bowen could do nothing but nod, silently retreating into the background as the pressure lifted and he was once again able to breathe.
The Vice Chancellor, without sparing another glance at Bowen, turned his attention to the far side of the VIP lounge. His gaze settled on the Headmaster of the Valen Military Academy, who had been watching the entire spectacle unfold with thinly veiled interest.
"Headmaster," the Vice Chancellor’s voice grew colder, sharper now, "it seems this tournament has proved to you that this academy has become more than a proving ground for students. Tell me, why did you send Julian to sabotage this event?"
"A sabotage!?"
"That man is actually from the Valen military academy!?"
"Look!! Julian is actually standing behind this man!!"
"The audacity of them!!"
The question hung in the air, piercing and direct as an uproar erupted amongst the spectators both in and outside the coliseum, cutting through any possible pretenses the Headmaster might have prepared. The Headmaster, a stout man with a stern expression, crossed his arms and smirked slightly, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.
Behind him stood Julian, who has arrived there during the short exchange between Bowen and Kelvin as he remained emotionless, his hands folded behind his back as though waiting for further orders.
The Headmaster took a step forward, meeting the Vice Chancellor’s cold gaze. "Sabotage, you say? Quite the accusation, Vice Chancellor," he said with a sneer, his voice dripping with false civility. "Julian was merely a participant, one of many from your fine institution. If you think his actions are sabotage, then perhaps your Academy wasn’t as prepared for the challenge as you thought."
The Vice Chancellor’s eyes narrowed, his calm demeanor masking the storm brewing beneath. "Don’t play coy with me, Headmaster. I am well aware of the military academy’s methods. Julian’s intent was never just to compete. You aimed to undermine this tournament for your own gain through him."
The Headmaster chuckled darkly. "And if we did? What then? Does your precious Pacesetters Academy truly think it can hold a candle to the might of Valen’s military? We are the future of this world, and Julian is just the beginning."
The Vice Chancellor’s gaze darkened, his aura pulsing once more, though this time it was more controlled, more dangerous. "You may believe that your academy can do as it pleases, but you’ve made a grave mistake coming here with such intentions. Your actions will not go unpunished."
Julian’s eyes flickered for a moment, sensing the shift in the Vice Chancellor’s tone, but he remained silent, his hands clenching subtly behind his back. The Headmaster, however, simply shrugged as if the Vice Chancellor’s words meant little to him.
"Punishment?" the Headmaster said, his voice mocking. "I’d like to see you try. You forget, Vice Chancellor, Valen’s reach extends far beyond this coliseum. You may have showed the prowess of your puny Academy, but this war is far from over. Besides, the battle convention is fast approaching so I advice you to start strategizing so as you can reduce your losses to the bare minimum"
"Battle convention?" Kaelen muttered under his breath with a curious look on his face.
But it seems like he wouldn’t get the answers to the questions that is currently plaguing his mind right now as the tension between the two leaders was palpable, the air thick with the weight of unspoken threats and dangerous intentions. The spectators, officials, and even the participants watched with bated breath, unsure of what would happen next.
The confrontation between the two academies, once subtle and veiled, was now out in the open.
The tension between the Vice Chancellor and the Headmaster of the Valen Military Academy was getting thicker as a storm. Both men stood at opposite sides of an invisible battlefield, eyes locked in a silent war. The Headmaster’s mocking sneer hadn’t left his face as he folded his arms, clearly pleased with the disruption he’d caused.
Behind him, Julian stood ominously, his cold, menacing gaze fixed squarely on Kaelen, who still rested in the participants’ area.
"Well," the Headmaster drawled, his voice carrying that same patronizing tone, "this has been quite the show, hasn’t it, Vice Chancellor? A lovely little tournament you’ve hosted. But alas, it seems the entertainment is over—for now."
He turned slightly, glancing back at Julian and the military prodigy who stood at his side, both sharp and battle-ready, like wolves waiting for the command to attack. The Headmaster’s smile widened as he nodded towards them before turning back to the Vice Chancellor.
"I suppose we’ll take our leave," the Headmaster continued, his tone mocking, every word laced with veiled disdain. "After all, it’s clear Valen has already left its mark. But do remember, Vice Chancellor—this is merely a beginning. My academy will rise, and when it does, there won’t be any need for these little games of yours."
This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.
His final words lingered in the air, threatening and confident. He glanced once more at Kaelen, whose presence seemed to irritate Julian. Julian’s eyes burned with an unspoken promise of revenge as they locked onto Kaelen’s. The air between them felt like a taut string, one that could snap at any moment.
The Vice Chancellor said nothing, but his posture remained firm, his gaze unyielding. Even in the face of the Headmaster’s arrogance, his aura conveyed absolute control. He didn’t need to respond with threats; his silence was enough to show his power.
The Headmaster’s grin grew wider, enjoying the lack of response as a perceived victory. "We’ll see each other again soon, I’m sure," he said with a mocking bow. "Until then, take care of your precious little academy. It would be a shame if something… unexpected happened."
With a snap of his fingers, dark energy swirled around him, Julian, and the military prodigy. In the blink of an eye, the three of them were enveloped in a cloud of swirling shadows. Julian’s menacing gaze never left Kaelen until the very last moment, a silent vow of a future clash.
And then, they were gone. The shadows dissipated into the air, leaving nothing but a chill in their wake. The coliseum, which had been thick with tension, seemed to breathe again, the weight of the Headmaster’s presence finally lifted.
The Vice Chancellor remained silent, his expression unreadable. The rest of the coliseum, from the VIP lounge to the spectators, whispered and murmured, uncertain of what had just transpired. But the gravity of what had been left unsaid hung heavily in the air. This tournament had been only a prelude to something much larger.
Kaelen, now free from Julian’s piercing gaze, exhaled slowly. The tension had been palpable, and though he had bested Julian in the tournament, it was clear that their rivalry was far from over. He looked toward the Vice Chancellor, who remained still, his mind clearly churning through the unfolding events.
The Valen Military Academy had thrown down a gauntlet, and it was now only a matter of time before the true battle began.