Chapter 34 Kai's Trial

"Yes," Kai whimpered.

"Do you have any idea what you've just done?" Amara thundered.

"I... Ummm... I didn't—" Kai stuttered, struggling to form words.

"You what?" Amara cut him off. "You didn't know when you lifted it? When it entered your mouth? Or maybe when you actually SWALLOWED IT?" Her voice boomed through the hallway.

Kai was speechless. His limbs trembled, his legs barely able to support him.

"Amara, calm down," Principal Xander intervened, his voice firm but measured.

Amara's chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, her gaze locked onto Kai with barely contained fury.

"Yelling won't solve the problem," the principal continued. "He swallowed the seal. That's done. Now, we need to focus on getting it out of him."

Kai swallowed hard before speaking. "Yeah... That's what I was thinking too. There has to be a way to, you know... get it out of me, right?" His voice wavered but carried a hint of hope.

"I don't think so kid" the voice replied, cold and certain.

The principal turned to the source. "Eleanor, can you extract it?" His voice held both calmness and respect.

The old woman shook her head. "The last seal of Alzarel isn't inside this young man."

Everyone turned to her in shock.

"Wait... So he didn't swallow it?" Celeste asked, her curiosity piqued.

Eleanor's gaze settled on Kai. "He did. But the seal has become one with him. From the moment he stepped into this place, I could sense it—he is no longer just an ordinary human."

A tense silence hung in the air.

"Told ya," the voice mocked.

"So what you're saying is... this kid is now the last seal of Alzarel?" Principal Xander asked, his voice low and measured.

Eleanor nodded. "Judging from what I can see… yes."

The principal clasped his hands together, resting his elbows on his desk, frustration creeping into his expression.

"You just had to swallow it, didn't you?" Mr. Zane drawled, his voice stretching with boredom.

Amara scoffed, dark amusement glinting in her eyes. "So all it takes to break the last seal of Alzarel and unleash a thousand-year-old Demon Lord onto our world… is to kill this roach standing before us?"

Kai's brief flicker of confidence vanished.

"I say we lock him up," Victor suggested, his tone eerily calm. "The same place we held the seal—turn him into a prisoner. Give him food and water daily, and that's it."

"What if his body now shares the seal's properties?" Celeste mused. "Maybe fire, lightning, or even a sword strike can't harm him… just like the seal."

Amara huffed, a sinister glint in her eyes. "There's only one way to find out."

Kai stiffened.

"I don't know what she's planning," the voice in his head muttered, "but remember—your head is still aching from when Mr. Zane dropped you."

Kai trembled remembering what the voice had said.

"Wait" Zane called out saving Kai's ass. "He's not indestructible like the seal, a small flicker on the forehead and the kid won't stop wyning, I wonder what a sword strike would do to him"

"Okay, so we imprison him for now until we find a better solution," Amara declared.

Kai's face paled. The thought of spending his life as a prisoner sent a cold shiver down his spine.

"I have an idea," Zane spoke up.

All eyes turned to him as he leaned forward. "Yeah, the kid screwed up—big time. Swallowing the seal was reckless. But that doesn't mean we lock him up for the rest of his life. Actually, if you think about it, yesterday wasn't a total disaster because of his actions."

Kai blinked in surprise.

Zane continued. "I say we make him one of us. Let him join the Crimson Vanguard. I'll train him—day in, day out. The Vortex Order failed this time, but that doesn't mean they won't strike again. And when they do, this kid will need to be strong enough to defend himself."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"We can't always be there to protect him," Zane added. "If his life is the only thing keeping Alzarel from returning, then instead of locking him away, we teach him how to protect it."

He straightened and raised his arm. "All in favor?"

His gaze met Kai's as he spoke.

For a moment, Kai couldn't believe what he was hearing. Hope flickered in his chest.

Principal Xander exhaled slowly before lifting his hand. Then Eleanor. Then Celeste.

Four out of six.

Amara glared at Kai not happy with the option they chose, Victor's face was still completely plain not a single emotion showing on his face.

Kai's face lit up with hope as he saw the beginning of a new chapter in his life, adrenaline rushed through his body as he could only imagine how exciting things are going to get from now on–

Or so he thought.

****

One Week Later

Crimson Vanguard - Battle Arena

Kai stood in the combat area, muscles tensed, breath sharp, eyes locked onto his opponent. His limbs trembled, not from fear, but from the strain of relentless training. A tight white singlet clung to his body, its once-pristine color stained by the countless hours of grueling drills. Every inch of him was a testament to pain and perseverance.

The arena was empty, save for the first-year Alpha Squad standing at the sidelines with Mr. Zane, watching as Kai and Ryder clashed.

In an instant, a torrent of blazing fire erupted from Ryder's palm, the scorching heat rushing toward Kai's face.

Instinct took over. Kai bent his knees, lowering himself just enough for the inferno to graze the tips of his hair.

Without hesitation, he exploded forward, his speed a blur. His progress over the past week was undeniable—his movements seamless, his torso tilted forward, arms trailing behind him as he closed the gap.

Ryder responded with another blast, thrusting his arm forward. A second wave of flames roared toward Kai, but he sidestepped effortlessly, never slowing down.

Ryder huffed, eyes narrowing as Kai advanced. He unleashed another relentless barrage, but Kai's swift, precise movements rendered each attack futile. The heat licked at his skin, but he remained unfazed.

Before Ryder could react, Kai was already in front of him, his fist coiled, ready to strike.

Ryder didn't flinch. Instead, he adjusted his stance, feet spreading slightly for balance. The moment Kai's punch shot forward, Ryder pivoted left, dodging the attack while raising his elbow. Kai's fist sailed past harmlessly—exactly as Ryder had anticipated.

Without missing a beat, Ryder clamped down, trapping Kai's arm beneath his armpit.

In one fluid motion, he leaped into the air, flames bursting from his free hand to propel him higher. At the peak of his ascent, he twisted, using his momentum to hurl Kai toward the ground.

Kai's back slammed into the concrete with a force that sent a shockwave through his body. He bounced slightly before landing, a grimace flashing acro

ss his face as he suppressed the searing pain.

Ryder smirked, his voice echoing through the empty arena.

"Take that!"