Chapter 26: The Whisper of Power
Kairos could still feel the heat from the battle lingering in his skin, the embers of the Infernal Warden's last breath dissolving into the air. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, but it wasn't from exhaustion.
It was from something else.
Something awakening.
The system pulsed inside him, feeding him silent, unreadable data. His body felt lighter, sharper—like he had been reforged in the very flames he had just conquered.
He clenched his fists.
I'm stronger now.
The realization sent a thrill through him.
The murmurs from the audience slowly grew louder as the shock of his victory wore off.
"Did he just defeat an Infernal Warden?"
"Wasn't that thing supposed to be impossible for someone at his level?"
"What kind of power does he even have?"
Kairos turned to Caelum, who was still watching him with that unreadable expression. The instructor studied him, almost as if measuring something.
Finally, Caelum spoke. "The trial is over."
His voice carried through the arena, silencing the crowd instantly.
Kairos exhaled. He had won.
But even as the tension in the air dissipated, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed inside him.
---
Aftermath and Unsettling Realizations
Kairos walked through the academy halls with Selene by his side, her arms crossed as she kept glancing at him. He could feel her staring, and after a minute, he sighed.
"What?"
"You." She poked his shoulder. "Are not normal."
"Yeah, I figured that out when I woke up with a system," he muttered.
She gave him an unimpressed look. "I'm serious. That wasn't just raw strength you used. It was adaptive. Your body and energy were changing mid-fight. That's not something a normal ability user can do."
Kairos paused.
She was right.
Before, his powers had been about gaining strength through experience and leveling up. But this—this was different. It was like his body had started reshaping itself in real time to match the Warden's power.
The system had called it Adaptive Resonance.
But what did that actually mean?
His fingers twitched slightly, and he frowned.
I should check my status later…
For now, he needed food.
---
The Mess Hall and Unwanted Attention
As soon as they stepped into the mess hall, Kairos immediately regretted it.
The room fell silent.
Every head turned to him.
Some students whispered among themselves. Others openly stared, their expressions ranging from admiration to suspicion.
"Damn. That fight really made you famous, huh?" Selene smirked.
Kairos groaned. "Great. Just what I needed."
As they moved toward the food line, he felt a sharp presence approaching. He turned just as a figure stepped in front of him.
Tall. Athletic. Blue eyes filled with cold calculation.
Kieran Vale.
The academy's second-year prodigy. Known for his ice abilities and for being one of the most ruthless duelists in the school.
Kieran studied Kairos for a long moment before speaking. "That wasn't just raw strength you used."
Kairos sighed. "Are we really doing this now?"
Kieran ignored him. "You're hiding something."
Kairos met his gaze evenly. "And if I am?"
Kieran's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll find out."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Kairos standing there with an annoyed expression.
Selene whistled. "Oh boy. You just made an enemy."
Kairos rubbed his temples. "I hate this school already."
She laughed.
---
A Voice in the Darkness
That night, as Kairos lay in bed, something strange happened.
The room shifted.
The air turned heavy, and a faint glow pulsed in the darkness.
Then, a voice—deep, ancient, filled with something vast—spoke.
"You are moving faster than expected."
Kairos jolted up, his heart pounding.
The voice continued.
"Your evolution is accelerating. You will reach the threshold soon."
Kairos swallowed. "Who are you?"
The silence stretched before the voice answered.
"I am the one who set the cycle in motion. And soon, you will see why."
The glow faded. The presence vanished.
Kairos sat there, breathing heavily.
What the hell was that?
And more importantly—
What cycle?