The next morning arrived with a silence that felt… different.
It was not the gentle quiet of dawn, nor the peaceful stillness that usually settled over Skygate Academy before the start of a new day.
This silence carried weight.
It pressed against the air, heavy and expectant.
It was the kind of silence that came before something inevitable—
Like the stillness before a storm finally broke.
---
The arena of Skygate Academy stood open in its full glory for the first time in months.
Massive stone platforms had risen from the central battlefield, each one reinforced with multiple layers of protective formations. Intricate patterns glowed faintly beneath the surface, designed to absorb impact, disperse energy, and prevent destruction from spilling beyond the designated combat zones.
Around the battlefield, towering barriers shimmered like translucent walls.
They pulsed faintly with controlled energy, ensuring that no attack—no matter how powerful—would reach the audience stands.
