The arena was completely silent.
All the students had gathered around the fighting circle, their eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.
On one side stood Kyle Varen, his body surrounded by powerful blue energy, as if the air itself was trembling around him.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
On the other side…
Stood Adam.
No aura.
No visible energy.
Just a calm boy standing in front of one of the noble heirs.
One student laughed and said,
"This won't last even ten seconds."
The instructor raised his hand.
"The duel… begins!"
At that very moment, Kyle dashed forward at incredible speed.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly from the force.
"I'll finish this quickly," Kyle thought as he raised his fist burning with energy.
The students could barely follow his movement because of his speed.
But…
The moment he reached Adam…
Kyle suddenly stopped.
His eyes widened.
Something…
Was wrong.
Adam hadn't moved.
But he felt that sensation again.
That thing deep inside him…
The power that appeared for a moment during the orphanage incident.
It was as if it whispered to him.
"Move."
Instinctively, his body moved just one step to the side.
Kyle's punch passed right beside him.
The students shouted in shock.
"He dodged it!"
Kyle frowned in anger.
"Luck."
He turned quickly and attacked again, this time even faster.
But Adam moved again…
Naturally… as if his body knew the movement before it happened.
The instructor narrowed his eyes.
"Strange…"
Kyle shouted angrily,
"Stop running!"
Suddenly, he released a powerful wave of energy from his fist.
The air exploded toward Adam.
But at that moment…
Adam felt a strange warmth passing through his body.
It wasn't a huge amount of energy…
Just a very faint spark.
But instinctively, he pushed his hand forward.
The two energies collided.
A small explosion echoed across the arena.
Dust rose into the air.
The students suddenly fell silent.
When the dust cleared…
Kyle was still standing… but he had stepped back.
And Adam…
Was still standing as well.
The students' eyes widened.
"He… he stopped it?"
Even Kyle himself looked shocked for a moment.
But his shock quickly turned into anger.
"That won't happen again!"
He rushed forward once more, this time with all his power.
But as he approached…
That feeling inside Adam grew slightly stronger.
His heart pounded.
For a brief moment…
It was as if the world had slowed down.
He could see Kyle's movement clearly.
Adam moved…
Raised his hand…
And pushed Kyle away with a simple strike.
Kyle slid several meters across the ground.
The arena…
Fell into complete silence.
One student whispered,
"D-did you see that?"
The instructor was watching silently, his eyes narrowing even more.
As for Kyle…
He slowly stood up, anger written all over his face.
"You bastard…"
The blue energy around him flared even stronger.
"Now… I'll show you the real difference between us."
At that moment…
Adam felt something cold pass deep through his chest.
That mysterious thing…
Had awakened a little more.