As the sun sank slowly over the training grounds, the final duel came to an end. Breathless silence filled the air. Sweat, exhaustion, anticipation—every student was struggling to remain on their feet. Yet it was not over.
The male coach stepped forward.
"Today's duels are finished. But what comes next is just as important as the fights themselves. From now on, you will begin taking on missions. And no group can move without a captain."
The female coach's voice followed, sharp and deliberate.
"A leader must rise—someone to guide you, protect you, and decide your course."
A hush fell across the arena.
Then the whispers began to spread:
"It should be Liven."
"Yes, who else could it be?"
"There's no other choice."
But dissenting voices soon answered back:
"What? A cursed one as captain?"
"A boy tainted with a demon's stench will lead us?"
At the back, Liven stood in silence, watching.
Harven stepped forward again.
"So there are those who object. In that case, tradition gives us the answer. A duel decides."
The crowd stilled.
"Whoever refuses Liven's leadership may fight him. If he loses, the captaincy is stripped away."
Two students stepped forward—one broad and hulking, the other lean and agile. Anger and doubt burned in their eyes.
They reached for their weapons—
But then, Liven walked forward.
Slow. Silent.
His face betrayed no emotion.
And then—
He released it.
The aura.
Dark, cold, suffocating.
The entire field fell silent. The air thickened, heavy and breathless. Knees shook. The challengers' hands trembled around their hilts, fighting not to drop them.
One swallowed hard.
"This… this aura… it's just like that day…"
The other spoke with a quivering voice:
"I… I surrender. I cannot fight him."
Harven narrowed his eyes and gave a slight nod.
"Then the leader is decided."
The female coach whispered softly:
"Whether through fear or awe… Liven is now captain of this group."
Liven remained silent. Yet in his eyes, something stirred—power, loneliness, and the weight of responsibility.
For the first time… he had been accepted.
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