Chapter 22: The Shadow Behind the Crown
The great Renard Kingdom Tournament had finally arrived.
Unlike the cross-kingdom event, this one was meant to display the might of Cael's own homeland attended by nobles, knights, the royal family, and even princes from neighboring nations.
It was the perfect stage for Cael's second identity the quiet, average noble boy who was "barely capable of low-tier magic."
A façade he had maintained flawlessly for years.
Today, everyone would watch that weak noble compete.
Morning of the Tournament
Cael tied his academy cloak, eyes calm, aura completely suppressed. To anyone watching, he seemed harmless just another student with average potential.
The Seven Shadows were scattered in the audience, disguises active, silently watching.
Even his sister, Selene, believed he was only there to "try his best."
As the arena filled, the King, his daughter Princess Lyria, and the three visiting princes took their royal seats.
> "Begin the tournament!" the herald shouted.
Round after round, Cael fought and somehow, "the weak boy" kept winning.
He dodged blows with unnatural precision, landed strikes that seemed accidental, and won by "luck."
Spectators laughed and applauded his "miracle victories," unaware that every move was perfectly calculated.
By the final match, only three opponents remained the three royal princes, each powerful beyond normal comprehension.
When Cael stepped into the final arena, whispers rippled through the crowd.
> "That's the weak noble?"
"How did he even make it this far?"
"He's going to die in seconds!"
The princes smirked, weapons glowing with royal enchantments.
The King leaned forward, curious. The Princess watched, her expression unreadable.
The Final Battle
The first prince lunged, his sword wreathed in blue fire.
Cael didn't move.
The second unleashed a lightning storm, shaking the ground.
Cael stood still.
The third prince charged with wind blades fast enough to tear the air.
And still, Cael did nothing.
The crowd roared until the dust cleared.
Cael stood untouched, calm, eyes faintly glowing.
The princes faltered.
"W-What… what is he?"
Cael sighed softly. "You wanted strength," he murmured. "Allow me to show you what true power looks like."
He dropped his disguise.
In an instant, his aura exploded dark and radiant, shadow and atomic energy entwined, the ground fracturing under his feet.
The sky darkened.
Every spectator felt their breath leave their body.
> "I tried to live as a shadow in peace," Cael said, voice calm, resonant, divine.
"But perhaps you should remember…"
He raised his hand, energy flaring around him, shadows swirling like galaxies.
"I Am Atomic."
The arena vanished in light.
A blinding pulse expanded outward silent, absolute.
When it faded, everything within the blast radius was reduced to particles of energy. The princes lay unconscious, their magic completely neutralized.
But the kingdom was untouched every bystander protected by Cael's precise control.
The King rose to his feet, trembling. "You… you're the Phantom Sovereign…"
Cael turned, eyes calm, a faint smile on his face. "I am the one who walks unseen. The shadow that protects what you cannot."
He looked toward the terrified crowd, then the awestruck Princess.
> "I am the balance between light and darkness.
I am the one who ends wars before they begin.
I am Atomic."
The Seven Shadows appeared behind him, kneeling.
Every noble, knight, and mage in the stands bowed in silence.
Cael walked from the arena, aura fading, leaving nothing but the memory of light — and the knowledge that one man, hidden in plain sight, was more powerful than all their armies combined.