The yard fell deathly silent.
Only the low hum of floodlights and the ragged breathing of wounded students broke the stillness.
Lian stood in the center, blood on his knuckles, clothes torn from earlier fights. His void eyes scanned the circle one last time.
Blitz landed opposite him, claws extended, white Qi coating them like frost.
The Threnn's ears were flat, body low, ready.
Principal Vaeloria's voice rang clear across the yard.
"Begin. No killing blows. Yield or I stop it."
Both nodded.
The circle backed further.
Instructors tensed, hands glowing faint—ready to intervene.
Blitz vanished.
A white blur.
First strike—claw rake from left.
Lian didn't move.
Eyes closed.
Stood still.
Like a statue carved from night.
Claw passed inches from his face—air sliced sharp.
Blitz already behind.
Kick to spine.
Lian still.
Kick missed.
Blitz blurred again—side slash.
Missed.
The crowd murmured.
Blitz faster than ever.
But Lian… not there when claws arrived.
No dodge.
No block.
Just absence.
Then Lian blurred.
First time.
Body vanished.
Reappeared same spot.
Blitz's claw passed through empty air.
Blitz paused half-second.
Eyes wide.
Lian opened eyes.
Void calm.
Blitz attacked harder.
Storm of white.
Claws everywhere.
Left, right, high, low.
Spin kicks.
Qi slashes leaving glowing trails.
Lian blurred.
Out.
Back.
Out.
Back.
Same spot.
Blitz missed every time.
Not dodging.
Predicting.
Moving only when needed.
Exact.
Minimal.
Energy saved.
Blitz breathed harder.
Frustration in eyes.
He pushed realm.
Circuit Awakening Peak full.
Speed doubled.
Blur became white streak.
Yard wind whipped.
Dust swirled.
Claws invisible.
Lian blurred more.
Matched.
Almost.
One graze—cut on arm.
Blood trickled.
But Lian countered.
First hit.
Palm brush on Blitz's side.
Threnn flew three feet.
Landed rolling.
Up fast.
Angrier.
Charged.
Closer.
Fiercer.
Lian adapted mid-fight.
Copied Blitz's bursts.
Short.
Sharp.
His own style mixed.
Hammer spin into blur step.
Palm strike from nowhere.
Blitz took hits.
Ribs.
Shoulder.
Thigh.
Blood on fur.
Slowed.
But fought wild.
Claws raked Lian's chest—shallow cuts.
Jacket shredded.
Lian's turn.
Blurred close.
Hammer haft to throat.
Blitz blocked—barely.
Lian followed.
Elbow.
Knee.
Palm.
Series of strikes.
Blitz down.
On knees.
Breath ragged.
Claws dim.
Lian stood over.
Fist raised.
Internal Qi gathered dense.
Ready to end.
Nonchalant.
Void eyes empty.
Blitz looked up.
Yield not spoken.
But eyes accepted defeat.
Then—wind exploded.
Instructors moved.
Three at once.
Principal Vaeloria fastest.
Silver Qi wall slammed between.
Lian's fist stopped inches from barrier.
Force rippled.
Ground cracked under his feet.
Two instructors grabbed arms—energy cuffs snapped.
Burned skin.
Principal stood front.
Eyes sharp.
"Enough."
Lian didn't fight.
Stood calm.
Cuffs held.
Blitz helped up by friends.
Coughing blood.
But alive.
Barely.
Yard silent.
Wounded everywhere.
Principal looked at Lian.
Long.
"You win."
Voice calm.
"But this ends tonight."
She waved hand.
Cuffs loosened—but stayed.
Lian turned.
Walked toward gate.
Slow.
Nonchalant.
Blood dripped.
Crowd parted.
No one spoke.
He reached the edge.
Principal spoke again.
"Wait."
Lian paused.
Didn't turn.
Vaeloria stepped forward.
Voice softer now.
"You have proven yourself."
"More than enough."
"We were wrong."
"About the orb."
"About talent."
"Stay."
Murmurs rose.
Instructors nodded.
Students watched.
Kai limped forward.
"Rooms in the dorms. Real beds. Hot food every day. Training grounds open to you."
Gorak grunted agreement.
"Best healers for those scars."
Lirael added quiet.
"Private yard if you want. No one bothers you."
Blitz, supported by friends, coughed.
"Rematch anytime. Fair."
Principal closer now.
"We will test you properly. Find why the orb failed. Give you resources. Manuals. Instructors if you wish."
"Anything."
"Just stay."
"Learn here."
"Grow here."
Lian stood still.
Back to them.
Void eyes on gate.
Silent.
Long moment.
Wind blew cold.
Then he turned slow.
Looked at principal.
At instructors.
At students—wounded because of him.
At Blitz.
Nodded once.
Acceptance.
Cuffs fell away.
Instructors stepped back.
Principal smiled faint.
"Welcome to the academy, Lian Yu."
Guards opened inner doors.
Lights bright inside.
Students cheered weak—some from stretchers.
Lian walked forward.
Into the halls.
Past statues.
Past training rooms.
Into the academy proper.
First time.
Not thrown out.
Invited.
Anything he needed.
Food.
Room.
Healing.
Training.
He didn't smile.
Didn't speak.
Just walked.
The Scarred Ghost was ghost no more.
He was here.
To stay.
To take everything they offered.
And more.
The doors closed behind.
A new chapter began.