The world saw him as weak.
And now, for the first time… Eliar embraced it.
Gone was the blind rage. Gone was the raw, emotional thirst for vengeance that almost got him exposed.
That night, when Kyren died, he felt something shift inside him—not just power—but clarity.
He realized something chilling: Kyren was just a piece… the board is much bigger.
So he began to change.
---
Abandoned Warehouse – Sector 9, After Hours
Eliar stood alone in the shadows, deep within a rusted old structure forgotten by time. Machines hummed in silence. The roof leaked. The floor groaned with every step.
But here… he was safe.
[System Update: Hidden Path – Strategic Growth Activated]
[New Trait: Analytical Mind (Rank E) – Passive]
[INT +3 | Logic-based decisions become sharper. Emotion-based decisions dulled slightly.]
[Emotional Override: Level 1 Unlocked – Temporary suppression of rage]
He sat on the floor, breathing slowly, repeating the same mental routine every night:
Memorize 50 aura compression patterns.
Solve combat equations.
Simulate battle scenarios in his mind.
Practice fake expressions and body language.
Learn how to lose believably.
And he didn't stop there.
He would stand still under freezing cold water for hours, training his pain resistance.
He would smile at his reflection and whisper: "You're just a failure from the slums."
Over and over… until he could believe it.
Because if he believed it—others would too.
---
Weeks Later – Training Grounds of Cyralis Academy
Students gathered in groups, training openly in the sunlit fields. Sparring, shouting, laughing.
Eliar was there too. Dull eyes. Loose grip. Weak punches. Every move intentionally half-hearted.
"Man, he's still trash."
"Heard he fainted in aura control again."
"Why is he even here?"
Perfect.
---
Observation Tower – Luthan Vellore's POV
From high above, through a scanning lens, Luthan watched him.
He had noticed the boy two nights ago.
Alone. In a forgotten alley. Training with a brutal method only hardened soldiers used. Over and over. Bleeding, breaking, rebuilding.
It wasn't random.
It was intentional.
And strange.
So Luthan watched him again in public.
And this time, Eliar looked like nothing—like a failure. A nobody.
But then…
Eliar looked up.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
A flicker of awareness.
He can see me, Luthan thought.
And in that instant… Eliar stumbled, coughed, and held his knee like he was about to fall.
Pathetic. Harmless.
Luthan narrowed his eyes.
He spent the next three days investigating.
He pulled school records, aura ratings, student rankings, financial backgrounds.
What he found made him scoff.
Name: Eliar Thorne
Origin: Slums of Blackiron Ward
Aura Rank: F (Unstable)
Combat Rank: Unranked
Discipline Reports: None
Social Standing: Isolated
A boy with no friends. No achievements. No mentors. No resources.
And worst of all—not even a single sparring win.
Luthan closed the file.
"There's no way this is the one who killed Kyren."
He deleted the suspicion log.
"Just another insect in the dirt."
And from that day… he ignored him.
---
Back in the Dorm Room
Eliar sat alone, quietly staring at his cracked system screen.
[Threat Level: You are no longer suspected.]
[Stealth Bonus Activated – Reputation Hidden: 80%]
He exhaled.
The trap was set.
The mask was in place.
And now… he would begin collecting pieces.
One move at a time.
Because soon, the board would be his.