Chapter 225 — The World Isn’t Kind

[ACC Official Forum - World Championship Discussion]

The Academy Council Committee’s official forum had millions of active users discussing the upcoming World Championship Tournament.

[WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT]

@TournamentFan47: "Every year the tournament decides Academy rankings and resource distribution. This year is going to be INSANE with all the changes at Stormhold."

@NobleSupporter: "Nobles always dominate the tournament. This year will be no different. Individual talent matters more than policy changes."

@DamianFanboy: "If Damian was second or third year, Stormhold would absolutely destroy everyone. But he’s only first year. Not enough time to develop."

@RealistAnalyst: "Every Academy’s Student Council has fourth-year students. All highly talented and experienced. Stormhold isn’t significantly stronger than the others despite their reputation."

@ElizabethSimp: "But Stormhold has Elizabeth Murdock as President. Rumors say she’s A- rank already! That alone should tip things in their favor!"

@SouthernPatriot: "So what if she’s A- rank? The tournament uses teams of five. Imperial Academy has multiple B+ rank students. She can’t carry it alone."

@TacticalMind: "If you take Elizabeth AND Damian into the lineup with Gareth and Arielle, Stormhold wins easily. That’s two generational talents plus solid support."

@ImperialDefender: "Don’t underestimate Imperial Academy or the others. We have SS rank talents in final years too. Gareth and Arielle were defeated by our team last year. Only Stormhold’s seniors saved them."

@HistoricalContext: "True. Last year’s Stormhold victory came from their fourth-years who’ve since graduated. Elizabeth is exceptional, but the rest of her team is unproven at this level."

@PowerScaling: "People recognize Damian’s talent but he’s not the strongest yet. B+ rank fourth-years with years of experience will be tough opponents for a first-year C+ rank student."

@EasternAnalyst: "Skyreach has been preparing specifically to counter Elizabeth’s seer abilities. We have strategies."

@WesternBrawler:

@UnbiasedObserver: "This year’s tournament is genuinely unpredictable. Stormhold has the highest individual talent (Elizabeth) but the weakest overall team depth. Imperial Academy has the best balanced team. Skyreach has superior tactics. It’s anyone’s game."

The speculation continued endlessly, millions of people invested in the outcome.

Because the World Championship Tournament wasn’t just entertainment.

It determined Academy rankings, which determined government resource allocation, which determined which institutions attracted the best students, which determined humanity’s future strength.

Everything was connected and everything mattered.

****

[News Channel Coverage - Federation Broadcasting Network]

The evening news devoted entire segments to tournament speculation.

"Welcome to Tournament Watch! I’m your host, Noah Montague , and we’re just a few weeks out from the World Championship!"

The studio displayed holographic rankings and team compositions.

"Let’s break down the favorites. Stormhold Academy, current champions, have an unprecedented situation: their President Elizabeth Murdock is rumored to be A- rank – unheard of for a third-year student in the history of the Federation."

The co-host, Sarah Lin, nodded enthusiastically.

"But they’ve lost their strongest fourth-years to graduation. Their new lineup will likely include first-year Vice President Damian Valcor, whose recent accomplishments include surviving a hostile portal and defeating multiple Imperial talents."

"However, he’s still only C+ rank. Can raw talent overcome the experience gap?"

"Imperial Academy in Southern Region is looking strong. They’ve added Victor Cross – recently expelled from Stormhold – to their Council. An SS-rank talent with something to prove. Not to mention, Victor will probably the weakest of their team members."

"Skyreach Academy has been running intensive tactical simulations. Their team coordination is reportedly exceptional."

"And we can’t count out Darksky Academy’s pure combat specialists or Republic Academy’s hunger to prove commoner strength."

The debate continued, analysts picking apart every detail with speculation building hype to fever pitch.

****

[Stormhold Academy - Advanced Training Facility - Private Room]

Damian sat cross-legged in the center of an isolated training chamber, his eyes closed, sweat pouring down his face despite complete physical stillness.

He was inside his Domain.

The endless void of black fog surrounded him, the crimson sky pulsing overhead, bodies hanging in the air like macabre decorations.

And... the negative emotions crashed over him in waves.

Guilt. Fear. Rage. Despair. Self-hatred. Grief.

His hands moved involuntarily, reaching for his chest, fingers beginning to dig into his own flesh–

Kuro’s beak struck his head sharply, the physical pain breaking the mental spiral.

CRACK.

The Domain shattered, Damian gasping as reality returned, his hand frozen inches from his chest where he’d been about to tear out his own heart.

Again.

Thud.

He collapsed backward, breathing hard, his entire body shaking.

Kuro landed on his chest, the raven’s intelligent eyes showing concern mixed with exasperation.

’Stupid human. Just don’t use this stupid Domain, Idiot.’

Damian smiled helplessly, stroking Kuro’s feathers.

"...Thanks, Kuro. Seems I still have a long way to go before I can remain completely unaffected by my own Domain."

His voice was hoarse from screaming – he’d been screaming?

"Can’t use it in combat for a long time until I master this. Thankfully the old man warned me about the dangers early. Otherwise I might have killed myself during an actual fight."

He stood slowly, his legs shaky, and walked toward the exit.

****

[Training Facility - Reception Desk]

Annie sat at the reception counter, her paperwork spread out but clearly ignored in favor of watching the door to the private training rooms.

The moment Damian emerged, she looked up with a smile that didn’t quite hide her concern.

"Junior brother! I hope you enjoyed your training session."

Despite everything, despite the exhaustion and mental trauma, Damian found himself smiling at her familiar greeting.

But he had to correct the misconception.

"Annie... I’m not Professor Salazar’s disciple anymore. That relationship was severed. You don’t need to call me junior brother."

Annie pouted, her expression showing she absolutely wasn’t accepting that.

"Bullshit! That old man only ever talks about you! Literally every conversation somehow circles back to ’my former disciple this’ and ’Damian that.’ If it wasn’t for his stupid family pressuring him, he never would have broken the relationship."

Her voice carried genuine frustration.

"I’m jealous, you know. He never showed me half the attention he gives you even after you’re not technically his student anymore."

Damian smiled helplessly but said nothing, because what could he say?

Salazar Blackwood had been a genuine mentor. Losing that official relationship hurt more than he liked to admit.

Annie stood and came closer, her expression becoming more serious despite her playful tone.

"My dear handsome junior brother, the tournament is approaching soon. Are you ready? It’ll be your first time appearing in front of thousands of people to compete on that stage."

Damian shrugged, his voice casual.

"I haven’t thought much about it honestly. With Elizabeth, Gareth, and Arielle on our team, I don’t see how we could possibly lose. Seems almost pointless to worry."

Annie’s expression shifted, becoming mysterious and almost warning.

"Don’t underestimate the other Academies. Elizabeth is exceptional, yes – a genuine anomaly. But there are other Imperial families too. Students from those families with equivalent resources and training."

She leaned closer, her voice dropping.

"Your opponents will be final-year students. B+ rank talented individuals with years of experience and family resources backing them. They could send you packing before you even understand what happened."

Damian paused, her words cutting through his casual confidence.

’She’s right. I’m getting arrogant again...’

Then Annie’s voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes showing genuine concern.

"Junior brother... I think there will be problems soon. You went against everyone – Nobles, Imperial families and established professors. Master has been in a terrible mood these past few days. I think... I think the Nobles are planning to make things very difficult for you."

Her hand touched his arm gently.

"Please be careful."

Damian patted her head with a gentle smile, the gesture affectionate despite the serious topic.

"It’ll be alright, Annie. I appreciate the warning."

He walked away, his back straight and his confidence seemingly unshaken.

Annie stood there watching him go, her hand unconsciously moving to rub where he’d patted her head.

’I wonder... will it really be alright?

He’s so young, so talented and so absolutely brilliant.

But he’s also made so many powerful enemies.’

She looked down at her paperwork, the numbers and forms blurring together.

’Please be careful, junior brother. The world isn’t kind to revolutionaries.

Even talented ones.’