Marcus stood at the edge of the arena, his arms crossed as he watched Crystal leave with Alex. His sharp eyes followed her every move, his expression unreadable. However, the intensity in his gaze made it clear he now saw her as a real threat.
Crystal's victory had proven she wasn't just some fallen Beta Class student. No, she was much more than that. And Marcus, a proud Alpha Class student, knew that her presence in the tournament could shake up the rankings.
"Interesting," he muttered under his breath, a small smirk forming on his lips.
He turned to leave, but his mind was already calculating. If Crystal was really that strong, then she had to be dealt with.
The Academy Reacts
By the next morning, the entire school was buzzing with news—not about Crystal's fight, but about Alex.
The story of Crystal hugging him had spread like wildfire, and more importantly, the rumor that Alex Vonn was Epsilon Shadow had practically been confirmed.
In one of the academy's elite training halls, Aristotle Morningstar stood with his arms folded, listening as a group of students gossiped about the event.
"Did you hear? Alex Vonn is Epsilon Shadow!"
"I can't believe it! He was supposed to be a nobody in Epsilon Class!"
"But if he really is Epsilon Shadow, then that means he's been hiding his true strength all this time!"
Aristotle narrowed his eyes. Unlike the other students, he didn't care about Alex's association with Crystal. That was irrelevant to him. What did matter was that Alex had managed to deceive everyone, even the school's security.
How did he do it?
As someone who wielded Morningstar Tay, Aristotle had always been considered a prodigy, destined for greatness. But now, the revelation that Alex was actually one of the academy's most mysterious and powerful fighters unsettled him.
"This changes everything," he muttered to himself.
Across the academy, in the private training grounds reserved for high-level students, Sarah Valen stood in front of a massive mana crystal, her hands glowing with magical energy.
Sarah, the wielder of Magic Tay, had always believed in her superiority over weaker students. And yet, last night's revelation had left her shaken.
Alex. The same Alex who had been placed in the lowest class, was actually Epsilon Shadow?
A small frown formed on her lips. Did I misjudge him this whole time?
She clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes. If Alex had been hiding his power, that meant he was more dangerous than she had initially thought. And in this academy, power dictated everything.
"I won't be left behind," she whispered, turning back to her training.
Alex and Jasper's Discussion
Meanwhile, Alex sat in the academy's underground archives, a dimly lit space filled with old records and restricted files. Jasper sat across from him, typing away on his holographic keyboard.
"So, everyone thinks you're Epsilon Shadow now," Jasper said casually.
Alex leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "It was bound to happen sooner or later."
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem too worried. But you should be. The academy's higher-ups are watching you now, and even some of the strongest students—like Marcus, Aristotle, and Sarah—are starting to pay attention."
Alex smirked. "Let them."
Jasper sighed, rubbing his temples. "You're playing a dangerous game, Alex."
Alex didn't respond immediately. He stared at the faint glow of the archive screens, his mind calculating his next move.
He knew that being exposed as Epsilon Shadow would make him a target. But he also knew that fear was a powerful weapon. If the academy thought he had backing from an Original Family, then no one would dare to act recklessly against him.
At least, not yet.
"Jasper," Alex said finally, "I need you to keep digging into Crystal's past. There's something about her that doesn't add up."
Jasper sighed again but nodded. "Fine. But you owe me for this."
Alex smirked. "I always pay my debts."
Marcus Makes a Move
Later that evening, Marcus stood on the rooftop of one of the academy's tallest buildings, watching the cityscape below. The tournament was only getting started, but already, unexpected challengers were emerging.
Crystal.
Alex.
His grip tightened. He had always believed that power belonged to the strong, and if there were obstacles in his path, he would eliminate them.
A gust of wind blew past him as a figure appeared beside him—a masked individual dressed in black.
"What do you want me to do?" the masked figure asked.
Marcus smirked. "Gather information on Alex Vonn and Crystal Heart. If they're really as strong as people say, then I need to know their weaknesses."
The masked figure nodded before disappearing into the shadows.
Marcus turned his gaze back toward the arena in the distance.
"The tournament is just beginning," he whispered. "And I'll make sure that neither of them stands in my way."