The training grounds of Aetherion Academy buzzed with activity. Students ran drills, practiced duels, and tested their Marks under the watchful eyes of instructors. Arjun Vale stepped onto the field, feeling the weight of the glowing mark on his wrist. The Broken Sky System pulsed softly, almost like it had a heartbeat.
Harshil, his longtime rival, was already there, smirking. "Vale, still struggling with basic control?" he teased. Other students chuckled, but Arjun ignored them. He was focused on understanding the system that had appeared overnight.
The first trial of the day was a simple combat simulation — Rank F students against automated Riftsouls. Arjun approached the first opponent, a small, shadowy creature that lunged at him with unnatural speed. Instinctively, he raised his hand, and the mark on his wrist flared. Energy arcs extended toward the Riftsoul, intercepting it mid-air. Sparks flew as the creature was absorbed into fragments of light, disappearing completely.
Gasps erupted from the watching students. Harshil's smirk faltered. "That… can't be possible," he muttered.
The system's voice echoed in Arjun's mind:
> "Absorb. Adapt. Surpass limits."
Arjun felt fragments of power flowing into him, enhancing his reflexes and awareness. Each movement became more fluid, more precise. He realized the mark wasn't just a tool; it was a part of him, learning alongside him.
The next Riftsoul attacked in a coordinated strike, faster than the first. Arjun dodged, countered, and absorbed it, all in a seamless motion. The other students were frozen in awe. Even Harshil drew back, realizing that Arjun was no longer the weakling he had mocked for so long.
Drave, the enigmatic instructor, watched silently from above. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes followed every movement of Arjun closely.
As the trial ended, Arjun stood amidst the fragments of defeated Riftsouls, chest heaving, mark still glowing. The system whispered again:
> "Growth achieved. Potential unlocked. Observation continues."
Harshil approached, now serious. "Vale… you're… different. Stronger than anyone expected."
Arjun glanced at him, calm but focused. "This is only the beginning. The system… it's guiding me. There's more to come."
From the shadows, Punya and Godly watched silently. Their expressions were unreadable, but their eyes reflected something more — a hint of concern, and a silent acknowledgment that Arjun's journey was far from ordinary.