Chapter 66: Chapter 66
William's second class of the day was Practical Essence Application, which involved mostly hands-on demonstrations and technique refinement. The instructor had them working in pairs on controlled essence output exercises.
William got paired with a third-year student named Derek from House Valoris. The exercise was simple — maintain consistent essence flow through a testing crystal for two minutes without fluctuation.
It should have been challenging. Most students struggled to keep their output steady for even thirty seconds before it started wavering.
William completed it in one attempt with zero fluctuation. The crystal glowed with perfectly consistent light for the full two minutes.
Derek stared at the crystal, then at William. "How did you do that?"
"Just focus on keeping the flow steady," William said, trying to downplay it.
"I am focusing. Mine keeps spiking after twenty seconds."
The instructor walked over and examined William's result. "Perfect consistency. Well done Cross. You can move on to the advanced exercise."
William internally cursed himself. He was drawing attention again by performing too well. The SSS trait made everything effortless, but that was exactly the problem — it was too effortless.
He moved to the advanced station and completed that exercise as well, though he deliberately introduced minor fluctuations to make it look less perfect. The instructor still praised his improvement but didn't comment further.
The class ended and William left quickly, wanting to avoid any more conversations about his suddenly improved control.
He grabbed lunch alone at a corner table in the dining hall, hoping for a quiet meal. That lasted approximately five minutes before Mira appeared and sat down across from him.
"You've been busy lately," Mira said, setting down her tray.
"Not really," William replied.
"Right. That's why Helena Rubinstein has been asking around about you, and why you just demonstrated perfect essence control in Practical Application."
William looked up from his food. "How do you know about the class thing?"
"Derek is in my study group. He wouldn't shut up about it." Mira ate some of her lunch casually. "So what's your secret?"
"There's no secret. Just practicing."
"Uh huh." Mira didn't look convinced but she didn't press further. "Well, whatever you're doing, keep it up. The Inter-Academy competition is getting closer and we need everyone at their best."
"Speaking of which, how's your training going?"
"Good. My shadow manipulation has been improving steadily. Adrian's been helping me refine some techniques." She paused. "Though between you and me, I think he's getting nervous about the competition."
"Why?"
"Because the other academies aren't going to be easy. We're good, but we're not unbeatable." Mira finished her drink. "Anyway, I should get going. I have Combat Theory next and Professor Varen gets annoyed when people are late."
She left and William finished his lunch in peace. The afternoon classes were less eventful — History of Essence Cultivation was mostly lecture-based and William could blend into the background without drawing attention.
By the time classes ended, William was ready to head back to his room and rest. He was crossing the main courtyard when someone tapped his shoulder from behind.
He turned and saw Helena Rubinstein standing there with that same calculated smile.
"William," she said. "I was hoping I'd run into you."
"What do you need?"
"I wanted to invite you to something." Helena pulled out a small card from her bag. "There's a party this weekend at one of the off-campus houses. Nothing too formal, just students getting together before midterms start. I think you should come."
William looked at the card. It had an address and time written in neat handwriting.
"I don't really do parties," William said.
"You should make an exception for this one. Lots of influential students will be there. Good networking opportunity." Helena's green eyes studied him. "Plus it would be nice to see you in a more relaxed setting."
"I'll think about it."
"That's what you said this morning about talking to me." Helena stepped slightly closer. "You know William, most people would be flattered by the attention I'm giving you."
"I'm not most people."
"Clearly." She smiled wider. "Just consider coming. I think you'd enjoy yourself more than you expect."
She walked away before William could respond, leaving him holding the party invitation card.
William stared at it for a moment, then pocketed it and continued toward his dormitory. Kai was in their room when he arrived, predictably reading at his desk.
"You look tired," Kai commented without looking up.
"Long day," William said, dropping his bag.
"Anything interesting happen?"
"Not really. Just classes and people bothering me."
Kai finally looked up. "That Helena girl approached you again?"
"How did you—"
"I saw her talking to you in the courtyard. She's persistent."
"Yeah, she invited me to some party this weekend."
"Are you going?"
William pulled out the card and looked at it again. "Probably not."
"You should go," Kai said.
William looked at his roommate in surprise. "Why?"
"Because sitting in this room all weekend isn't going to help you with anything. Plus parties are where things happen." Kai went back to his book. "Trust me on this one."
"That's cryptic."
"That's accurate."
William set the card on his desk and changed out of his academy uniform. He spent the next few hours doing light cultivation practice and working on an essay that was due next week, trying to keep his mind occupied.
Dinner came and went. William ate with Marcus and Sara, enduring another round of questions about Seraphina that he mostly deflected. By the time he got back to his room, it was getting late and he was exhausted.
He lay in bed staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had happened over the past few days. The SSS trait, the situation with Seraphina and Claire, Lyanna asking him out, Helena's persistent interest, and now this party invitation.
'When did my life get this complicated?' William thought.
---
The next few days passed in a blur of classes, training, and trying to manage the increasingly complex social dynamics around him. William continued being careful about demonstrating his new abilities too obviously, though it was getting harder to deliberately perform worse than he was capable of.
Seraphina remained consistent — she didn't pressure him about their relationship status but she also didn't distance herself. They trained together, ate together sometimes, and she'd occasionally grab his hand when they walked between buildings.
Claire was similarly persistent. She'd appear seemingly at random throughout the day, always finding excuses to talk to him. Sometimes it was about Inter-Academy strategy, sometimes about class material, and sometimes she didn't bother with an excuse at all.
Lyanna had backed off after asking him out, giving him space to think about it. Though William caught her watching him sometimes during shared classes, her expression unreadable.
Helena continued appearing at opportune moments, always with that calculated smile and always mentioning the party. By the third time she brought it up, William started considering actually going just to stop her from asking.
Friday afternoon arrived and William was in the training facility working through combat drills when Liam approached.
"You're looking sharp lately," Liam commented, watching William execute a fire-enhanced strike sequence. "Your control has improved significantly."
"Just practicing more," William said, finishing the sequence.
"Must be some intense practice." Liam grabbed a practice sword. "Want to spar?"
They spent the next hour trading strikes and techniques. Liam was still clearly superior in terms of raw skill and experience, but William noticed he was keeping up better than he used to. The SSS trait made reading Liam's movements easier and responding appropriately much more natural.
"You're adapting faster mid-fight," Liam observed when they took a break. "That's new."
"Is it?"
"Yeah. Before you'd get locked into patterns. Now you're adjusting on the fly." Liam drank from his water flask. "Whatever you're doing, keep it up. The competition is three weeks away and we need everyone performing at their peak."
They finished training and William headed back to clean up. When he got to his room, Kai was actually packing a small bag.
"Going somewhere?" William asked.
"Yeah, I have some things to take care of off campus this weekend." Kai closed his bag. "You should go to that party."
"You're still on about that?"
"I'm serious William. You need to go." Kai's expression was more serious than usual. "Something important is going to happen there."
"What kind of something?"
"I can't tell you that. But trust me, you need to be there."
William stared at his roommate. Kai almost never gave direct advice about anything, and when he did it was usually significant.
"Fine," William said. "I'll go."
"Good." Kai grabbed his bag and headed for the door. "I'll be back Sunday evening. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."
"That's rich coming from you."
Kai left without responding, leaving William alone in the room wondering what the hell his roommate knew that he didn't.
He could only wander as he slowly drifted into sleep.
---
Support! Novel is reaching a very important climax! Who exactly is Kai?
Chapter 67: Chapter 67
Helena led William through the crowd with ease, weaving between groups of students who were already well into their drinks. The music was loud enough to feel but not so overwhelming that conversation was impossible.
"So whose house is this?" William asked.
"It belongs to Marcus's family," Helena said over her shoulder. "They own it but rarely use it. He lets students throw parties here sometimes as long as nothing gets destroyed."
They stopped near a seating area where several students were lounging on expensive-looking furniture. Helena gestured to them.
"Everyone, this is William Cross. William, this is everyone."
A tall guy with blonde hair and an easy smile stood up and offered his hand. "Adrian Blackwood. Third year, House Arcturus."
William shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"I've heard about you," Adrian said. "You're the one who lasted six and a half minutes against Liam in the tournament, right?"
"Something like that."
"That's impressive. Most people don't even last two minutes against that guyp." Adrian gestured to the others. "This is Rebecca, Thomas, and Sophia."
Rebecca had short black hair and looked bored. Thomas was heavyset with a friendly face. Sophia was small with bright red hair tied in a ponytail.
"So you're the mystery guy everyone's been talking about," Sophia said, studying William with open curiosity. "Seraphina Ashenheart's new interest."
"I wouldn't call it that," William said carefully.
"She would," Sophia replied with a grin. "Trust me, I've seen the way she looks at you during training. It's very territorial."
Helena sat down on one of the couches and patted the space next to her. "Sit William. Relax. You look like you're expecting an attack."
William sat down, though not directly next to Helena. He chose a chair that gave him a view of most of the room instead.
"So William," Thomas said, leaning forward. "What do you think is going to happen at the Inter-Academy competition?"
"We'll compete and hopefully win."
"That's not what I meant." Thomas grinned. "I mean politically. There are rumors that this year's competition is going to be different. More at stake than just academy reputation."
William's attention sharpened. He remembered reading something about this in the novel — the Inter-Academy competition was supposed to be the catalyst for several major plot developments. Something about political tensions between the academies and their backing noble houses.
"What kind of rumors?" William asked.
"Apparently several major noble families are putting up significant rewards for top performers," Adrian explained. "Not just the usual scholarship offers. We're talking about actual political appointments, territory grants, that kind of thing."
"That's unusual," William said.
"Very," Adrian agreed. "Which means there's probably something bigger happening behind the scenes. The nobles don't throw around that kind of incentive unless they're positioning for something."
Rebecca finally spoke up, her voice dry. "They're preparing for succession disputes. Three of the major duchies are dealing with inheritance conflicts right now. The noble families want to identify talented young people they can align with before the disputes turn into actual conflicts."
William processed that information. The novel had mentioned this — the upcoming succession crisis that would eventually lead to civil tensions across several territories. The Inter-Academy competition was supposed to be where several key players first made their mark.
"That's a cheerful topic for a party," Sophia said, rolling her eyes. "Can we talk about literally anything else?"
"Fine," Thomas said. "William, what's your family situation? I heard you're from house Cross but you ended up in House Ascendant instead of Arcturus or Luminara."
[P/S: He means from the Cross family]
"Long story," William said. "My family and I don't have the best relationship."
"Join the club," Adrian said with a bitter laugh. "Half the people here have complicated family situations. It comes with the noble territory."
"What about you?" William asked, turning the question back.
"House Blackwood is dealing with a scandal involving my older brother. He was caught embezzling funds from family trade operations." Adrian's easy smile didn't falter but his eyes hardened slightly. "So now I'm expected to restore the family reputation while also being constantly compared to my criminal sibling. It's great."
"My situation is simpler," Sophia chimed in. "I'm the seventh child and my family basically forgot I existed after the fifth one. Being here is just a convenient way for them to have one less person to worry about."
"That's depressing," Thomas said.
"That's life," Sophia replied cheerfully. "At least here I can do what I want without anyone breathing down my neck about family expectations."
Helena had been quiet during this exchange, just watching William with that calculating expression. When she noticed him looking at her, she smiled.
"My family situation is boring compared to all of yours," Helena said. "House Rubinstein is stable, wealthy, and has no major scandals. The most exciting thing that's happened recently is my aunt getting remarried."
"Sounds peaceful," William commented.
"It's suffocating," Helena corrected. "Everything is planned, controlled, and predictable. That's why I transferred here — to actually experience something interesting for once."
The conversation drifted after that. Thomas started telling a story about a disastrous hunting trip his family had organized where everything went wrong. Sophia countered with her own story about accidentally setting fire to a family estate's garden during essence practice.
William listened more than he talked, taking in information. These were people from established noble families, each dealing with their own complicated situations. The novel had mentioned some of them in passing — Adrian Blackwood became an important political figure later, though William couldn't remember the specific details.
After about thirty minutes, Helena stood up and gestured for William to follow her. "Come on, there are other people you should meet."
They left the seating area and Helena led him toward a quieter section of the house. They passed by Marcus who was now clearly drunk and challenging someone to an arm wrestling match.
"Your friend is entertaining," Helena commented.
"He's always like that."
They ended up in what looked like a study or library, much quieter than the main party area. A few students were scattered around, having more private conversations.
Helena closed the door behind them, muffling the music significantly.
"This is better," she said. "It's too loud out there."
William looked around the room. Books lined the walls and comfortable chairs were positioned near a fireplace that was currently unlit. "Why did you really invite me here Helena?"
"Because I wanted to get to know you better."
"You could have done that anywhere. Why specifically this party?"
Helena's smile shifted slightly, becoming less calculated and more genuine. "Because here you can't hide behind academy routine or training schedules. Here you're just another student trying to navigate life."
"And that tells you what exactly?"
"How you handle pressure. How you interact with people outside your usual circle. Whether you're actually as straightforward as you seem or if that's just a front." Helena moved closer, studying his face. "You're interesting William. Most people our age are either completely absorbed in family politics or desperately trying to escape them. You somehow exist outside both categories."
"I just keep my head down and focus on what matters."
"That's what makes you interesting." Helena reached out and straightened his collar, her fingers lingering slightly. "You don't play the usual games, which means people can't predict you. That's valuable."
William was very aware of how close she was standing. "Valuable for what?"
"For whatever comes next." Helena stepped back, her expression shifting back to that calculated smile. "The Inter-Academy competition is going to change things William. The political situation, the succession disputes, the noble family positioning — it's all building toward something significant. People like you, who aren't already locked into family alliances, are going to have opportunities that others won't."
William thought about what he'd read in the novel. She wasn't wrong — the competition was a turning point for several characters. "And you want me to remember that you told me this?"
"I want you to remember that I'm someone worth knowing." Helena moved toward the door. "Come on, there's one more person I want you to meet before the night is over."
They left the study and navigated back through the party. The crowd had grown larger and the music had gotten louder. Helena led William upstairs to a balcony that overlooked the main room.
A girl was standing there alone, looking out over the party below. She had long white hair that fell to her waist and pale blue eyes that seemed almost luminescent in the dim lighting. She turned when she heard them approach.
"Elise," Helena said. "This is William Cross. William, this is Elise Frost."
William recognized the name immediately from the novel. Elise Frost was supposed to be one of the major antagonists in the later arcs — a prodigy from a northern noble family with ice affinity who eventually became involved in the succession conflicts Helena had mentioned.
"Hello," Elise said quietly. Her voice was soft but carried an edge of coldness. "I've heard your name mentioned recently."
[Ding! Elise has been added!]
"Nothing good I hope," William said.
"Actually, quite good. Seraphina Ashenheart doesn't waste her time on weak people." Elise studied him with those pale eyes. "Though I wonder what you see in all of this."
"All of what?"
"The politics. The competition. The constant positioning and maneuvering." Elise gestured vaguely at the party below. "Everyone here is playing some kind of game, whether they admit it or not. What game are you playing?"
"I'm not playing any game."
"Everyone says that. Few people mean it." Elise turned back to look at the party. "But perhaps you're different. Helena seems to think so."
"I just think he's interesting," Helena said. "Is that so strange?"
"Coming from you? Yes." Elise's expression didn't change. "You don't do anything without a reason."
Helena laughed but didn't deny it.
They stood there in silence for a moment, watching the party below. William could see his various classmates scattered throughout — Sara was talking animatedly with a group near the drinks, Elena was sitting quietly in a corner reading despite the noise, and Marcus was still arm wrestling people.
"The competition is in three weeks," Elise said suddenly. "Are you prepared for what comes after?"
"What do you mean?" William asked.
"The competition itself doesn't matter. It's what happens during and after that will shape the next several years." Elise finally looked at him directly. "People are going to make moves during that event. Alliances will form, conflicts will emerge, and students like us will be forced to choose sides whether we want to or not."
William remembered this from the novel — the Inter-Academy competition was supposed to be where several major plot threads converged. Political conflicts, personal rivalries, and the introduction of threats that would carry through multiple arcs.
"And you're telling me this why?"
"Because Helena asked me to. And because I'm curious to see what you'll do when the time comes." Elise moved toward the stairs. "Enjoy the party William. I suspect the next few weeks will be significantly less pleasant."
She disappeared down the stairs, leaving William alone with Helena on the balcony.
"She's cheerful," William said dryly.
"Elise sees the world differently than most people. She's not wrong though — the competition is going to complicate things significantly." Helena leaned against the railing. "That's part of why I wanted you here tonight. To meet people outside your usual circle. To understand that there's more happening than just academy training."
"I'm aware."
"Are you?" Helena turned to look at him. "Because from what I've seen, you focus almost entirely on personal improvement and avoid the political aspects completely. That's admirable but it's also shortsighted."
"Maybe I just don't care about politics."
"Maybe. Or maybe you're smarter than you let on and you're deliberately staying neutral until you understand the full situation." Helena's green eyes studied him carefully. "Which is it William?"
William didn't answer. He looked out over the party, thinking about everything he knew from reading the novel. The succession disputes, the political maneuvering, the conflicts that were coming — he'd read about all of it. But reading about events and actually living through them were very different things.
"I should probably head back," William said eventually.
"Already? The party just started."
"I've met your people and heard your warnings. That's enough for one night."
Helena looked disappointed but didn't argue. "Fine. Good night William"
William left the balcony and navigated back through the party. He passed by several groups of students, caught fragments of conversations about families and politics and academy drama. It was overwhelming in a way that combat training never was.
He made it outside and started walking back toward campus. The night air was cool and quiet compared to the noise of the party. He could still hear the music faintly in the distance.
William was so absorbed in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice the figure watching him from the shadows near the academy gates.
When he finally looked up, he caught a glimpse of someone standing in the darkness, too far away to identify clearly. They were just standing there, watching him.
****
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Chapter 68: Chapter 68
William woke up the next morning with a vague headache that he attributed to staying up too late at the party. Kai's bed was still empty — his roommate hadn't returned yet.
He got ready slowly, his mind still processing everything from last night.
The dining hall was quieter than usual when he arrived for breakfast. Sundays were always slower, with most students either sleeping in or recovering from whatever they'd done the night before.
William grabbed food and found an empty table. He was halfway through his meal when Sara appeared and sat down across from him.
"So," she said without preamble. "You went to that party."
"How did you know?"
"Marcus saw you there. He's been telling everyone." Sara studied him. "What possessed you to actually go? You hate parties."
"Someone convinced me it would be interesting."
"Was it?"
William thought about that. "More than I expected."
Sara waited for him to elaborate but he didn't. She sighed. "You're impossible to get information out of sometimes."
"That's intentional."
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Sara eventually started talking about her plans for the day — she had studying to do for midterms and some cultivation practice she'd been putting off.
William finished breakfast and left the dining hall, still feeling off in a way he couldn't quite identify. The campus was peaceful in the morning light, with only a few students scattered around.
He decided to head to the library to work on some assignments. The walk across campus felt normal but William found himself paying more attention to his surroundings than usual. Looking for anything out of place.
Nothing seemed wrong. Just a quiet Sunday morning.
The library was nearly empty. William found his usual spot near the back and pulled out his Magical Theory notes. He worked for about an hour before his concentration started slipping.
He kept thinking about that figure from last night. The way they'd just stood there watching him, then disappeared so smoothly when he noticed them.
'Probably just another student,' William told himself. 'Nothing to worry about.'
But he didn't quite believe it.
He gave up on studying and left the library. The day stretched ahead with nothing specific planned. Kai still wasn't back and William didn't feel like seeking out company.
He ended up at the training facilities, figuring he might as well do something productive. The private rooms were mostly empty on Sundays. He found one and locked the door behind him.
William ran through combat drills for about an hour, testing his control and working on technique combinations. His SSS trait made everything flow smoothly, almost effortlessly. It was simultaneously satisfying and frustrating — satisfying because of how much easier everything was, frustrating because he couldn't demonstrate this level of skill publicly without raising questions.
He was in the middle of a wind-enhanced movement drill when something felt wrong.
William stopped and looked around the empty training room. Nothing had changed. The door was still locked. Everything looked normal.
But something felt off.
He dismissed the feeling and continued training for another thirty minutes before calling it done. He left the training room and headed back toward the dormitory, that uneasy feeling still lingering.
The campus was more active now, with students enjoying the afternoon. William passed groups hanging out near the fountains, couples walking together, individuals reading on benches.
All normal. All peaceful.
He made it back to his room and found it still empty. Kai definitely should have been back by now if he'd said Sunday evening.
William changed out of his training clothes and sat at his desk, trying to focus on an essay that was due Tuesday. The words weren't coming easily. His mind kept wandering, kept feeling like something was building that he couldn't see yet.
Evening arrived and William went to dinner alone. The dining hall was moderately full, with students scattered across various tables. He grabbed food and found a quiet corner.
He was almost done eating when Seraphina appeared and sat down next to him.
"You're being antisocial today," she observed.
"Just tired."
"From the party?" Seraphina's tone was neutral but her eyes were curious. "I heard you went."
"Helena invited me. Figured I should show up."
"And how was it?"
"It was actually educational." William finished his food. "I met some people and heard some things about the political situation."
"Anything I should know about?"
William thought about mentioning the succession disputes and noble family positioning, but decided against it. "Nothing that affects us directly. Just background noise."
Seraphina didn't look entirely convinced but she didn't push. They sat together for a few more minutes before she had to leave for evening training.
William left the dining hall and started walking back to his dormitory. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across campus. Most students were either inside or heading that direction.
He took a less traveled path that cut through one of the garden areas — a shortcut he'd used plenty of times before. The path was lined with trees and ornamental bushes, peaceful and quiet.
William was about halfway through when he heard movement behind him.
He turned quickly, his hand instinctively going to where his sword would be if he was carrying it. Which he wasn't, because it was Sunday evening and he'd just been at dinner.
Nobody was there.
William stared at the empty path behind him, his pulse quickening slightly. He definitely heard something.
He continued walking, faster now, his senses on high alert. The garden path suddenly felt too isolated, too quiet.
Another sound, closer this time. Footsteps on gravel.
William spun around and this time he saw them — a figure in dark clothing moving between the trees, partially hidden by shadows.
"Who's there?" William called out.
The figure didn't respond. They just stood there, watching him.
William's mind raced. He was unarmed, alone, and in an isolated part of campus. This was bad positioning for a confrontation.
He started backing away slowly, keeping his eyes on the figure. They moved closer, stepping into better light.
William couldn't make out their face — they were wearing something to obscure it — but he could see they were holding something. A blade, dark metal that caught the fading sunlight.
'Fuck,' William thought.
The figure moved forward suddenly, closing the distance fast.
William turned and ran. Not toward his dormitory — that was too far — but toward the main campus where there would be other students.
He made it maybe thirty feet before something whistled past his ear and embedded itself in a tree ahead of him. A throwing knife.
William dodged left, using the trees as cover. His heart was hammering and his mind was working frantically to figure out his options.
He had no weapon. His essence control was exceptional now but he'd never practiced combat without at least a practice sword. And whoever was chasing him was clearly trained and armed.
Another knife, this one closer. William barely avoided it.
He burst out of the garden path into a more open area near one of the academic buildings. There were students in the distance, but not close enough to help immediately.
William turned to see how close his pursuer was and found them right behind him, blade already swinging.
He threw himself backward, the sword cutting through the air inches from his face. He hit the ground hard and rolled, trying to create distance.
The figure was on him immediately, blade coming down toward his chest.
William caught their wrist with both hands, stopping the blade just above his ribcage. The attacker was strong, pushing down with controlled force.
William channeled fire essence desperately into his hands. Flames erupted along his palms and the attacker jerked back with a hiss of pain, giving William enough space to scramble away.
He got to his feet just as the attacker recovered and lunged again.
Then someone else appeared.
A figure in dark clothing moving with incredible speed, intercepting the attacker mid-strike. Metal clashed against metal, the sound sharp in the evening air.
William's attacker was forced back several steps by the force of the block. They recovered quickly, taking a fighting stance that spoke of serious training.
The new arrival stood between William and his attacker, holding a sword casually but with clear competence. They were wearing dark clothes and their face was partially obscured by shadow, but William recognized the build and stance.
Kai.
His roommate had appeared out of nowhere and was now facing down an armed assassin like it was a normal evening activity.
"You need to leave," Kai said, his voice calm but carrying a tone William had never heard before. He wasn't talking to William.
The attacker didn't respond. They just shifted their grip on their blade and moved forward.
What followed was so fast William could barely track it. Kai and the attacker exchanged a flurry of strikes, moving with speed and precision that matched anything William had seen from top-tier fighters.
Kai wasn't using essence enhancement — just pure technique and physical ability. And he was clearly winning.
After about ten seconds of intense combat, Kai's blade found an opening and struck the attacker's weapon hand hard enough to disarm them. The blade went flying and landed several feet away.
The attacker immediately disengaged, pulling back toward the shadows of the garden path.
"You're making a mistake," the attacker said, their voice muffled by whatever they were using to hide their face. "He dies eventually. You know this."
"Not tonight," Kai replied coldly.
The attacker stared at Kai for a long moment, then turned and disappeared into the darkness with inhuman speed.
Kai stood there for a few seconds, watching the shadows where they'd vanished. Then he finally turned to look at William.
"You're hurt," Kai observed.
William looked down and realized his hands were burned from channeling fire essence without any kind of focus or control. The pain hit him all at once now that the adrenaline was fading.
"What the fuck just happened?" William said, his voice shaking slightly.
"We need to get somewhere safe first." Kai sheathed his sword — William hadn't even noticed him carrying it — and grabbed William's arm. "Can you walk?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. My hands—"
"It will be treated once we're inside." Kai started pulling him toward the nearest building. "We need to move before they come back."
"Who was that? Why did they attack me?" William's mind was racing, trying to process everything. "And how did you—"
"Later," Kai interrupted. "Right now we just need to get you somewhere with other people."
They made it to the academic building and Kai pulled William inside. There were a few students in the hallways who stared at them — William's hands were clearly injured and Kai was armed — but nobody stopped them.
Kai found an empty classroom and locked the door behind them. Only then did he finally let go of William's arm.
"Sit down," Kai ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
William sat at one of the desks, his hands throbbing. "Kai, what the hell is going on?"
His roommate was quiet for a long moment, staring at the locked door like he was deciding something. When he finally spoke, his voice was carefully controlled.
"That person was trying to kill you," Kai said simply. "And this isn't the first time they've tried."
"What are you talking about?"
Kai turned to face him fully, and for the first time since William had known him, his roommate's expression was completely serious.
"We need to talk William. About a lot of things. But first—" Kai moved to the window and looked out carefully "—we need to make sure you survive the night."
---
So you have it Kai is not the person who sent him here ;)
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Chapter 69: Chapter 69
One day, William woke up in his favorite novel.
He wasn't sure how it happened or why all this was occurring, but he opened his eyes in an unfamiliar body, in a world that shouldn't exist. William Everett from London was now William Cross, a noble's son in a cultivation world. The confusion was overwhelming, he had no memories of this body's past, no explanation for the transmigration, just sudden displacement into a story he'd read and criticized.
The novel he'd transmigrated into was a trashy academy story about Liam Hemsworth, a self-taught orphan genius who becomes the protagonist and wins over multiple heroines. William Cross was barely mentioned in the original story, just a minor character who died in Chapter three during a training accident.
Except now William was alive. And he had no idea what that meant.
His new family was cold and distant. His mother put him through brutal training after discovering his S-tier capacity, then sent him to Celestial Heights Academy. William spent those early weeks just trying to survive and understand the rules of this new world.
When he arrived at the academy, he was sorted into House Ascendant and given a roommate named Kai Wraith. Kai was also a first-year student, assigned to the same room in the misfit house.
Kai seemed normal enough at first. He was from a minor noble family, had decent cultivation potential, and attended classes regularly like everyone else. He was sarcastic sometimes, made odd comments occasionally, but overall seemed like a regular student trying to navigate academy life.
What William didn't know was that Kai had also woken up in this world the same day he did.
Kai had been a software engineer in Seoul, reading the same novel during his lunch break. Then suddenly he was Kai Wraith, sixteen years old, starting at Celestial Heights Academy. He recognized the world immediately, knew Liam Hemsworth was supposed to be the protagonist, and figured he'd just stay in the background while the main story played out.
Then he met his roommate William Cross. Who was supposed to be dead.
Kai realized immediately that something was wrong with the plot. William Cross shouldn't exist past Chapter three. But here he was, alive, transmigrated, clearly not the arrogant noble from the original story.
Kai suspected William was also a transmigrator but didn't confirm it directly. Instead, he acted like a normal student — attended classes, socialized, trained regularly. He made a few sarcastic comments here and there when William said something that revealed his transmigrator nature, but nothing direct.
The months passed. William trained obsessively, improved rapidly despite his terrible control, and started attracting attention. Seraphina Ashenheart began training him personally after the tournament. Lyanna Stormweaver became his study partner. Claire Hivolt opened up to him during the Vale expedition.
Kai watched all of this happen while maintaining his normal student routine. He attended classes, participated in training, even made a few friends in House Ascendant. His cultivation progressed steadily, nothing exceptional but solid improvement.
Liam Hemsworth was performing exactly as the novel predicted, he was top of the class, naturally talented, respected by everyone. The main story seemed to be progressing normally despite William's survival.
Then the Inter-Academy competition arrived.
It was a three-day event at a neutral location between all four academies. William had made the team by placing fifth in the Inter-House tournament. Kai hadn't made the team, his cultivation was decent but not exceptional enough for the top ten.
The competition itself went smoothly at first. Team events, individual matches, everything progressing as expected. William performed well, Liam dominated, the academies competed fiercely.
Then during the competition, William started acting strange.
He would disappear for periods of time with no explanation. He seemed distracted, like his mind was somewhere else. Girls who interacted with him like Seraphina, Claire, Lyanna, even students Kai didn't recognize, started behaving oddly around him. More intense, more possessive, sometimes almost violent before catching themselves.
Kai noticed but didn't understand what was happening. It seemed like William had some kind of effect on people that was getting worse during the competition's high-stress environment.
On the third day, in one of the underground tunnels beneath the competition venue, William was killed.
Kai had been looking for William when he heard sounds of a struggle. He rushed through the tunnels and found William on the ground, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. A figure in dark clothing was standing over him, blade still in hand.
Kai attacked immediately but the assassin was faster, stronger, more skilled. They fought briefly in the narrow tunnel before the assassin disengaged and disappeared into the darkness.
Kai dropped beside William and tried to stop the bleeding. But there were too many wounds, too much blood loss. William died within seconds, staring up at Kai with confusion and fear in his eyes.
Then the world broke.
The tunnel started shaking violently. Cracks appeared in the walls, spreading like spiderwebs. The ground beneath Kai became unstable. He could hear screaming from above as the entire venue began collapsing.
But it wasn't just structural collapse. Reality itself was breaking down. The cracks in the walls showed white void instead of earth. The ceiling dissolved into particles of light. Everything was falling apart on a fundamental level.
Kai tried to run but the tunnel disintegrated around him. The last thing he saw was the world shattering into blinding white light.
Then he woke up.
In his bed. In his room at Celestial Heights Academy. The first day of term.
---
[Loop Two Through Five]
Kai sat up in bed, his heart racing, his mind trying to process what had just happened.
He checked the date. The first day. Six months before the competition. Before William's death. Before the world broke apart.
He had gone back in time. And he still had his cultivation strength from before the reset.
Kai tested his essence flow immediately. The progress he had made over six months was still there, his capacity, his control, even his opened affinity gates. None of it had reset. Only time itself had gone backward.
William Cross arrived later that day with no memory of dying, no memory of the previous loop. For him, this was the first time.
Kai didn't tell him. How could he explain that William had been murdered in a tunnel and the world had collapsed? It sounded insane.
So Kai acted normal. Attended classes, trained, watched William navigate the academy. But this time he paid closer attention during the competition. He followed William more closely, watched for threats, tried to identify the assassin before they struck.
The months progressed almost identically. William trained with Seraphina, studied with Lyanna, grew close to Claire. The same relationships developed, the same events occurred.
During the competition, Kai stayed near William as much as possible. He watched for suspicious figures, noted anyone who acted strangely around his roommate.
On the third day, William was killed in a tunnel again. It was a dferent tunnel this time but it had the same result, he was stabbed multiple times by an assassin who disappeared before Kai could stop them.
The world broke apart. Reality collapsed. White light consumed everything.
Kai woke up on the first day. His cultivation strength still intact, now even stronger from the additional six months of training.
Loop three: William killed in a tunnel during the second day of competition. Kai arrived too late to save him.
Loop four: William killed in a tunnel on the final day. Kai fought the assassin but couldn't prevent William's death.
Loop five: William killed in a tunnel during the opening ceremonies. The assassin was faster this time, killed William before Kai could even reach the location.
Every loop, William died in the tunnels beneath the competition venue. Every loop, Kai's cultivation grew stronger from the accumulated training across multiple resets. Every loop, the world collapsed when William died.
---
[Loop Six Through Twelve]
By loop six, Kai stopped attending most classes.
What was the point? He had heard the lectures multiple times. He knew the material better than the professors by now. His cultivation was advancing rapidly from the accumulated strength across loops, he was approaching levels that should take years to achieve.
He started spending more time in the tunnels beneath the academy, exploring similar spaces, trying to understand the geography so he'd be better prepared during the competition.
His personality shifted. The normal student facade dropped away. He became more sarcastic, more withdrawn, less interested in maintaining relationships that would reset anyway. He spent most of his time reading, training in isolation, and preparing for the competition.
William still went through the same progression each loop — training, improving, attracting the attention of heroines. Kai watched from a distance, his antisocial roommate routine solidifying.
Loop seven: William killed in the tunnels. Kai was stronger this time, fought the assassin more effectively, but still couldn't save William.
Loop eight: Killed in the tunnels again. The assassin used a different approach this time, they had poison on the blade that killed William even after Kai drove the attacker off.
Loop nine: Killed in the tunnels. Multiple assassins this time instead of one.
Loop ten: Killed in the tunnels. The assassin was impossibly fast, killed William before Kai could react despite being right next to him.
Each loop, Kai's cultivation grew stronger. His combat ability improved. His essence control became more refined. But it wasn't enough. William always died in those tunnels, and Kai could never prevent it.
By loop twelve, Kai's cultivation had reached levels approaching graduation-level students. He had accumulated years of training across the resets, his strength compounding with each loop. But his mental state was deteriorating.
He'd subjectively lived through over six years while only six months of time passed per loop. He had watched William die twelve times in dark tunnels, had fought assassins he could never identify or stop, had seen the world collapse twelve times.
He stopped trying to make friends. Stopped attending classes almost entirely. Just stayed in his room reading, training privately, and following William during the competition.
---
[Loop Thirteen Through Sixteen]
Loop thirteen: Kai's cultivation was now stronger than most fourth-year students despite technically being a first-year. He could move faster, hit harder, react quicker. During the competition, he stayed in the tunnels themselves, patrolling them constantly to intercept the assassin before they found William.
William still died. The assassin somehow got past Kai's surveillance and killed William in a section of tunnel Kai had just checked minutes before.
Loop fourteen: Kai tried keeping William out of the tunnels entirely. Stayed with him constantly during the competition, physically prevented him from going underground.
Someone else killed William above ground instead. They used a fifferent method and did it at a different location, but same result. The world still collapsed.
Loop fifteen: Kai went back to focusing on the tunnels since that's where William died in most loops. His combat ability was now exceptional — approaching Liam Hemsworth's level despite the protagonist's natural talent. But the assassin killed William anyway, using techniques Kai couldn't counter.
Loop sixteen: Kai was exhausted. Subjectively he'd been in this world for eight years. His cultivation was approaching master-level despite his young body. His combat skills were refined through countless fights with assassins across multiple loops. But his mind was fraying.
He barely spoke to William anymore. Just existed as the antisocial roommate who stayed in his room and followed William silently during the competition. He'd long since given up trying to maintain any facade of normalcy.
William died in the tunnels again on the third day. Kai fought the assassin with everything he had — techniques he'd refined across loops, strength he'd accumulated through years of resetting progression. He was stronger, faster, more skilled than the assassin.
But the assassin still managed to land a fatal blow on William before Kai could finish them off.
The world broke apart. Reality collapsed. White light consumed everything.
Kai woke up on the first day of term.
---
[Loop Seventeen]
This time, when William Cross walked through the door, Kai barely looked up from his book.
"I'm Kai. That's your bed."
His voice was flat, emotionless. He had said these words sixteen times. He had lived through sixteen variations of the same six months. He'd watched William die sixteen times in dark tunnels beneath competition venues.
His cultivation was now absurdly strong for someone who appeared to be a first-year student. If anyone tested him seriously, they'd realize he had strength beyond even some instructors. But Kai kept it hidden, only revealing his true ability when fighting assassins in the tunnels where no one else could see.
He went through the motions. Read his books, skipped his classes, stayed in his room. Waited for the six months to pass so he could follow William to the competition and try once more to prevent his death in the tunnels.
But then something changed.
William was different this loop. His training improved faster and his relationships developed in slightly different ways. He went to a party he'd never attended before.
There were small changes and minor deviations.
Then five days before the competition, someone tried to kill William outside the tunnels. On academy grounds, in the open.
Kai had been following William that evening — old habit from years of loops — when he saw the assassin approach in the garden path. This had never happened before. William never faced assassination attempts before the competition.
Kai intervened immediately, his accumulated combat ability allowing him to drive off the assassin easily. But the assassin said something before fleeing:
"He dies eventually. You know this."
That was new. Nobody had ever acknowledged the loop before. Nobody had ever suggested they knew William's death was inevitable.
Which meant something had changed. This loop was different.
And maybe, finally, there was a chance to break the cycle and save William from dying in those tunnels.
----
Support!!
Chapter 70: Chapter 70
William sat in the classroom with his bandaged hands resting on the desk, staring at Kai like his roommate had just told him the sky was green.
"Say that again," William said slowly.
"You've died sixteen times," Kai repeated, his voice flat. "I've watched you die sixteen times during the Inter-Academy competition. And each time you die, the world collapses and I wake up six months earlier. On the first day of term, every single time."
William's mind was racing,he was trying to process what he was hearing. Time loops. Repeated deaths. His antisocial roommate who barely left their room had actually been living through the same six months over and over, watching him die repeatedly.
"That's insane," William said.
"Yeah. It is." Kai leaned back against the wall. "But it's also true. You're a transmigrator, right? William Everett from London, PhD graduate, you woke up in this world as William Cross?"
William went cold. "How do you know that name?"
"Because I'm also a transmigrator. Kai Tanaka from Seoul. Woke up the same day you did." Kai's expression was tired. "We're both from Earth. We both read the same trashy novel. We both ended up here. The difference is I remember dying and resetting. You don't."
William wanted to argue, to say this was impossible, but the evidence was right in front of him. Kai had just fought off an assassin with immense skill that even final year students might not be able to execute. He had known exactly when and where to intercept the attacker. Kai had been acting strange for months and it suuddenly made sense if he had been living through a time loop.
"Okay," William said carefully. "Let's say I believe you. How do I die?"
"In the tunnels beneath the competition venue." Kai's voice was completely flat, like he had said these words too many times. "Every single loop, you die in those underground tunnels. Always during the competition. Usually on the third day, sometimes second day, once during the opening ceremony. But always in the tunnels."
"How?"
"There are different methods. Stabbing, poison, sometimes both. Once you were crushed by a tunnel collapse that definitely didn't occur naturally. Another time you just disappeared and I never found your body." Kai ran a hand through his hair. "The method changes every loop. The location in the tunnels changes. But the result is always the same — you die underground, and then the world falls apart."
William absorbed this information. "What do you mean the world falls apart?"
"Exactly what I said. When you die, reality breaks down. Buildings dissolve, the sky shatters, everything collapses into white light. Like the world itself can't handle your death." Kai's eyes were dark. "Then I wake up six months earlier with all my memories intact."
"But your cultivation doesn't reset," William said slowly, understanding dawning. "That's why you're so strong. You've been accumulating power across multiple loops."
"Yeah. Every reset, I keep my strength. I've subjectively been training for eight years even though only six months pass per loop." Kai pushed off the wall. "I'm stronger than most fourth-year students now. I should be approaching instructor-level in some areas. Not that it's helped me save you."
William looked at his bandaged hands, thinking about the assassin from tonight. "You said this loop is different though. That attack tonight — that's never happened before?"
"Never. You've never been attacked before the competition starts. The assassination attempts always happen during the event itself, in the tunnels." Kai moved to the window and checked outside again. "That assassin tonight said something strange too. 'He dies eventually. You know this.' Like they were aware of the time loop."
"That's not possible. If the loop resets, how would they remember?"
"I don't know. But they said it." Kai turned back to face William. "Which means something is different this time. Maybe the loop is breaking down. Maybe someone else is aware of it. Or maybe this is finally the loop where things change."
William's mind was working through the implications. "You said the methods change every loop. Have you ever identified who kills me?"
"No. The assassins are always different or I can't see them clearly enough. I've fought dozens of them across the loops but I've never gotten a good identification." Kai's frustration was evident. "I've tried everything. Following you constantly, keeping you out of the tunnels, even trying to prevent you from making the Inter-Academy team. Nothing works. You die anyway."
"What happens if I don't make the team?"
"Loop fourteen, I managed to keep you off the team. You died in your sleep three days before the competition started. There was no wounds or poison, you just died." Kai's voice was hollow. "The world collapsed anyway. So making the team or not doesn't matter. You die around the same timeframe regardless."
William stood up and started pacing despite the pain he was feeling in his hands. "Okay. So I die during the competition in the tunnels. The world collapses. You reset with your memories and cultivation intact. This has happened sixteen times."
"Correct."
"But this loop is different. I'm training faster, my relationships are developing differently, and now someone tried to kill me early." William stopped pacing. "What else is different?"
Kai was quiet for a moment, considering. "Your cultivation control improved dramatically recently. Like overnight. That's never happened before in previous loops — your control was always your weakness throughout the six months."
William thought about the SSS trait he had gained from sleeping with Seraphina. The Absolute Essence Mastery that gave him perfect control. That was definitely loop-specific.
"What about the girls?" William asked. "Seraphina, Claire, Lyanna. Do they act the same every loop?"
"Mostly the same. They're always attracted to you and always develop feelings. Sometimes the timing varies slightly but the overall pattern is the same." Kai studied William. "Why?"
"I'm just trying to figure out what's actually different this time." William couldn't tell Kai about the curse system — that was still his secret. "If this loop is deviating from the pattern, there has to be a reason."
"I think you're the reason," Kai said bluntly. "You're doing things differently this loop. You're training differently, making different choices like going to parties. Those small changes are creating larger deviations."
"Or something about the loop itself is breaking down."
"Maybe both." Kai moved back toward the door. "Either way, we have three weeks until the competition. And three weeks to figure out how to keep you alive past it for the first time in seventeen loops."
"What's your plan?"
"I don't have one yet. Every plan I've tried has failed." Kai's expression was grim. "But now that you know about the loops, maybe we can approach this differently. Two transmigrators working together instead of me trying to protect you while you're unaware."
William nodded slowly. It made sense. Kai had been operating alone for eight subjective years, trying to prevent William's death without being able to explain why. Now they could actually work together.
"The tunnels," William said. "You said I always die there. Why? What's special about them?"
"I don't know. I've explored similar tunnel systems across the loops trying to understand. They're just standard underground passages beneath competition venues. There's nothing obviously magical or dangerous about them." Kai frowned. "But something about those specific tunnels during that specific time period is when you always die."
"Could it be location-based? Like something about the competition venue itself?"
"I thought that too. But loop nine, the competition was held at a different location because of the weather. Even at a different venue and different tunnels. You still died underground on the third day."
"So it's not the location. It's the timing." William's mind was working through the logic. "The Inter-Academy competition specifically. Three weeks from now. Something about that event triggers your death."
"Or something about that event is when whoever wants you dead makes their move." Kai crossed his arms. "I've considered that you might have enemies you don't know about. People who want William Cross dead for reasons tied to your family or political connections."
"That doesn't explain why the world collapses when I die."
"No, it doesn't." Kai's expression darkened. "That's the part I can't figure out. Why does your death specifically cause reality to break down? You're not the protagonist of this story. Liam Hemsworth is. If anyone's death should have cosmic consequences, it should be his. But you die and everything falls apart."
William thought about that. He had transmigrated into William Cross's body when the original William died in Chapter three. Maybe his survival created some kind of paradox that the world kept trying to correct.
"What if my survival is the problem?" William said slowly. "William Cross was supposed to die in Chapter three. I took over his body and kept him alive. Maybe the world keeps trying to fix that deviation."
"I've considered that. But if the world was just trying to kill you for being a deviation, you'd die much earlier. Why wait specifically until the Inter-Academy competition?" Kai shook his head. "There's something about that event specifically that's important. Something we're missing."
A knock on the classroom door made them both go quiet. A voice called from outside.
"The treatment's done. Is the student still in there?"
Kai unlocked the door and opened it slightly. The healer from before was standing in the hallway looking impatient.
"He's fine," Kai said. "We were just talking. We'll leave now."
They left the classroom and passed through the empty hallways. Most students were in their dormitories by now, the academy quiet except for the occasional night patrol.
"Where are we going?" William asked.
"Back to our room. You need to rest and we need somewhere secure to continue planning." Kai kept his hand near his hidden sword, constantly scanning their surroundings. "That assassin from tonight is still out there. They might try again."
They made it back to the Ascendant dormitory without incident. Kai locked their door and checked the windows carefully before finally relaxing slightly.
William sat on his bed, his mind still processing everything. Time loops. Repeated deaths. The world collapsing. Everything was overwhelming.
"So what now?" William asked.
"Now you sleep. Your hands need to heal and you need to process everything I just told you." Kai sat at his desk. "Tomorrow we will start preparing properly. I'll teach you some combat techniques I've refined across loops and more elements. We'll analyze the competition schedule and figure out how to avoid the tunnels entirely if possible."
"You said keeping me out of the tunnels didn't work before."
"It didn't. But that was when you didn't know about the loops. Now you can actively work with me to survive." Kai pulled out a book but didn't open it. "Get some sleep William. We have three weeks to change your fate. That's not a lot of time."
William lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His burned hands throbbed despite the healing treatment. His mind was racing with everything Kai had revealed.
He'd died sixteen times. Sixteen versions of himself had been killed in dark tunnels while the world collapsed around them. And Kai had watched it happen every single time, unable to prevent it.
Only three weeks until the competition. Three weeks until he would supposedly die again in those tunnels.
William closed his eyes and tried to sleep, knowing that tomorrow would start the real fight for his survival.
-----
I hope you loved the twist!!!! (More bigger twists are more to come!)
Support! Please Golden tickets and gifts go a long way!
For some reason even if we are at the threshold for the power stone ranking our novel never gets on it :(, although your support is still highly appreciated!
A golden castle would go a long way too :)
(Max release will follow for the castle)