The courtyard did not clear.
It sharpened.
Knights stepped back, forming a circle.
Mages erected thin barrier screens around the perimeter.
No one announced it formally.
But everyone understood.
This was not training.
This was measurement.
The Hero stepped forward.
Polished silver armor.
Blue cloak trimmed in gold.
A longsword that shimmered faintly with divine light.
His presence wasn't overwhelming.
It was steady.
Balanced.
Controlled.
He bowed his head slightly.
"Elias, correct?"
"Yes."
"I am Caelum Ardent."
Of course he had a name like that.
Caelum's eyes were calm, assessing.
"You fight aggressively. Efficiently. You take risks."
Elias shrugged lightly.
"You stand very straight."
A faint smile touched Caelum's lips.
Then it vanished.
"Begin."
He moved.
Not explosive like the construct.
Not reckless.
Perfect.
His blade intercepted Elias's first strike as if it had already known the trajectory.
Steel rang.
Again.
Again.
Elias pressed harder.
Caelum yielded just enough.
Their styles clashed immediately.
Elias adapted instinctively, adjusting angles, shifting tempo.
Caelum corrected mid-motion.
Balance.
Light flared along Caelum's blade.
A gentle aura expanded around him.
[Blessing of Order – Minor]
His movements became sharper.
Predictive.
Elias felt it.
The difference.
He lunged.
Caelum pivoted with mathematical precision.
Their blades locked.
Caelum leaned closer.
"You're unstable."
Elias smirked faintly.
"I've heard."
Caelum's voice lowered.
"You absorb what you kill, don't you?"
Elias froze for half a second.
Too long.
Caelum disengaged and struck.
The flat of the blade slammed into Elias's ribs.
Pain shot through him.
He rolled backward.
Devour stirred.
Hungry.
Threat detected.
Adaptive response possible.
It wanted something.
A shift.
A change.
Elias grit his teeth.
Not now.
Caelum advanced with disciplined rhythm.
Each strike forced Elias to yield ground.
He was stronger now.
Faster now.
But Caelum's aura compensated.
Elias felt the difference.
That subtle edge.
The Hero's system was clean.
Refined.
Stable.
Elias's—
Was not.
Caelum thrust.
Elias parried too wide.
The follow-up kick caught him square in the chest.
He hit the stone hard.
Breath gone.
The Hero stood over him, blade poised.
"You rely on growth through conflict."
Elias coughed, laughing slightly despite the pain.
"You rely on being chosen."
The courtyard went still.
Caelum's expression didn't change.
But something flickered behind his eyes.
He stepped back.
"Stand."
Elias rose again.
Devour pulsed violently now.
Boss-tier opponent detected.
System interaction possible.
High-variance roll available.
Consume influence fragment?
The Hero's blessing aura flickered faintly in Elias's perception.
Devour wanted it.
Elias hesitated.
If he triggered it—
It might help.
It might cripple him.
He made the choice.
"Yes."
The whisper sharpened.
Devour Activating…
High-Variance Category Triggered.
Rolling…
The world seemed to pause.
His heartbeat echoed.
Result Category: Negative Interaction.
Pain.
Sudden.
Sharp.
Stat Loss Triggered.
Strength –3
16 → 13
His muscles weakened instantly.
His grip faltered.
Caelum stepped in immediately.
Their blades clashed again—
Elias was slower.
Weaker.
His defense cracked.
Caelum disarmed him with clean efficiency.
The Hero's sword stopped an inch from Elias's throat.
Silence.
The system window lingered cruelly in his peripheral vision.
Strength: 13.
Caelum studied him.
"You tried something."
Elias breathed heavily.
"Didn't work."
Caelum lowered his blade.
"Your power fluctuates."
"Yes."
"That is dangerous."
"Maybe."
Caelum's gaze hardened slightly.
"Power without structure collapses."
Elias pushed himself upright.
"Structure without growth stagnates."
That landed.
The Sword Saint stepped forward before tension escalated further.
"Enough."
Caelum sheathed his blade.
He turned slightly toward Elias.
"You will either become a pillar… or a catastrophe."
Then he walked away.
The courtyard slowly exhaled.
Elias flexed his fingers.
Weaker.
Again.
Devour felt… amused.
It had rolled badly.
And it did not regret it.
Balance Sense pulsed softly.
Warning:
Power instability increasing.
Internal deviation accumulating.
He glanced at his status.
Strength 13.
Luck 3.
He was gambling with his own body.
And today—
The house had won.
From the balcony above, unseen by most—
A faint shadow observed.
Interest sparked.
Unstable power.
That could be shaped.