Chapter 5 — The Eyes Watching From Above
The entire examination arena remained in chaos even after Reskin left the battlefield.
Students continued shouting excitedly while instructors whispered among themselves with serious expressions.
A Level 5 fighter defeating a Shadow Fang Beast without suffering even a single injury was already unbelievable.
But what truly shocked everyone…
Was the strange gravity ability he used.
Inside the upper observation chamber overlooking the arena, several academy elders sat around a long crystal table while replaying the battle through projection crystals.
Again and again.
Every movement.
Every second.
Every detail.
The white-haired woman watched silently with narrowed eyes.
Professor Kaizen stood beside her with folded arms.
Finally, one elder broke the silence.
"That was not ordinary gravity manipulation."
Another elder nodded slowly.
"The pressure around the beast changed unnaturally. It almost looked like reality itself bent around him."
A third elder frowned.
"But his Soul Level reading was only Level 5."
"That crystal nearly shattered," Kaizen replied calmly. "His energy output was clearly being suppressed somehow."
The room became quiet again.
The white-haired woman finally spoke.
"His control is too refined."
Everyone turned toward her immediately.
"Even talented nobles struggle to use newly awakened skills properly. Yet that boy manipulated directional gravity, speed amplification, and localized suppression during his first public battle."
Her golden eyes reflected the replay crystal.
"That level of precision should be impossible for a teenager."
One elder leaned forward carefully.
"You suspect outside influence?"
The woman stayed silent briefly.
Then—
"Yes."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Because in this world, unusual power often meant dangerous origins.
Ancient forbidden relics.
Illegal experiments.
Or worse—
Unknown Horsiken species.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the discussion happening above him, Reskin sat quietly near the waiting area while students stared at him from every direction.
No one approached directly.
The way they looked at him had changed.
Before, they saw him as a poor orphan.
Now—
They saw a monster.
Dugu suddenly sat beside him while breathing heavily.
"You're insane."
Reskin blinked innocently.
"What did I do?"
"What DIDN'T you do?!"
Dugu dramatically pointed toward the destroyed battlefield.
"You literally turned that beast into a flying rock!"
Several nearby students secretly listened while pretending not to.
Reskin scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…I got a little excited."
"A LITTLE?!"
Inside his mind, Bali laughed deeply.
"I like this human."
"You're encouraging him," Reskin replied mentally.
"Correct."
Dugu suddenly narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"…You're doing that weird staring thing again."
"Thinking."
"You definitely have secrets."
Before Reskin could answer, another announcement echoed throughout the stadium.
"All remaining participants prepare for final examination round."
The atmosphere instantly became serious again.
Final round.
This would decide who officially entered Imperial Soul Academy.
Thousands had arrived.
Only a few hundred remained.
The giant crystal screens above the arena suddenly changed once more.
This time, names appeared in pairs.
Direct combat matches.
Students immediately became nervous.
Some excited.
Some terrified.
Because now they would fight each other.
Dugu swallowed nervously while searching for his name.
"Oh no…"
Reskin looked over.
"Who did you get?"
Dugu pointed weakly.
A giant muscular boy stood nearby carrying a massive iron hammer nearly bigger than himself.
"…I'm finished."
Reskin almost laughed.
"You'll survive."
"That's what people say before someone dies."
Meanwhile, another section of the screen displayed Reskin's opponent.
The moment students saw it—
Whispers spread rapidly.
"Kalen Vortex."
"No way…"
"The two strongest candidates?"
"This match is going to be crazy."
Across the waiting area, Kalen slowly smirked while staring toward Reskin.
Finally.
A chance to crush him publicly.
"You should surrender now," Kalen called out confidently. "At least you'll leave with dignity."
Reskin calmly looked at him.
"You talk too much."
The surrounding students gasped softly.
Nobody usually spoke to Kalen like that.
Especially not commoners.
Kalen's smile twitched slightly.
"We'll see how confident you remain after this fight."
Soon multiple battles started across different arenas simultaneously.
Some ended quickly.
Others became intense displays of soul abilities and teamwork between humans and Horsikens.
Dugu's battle became surprisingly entertaining.
Despite being physically weaker, he used clever defensive tactics to exhaust his giant opponent before trapping him beneath stone pillars.
"WINNER — DUGU ARLEN!"
Dugu nearly cried with happiness.
"I'M ALIVE!!"
Reskin gave him a thumbs-up from distance.
Then—
"Final Match."
The entire stadium suddenly focused toward the central battlefield.
"Kalen Vortex versus Reskin Bond."
Excitement exploded across the audience.
Even instructors watched carefully.
Because everyone wanted answers.
Especially after Reskin's previous battle.
The two boys slowly entered the arena from opposite sides.
Kalen looked confident as ever, wearing expensive combat armor decorated with flame patterns. Beside him stood his Flame Fang Horsiken growling aggressively.
Meanwhile, Reskin entered wearing the same old school uniform as always.
Simple.
Calm.
Unbothered.
The contrast made the scene even more dramatic.
"You know," Kalen said while cracking his knuckles, "I really hate people like you."
Reskin tilted his head slightly.
"People like me?"
"Trash who suddenly gain power and think they belong beside elites."
Flames slowly spread around Kalen's body.
"My family spent generations building our strength."
The Flame Fang Beast roared loudly beside him.
"You think one lucky bond changes your status?"
Reskin remained silent for several moments.
Then quietly answered—
"I never cared about status."
Kalen frowned.
"I care about surviving."
The atmosphere suddenly shifted.
For a brief second—
Kalen felt cold fear crawl across his spine.
"Begin!"
BOOOOM!!
Kalen attacked instantly.
Unlike previous opponents, his speed was extremely fast.
Flames exploded behind every movement while his Horsiken lunged beside him with perfect synchronization.
"Flame Rush!"
The battlefield became covered in fire.
Many students gasped.
This was far beyond normal high-school-level combat.
Kalen appeared directly before Reskin.
"Too slow!"
A burning fist shot toward Reskin's face.
WHOOSH.
Gravity Erase activated instantly.
The world slowed.
Kalen's attack became sluggish inside Reskin's perception.
Reskin lightly stepped sideways.
The flaming punch missed completely.
BOOOOM!!
Fire exploded behind him.
Kalen's eyes widened slightly.
Again too fast.
Reskin countered calmly with a simple kick toward Kalen's side.
CRACK!!
Kalen barely blocked in time but still got thrown backward several meters.
The audience erupted instantly.
"He sent Kalen flying?!"
"What kind of physical strength is that?!"
Kalen gritted his teeth angrily.
His arms hurt badly from that single kick.
Impossible.
Reskin shouldn't physically overpower him.
"Stop holding back!" Kalen shouted angrily.
His soul energy exploded violently.
The Flame Fang Beast beside him suddenly transformed.
Flames expanded across its body while sharp burning armor formed around its claws.
"Partial Beast Synchronization," Bali commented calmly. "Rare for beginners."
Kalen smirked coldly.
"This ends now."
Both Kalen and his Horsiken attacked together at terrifying speed.
The battlefield exploded repeatedly beneath their attacks.
Reskin dodged smoothly while observing calmly.
"Your movements are predictable."
Kalen growled angrily.
"Shut up!"
"Left attack. Then claw strike."
Kalen froze briefly.
Because Reskin predicted perfectly.
Every move.
Every sequence.
Inside Gravity Erase, Kalen looked painfully slow.
Eventually—
Reskin sighed.
"I'm getting bored."
The moment those words left his mouth—
Kalen exploded with rage.
"YOU LOOK DOWN ON ME?!"
Massive flames erupted around him.
Even instructors looked surprised.
"He's forcing soul overdrive!"
"That's dangerous at his age."
Kalen ignored the risk completely.
All he wanted now…
Was to destroy Reskin.
"BURNING HOWL!"
His Horsiken released an enormous wave of fire toward the entire battlefield.
Heat exploded outward.
Students in nearby seats stepped backward from the temperature alone.
But inside the flames—
Reskin quietly raised one hand.
Gravity shifted instantly.
The fire wave suddenly bent sideways unnaturally.
The entire attack curved around Reskin without touching him.
The audience stood speechless.
"…He redirected fire itself?"
"No… he changed its gravitational flow…"
Even academy instructors looked stunned.
Kalen's confidence finally cracked completely.
"What ARE you?!"
For the first time—
Fear appeared in his eyes.
Reskin slowly walked forward through the burning battlefield calmly.
His golden eyes glowed faintly.
"I'm someone who was tired of being weak."
The pressure surrounding him increased.
Kalen instinctively stepped backward.
Inside his mind, Bali spoke softly.
"Careful. Your emotions are leaking power."
Reskin immediately calmed himself.
Right.
Too much attention would become dangerous.
Kalen charged desperately one final time.
Reskin sighed quietly.
Then—
Gravity Erase expanded.
WHOOSH!!
Everything froze.
Kalen's movements became almost motionless.
Reskin gently touched Kalen's shoulder.
Gravity multiplied instantly.
BOOOOOM!!
Kalen crashed face-first into the battlefield hard enough to create a crater.
The arena shook violently.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
"WINNER… RESKIN BOND!"
The entire stadium exploded into chaos.
Students shouted excitedly while instructors exchanged serious looks.
No one expected such overwhelming dominance.
Kalen, one of the strongest noble students…
Had been completely crushed.
And high above the arena—
The white-haired woman slowly stood from her seat.
Her expression had finally changed completely.
Because during that final attack—
She felt it clearly.
For only a brief moment.
An ancient presence hidden inside Reskin's soul.
Something unbelievably old.
Something terrifying enough to make even her instincts tremble.
"…A GOD-CLASS signature," she whispered softly.
Professor Kaizen's eyes widened instantly.
"That's impossible."
But deep inside—
Both of them knew.
Something extraordinary had entered Imperial Soul Academy today.