The silence did not last.
It shattered beneath thousands of whispers.
"...Did you see that?"
"He defeated all twelve princes..."
"No... that's not what frightened me."
"It was the heavens."
"The heavens acknowledged him."
Students gathered in small groups throughout the arena. Every conversation carried the same mixture of excitement and fear.
Some looked toward Staryo with admiration.
Others instinctively kept their distance.
One first-year student swallowed nervously.
"...Do you think he's really human?"
His senior immediately struck the back of his head.
"Idiot. Don't let the instructors hear you."
"But..."
The younger student pointed toward the ruined battlefield.
"Have you ever seen healing magic fail?"
The senior opened his mouth to answer.
Nothing came out.
The Medical Division
More than twenty academy healers surrounded Staryo.
Ancient runes appeared beneath his body as layers of healing formations unfolded one after another.
Emerald light.
Golden light.
Silver light.
Every known recovery technique was used.
Nothing changed.
Master Healer Selene frowned deeper with every passing second.
His wounds were closing.
But none of them were closing because of her healing.
The flesh itself...
Was dissolving.
Reforming.
Rebuilding.
As though countless invisible hands were reconstructing every damaged cell.
One younger healer stepped backward.
"This... this isn't regeneration."
Another whispered,
"It's reconstruction."
Selene immediately raised her hand.
"Enough."
Every healer became silent.
"No one speaks about today's findings outside the Medical Division."
Their expressions became serious.
"Understood."
They all sensed the same thing.
If news of this spread...
The entire cultivation world would lose its mind.
The Headmaster Arrives
A gentle pressure descended over the academy.
Unlike the overwhelming aura of the princes...
This pressure was calm.
Steady.
Ancient.
Every instructor immediately bowed.
"The Headmaster..."
An old man wearing plain white robes slowly descended from the sky.
No divine beast.
No magnificent entrance.
He simply walked through the air.
Each step created a small ripple in space.
His long silver hair flowed behind him while his calm eyes quietly observed the destroyed arena.
He stopped before Staryo.
For several seconds...
He simply looked.
Then he smiled faintly.
"So..."
"The Star Pool finally answered."
No one understood what he meant.
Only the Grand Instructor's expression changed.
"You knew this could happen?"
The Headmaster slowly shook his head.
"I knew..."
"...it was possible."
"But I never believed I would witness it."
His gaze remained fixed on Staryo.
"History has begun moving again."
The Twelve Princes
The royal physicians approached each prince.
Some accepted treatment.
Some refused.
Prince Helion walked toward Staryo.
His damaged sword remained sheathed.
He stopped a few meters away.
"I lost."
"I won't deny it."
He lowered his head slightly.
"When we meet again..."
"I hope we'll fight as equals."
Staryo smiled weakly.
"I look forward to that day."
Nearby...
Prince Raizen punched a broken pillar hard enough to crack the stone.
"I'll surpass him."
His royal guard remained silent.
Raizen looked toward the distant mountains.
"I don't care how long it takes."
"I refuse to remain behind forever."
Meanwhile...
Prince Varek quietly picked up a tiny fragment of shattered celestial marble.
His sharp eyes examined the strange black scorch marks left behind by Temporal Rupture Field.
"So..."
"So this is what remains after time itself is wounded."
He carefully placed the fragment inside a small storage crystal.
No one noticed.
Except one person.
The Headmaster.
Their eyes met briefly.
Neither spoke.
Academy Council
One hour later...
Inside the highest tower of Celestial Advanced Academy...
The emergency council convened.
Every seat was occupied.
Department Heads.
Combat Masters.
Researchers.
Formation Grandmasters.
Medical Elders.
Library Sages.
The atmosphere was heavier than ever before.
The Grand Instructor spoke first.
"The arena will remain sealed indefinitely."
No objections.
"The Star Pool enters the highest protection level."
Again...
No objections.
Finally...
The Headmaster stood.
"We face two questions."
His calm voice echoed through the chamber.
"First."
"What awakened today?"
Silence.
"Second."
"Who else noticed?"
Those words chilled everyone.
Because they all knew...
Something as extraordinary as today's event...
Could never remain hidden.
Somewhere Beyond the Twelve Kingdoms
A mountain range untouched for countless ages.
Snow fell endlessly.
Inside an abandoned temple...
An ancient crystal suddenly cracked.
A hooded figure slowly opened crimson eyes.
"...The Fifth Awakening."
The voice was calm.
Neither surprised.
Nor excited.
Simply... patient.
The figure gently touched the cracked crystal.
"So..."
"...the wheel has begun turning once more."
Behind the figure...
Hundreds of ancient stone statues remained kneeling.
Each statue carried a different weapon.
Each had been waiting...
For someone.
The hooded figure looked toward the endless night beyond the temple.
"Do not interfere."
"Observe."
"Not yet."
The crystal completely shattered.
Far away...
In another hidden land...
Someone else reached a very different conclusion.
"Find him."
"Before anyone else does."
End of Chapter 24 – Part 2