Chapter 222 222: Dark Chi

The official tournament display board updated with a satisfying chime, logging the results of the latest round. The sixty fighters who had started just two days ago had been whittled down significantly, and now the tournament was entering its most competitive phase. Round 1 had separated the truly skilled from those who had merely been fortunate in their academy selections. Round 2 had been even more brutal, with only the top thirty advancing, plus two "lucky losers" whose performances had been deemed exceptional despite their defeats. Now, as the board displayed the sixteen remaining competitors, a pattern emerged that surprised no one familiar with the academies' reputations. Academy 12's dominance was evident—all five of their third-years remained, led by Lucas Grey whose devastating victory over Zahir Orlov had become the tournament's most viewed highlight. Their second-years had performed admirably as well, with three still in contention. And then there were the first-years. Three names glowed on the display, marked with Academy 12's emblem: Noah Eclipse, Lila Rowe, and Adrian Albright. The only first-years to have advanced this far. "Unprecedented," one commentator had called it during the broadcast. "Academy 12's first-years showing the competitive spirit of veterans." What the commentary failed to mention was the cost. Marco's elimination had been difficult to watch—a brutal defeat at the hands of a first - year from Academy 3 whose sound manipulation abilities had literally shattered Marco's defensive work. He was still in the medical bay, recovering from the auditory damage. But for Noah, Lila, and Adrian, the tournament continued. The Round of 16 loomed, where the competition would only intensify. The display board updated once more, revealing the bracket for the next round. Noah's eyes narrowed as he saw his next opponent—a first year from Academy 7. If they'd made it that far, they had to be good. That much he knew. He would need to be at his absolute best. But first, he needed to recover. His last match hadn't gone exactly smoothly, but he'd won regardless. The antiseptic smell of the medical bay filled Noah's nostrils as he sat on the edge of an examination table, his shirt off to reveal angry red welts spreading across his left shoulder and chest. The burns weren't severe by combat standards, but they stung like hell—a parting gift from his previous opponent, a first-year whose acid generation abilities had proven surprisingly difficult to counter. "You're lucky," the medical technician said, applying a cooling regenerative gel to the affected areas. "Acid burns can be much worse. A few centimeters to the right, and we'd be looking at nerve damage." Noah nodded but remained silent. The match replayed in his mind—the mistakes he'd made, the openings he'd missed, the moment he'd finally managed to turn the tide. Victory had come, but not without cost. The medical bay doors slid open with a soft hiss. Sophie entered first, Kelvin close behind, both still wearing their Academy 12 supporter gear. "Noah!" Sophie's voice carried a mix of relief and concern. She rushed to his side, her eyes immediately drawn to the burns. "God, it looks worse up close." "It's nothing," Noah replied, wincing slightly as the technician applied more gel. "You should've seen the other guy." Kelvin grinned, leaning against the wall. "We did. Pretty sure he's still trying to figure out how you beat him. That was some next-level countermeasure." The technician finished applying the gel and stepped back. "Give it thirty minutes to fully absorb. The regenerative properties should accelerate healing by about 200% compared to normal human rate." She tapped something on her tablet. "I'll be back to check on you." As the technician left, Sophie perched carefully on the edge of the examination table beside Noah, her hand finding his. "Three first-years in the Round of 16," Kelvin said, shaking his head in disbelief. "That hasn't happened in what, five years?" "Seven," Sophie corrected. "And never three from the same academy." Noah's lips curved into a slight smile. "Adrian's match was impressive. That guy isn't given the hype he deserves." "And Lila?" Sophie asked, her tone carefully neutral. "Clinical," Noah replied. "Her opponent never stood a chance." Kelvin pushed himself off the wall, checking the time on his communicator. "Speaking of our mysterious classmates, I should probably get going. Got some... research to do." Noah caught his eye and nodded almost imperceptibly. "Library archives again?" "Something like that," Kelvin replied with a knowing look. "I'm following up on that thing we discussed. The records from two years ago." Sophie looked between them, brow furrowed. "What are you two up to?" "Just some tournament analysis," Kelvin said too quickly. "Trying to identify patterns in previous competitions." Noah gave Kelvin a slight nod. "Go ahead. Let me know what you find." "Will do." Kelvin backed toward the door. "Feel better, man. Round of 16 isn't going to win itself." After Kelvin departed, Sophie turned to Noah, suspicion evident in her expression. "Tournament analysis? Really? That's the best you two could come up with?" Noah's face remained neutral. "It's not important." "Uh-huh." Sophie clearly didn't believe him, but to Noah's relief, she didn't press further. Instead, she leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his uninjured shoulder. "I was worried, you know. When that acid hit you..." "I'm fine," Noah assured her, his voice softening slightly. "It looked worse than it was." Sophie's response was to pepper his face with light kisses, careful to avoid the injured areas. "You were amazing out there. Even the commentators couldn't believe that final counter-attack." Despite his stoic nature, Noah felt a warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with his injuries. When Sophie finally pulled back, her eyes were bright with admiration and something deeper. "You know," Noah said quietly once they were truly alone, "I heal normally, right? This is mostly for show." Sophie's expression shifted to understanding. "Keeping up appearances?" "Something like that," Noah confirmed. "Better to seem merely exceptional than... whatever I actually am." "Smart," Sophie nodded, tracing a finger along the edge of a burn that was already looking less angry than it had minutes ago. "Though it must be frustrating to restrain yourself all the time." Noah shrugged his good shoulder. "It's necessary." Sophie's hand found his again, squeezing gently. "You know, my father can't stop talking about you." "Minister Reigns?" Noah's eyebrow raised slightly. "The very same," Sophie confirmed with a small laugh. "Ever since your first match, it's been 'Noah this' and 'Noah that' and 'remarkable potential' at every dinner conversation." Noah's expression remained carefully neutral, but his mind was racing. Minister Reigns' interest could be beneficial or dangerous, depending on what motivated it. "That's... unexpected," he finally said. "Is it?" Sophie tilted her head. "You're excelling in everything, your combat scores are off the charts, and you just advanced to the Round of 16 as a first-year. My father has always had an eye for talent." "I suppose," Noah conceded, though the minister's attention still made him uneasy. "He wants to meet you properly," Sophie continued. "Not just the formal introduction we had. A real conversation. That's why the dinner–" Noah tensed slightly. "Why?" "Because that's what my father does," Sophie replied with a slight eye roll. "He collects promising students like other people collect art. Mentors them, guides them, sometimes fast-tracks them for special programs." Before Noah could respond, the medical bay doors slid open again as the technician returned. "Let's check those burns," she said, approaching with a handheld scanner. She passed it over Noah's chest and shoulder, nodding at the readings. "Excellent response to the treatment. The regenerative gel is doing its job nicely." She tapped her tablet. "You're cleared to leave. Just apply this ointment twice daily for the next three days." She handed Noah a small tube. "Thank you," Noah said, slipping his shirt back on carefully. As they left the medical bay together, Sophie leaned close. "Think about meeting with my father. It could be a good opportunity. So we'd be holding your word to it, after the tournament is over, right?" Noah nodded noncommittally. Minister Reigns' interest was something to consider carefully—another variable in an already complex equation. "I should go," Sophie said as they reached the dormitory junction. "I promised Bailey I'd help her with tactical analysis before her next match." Noah nodded. "I'll see you later." Sophie kissed him quickly. "Be careful with those burns," she said with a knowing smile before heading down the corridor toward the study halls. As they parted ways, Noah saw no need to return to the dorm. He didn't want to bother kelvin yet until they found something. He instead decided to go do that other thing that was beneficial. Noah found Lila in their usual training spot—a small, secluded corner of the Nexus arena practice grounds, partially hidden by decorative stone formations and rarely used due to its limited size. She was already there, seated in a meditative pose, eyes closed, her breathing slow and measured. She opened her eyes as he approached, a small smile forming on her lips. "I heard about your match. Acid burns are no joke." She'd left the moment her match was done. So she didn't get to see him fight. "They're healing," Noah replied simply, sitting across from her. "Congratulations on your victory." "Yours was more impressive," Lila said. "Creating that Chi barrier to redirect the acid? Very creative." Noah shrugged. "It worked." Lila studied him for a moment, her eyes lingering on his shoulder where the burns were hidden beneath his shirt. "Are you sure you're up for training today? We could postpone." "I'm fine," Noah insisted. "The chi techniques help with healing anyway, don't they?" "They can," Lila admitted. "Though that's not their primary purpose." She shifted her position slightly. "We've been working on basic energy channeling. Today, I thought we might push a little further." Noah nodded, settling into the familiar meditative posture she had taught him. "The red-white energy you showed me last time?" "Yes," Lila confirmed. "What most practitioners call chi is actually just the surface level—the outer manifestation of a deeper energy network. What I've been teaching you to access is something more fundamental." "And more powerful," Noah added, remembering the intoxicating rush of energy he'd felt during their last session. "Significantly," Lila agreed. "But also more demanding to control. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing first." Noah complied, allowing his eyes to close as he regulated his breathing to the steady rhythm Lila had taught him. In, hold, out. In, hold, out. Each cycle bringing his awareness deeper inward. "Find your center," Lila's voice guided him, soft yet clear. "Remember what I told you before—this energy isn't something you generate internally. It comes from external sources, from the emotional currents that flow around and through us." Noah's brow furrowed. Their previous conversations had been cryptic. Lila explained that this energy wasn't like standard chi—a pure, internal life force. Instead, it was something that could be drawn from the emotional spectrum, harvested from the raw feelings that permeated human experience. "Anger works best," she had explained earlier. "But it's not the only source. Fear. Desire. Intense emotional states create reservoirs of energy most practitioners never learn to tap." Now, as they sat in the secluded training ground, she continued her instruction. "Picture the emotional currents around you. Not just your own—but the residual energy from others. The fear of competitors in the tournament. The anger of past conflicts. The raw, unfiltered emotional signatures that linger in spaces." Noah closed his eyes, extending his awareness. At first, nothing. Then—subtle vibrations. Echoes of emotion embedded in the ground, in the surrounding air. Remnants of past intensities—a flicker of an old argument, the sharp edge of someone's competitive rage, the lingering tension of a near-defeat. "That's it," Lila murmured. "Feel how these emotions aren't just memories. They're energy. Condensed. Potent." "How do I access it?" Noah asked, his concentration absolute. "Don't access," Lila corrected. "Invite. Allow it to flow through you. Think of yourself as a conduit, not a generator." Noah focused, visualizing himself as a channel. The emotional residues began to coalesce—not golden like traditional chi, but a deeper, more visceral energy. Red-white, pulsing with an almost predatory intensity. "Now draw it carefully," Lila instructed. "Too much, and it will consume you. Too little, and you'll lose the connection." A surge of energy rushed through Noah's system. Not warm like standard chi, but cold. Intense. Alien. Veins of red-white luminescence traced beneath his skin, vibrating with a power that felt simultaneously foreign and intoxicating. His eyes snapped open. The energy hummed through him, heightening every sense, making the world around him hyper-real. "What exactly is this?" Noah asked, flexing his fingers as the energy gradually faded. Lila's response was carefully measured. "A more... advanced form of energy manipulation. Less about internal generation, more about external harvesting." "It feels different," Noah observed. "Volatile." "Precisely why most practitioners avoid it," Lila said. "The energy can be unpredictable. Requires absolute control and understanding of its source." The rest of their training proceeded as before—hour-long exercises of controlled access, with Lila guiding Noah through increasingly complex channeling techniques. Each time he accessed the energy, control became marginally easier, though its raw power remained overwhelming. As they finished, Noah wiped sweat from his brow. Despite the cool evening air, the energy work had generated an intense, almost oppressive internal heat. What Lila didn't say—what she carefully avoided mentioning—was that this was dark chi. An energy form so dangerous, so fundamentally different from standard Chi cultivation techniques that most academies forbade its study entirely. "You're progressing quickly," Lila noted, her expression thoughtful. "Faster than most would." "I have a good teacher," Noah replied, though they both knew there was more to it than that. A moment of silence stretched between them before Noah asked, "Is it okay for you to be seen with me like this? I got the impression your parents didn't approve." Lila's expression flickered briefly—something between annoyance and resignation. "My parents have opinions about many things. Not all of them matter to me." "Still," Noah pressed, "I wouldn't want to cause problems for you." Lila looked at him directly, her gaze unwavering. "You're not the problem, Noah. My parents are... protective. Sometimes overly so." She paused. "They don't understand everything about me." Noah nodded, sensing there was much more beneath her words—depths she wasn't ready to share. As they gathered their things to leave, Lila reached into her pocket and withdrew a small folded piece of paper. "Before I forget," she said, handing it to him. "Meet me tonight. There's something I want to show you." Noah accepted the paper, unfolding it to reveal a location—a secluded section on the eastern perimeter of the Nexus Arena, well away from the main entrances and security checkpoints. "What is this about?" he asked, curiosity piqued. "Something you need to see," Lila replied cryptically. Noah studied her face, searching for clues, but her expression revealed nothing beyond calm certainty. "I'll be there," he promised, tucking the note away. As they parted ways at the training ground exit, Noah couldn't help but wonder what Lila intended to show him. The note, the secluded location, the timing—it all suggested something beyond their usual training sessions. Something secret.