Ascension: Rebirth in a World of Powers-Chapter 31 - : Rising Tensions

Eren sat in the dimly lit study hall, staring at the flickering candle on the desk before him. The weight of recent events pressed down on his shoulders like an iron chain. His fight with Darius had changed everything. There had always been tensions among the students at the academy, but now it felt like they had split into factions—those who feared Darius and those who now saw Eren as a symbol of rebellion.

Whispers followed him wherever he went. Some students gave him wary glances, others openly scowled. There were even a few who nodded in respect. But it wasn't just about the students anymore.

The fight had exposed something deeper.

A presence had been watching. He had felt it, just before unleashing the full power of the Shard. Something—or someone—had taken an interest in him, and it unsettled him in a way that even Darius hadn't managed to.

Kaelena leaned against the bookshelf beside him, arms crossed, her expression tense. "Things are getting out of control, Eren. Darius isn't backing down. He's rallying more people to his side, and after what happened, a lot of students are starting to take sides. We can't afford to sit back and wait for him to strike first."

Eren exhaled, rubbing his temple. "I know. But we need to be smart about this. Charging in recklessly won't help us."

Kain sat across from them, arms crossed, his massive frame nearly making the chair beneath him groan. He cracked his knuckles loudly. "Then maybe we do the opposite of what he expects. Hit 'em hard before they get the chance to come after us again."

Elara, the most level-headed of the group, shook her head. "That would make us no better than them. There has to be another way."

Eren glanced at her. She was right. He didn't want to become someone who fought just for the sake of winning. He wanted to stand for something more. The power of the Shard wasn't just some weapon—it was connected to something bigger. He had barely scratched the surface of its capabilities, but even now, he could feel it pulsing inside of him, as if urging him forward.

"We need information," Eren finally said. "Darius isn't the only threat here. There's something bigger going on, and I need to figure out what it is."

Kaelena nodded. "Then we start digging. If there's something lurking beneath the surface, we'll find it."

The academy had become a battlefield of whispers and hidden alliances. Every hallway, every training session, and even the dining hall felt like a cold war brewing just beneath the surface. Eren noticed that Darius's group had become more organized. He and his followers moved in groups, always watching, always waiting. It wasn't just a rivalry anymore—it was a game of survival.

Over the next few days, Eren, Kaelena, Kain, and Elara began their search for answers. They spoke with students who had been at the academy for years, teachers who had seen generations of fighters come and go, and even staff members who worked behind the scenes.

Piece by piece, a pattern emerged.

"This academy wasn't just built to train fighters," Kaelena said one evening as they gathered in the library's restricted section. She placed an old, tattered book onto the table. "It was built to control them."

Eren frowned, flipping through the pages. Ancient texts described the founding of the school, but what caught his attention was a passage about the "Trials of Ascension." It spoke of students who had been chosen for something greater—something beyond normal combat training.

Kaelena pointed to a section near the bottom. "It talks about those who possess unique artifacts of power—like your Shard. The academy isn't just teaching us to use our abilities. It's selecting certain individuals for something more."

Eren's grip tightened on the edge of the table. The Shard had never truly felt like his own. It had always felt like something given to him for a reason he didn't understand.

Elara leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then that means Darius isn't just after power. He's after control. He wants to be the one chosen."

Kain exhaled sharply. "So what do we do? If the academy itself is playing some kind of game, how do we beat it?"

Eren looked down at the glowing stone embedded in his palm. The answer wasn't clear, but one thing was: they needed to get stronger. If they were going to face not only Darius but whatever unseen force was pulling the strings, they had to be ready.

"We train," Eren said firmly. "And we prepare for whatever's coming next."

That night, as Eren returned to his dorm, he felt it again—that lingering presence, watching him. He turned sharply, scanning the darkened hallway.

Nothing.

But something was wrong. The air felt too still, the shadows stretching just a little too far. His instincts screamed at him, and as he reached for his door handle, he saw it.

A small slip of paper, wedged between the doorframe.

Slowly, he pulled it free, unfolding it with cautious fingers. His heart pounded as he read the words written in dark, almost inhuman handwriting.

"You are not ready. Walk away before it's too late."

Eren's grip tightened. Someone knew about the Shard. Someone who didn't want him to keep going.

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But they were too late.

Eren wasn't walking away.

He was just getting started.