CHAPTER 186: CONFRONTATION WITH SUN

Byun twisted, his instincts sharp, just in time to meet Jae’s next move. His shadows coalesced into a shield, thick and solid, wrapping in front of him like a wall. Jae’s Dragonfire Blade came down in a burning arc, crashing against it.

The clash was deafening. Fire and shadow roared together, sparks bursting outward in all directions. The ground cracked beneath the pressure, and the air shimmered with heat. Students shielded their faces, some gasping, others cheering.

For a long moment, neither side gave way.

Byun’s jaw clenched as he pushed his mana harder, shadows reinforcing against the pressure. Jae leaned into the strike, fire blazing hotter, molten skin flaring brighter.

The space between them rippled, light and darkness colliding so fiercely that the air itself seemed to warp.

Then Jae shifted his weight. His blade slid off the shadow wall in a clean arc, fire bursting outward as he pivoted. The swing sent sparks scattering, forcing Byun to leap back, his shadows collapsing into smoke before they could catch flame.

The two boys faced each other across the ring, chests rising and falling, the space between them scorched and scarred. The crowd’s whispers surged louder now, their voices carrying awe, excitement, and disbelief.

"Did you see that?"

"He burned right through it!"

"What even is that armor?"

Byun let out a sharp breath, then laughed again, reckless and bright

Byun pressed harder, his shadows condensing into a single spear. It lunged forward with frightening precision, the dark tendrils twisting into a razor point aimed for Jae’s chest. Jae didn’t flinch.

His molten skin shimmered to life again, golden light washing across his arm. When the spear struck, it hissed and cracked, heat surging as fire devoured shadow.

With one hand, Jae caught the weapon mid-thrust. The clash burned bright for a heartbeat, and then Jae pulled sharply, dragging Byun forward until they were face to face, breaths mingling in the charged air.

"You’re relentless," Jae muttered, voice low but steady.

"Dude i know you’re not using your full strength," Byun shot back with a grin, though his shadows snaked instinctively around his legs, anchoring him to the ground before he could be toppled completely.

The two locked in that stalemate, the training ground buzzing with nervous energy. The air around them shimmered with heat while the shadows writhed like living smoke. Neither gave an inch.

It wasn’t until Mrs. Lira raised her hand that the tension broke. Her voice cut through the chaos, clear and firm. "Enough! You’ll burn the entire field if you keep this up."

Both boys froze. Byun let the spear unravel into tendrils of smoke that slipped back into the earth. Jae released his hold, the molten glow dimming as the fire withdrew beneath his skin. The Dragonfire Blade dissolved into embers that drifted away on the breeze.

Their shoulders rose and fell with heavy breaths, sweat streaking across their temples, but there was no hostility in their eyes. Instead, matching grins tugged at their lips.

"No clear winner," Byun said, rolling his shoulder as if shaking off the strain. "Guess I’ll take that as a draw."

"You can call it that," Jae replied with a faint smirk, brushing blond hair back from his forehead. His tone was casual, but he knew the truth of it, he hadn’t fought with even half his strength.

Around them, students buzzed in hushed voices. Admiration and envy blended in the air, as palpable as the heat still lingering from the fight. Some clapped politely. Others whispered to their friends, casting sideways glances at Jae.

"Did you see that glow? He burned straight through the shadows."

"Unreal. Byun didn’t stand a chance."

"Tch... all fire and flash. How long can he keep that up?"

Jae ignored most of it, his attention already drifting elsewhere. But then, cutting through the crowd’s chatter, came a voice that froze the noise flat.

"Fitting," it said, cool and cutting. "Shadows and farm dirt sticking together."

The murmur of students stilled at once. Heads turned, bodies shifted, the field’s energy collapsing into silence.

At the edge of the training ground stood Sun. His dark hair fell loosely around a face set in a scowl, posture sharp with quiet authority. Flanking him, as always, was Fin, his bodyguard. Another boy stood nearby as well, broad-shouldered, wearing his noble status in the rigid straightness of his back.

Jae’s eyes narrowed slightly. Sun had a way of commanding a space without even trying. His gaze, when it landed on Jae, held no warmth. Only disdain.

"Is that what passes for skill now?" Sun’s words cut through the air, cold as steel. "A farmboy hiding behind tricks and borrowed power?"

The insult landed heavier than the whispers ever had. Jae had endured plenty of mutters from nobles since his first day at the academy, mocking his background, his lack of title, his stubborn refusal to bow. Those he brushed off, more often than not.

But from Sun, the crown prince himself, it was different.

Byun stepped forward before Jae could respond, his shadows curling faintly at his feet. "Say that again, prince. I didn’t hear you clearly."

Sun didn’t spare him even a glance. His attention was locked firmly on Jae, his words carrying the weight of judgment.

"Tell me," he continued, "do you truly believe defeating one corrupted beast makes you worthy of praise? You’ve been reckless since the day you arrived. Power without control is nothing but a danger to those around you."

A ripple ran through the onlookers. Some nodded in agreement, others shifted uncomfortably. The divide between noble and commoner felt sharper in that moment, drawn across the dirt of the training ground.

Jae’s hand twitched at his side. He wanted to smirk, to shrug it off with the same ease he always used against criticism. But something in Sun’s gaze, the conviction, the scorn, lit a sharper fire in his chest.

"You’ve got a lot to say for someone who didn’t step forward that night," Jae said evenly, his voice carrying farther than he expected. "Funny how courage shows up after the danger’s gone."