Chapter 18

It had been a week since Kaden had received the system, and in that time, he'd grown accustomed to the strange presence inside his mind. But despite the newfound powers and potential, his situation had remained the same—he was still out here, on the outskirts, training alone.

The forest was quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of Kaden's fists striking trees. He'd carved shapes into the trunks to give himself a target—a crude method, but it worked for now. His punches were simple, just raw force. He was relying on the little bit of combat training his father had taught him when he was younger—those lessons were few, and Kaden had almost forgotten most of them. But he remembered enough to throw a decent punch, even if it wasn't refined.

Each hit made a dent, then a hole, in the bark, the wood cracking under the force of his black veined hands. Kaden grunted with each strike, his body tiring but pushing through. His father used to say that the strength of your body came from how much you could endure before giving in. Kaden couldn't remember all the lessons, but that one stuck.

He pulled back for another punch, his knuckles connecting with the tree's surface. As soon as he did, the tree shuddered violently, its base cracking, and then—CRACK!—it toppled to the ground with a loud crash. Birds scattered from the branches above, fluttering into the air in a flurry of wings.

Kaden barely managed to step back in time, his heart racing. "Oh, shoot." He cursed under his breath, watching the tree crash to the ground. The thud echoed through the forest, and the birds continued their panicked flight. The rustling of leaves in the aftermath filled the still air.

Before he could get back to his training, Kaden heard something—a rustling of leaves behind him. Instinctively, he turned, his body on alert. "Had someone discovered he was the one who'd taken down Derek?" His fingers tensed at his sides as he waited, his heart pounding.

A slow, deliberate clap broke the silence.

"Impressive," a voice called out from behind him.

Kaden turned his head, his eyes narrowing. A man who seems to be in his forties stood there, casually clapping his hands, his expression calm and unruffled. The man was dressed in simple clothes, though they looked out of place for the outskirts—his blazer covered his neck, a sharp contrast to the dirt-stained, ragged attire of those who lived in these parts. He wasn't from here, that much was obvious.

Kaden sized him up quickly, suspicion growing. He didn't trust anyone who seemed to wander into the outskirts unannounced. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone clearly hostile. His hands subtly moved into a defensive stance, ready for anything.

The man shrugged, still keeping his cool. "I was just passing by. Saw your work," he said, nodding toward the fallen tree. "You really do have potential, but you lack proper training."

Kaden's suspicion flared, and he glared at the man. "None of your concerns," he shot back. He knew he wasn't supposed to speak to an elder like that, but he couldn't care less. The man's calm demeanor only fueled Kaden's unease.

The stranger didn't seem phased. He slid his hands into his pockets and regarded Kaden with an easy smile. "I'm not here to lecture you," he said, his voice smooth. "But there is something I'd like to offer you."

Kaden's eyes narrowed further. "What's that?" he demanded. His posture was tense, ready for the man to make a move. He had no intention of letting his guard down.

The man gave him a small smile, then slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pamphlet. He held it up. "Would you be interested in attending one of the factions' academies?"

Kaden blinked in confusion. The factions? He'd heard of them. The academies were affiliated with the four most powerful factions in the world, the ones that controlled the Grave Gardens. Why would this man be offering him an invitation?

"The factions' academy?" Kaden repeated, his skepticism growing. "Why would you offer me that?"

The man's smile never wavered. "You have the potential," he said simply.

Kaden's suspicion only deepened. The man didn't seem like someone who would just offer help to a stranger in the outskirts. "No thanks," Kaden replied, his voice firm.

The man studied him for a moment, then his gaze dropped briefly to the chain tattoo on Kaden's head. 

"I'll let you think about it," the man said. He seemed to consider something for a moment before adding, "The academy is free, by the way."

He then placed the pamphlet on the ground, his fingers gently resting on the paper. "I'll leave this here for you. I hope you don't waste your potential because of stubbornness." He turned to leave, his calm demeanor never wavering. But before he took a step, he casually punched another tree, his fist connecting with the trunk. Kaden watched, almost expecting the same result as before, but the tree didn't even budge.

Kaden couldn't help but smirk. "Not so impressive now, huh?" he muttered under his breath. But the man didn't respond. He simply continued walking toward the outskirts, as though unaffected by the unspoken mockery.

Kaden watched him go, still unsure of the man's motives. As the stranger disappeared into the distance, Kaden looked back down at the pamphlet on the ground. He walked over to pick it up, turning it over in his hands. The cover featured a rose—a simple yet elegant design.

"The Rose Faction Academy," Kaden muttered, reading the name aloud. It didn't mean much to him, but perhaps he might be able to sell it in the city, it'll certainly sell for a good amount.

With a sigh, he turned and started walking back toward where he had hidden the beast. His stomach growled slightly, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in a while. But as he glanced up at the sky, his attention was suddenly drawn to the birds that flew above him, their wings slicing through the air.

Then—BOOM!

A loud crash erupted from behind him, shaking the ground beneath his feet. Kaden's heart skipped a beat as he quickly grabbed onto a nearby tree, his grip tightening as the earth trembled beneath him.

"An Earthquake!" he thought.

 The shaking lasted only a moment, but when it stopped, he turned to look at where the noise had come from.

His eyes widened in shock.

It wasn't an earthquake.

The tree that the man had punched, along with several dozen others, had fallen. The ground was littered with the wreckage of massive trees, their trunks snapped in half as though they had been nothing more than saplings.

Kaden's mind raced. Who was that man?

And how was he so strong?