The training grounds of Beastmaster Academy pulsed with energy.
Students gathered on the sleek, alloy-reinforced combat floor. Holographic projectors floated in the air, displaying names, ranks, and biological statistics.
Today was close-combat simulation day.
No beasts. No weapons. Just reflexes… and dominance.
Cian Archdemon stood quietly at the edge, his expression blank, eyes unreadable grey.
> Cian Archdemon — Age: 9 — Foundation Body Tempering (Early Stage)
Beastmaster Bloodline Integration: 63%
Forbidden Skills: Active within lawful limits
Evolution Ability: Stage-1 Active — Eyes: 0% progressed
His Shadow Lynx waited outside the ring — only his body would be tested now.
Inside his neural interface, the playful voice of the Divine System chimed:
💻 "His Highness… ready to terrify with lawful evolution?"
💻 "Your eyes are… twitching with curiosity already."
Cian ignored the system's teasing, focused entirely on the approaching opponent — a taller boy with a cocky smirk.
The instructor called:
"Felix Hart versus Cian Archdemon. No magic. No beasts. Pure reaction and control."
Snickers rippled through the room.
"He's smaller… weaker…"
"He only wins with forbidden tricks…"
"This time, no beasts to hide behind…"
Cian's face didn't change.
But inside his mind… his Madness Curiosity flared like wildfire.
How fast can human eyes evolve…? How much light do we waste processing…? How inefficient is standard vision…?
---
The Duel Begins
Felix lunged — confident, aggressive — his movements sharp.
But as his fist neared Cian's face, time… shifted.
Cian's pupils dilated unnaturally. His irises shimmered faint silver.
💻 "Ah… Eye Evolution: Initiated… activating lawful biological upgrades."
The world sharpened.
The edges of Felix's muscles tensed in slow motion.
Tiny air currents twisted around his fist.
Subtle sweat droplets flicked from his brow.
Cian's upgraded vision dissected it all — legally, biologically, terrifyingly efficient.
With minimal movement, Cian sidestepped, his small form flowing like liquid shadow.
Felix stumbled, confused.
Cian's enhanced eyes calculated — muscle tension, balance loss, momentum shift.
One soft palm strike to Felix's ribs — perfectly timed, perfectly placed.
The older boy crumpled, gasping for air.
Silence filled the room.
The instructor's cybernetic monocle flickered — registering Cian's lawful eye enhancement, but unable to flag it as illegal.
Felix clutched his side, face pale.
"W-What… did you…?"
Cian, eyes cold, voice emotionless, replied:
"Biology… improves through curiosity."
---
The Divine System Whispered:
💻 "Lawful, surgical, humiliating. His Highness evolving one body part at a time… how utterly terrifying."
💻 "Shall I log 'Eye Evolution Stage 1: 12% Complete'?"
Cian's gaze flickered — silver fading, his expression returning to quiet indifference.
The instructor hesitated, then raised his hand:
"Match over. Cian… victory."
---
Status Update — Post Fight:
✔ Eye Evolution: 12% Progressed — Enhanced vision clarity, subtle detail detection, lawful biological upgrade in process
✔ No Reality Breaking Detected
✔ Universe Rule: Respected
---
Student Whispers Grew:
"His eyes… did you see them?"
"That wasn't normal…"
"He's not breaking rules… but… he's terrifying…"
Cian remained silent — his terrifying curiosity never satisfied.