Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1422: The Weight of Power

The Central Academy was unlike any other institution, known for having an extensive pool of students who possessed unique traits and specialized affinities. With such a large number of students to select from, it was no surprise that they were often expected to produce the most exceptional talent.

Even though Central Academy had surprisingly lost in the first assessment round, many still believed that their most talented and extraordinary students hadn’t yet taken the stage. Anticipation was rising steadily, and the crowd could hardly wait to see what hidden aces the academy still had up their sleeves.

That was when something unexpected happened.

George stepped forward, his expression unreadable, and reached toward his ring. With a quick flick of his fingers, he retrieved something from his storage space. It appeared in the palm of his hand, a perfectly round sphere, roughly the size of a clenched fist. It had a dull metallic sheen, unmistakably made of iron.

He held it up for everyone to see. The item was dense, heavy just by the way it sat in his hand. Then, with almost theatrical calm, George turned his hand over and let the iron sphere drop.

Thud.

It hit the dirt with a solid weight, leaving a noticeable impression in the ground, as if the very earth had submitted to its mass. The impact drew the crowd into a hushed silence, broken only by a few soft murmurs and curious whispers.

But before anyone could process what had just happened, the ball suddenly lifted off the ground. It floated upward, slowly at first, then smoothly returned to George’s palm, as if it had been summoned by some invisible force.

"Was that wind magic?" one student asked aloud, trying to make sense of it.

"No way," another replied. "An iron ball like that? If it was wind magic, we would’ve seen the dust swirl or some movement in the air. That wasn’t wind."

"Could it be telekinesis?" a third suggested, eyes wide with wonder.

"Come on," someone scoffed. "People don’t have superpowers. Even unique traits still require mana to function. You can’t just lift stuff with your mind unless it’s tied to magic."

"Then what was it?"

The mystery had only deepened, and all eyes remained locked on George. Everyone could sense it, this was only the beginning.

Without saying a word, George dropped the iron ball again.

This time, the sphere plummeted like a meteor, accelerating so quickly it was almost invisible to the naked eye. When it struck the ground, the impact was explosive. The earth cracked beneath it, tiny fissures spreading out like lightning bolts. Dust flared into the air. And then, just like before, the ball calmly rose from the broken earth and floated back into George’s waiting hand.

"I see now," Piba muttered, his tone one of realization and awe. "George has one of the most sought-after special affinities there is, gravity magic. And judging by the control he’s showing, he’s already achieved full mastery over it. His affinity must be incredibly high too. I doubt this is the extent of what he can do."

Watching from the side, Safa’s mind drifted for a moment. She was reminded of Sha Mo from the Behemoth Clan, he too had learned to manipulate his Qi in a way that mimicked the overwhelming pull of gravity. It was rare... and terrifying.

Now, it was clear to everyone. George wasn’t just another student. He was a force of nature, one that had only just started to show its weight.

It made Safa wonder, was George’s magic stronger than Sha Mo’s Qi? It was hard to say for sure. After all, unless his gravitational magic reached overwhelming levels, it wouldn’t affect trained Pagna warriors all that much. Even if the magic was fairly powerful, Pagna warriors were built to resist pressure, both magical and physical.

But George wasn’t done showing off just yet.

As the iron ball vanished back into his storage ring, George rolled his shoulders and began to flex his muscles for the crowd to see. With deliberate motion, he reached for his blazer and pulled it open, revealing a chiseled torso and an impressive set of defined abs beneath. The muscles looked sculpted, like he had been training for years, which made it all the more surprising.

Most mages didn’t care much for physical fitness. Why would they? Their power came from within, through mana, spells, and magical formations. But George was different. Because of his special gravitational magic, he had developed unique training methods. His power allowed him to train under heavier gravity, pushing his body beyond normal limits. And it clearly showed.

He stood tall, proud of what he had become, and more than willing to flaunt it.

"I think showing off his abs was a bit much," Safa said, arching a brow as she crossed her arms.

Piba chuckled. "These kinds of bodies don’t sway you over?"

Safa shook her head. She doubted a body like George’s would impress any Pagna warrior. Nearly all of them had physiques just as good, if not better, thanks to their rigorous combat training and Qi refinement. Still, she could admit that it was rare to see a mage like him with such a balance of strength and power.

The other students, though, especially the mages, seemed thoroughly impressed. Some were whispering excitedly, others imagining how powerful George’s gravity affinity must be to forge such a body. And on top of that, he was one of Central Academy’s top students.

"I heard they’re doing a special rule for the solo fighting event this year," someone in the crowd said.

"Oh? Aren’t there rumors about that every year?" another replied.

"Yeah, but this time it might be true. I’ve heard they’re going to allow two students from each academy to participate in the singles matches. Students from the same academy won’t face off against each other, but if that’s really the case, then we might get to see George fight as well."

"Well, even if it turns out to be false, I guess we’ll still see him during the group battle stages."

With George’s display, Central Academy had made its point. They were regaining their prestige with a single showing. The other academies had taken notice, Central wasn’t to be underestimated. They hadn’t just talked the talk. They’d shown why they were one of the best.

Next up was another academy, BIMM.

The student called forward this time was someone named Lee Roy.

Inside the observation room, Moze immediately recognized him. That face, that stance, there was no mistaking it. He was the same student Moze had defeated using his refined skill alone.

"He’s kind of infamous, isn’t he?" Yolden asked, watching the screen with narrowed eyes.

"Yeah," Chiba replied. "If there’s anyone we need to watch out for besides Central Academy, it’s that guy."

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