Marvel: My Eyes Defies Fate.

"Alright. The battle ends here."

The Ancient One stood up calmly. The outcome was already clear — all the Kamar-Taj sorcerers had been eliminated from the training arena. Kurogai stood victorious, leaving no room for doubt.

"Supreme Sorcerer, we…"

The defeated sorcerers lowered their heads, their faces burning with shame. Dozens of trained magic users had been bested by a child. It was humiliating. But the Ancient One only offered a faint smile. Without scolding or judgment, she simply told them to tend to their wounds and rest.

Once the others had left, the Ancient One stepped closer to Kurogai.

"How are you feeling? That wasn't your limit, was it?"

She had watched the entire battle unfold and saw the precision in Kurogai's movements. He had fought efficiently, almost effortlessly. That told her he still had energy to spare.

"It was close," Kurogai answered calmly. But only he knew how much of that was true.

The Ancient One studied him. "Your magic reserves are the most abundant I've seen. Ordinary sorcerers couldn't do what you just did — hurling spells like bombs again and again without a trace of exhaustion."

There was no malice in her tone, only curiosity. His output was extraordinary. If she hadn't already confirmed that Kurogai wasn't tapping into any dark dimensions, she might have suspected as much.

"Maybe I just have a body more suited for magic," Kurogai replied with a small smile.

He had considered the possibilities himself. His magical output far exceeded that of others — and it wasn't just from training. He had two theories.

One was the Eye of Replication. Beyond its ability to instantly learn and replicate spells, it might be altering his body — evolving it, allowing him to store and channel far more magic than normal.

The second theory had to do with his mutation. Kurogai had long since awakened his X-Gene, though he hadn't explored its full potential. He suspected that this unexplored power was also influencing his physical growth and energy capacity. He would need time to study it further.

Still, his biggest takeaway wasn't the victory itself — it was gaining a clearer understanding of his current capabilities. He now had a more accurate sense of his strengths and limitations. That knowledge was more valuable than anything else.

"Go and rest," the Ancient One said gently.

With a wave of her hand, a golden portal opened before him — a doorway directly to his room. Kurogai wasn't visibly tired, but rest was still important. Besides, he wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the battle.

He nodded to her, stepped into the portal, and vanished.

As Kurogai disappeared, the commotion surrounding his battle began to fade — but its effects were far from over.

From that moment onward, every sorcerer in Kamar-Taj began to look at Kurogai differently. The joke of calling him a "theory expert" — a prodigy who only understood magic on paper — died out immediately. After all, if a "theory expert" could defeat over a dozen combat mages, then what did that make them?

It quickly became clear that Kurogai wasn't just intelligent — he was dangerously effective in battle. That realization stirred something in the hearts of the other disciples. Shame, perhaps. Or pride. Either way, the atmosphere at Kamar-Taj began to shift. Everyone started training harder. Even the Ancient One hadn't anticipated such a ripple effect.

Kurogai, meanwhile, remained unaware. He was too busy analyzing his performance, reviewing every move, and planning how to get stronger.

---

In another part of Kamar-Taj, within a quiet, isolated room, a figure lay on a bed — bandaged heavily and filled with resentment.

It was Kaecilius, the first to be knocked out during the challenge. Arrogant and confident, he had been blindsided by the force of Kurogai's power — and Kurogai hadn't held back. As a result, Kaecilius had taken the most damage.

Though Kamar-Taj's healing spells had saved him, he was still bedridden — and fuming.

"How the hell does that kid have so much power? This isn't normal…"

Kaecilius stared at the ceiling, teeth clenched. His pride wouldn't let him believe it was talent alone. He was convinced Kurogai had tapped into some kind of forbidden force.

"If I had whatever made him that strong… I could destroy him…"

A whisper broke the silence.

"Do you want power?"

A cloaked figure stood at the edge of the room. Wrapped in shadows, their voice was low, almost inhuman.

Kaecilius jerked upright, startled. "Who are you?!"

"I'm someone who can show you the way," the figure replied. "Tell me… if you were given power — real power — what would you do with it?"

Kaecilius stared hard, a flicker of desperation in his eyes. After a long silence, he spoke.

"I'd kill that arrogant little bastard."

The figure tilted its head.

"In that case… as you wish."

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