The grand hall remained silent as Billy and his rival faced off, the tension between them electric. Marcus Valen, third son of the prestigious Valen family, stood with a cocky smirk on his face, clearly amused by the crowd’s awe at Billy’s awakening.

Marcus had grown up with privilege, his family one of the oldest noble lineages in the kingdom. But while his two elder brothers had awakened early and claimed talents that brought honor to the family, Marcus had always been overshadowed. His father’s disappointment was palpable, and whispers that Marcus was the “weaker son” followed him throughout his youth. His ambition to prove himself burned with fierce intensity.

Now, with his Sovereign Spear of Dominion—an ancient and powerful weapon that only the most resilient lords could wield—Marcus was determined to become the kingdom's next powerful lord. As he stood before Billy, his hand clenched around the spear, its sharp edges glowing with a divine, intimidating aura.

He gave Billy a dismissive glance. “You’re the one with the cheat ability, right? Quite a waste if you ask me.”

Billy didn’t respond, letting his chaos energy do the talking as it radiated from his armor in purple arcs. Marcus sneered, twirling his spear with a practiced ease, its power radiating an aura that made the weaker candidates instinctively step back.

“You’re not ready for this.” Marcus took a step forward, the floor vibrating under his feet. He activated the **Aura of Command**, projecting a wave of energy that heightened his physical strength and reflexes, while imposing an intimidating presence that even Billy could feel pressing against him.

But Billy wasn’t intimidated; he felt the chaos energy surging through his body, alive and volatile, almost as if it were daring him to push harder. In one fluid motion, he shifted into **Lord Form**—his lean, armored body exuding a controlled yet potent power, his movements sharper and more efficient. The crowd gasped, feeling the weight of his transformation.

Marcus’s smirk faded as he realized Billy wasn’t backing down. His face twisted with irritation, and he tightened his grip on the spear. “Let’s see if that fancy form of yours can handle this!”

He lunged, spear flashing with a blinding light as he drove it forward. Billy dodged with remarkable agility, sidestepping just in time to avoid the weapon’s edge. But Marcus was fast, far faster than he’d anticipated, and he immediately followed up with a barrage of precise strikes. Billy blocked each attack with his chaos-infused blade, the clashing energy sending sparks into the air.

The power of Marcus’s spear was overwhelming, every strike infused with a force that left the ground scorched and the air humming with tension. Yet Billy held his ground, moving with calculated precision, his blade dancing as it deflected each blow. He could feel the crowd’s eyes on him, watching every move.

Seeing Billy stand his ground only infuriated Marcus further. His smirk faded, replaced by a scowl as he poured more energy into his spear. With a shout, he invoked **Unbreakable Defense**, creating a shimmering barrier of energy that wrapped around him, blocking any chance of Billy’s attack landing.

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But Billy had no intention of being on the defensive. He felt the chaos energy in him pulse, demanding release, and so he let it flow. In a surge of will, he shifted into **Battle Form**.

He felt his body expand, his armor thickening into a fortress of metal, his arms transforming into powerful weapon systems, pulsing with chaos energy. Now standing eight feet tall, he towered over Marcus, his body a mass of raw, chaotic power.

The hall fell silent as the crowd took in his new form. Even Marcus hesitated, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

“Not so confident now, are you?” Billy’s voice was deeper, more resonant in this form, amplified by the chaotic energy that pulsed within him.

Marcus grit his teeth, raising his spear defensively. “Let’s see how strong that armor really is!”

He launched forward, energy crackling as he activated **Pierce of Authority**. His spear glowed with a lethal intensity, each strike aimed with deadly precision, powerful enough to destabilize any energy or magic it touched. Billy braced himself, feeling the force of the spear clash against his armor in bursts of intense impact. Each strike reverberated through his body, yet he felt his armor absorbing the blows, the chaos energy flowing through him, keeping him steady.

Billy’s confidence grew with each strike he deflected. He raised his cannon arm, charging it with chaos energy, and fired. The blast exploded through the hall, creating a shockwave that rattled the walls and left a smoldering crater where Marcus had been standing. But Marcus was fast; he leaped to the side just in time, his face pale with surprise at the sheer destructive power.

“You… you’re a monster,” he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.

Billy met his gaze, his purple eyes glowing with an intensity that sent a shiver down Marcus’s spine. “This is what chaos can do.”

Marcus hesitated, his grip on the spear faltering. His confidence was visibly shaken, yet he refused to surrender. With a determined shout, he lunged forward once more, his spear sparking with one final surge of energy.

But Billy was faster. He dodged the strike, sidestepped, and in one swift motion, knocked the spear from Marcus’s hand. Marcus staggered back, realizing he was disarmed and at Billy’s mercy. Billy’s cannon arm pointed directly at him, humming with chaotic energy, ready to fire.

The crowd held its breath, watching with wide eyes as Marcus slowly raised his hands in surrender, his face pale with frustration and humiliation. “Alright… I yield,” he muttered, barely able to meet Billy’s gaze.

Billy lowered his arm, allowing the chaos energy to dissipate. He could feel the crowd’s astonished stares, their respect mixed with fear. He had proven himself, shown them that he was more than just an orphan. He was a force to be reckoned with.

As he shifted back to **Human Form**, he felt the weight of what he’d just accomplished. The cheers began to fill the hall, and for the first time, he felt a sense of belonging—a recognition that he had never experienced before.

But as he walked out of the hall, a familiar official approached him, a serious look on his face.

“Billy Knight,” the official said, his voice steady, “you’re to report to the Gate of Worlds tomorrow at dawn. Your assignment awaits.”

Billy nodded, a new resolve settling over him. He had taken the first step, but he knew there was a long journey ahead. He would face challenges far greater than Marcus, battles that would test the limits of his power and his will.

Behind him, Marcus watched, his pride wounded and his ambition ignited anew. As Billy disappeared from view, Marcus clenched his fists, a dark promise forming in his mind. This was not over—he would surpass Billy, no matter what it took.

**End of Chapter 2**