Chapter 207: Council Meeting

[Outside Seraphina’s House - Night]

Damian walked out of Seraphina’s residence and paused, feeling the shift in weather.

’It’s going to rain.’

Dark clouds gathered overhead, wind picking up strength, the smell of approaching rain heavy in the air.

He stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath, letting the cool wind wash over him.

His frustration at the military began dissolving.

’They owe me nothing...

But the fact remains – if they had intervened, Zavier’s family would still be alive. His father wouldn’t have been forced to commit that horror. His mother wouldn’t have died such a horrible death.’

He clenched his fists briefly, then forced himself to relax.

’Forget it. What’s done is done. I can’t change the past. I can only learn from it.

I don’t need to rely on them. That’s the lesson.

I need to be strong enough that these situations never come up again.’

One decision had already been made in the aftermath of the Kestrel attack.

Pull everyone to Tranquil City. All the families of Mafia students and all the members operating in different Central Region cities and consolidate everything in one location.

Tranquil City was safer. The Unnamed Four provided S rank protection. Old Man Mike had established infrastructure. And Gia’s information blackout meant enemies couldn’t easily track operations there.

They needed time to grow stronger before expanding again. Rushing had created vulnerabilities that enemies had exploited.

’Next up... I need to change some fundamental things in this Academy. The system is broken. Time to fix it.’

Rain began falling as Damian walked toward his dormitory, but he didn’t increase his pace.

He just walked through the downpour, letting it soak his uniform, his mind already planning tomorrow’s moves.

****

[Academy Forum - Next Morning]

The student forum exploded with activity overnight, debates raging between Noble and commoner students about the previous day’s events.

[BREAKING: The Golden Era of Commoners Has Begun!]

User_CommonerPride: Did you all see what happened?! Damian purged the Council and became Vice President! This is the beginning of the end for Noble supremacy!

User_NobleHeritage: Calm down. Elizabeth is still President, and she’s an Imperial heir. She defeated Damian in combat. The natural order remains intact.

User_CommonerRevolution: She’s only President for one more year! Damian’s a first-year! It won’t be long before he takes over completely!

User_RealistNoble: Don’t forget – Damian is only S rank talent. His progress will slow dramatically. No matter how strong he is now, nothing can change his fundamental limitations. The talent gap will become insurmountable.

User_CommonerFighter: Talent gap?! He has a DOMAIN at C rank! He killed GIANTS in a portal! Your "talent gap" means nothing when he breaks every rule!

User_NobleScholar: Domains require A rank minimum. His achievement is anomalous, not sustainable. He’ll hit walls that talent determines. Just wait.

User_MafiaSupporter: You Nobles keep saying "just wait" while Damian keeps proving you wrong. How many times do you need to be humiliated before you accept reality?

User_ImperialDescendant: The Council still has Gareth, Liam, and Arielle – all from powerful families. Elizabeth maintained control. This isn’t the revolution you think it is.

User_CommonerHope: Damian got Vice President position without even wanting it! He’s changing the system from the inside! This is just the beginning!

The debates raged on, thousands of posts being added hourly, the entire student body choosing sides, tensions building toward something inevitable.

****

[Student Council Chamber - Morning Session]

The Council members sat around the long table, their expressions ranging from concerned to anxious.

Elizabeth occupied her position as President, her purple hair pulled back, her purple eyes showing the weight of leadership.

Adrian sat beside her, his matching purple eyes observing everything with interest.

Naomi fidgeted with her glasses, her navy blue hair reflecting morning light through the windows, her timid nature making her uncomfortable with the tension.

Liam looked exhausted, his green hair disheveled, his green eyes showing he hadn’t slept well after yesterday’s events.

Arielle maintained her composed demeanor despite her petite frame, her grey eyes missing nothing.

Gareth sat with visible discomfort, his bear-like body covered in bandages and healing patches from yesterday’s brutal beating, his black eyes showing he’d accepted his defeat but not the humiliation.

Elena Dray sat with her characteristic elegant posture, her platinum hair perfect as always, her expression neutral but her mind clearly working through implications.

They were discussing the removed Council members – Rex Dalmir, Jonas Harrington, and the absent Victor Cross and Selena Hart who were still on battlefield missions.

"We can’t just remove them all without consequences," Liam was saying, his voice carrying frustration. "Their families will escalate this. The political pressure will be enormous."

"The precedent alone is dangerous," Arielle added. "If the Council can purge members based on personal conflicts rather than procedural violations, what’s to stop future abuses?"

Elizabeth remained silent, her face showing she’d already made her decision and wouldn’t be budged.

Then the door opened.

Creak

Damian entered with his hands in his pockets, and immediately everyone felt the difference.

Yesterday he’d been intense and violent, focused during combat.

Today... he was something else entirely.

Expressionless, cold and radiating pressure that said

don’t test me

without words.

His crimson eyes swept the room with casual assessment, and every person sitting felt like prey being evaluated by a predator.

He sat directly beside Elizabeth without asking permission, his posture relaxed but his presence overwhelming.

"Before we begin official Council business, I’m making one point absolutely clear for everyone gathered here."

His voice was quiet but carried perfect clarity.

He looked at each person individually – Adrian, Naomi, Liam, Arielle, Gareth, Elena – his gaze making each of them straighten involuntarily.

Even Gareth, who’d readily accepted his loss and acknowledged Damian as stronger, felt the pressure.

Learning that Damian possessed a Domain – something A rank awakeners struggled to develop – had completed his acceptance of the hierarchy.

"I operate differently than Elizabeth."

Damian’s tone was matter-of-fact, stating simple truth rather than making threats.

"I don’t care about your backgrounds. I don’t care about your families. All of you here are students who are weaker than me. Therefore, you will follow the hierarchy and do what I say without questioning. This is not a democracy."

He paused, letting that sink in.

"If anyone has an objection to this arrangement, you can leave the room now. I don’t have time for nonsense debates. There are many important things to decide today, and I won’t waste hours on political theater."

"..."

Suffocating silence filled the chamber.

Nobody spoke or moved.

All of them felt uncomfortable – Elizabeth had always been gentle, diplomatic and willing to discuss and negotiate.

But Damian was... oppressive and authoritarian!

But none of them challenged it.