CHAPTER 45 — PROBABILITY

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 45 — PROBABILITY

Percy extinguished the fire. Clara looked at him in surprise. Arthur was still in a fighting stance. William was trying to steady his breathing. Percy watched the three of them for a long moment. Then he smiled.

"Clara."

"Arthur."

"William."

The three perked up.

"You guys are amazing."

Arthur raised his eyebrows. Clara's face softened. William waited quietly.

Percy continued:

"You proved that the camp worked."

"You proved that what I gave as President..."

"Was actually effective."

Percy's voice trembled slightly. Galahad caught it immediately. Percy lowered his head slightly. A single tear rolled down his eye. Clara's eyes widened. Arthur relaxed completely. Even William was caught off guard. Percy wiped the tear away instantly.

"Thank you."

"You have no idea how much this meant to me."

Clara wanted to say something. Percy held up a hand.

"But..."

The expression on his face changed.

"Now it's my turn."

Arthur readied himself once more. William narrowed his eyes. Clara watched Percy intently. Percy took a deep breath.

"Now..."

"I'm going to use my full power."

The eyes of all three widened.

Arthur:

"You weren't using it until now?"

Percy didn't reply. The look on William's face shifted.

"No."

Clara looked at him.

"What?"

William pointed at Percy.

"He was gauging us."

Arthur:

"You're joking."

William shook his head.

"No."

On the sidelines, Galahad laughed.

"Haha!"

He stood up.

"Finally."

Elizabeth looked at him.

"Is this what you were waiting for?"

Galahad smirked.

"Absolutely."

Eleanor:

"How big of a difference could it be?"

Holar Jun didn't answer. He was staring at his grandson. Percy closed his eyes. Arthur's face instantly changed. He remembered that movement. He remembered that duel. What Percy had said that day... And what had happened afterward.

Arthur whispered:

"He's doing it again."

Clara:

"Doing what?"

Arthur didn't answer.

Percy spoke:

"I am probability."

Galahad's smile widened. Percy opened his eyes.

"And probability is me."

NATURE OF FIRE.

BOOOOOOM!

The five-meter domain opened. The air shifted instantly. Elizabeth stood up.

"He opened the domain."

Eleanor focused intensely. Holar Jun smiled. Percy's aura flared.

ADVANCED LEVEL 2.

Yet this time, it was different. Percy wasn't suppressing it. He wasn't hiding it. He wasn't measuring it. He was unleashing the full brunt of Advanced 2.

BOOOOOOM!

Arthur slid backward. William's clothes fluttered violently. Clara gritted her teeth. Nathaniel jumped to his feet.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"

Charlotte held her breath. Marcus narrowed his eyes. Elizabeth locked her gaze onto Percy.

"So this is his true level."

Galahad shook his head.

"No."

Elizabeth turned to him. Galahad smirked.

"His true usage."

Percy raised his right hand. Fire engulfed his palm. Then he crooked his index finger. Beckoning the three of them forward.

"Attack."

Arthur was the first to move. He came in from the right. Clara did the exact opposite. William stayed in the rear. Arthur formed his orb. Percy looked at him. Arthur hadn't launched it yet. Percy stepped to the left. Arthur's eyes widened.

"What?"

Percy moved again. Arthur launched the orb. Percy was already no longer there. Clara attacked. Percy ducked. Clara's strike missed. William sent his orb flying. Percy took half a step. The orb zipped right past his face. Arthur attacked again. Percy turned. Arthur's orb was approaching. Percy didn't dodge. His right hand was coated in flame. Elizabeth's eyes widened. Percy slapped his hand sideways.

**SLAP!**

His flame-coated palm... Struck the magic orb. The orb split into two. The two pieces bypassed Percy completely. Arthur froze where he stood.

"What?"

William's mouth hung open. Even Clara forgot to attack.

Nathaniel:

"HE JUST SLAPPED MAGIC!"

Charlotte:

"We saw it, Nathaniel!"

Nathaniel:

"BRO, HE FREAKING SLAPPED MAGIC!"

Elizabeth stepped forward.

"No."

Eleanor:

"What?"

Elizabeth looked closely.

"He didn't destroy the orb."

William understood too.

"He disrupted its trajectory."

Elizabeth nodded.

"At the moment of contact."

Galahad smiled.

"Scorpion."

Elizabeth looked at him. Galahad pointed to Percy.

"Probability again."

Arthur attacked once more. This time he envisioned three possibilities. Percy could dodge right. He could dodge left. He could block. Arthur struck. Percy... Did none of those. Arthur's eyes widened. Percy walked straight forward.

Arthur:

"What?"

Percy turned his shoulder slightly. The attack missed by centimeters. Arthur circled back. Prepared a new attack. Calculated again. Percy moved differently again. Sweat broke out on Arthur's forehead.

"Why..."

He tried again. Failed again.

"Why can't I calculate him?"

Percy stopped. Looked at Arthur. Smiled.

"Arthur."

"What?"

"Did I give you permission?"

Arthur's eyes widened. William understood instantly.

"No—"

Percy vanished.

He materialized behind William. William only felt heat. Percy's hand touched his back.

"**[Flame Destruction]**."

**BOOM!**

Controlled fire exploded. William's body was launched forward. His consciousness instantly cut out. Percy caught him before he hit the ground. Gently set him down. Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"William is out."

Eleanor:

"Didn't even take a second."

Galahad laughed.

"One."

Clara attacked Percy. Percy didn't even turn around. At the last second, he slipped sideways. Clara pursued him. Second attack. Third attack. Fourth attack. Percy dodged them all. Clara's eyes moved rapidly. Watching Percy's feet. His shoulders. His hips. His Orin flow. Percy noticed. He smiled.

"Very nice."

Clara:

"Shut up."

Percy:

"Seriously."

Clara struck. Percy stepped aside. Clara shifted direction. Percy dodged again. This time Clara waited. Calculated Percy's movement. Struck. Percy... Didn't move. Clara's eyes widened. Percy stepped forward at the last microsecond. Entering right inside Clara's strike.

Clara:

"Percy?"

Percy was already right in front of her.

"Caught you."

He turned his hand. Joined his fingers. Tapped the back of Clara's neck.

SNAP!

Clara's eyes closed. Percy caught her before she fell. Took her into his arms. Gently laid her on the ground. Brushed her hair from her face.

"Two."

Arthur was left alone.

The arena was dead silent. Nathaniel stared with his mouth wide open. Charlotte didn't say a single word. Marcus kept his eyes fixed on Percy. As for Elizabeth... She was scrutinizing her student.

"It's not just the Advanced level gap."

Holar looked at her.

Elizabeth continued:

"It's not just the element either."

Eleanor nodded.

"Control."

Galahad:

"And probability."

Holar Jun added:

"Most importantly, tempo."

Elizabeth looked at him.

Holar:

"In the first round, he played at their tempo."

"Now, Percy dictates the tempo."

Elizabeth looked back at her student.

"Arthur can't calculate him."

Holar:

"Because the data he's calculating has changed."

Galahad:

"Percy fed them fake data first."

Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"Throughout the first fight."

"Yes."

Elizabeth was silent for a few seconds. Then she shook her head.

"Did he calculate *that* too?"

Eleanor laughed.

"Of course."

Elizabeth looked at her. Eleanor pointed at Holar.

"He's that man's grandson."

Holar Jun straightened up with pride.

"Correct."

Eleanor looked at him.

"You didn't blush even once this time."

Holar:

"I'm getting used to it."

Arthur clenched his fists. Percy stood opposite him. The two looked at each other. This time, they weren't enemies. But they were rivals. Truly.

Percy spoke first:

"Arthur."

Arthur:

"Percy."

Percy smiled.

"You really became my rival."

The look on Arthur's face shifted.

Percy continued:

"You changed."

"You control your anger."

"You watch out for your teammates."

"You listened to William."

"You covered Clara's openings."

Arthur listened quietly.

Percy:

"Now show that by ascending."

Arthur raised his head. Percy's voice softened:

"Don't leave me alone at the top."

Arthur understood.

Percy continued:

"But you made one mistake."

Arthur:

"What is it?"

"You attack too much."

Arthur knit his brows.

Percy:

"You aren't an attacker."

"You are a shield."

Arthur went completely silent. Percy pointed at his own chest:

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"You are durable."

"You think under pressure."

"You can stand in front of people."

"You can keep them behind you."

Percy smiled.

"You are far more functional there."

Arthur thought for a few seconds. Then he nodded.

"Alright, Percy."

He paused for a second.

"I'll do as you say."

He emphasized the last word intentionally:

"President."

Percy's smile widened. Arthur smiled as well. Galahad watched silently. Eleanor's face softened. Elizabeth looked at the two of them. Arthur had truly returned.

Percy raised his right hand. Arthur immediately took position. Percy gathered his full strength. Fire wrapped around his arm. Arthur's eyes widened.

"Alright."

He raised a barrier.

MAGIC SHIELD.

Percy didn't move. Arthur raised a second one.

MAGIC SHIELD ×2.

Third. ×3. Fourth. ×4. The last one.

MAGIC SHIELD ×5.

Five layers encapsulated Arthur.

Nathaniel:

"FIVE OF THEM?!"

Charlotte:

"He just learned it."

Marcus:

"He did what Percy said."

Galahad laughed proudly.

"A shield."

When Percy saw this... He was genuinely happy.

"There it is!"

Arthur:

"Come get some!"

Percy clenched his fist. **[Nature of Fire]** responded. Five percent element comprehension... Poured into his fist. Elizabeth's eyes widened.

"Percy."

Percy shouted:

"FIRE **PUNCH!**"

**BOOM!**

The first punch landed on the shield. Arthur gritted his teeth. Percy struck the second.

**BOOM!**

Third. Fourth. Fifth. Percy accelerated.

TEN.

Arthur slid backward.

FIFTEEN.

The first shield cracked.

TWENTY.

BOOOOOOM!

The first layer shattered. Percy didn't stop.

TWENTY-FIVE.

The second layer broke.

Arthur shouted:

"GIVE ME MORE!"

Percy smiled.

"AS YOU WISH!"

THIRTY.

The third shield broke.

THIRTY-FIVE.

The fourth crumbled. Arthur reinforced the final shield. Percy's eyes sparkled.

FORTY.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The final shield shattered into pieces. Fire erupted in every direction. Arthur's eyes widened. Percy wasn't there.

"Behind you."

Arthur turned instantly. But Percy was faster. Arthur saw only the fist. Percy pulled back his strength at the last split second. The fist struck his cheek.

**BOOM!**

Arthur's consciousness cut out. Percy caught him as well. Gently lowered him to the ground. The arena was quiet.

All three lay on the ground. William. Clara. Arthur. Percy stood in the middle of them. Gasping for breath. The Fire domain closed. The Advanced aura extinguished. Percy raised his hands.

"**[Absolute Heal]**."

William's injuries closed.

"**[Absolute Heal]**."

The redness on Clara's neck vanished.

"**[Absolute Heal]**."

Arthur's face healed up. Percy took a deep breath. And sat on the ground.

"Alright."

Nathaniel could finally speak.

"Alright?"

Percy looked at him.

"Yes."

Nathaniel pointed at the three lying down.

"YOU BEAT UP THREE PEOPLE!"

Percy:

"It was a sparring match."

Nathaniel:

"DID WE WATCH A DIFFERENT MATCH?!"

Charlotte burst into laughter.

William was the first to wake up. He opened his eyes. Saw Percy.

"We lost."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"By how much?"

Percy smiled.

"The final part was rough."

William sat up.

"I noticed."

Percy extended his hand. William took it. Percy pulled him up.

"The beginning was fantastic."

William paused.

Percy continued:

"The three of you really pushed me."

William:

"And then?"

Percy:

"I changed the tempo."

William closed his eyes. He understood.

"Our data became invalid."

Percy:

"Bingo."

William smiled.

"I'll recalculate next time."

Percy:

"I'll be waiting."

Clara opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Percy. Percy extended his hand to her. Clara took it. Stood up. Said nothing. She simply didn't let go of Percy's hand. Percy noticed. But this time, he didn't tease her. Clara looked at the arena. Then at her own Core. She silently closed her eyes. Felt the surrounding Orin. Percy looked at her. Something had changed. Clara didn't speak. She didn't make promises to anyone. She didn't say she'd catch up to Percy. She didn't need to. She felt the wall of Core 8. Saw the energy behind it. And made her decision. Her next target was clear. It wasn't Core 9. Nor Core 10.

CORE 11.

Galahad noticed. He smiled.

"That's it."

Percy looked at him.

"What is it, big bro?"

Galahad shook his head.

"Nothing."

Clara opened her eyes. Looked at Percy. Smiled. Percy smiled too. Neither of them said a word.

Arthur woke up. Held his cheek.

"You hit me."

Percy:

"You hit me too."

Arthur:

"I deserved it."

Percy:

"Which part?"

Arthur thought for a few seconds.

"Most of it."

Percy burst into laughter. Arthur laughed too. Then he grew serious.

"The shield."

Percy nodded.

Arthur:

"I'll work on it."

"Good."

"Five isn't enough."

Percy smiled.

"Make it ten."

Arthur:

"I will."

"Do it."

The two bumped fists.

Elizabeth still hadn't spoken. Percy noticed. Looked at his new teacher.

"Teacher?"

Elizabeth didn't reply. Percy grew slightly concerned.

"Was I bad?"

Elizabeth turned her head toward him.

"Bad?"

Percy:

"Yes?"

Elizabeth looked at Eleanor. Then at Galahad. Then at Holar Jun. Turned back to Percy.

"I..."

She paused for a moment.

"What kind of student did I take on?"

Percy smiled.

"A good one?"

Elizabeth held her forehead. Galahad roared with laughter.

"THAT'S MY BROTHER!"

Eleanor immediately chimed in:

"My nephew."

Holar Jun stepped in:

"My grandson."

Elizabeth turned to him.

"My student."

The three of them looked at each other.

Holar:

"My grandson."

Eleanor:

"My nephew."

Elizabeth:

"My student."

Galahad:

"My brother."

Percy looked at all of them.

"I'm right here."

No one listened.

"My grandson."

"My nephew."

"My student."

"My brother."

Percy:

"HEY, I'M A HUMAN BEING."

Nathaniel burst out laughing. Charlotte couldn't hold back either. Arthur laughed. William shook his head. Clara squeezed Percy's hand. Percy looked at her.

Clara:

"I'm staying out of this."

Percy:

"Thanks."

Clara smiled.

"My sweet trouble."

Percy's eyes widened.

"HEY, THAT'S MY LINE."

Clara:

"Mine now."

Percy:

"Thief."

Clara:

"Prove it."

Percy was about to reply. But Elizabeth stood up.

"Wait a second."

Everyone went quiet. Elizabeth looked at Percy.

"That move just now."

Percy:

"Which one?"

"You cut the magic orb."

Percy:

"Yes."

Elizabeth:

"When did you learn that?"

Percy thought.

"I didn't."

The expression on Elizabeth's face shifted.

"What?"

Percy raised his hand. Created a tiny fire orb. Everyone focused intently. Percy moved his finger. The orb shifted right. Flicked his finger. The orb returned. Then went up. Percy gave a slight twist of his wrist. The fire orb spun around him. William stood up.

"Hold on."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. Percy made the orb dance. Right. Left. Up. Down. A full loop around himself. Then returned to his palm.

Elizabeth:

"Percy."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"When did you learn this?"

Percy looked at the orb. Then at Elizabeth.

"Just now."

Silence. On Galahad's face... That smile formed. Eleanor saw it.

"No."

Galahad took a breath.

Eleanor:

"Galahad."

Galahad's shoulders trembled.

"Don't."

Galahad couldn't contain it.

"BOOOOOOOOOOW—"

Eleanor clamped her hand over his mouth.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Holar Jun burst into laughter. Elizabeth looked at her student. Then at the fire orb. Then back at Percy.

"A monster."

Percy:

"Teacher?"

"You are a monster."

Eleanor smiled with pride.

"Told you."

Holar Jun crossed his arms.

"Training."

Eleanor:

"Don't credit everything to yourself."

Holar Jun looked at her.

"Shut up."

Galahad was still laughing. Clara didn't let go of Percy's hand. Arthur was thinking about his new shield. William was formulating new calculations. Charlotte was analyzing the battle. Marcus was quietly preparing. And Nathaniel was shaking his head. Percy looked at all of them. The three-on-one fight was over. But what he saw... Wasn't the defeat of three people. It was the success of the camp. Percy smiled. Five days were left. And now he knew. They weren't ready. Not yet. But for the very first time... He saw that they could become ready.