2025-10-20 14:19:14"Silence!"
Instructor Brann’s voice cracked like a whip, and the arena fell into a tense, immediate hush. Hundreds of hopeful students stared up at him. “My name is Brann. I will be conducting this assessment, so listen well. Your future here depends on it.” He let his gaze sweep over them. “Every one of you falls into one of two classes: Warrior or Mage. Warriors rely on physical power, speed, and defense, channeling mana into their bodies. Mages wield special abilities, from elemental manipulation to healing.” He gestured to a large, glowing crystal to his left. “The assessment is in two parts. First, the mana-evaluation crystal will ascertain your current stage and class.” He then pointed a thick finger toward a humanoid figure in the center of the combat platform. “Second, you will face that training dummy in combat. Do not underestimate it.” The dummy was a formidable sight, a mannequin wrapped in segmented black rubber plates that resembled obsidian armor. The testing began. In groups of five, students were called forward. The crystal glowed, announcing stages in a monotone voice. Reactions varied wildly. “initial 1 star warrior hunter ,” the crystal intoned for one boy. His shoulders slumped. “I trained so hard…” he mumbled, shuffling toward the dummy, which promptly knocked him off his feet in three seconds. A moment later, a girl’s badge glowed silver as the crystal announced, “Peak 1 star Mage hunter.” A smirk appeared on her lips. She then used a controlled gust of wind to blast the dummy away, earning a nod from Brann. A murmur ran through the crowd. “See? It’s not just about raw power,” one observant student whispered to his friend. “If you can’t apply it in a fight, you’re just a mana battery.” Then, Brann’s voice boomed again. “Harry Caelum, Lucian Cross, Graece Silverleaf, Latisha Kronocrest, step forward.” Harry was first. He placed his hand on the crystal. “Peak 3 star ,Mage.” "wow at such a young age what a talent" said an instructor. He sauntered onto the platform.The dummy rushed him, its fist a blur. At the last possible moment, lightning crackled across Harry’s body. He became a flash of light, sidestepping and driving a fist wreathed in electricity into the dummy’s chest. ZZZT–CRACK! The dummy staggered back, a black scorch mark on its torso. The crowd erupted. “Did you see that?He moved like lightning!” “I didn’t even see him move!” Instructor Brann gave a curt nod.“Peak Stage 0, Mage. Proceed.” “Next! Graece Silverleaf.” Graece moved with an unnerving serenity. The crystal glowed: “Mid 3 star Mage.” As she took her place on the platform, the dummy charged. She didn’t flinch, her face a placid mask. The crowd grew restless. “Is she just going to stand there?” someone hissed. “She’s frozen!She’s going to get hit!” Just before impact, she knelt, placing her palms flat on the floor. “Forest Release: Vine Bloom.” The stone floor ruptured. Thick, bark-like vines exploded upwards, striking the dummy with explosive force. CLANG! One vine hammered its torso, hurling it back. Another snaked out, entangling its arm and yanking it brutally to the floor. BAM! The dummy was systematically ensnared and battered into submission before a final, whip-crack vine across its chest silenced it completely. Graece stood, brushed a speck of dust from her skirt, and exhaled softly. A stunned silence blanketed the arena, broken by a hushed whisper. “She…she destroyed it without even throwing a punch.” “What kind of mage is she?” From the instructor’s dais, a female instructor smiled. “Impressive control for a Middle Stage.” Brann nodded,his arms crossed. “Indeed. This year will be interesting.” “Latisha Kronocrest. You’re next.” The crystal confirmed her as a Peak Stage 0 Mage. Latisha’s eyes held a sharp, competitive glint as she fell into a fluid fighter’s stance. The dummy lunged, unleashing a blistering combination of punches aimed at her head. She weaved and slipped, each strike passing millimeters from her face. “Phew, that was close,” she muttered with a breathless grin, more to herself than anyone. It tried a spinning kick. She leaned back, letting the force whistle past her. She shot a quick jab, which the dummy blocked, countering with a ferocious overhead swing. BLINK. She vanished, reappearing several meters away, casually brushing dust from her shoulder. “Too slow.” She sprinted forward,feinted with her right, and vanished again—reappearing behind the dummy. Her shin whipped into the back of its knee. BANG! As it stumbled, it countered with a blind spinning kick, hitting only air. BANG! Her elbow smashed into its head. Without pause, she lunged, leaping into the air. The dummy jumped to intercept, but she vanished mid-flight, reappearing above it. “Gotcha.” Her axe kick descended like a hammer,crushing the dummy’s head into the floor with a final, thunderous BANG! She landed lightly, brushed her hair back, and walked off the platform. The crowd was caught between awe and disbelief. “She teleports!How are you supposed to fight that?” “Did you see the power in that kick?She’s a mage who fights like a warrior!” Finally, it was Lucian’s turn. He placed his hand on the crystal. “mid 1 star Warrior.” A surge of confidence warmed him.‘Middle Stage… my training is paying off.’ He stepped onto the platform, cracking his knuckles. "Let's get this over with." He took the initiative, lunging forward. His first punch slammed into the dummy's chest, making it stagger. It countered immediately with a blow toward his ribs. Lucian twisted, barely getting his forearm in the way. The impact stung. “Too close,” he hissed through gritted teeth. As it shot another punch at his head, he ducked under, slammed his shoulder into its torso to unbalance it, and followed with a brutal uppercut. The dummy’s head snapped back. Seeing his opening, Lucian roared, pouring all his strength into one final, explosive straight punch. BANG! The force sent the dummy flying off its feet before it crashed to the floor, its lights flickering out. Lucian stood panting, a bead of sweat tracing his temple. He allowed himself a small, satisfied smirk. “Not bad for a warm-up.”
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Chapter 26: beyond the simulation
The chain whistled again, a jagged streak of purple light that sliced through the falling rain. Lucian threw himself into a roll, the weighted end of the weapon shattering the ceramic tiles where his head had been a microsecond before. She’s too fast, Lucian thought, his heart hammering against his ribs. Every time I try to close the gap, that sickle comes around like a boomerang. I’m playing her game, and she’s a pro at it. He ducked behind a massive holographic billboard advertising "Neon-Cola." The humming blue light flickered as the sickle blade bit into the metal frame, sparks showering Lucian’s shoulder. If I don’t change something now, I’m just waiting to get carved up. "System," he whispered, his eyes darting to the corner of his HUD. "Allocate stat points to agility now." Available Points: 3 +2 to Agility (Current: 18 - 20) +1 to Strength (Current: 22 - 23) [ALERT: AGILITY HAS REACHED A MILESTONE (20). UNLOCKING PASSIVE: 'REFLEX ACCELERATION'] A sudden, cold jolt
Chapter 25: spoils of war
The heavy scent of antiseptic and the low hum of mana-stabilisers were the first things to greet Lucian as he drifted back to consciousness. His eyelids felt like lead, stuck together by the crust of a deep, exhausted slumber. When he finally forced them open, the harsh fluorescent lights of the infirmary made him wince. "Finally you’re awake?" Lucian turned his head slowly. A nurse was standing by a terminal, checking his vitals. "How long have I been unconscious?" Lucian managed to croak out, his throat feeling like he’d swallowed a handful of dry sand. "You’ve been out since yesterday afternoon," she replied, her tone a mix of professional detachment and mild lingering surprise. "You pushed your mana pool to the absolute limit. Most students would have ended up being in bed for days, but your recovery rate is... unusual." Yesterday? Lucian sank back into the pillow. Memories of the duel flooded back—the roar of the crowd, the heat of the arena, and the terrifying pressure o
chapter 24: blood, sweat and gold
The dust cloud hung thick in the air, swirling like smoke after an explosion. For several long seconds, the entire martial hall stayed frozen in shock at the scale of the devastating attack displayed by the two students. every student, every instructor, every breath held. Inside the haze, both of the fighters had fallen the force from their attacks had blown them away. Lucian managed to stand with a hunched posture, his chest heaving as he tried catching breath. Blood dripped steadily from the cuts on his arms and ribs, staining the sand dark. His body was screaming in pain and fatigue from pushing it to the limit, but he forced himself to stay upright. Across from him, Damien was in no better shape. His longsword was nowhere to be seen; the impact of the collision had knocked it from his grasp. He held his ears that were bleeding and ringing. His vision had become hazy as his head was foggy, and he saw droplets of blood drip to the floor from his nose. Lucian's sonic blast had dis
chapter 23: more than a Duel
All eyes locked on the lean bronze-badge boy with short red hair as he strode forward, fists clenched tight. Lucian felt the familiar heat flare in his chest—hotter than usual. Today, he thought, I stepped into my new rank, and determination burned through him. On his hands were the intermediate-tier gauntlets—black leather reinforced with crimson flame runes, lion heads etched across the knuckles. They fit like a second skin. Only Harry had seen them before; they’d been a gift from a wealthy family friend the week Lucian left for the academy. Today was the first time he’d wear them in real combat. A small thrill mixed with the nerves. I need a different badge colour. The benefits—resources, portals, and real training—will propel me forward faster than anything else here. His gaze flicked across the hall. Damien stood with his usual golden-badge crew, arms crossed, smirking like he already knew what was coming. Lucian stepped forward. “Damien!” The hall went dead quiet. Da
chapter 22: blood Vs saber
The night before the big day, several instructors gathered in a brightly lit faculty office. Lanterns flickered on the long table, casting shadows across their faces. The meeting was short, but the mood was serious. The vice head instructor leaned forward, hands clasped. “We’ve decided to give the students a real chance tomorrow. Let them prove their badges mean something. If they’ve earned their rank, they keep it. If not… someone stronger takes it.” A murmur of agreement went around the room. One of the younger teachers nodded. “Tomorrow’s advancement day. I want to see who climbs to a higher badge—and if any of these kids can actually surprise us.” Kenshi, the combat instructor with the sharp eyes, smiled faintly. “There are some who’ve shown real promise. Especially a certain redhead in my class. Lucian. He was one of the first to master mana channelling properly. Picked it up fast and was able to use it in training.” The elemental affinity teacher Vian raised an ey
chapter 21: open challenges
The next morning, the martial hall buzzed louder than usual. Every student—mages and warriors alike—had crammed inside, shoulders pressed together, voices overlapping in restless waves. Even the instructors lined the raised platforms, arms crossed, eyes scanning the crowd like hawks. Lucian, Harry, and Graece slipped through the doors just as the heavy wooden panels thudded shut behind them. “Wow,” Graece murmured, silver hair catching the sunlight. “There are way more people here today than normal.” Harry nodded, scanning the sea of faces. “Yeah. Feels like everyone showed up expecting something big. Wonder what they’ve got planned.” They pushed forward until they reached the front rows, close enough to hear the lead instructor clearly. The man was tall with a raspy voice like gravel stepped to the centre of the sand ring. His black robe bore the academy’s silver crest. “When you first arrived here,” he began, “if you can recall, you were told one thing clearly: your badge r
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