True Rankings

The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of change.

Denwen had held the number one rank for only two weeks before Roy dethroned him in a clean victory. Now, Denwen sat at rank three, just behind Angus. But he didn't mind—he understood his limits.

Unlike them, he couldn't channel his essence externally. His physical body, still unrefined by true essence cultivation, simply wasn't strong enough to withstand the empowered blows of awakened warriors who could.

Essence channeling.

It was the foundation of combat at Rank 1—the ability to circulate essence through the body, enhancing speed, strength, and durability. More advanced users could push it into weapons, creating explosive force in battle.

But Denwen still hadn't fully circulated essence throughout his body, much less projected it outward.

Angus had mastered it, allowing his wind-element essence to flow freely, boosting his speed to frightening levels. Melissa had succeeded in channeling essence into her body, enhancing her physical prowess. But as a fire mage, she struggled to convert it into mana to project spells, keeping her below the rankings.

Even so, Denwen refused to feel discouraged. He simply needed another way forward.

—

That evening, as he leaned against the academy training hall's marble pillars, Roy suddenly appeared, grinning as he stretched out his hand.

In his palm lay a green pendant, its surface shimmering under the dim light, intricate runes inscribed into its polished core. The faint pulse of essence energy radiated from it—a relic meant to aid cultivation.

Denwen's eyes widened.

"Wait… isn't this the Verdant Core Pendant?" He looked up in shock. "The one you got as a test reward?"

Roy smirked. "Yeah. And I'm giving it to you."

Denwen frowned, crossing his arms. "You're joking, right? That thing boosts essence reserves by 25% and increases recovery speed by 20%. You're just handing it over?"

Roy pushed the pendant against Denwen's chest insistently. "What's the problem? I'm an A-grade talent—I don't need it. My essence recovers so fast I can just sit for thirty minutes, and I'm back at full capacity. You need it way more than I do."

Denwen hesitated. The offer was tempting. The Verdant Core Pendant could help with his stagnation, but—

"You're already mid Rank 1, and now the principal has taken you under his wing. You'll be getting even better resources soon," Denwen pointed out.

Roy shrugged. "Exactly. This thing is just a beginner's tool for me. But for you? It could change everything."

Denwen exhaled, finally reaching out to take the pendant. He ran his fingers over the cool surface, feeling the subtle hum of stored essence within.

"…Well, I guess I'd be dumb to refuse. The essence cores I use for cultivation barely work for me anyway—most of the energy just leaks away. But this… this should actually help."

As he admired the pendant, Roy's expression darkened slightly. "Just be careful."

Denwen glanced up. "Huh?"

Roy folded his arms. "The Verdant Core Pendant is addictive. It makes channeling essence easier, but if you overuse it, your body will grow reliant on it. Once removed, your cultivation will slow down drastically—maybe even worsen."

Denwen chuckled, bumping Roy's shoulder. "Look at you, getting all serious. It's weird."

Roy rolled his eyes, but before he could retort, Denwen continued, grinning. "I already know that I can only use it for an hour a day, max. I should be the one warning you about it."

The two burst into laughter, the weight of the conversation lifting.

—

Just then, a playful voice cut through the air.

"Oh? Someone proposed?"

Denwen's heart skipped a beat as he turned toward the voice.

Kara.

She approached with her usual air of confidence, her long raven-black hair swaying behind her. Her golden eyes gleamed with mischief, and her lips curved into a knowing smirk.

Roy turned to Denwen, wiggling his brows teasingly. "Yeah, bro, should I congratulate you?"

Denwen scoffed, his face heating up slightly. "Oh, shut up. It's not like that."

Kara crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. "Oh? Then explain why a guy is giving you a pendant."

Denwen opened his mouth, but before he could defend himself, Roy attempted to sneak away—tiptoeing out of the conversation.

Bad move.

Kara noticed instantly.

Without even looking, she reached back and grabbed the collar of his uniform, yanking him back effortlessly.

"ACK—!" Roy gasped, his face turning a deep shade of purple as he struggled in her grip.

Denwen chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Alright, alright—I owe you one. I promise." He sighed dramatically. "So please… let him breathe?"

Kara gave Denwen a long look, her eyes twinkling with amusement before she finally released Roy.

Gasp!

Roy stumbled forward, dramatically clutching his throat. "I—thought—I was going to die."

Kara winked at Denwen before walking ahead, swaying her hips just enough to make him notice.

Denwen exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he put the pendant in his back pocket.

Roy, still recovering, nudged him.

"…Bro. You are so done for."

Denwen just smirked. "We'll see."