The trial begins

From the opposite side of the arena, a massive Stone Golem emerged. Towering over Ren, it was covered in rough gray rock plates, its glowing amber eyes pulsing with ancient magic. The ground trembled under its heavy footsteps.

Ren gripped his sword tightly, muscles tensing as he sized up his opponent. With a roar, he charged.

The Golem swung its huge stone fist in a wide arc, aiming to crush him. Ren ducked low, the stone fist smashing into the earth and sending dust flying. He rolled forward, then sprang up behind the Golem.

Without hesitation, Ren slammed his sword into a gap between the plates on the Golem's back. The blade bit deep, sparks flying as it struck. The Golem staggered but turned with surprising speed, slamming its free fist toward Ren.

Ren blocked with the flat of his sword, gritting his teeth as the impact jolted through his arms.

The crowd gasped.

Ren backed off, calculating. His face was set—focused, determined. He wasn't just strong; he was smart.

He baited the Golem into swinging again, this time feinting left before dashing right. As the Golem's fist passed, Ren leapt onto its arm, sprinting upward with swift, powerful strides.

Reaching the Golem's shoulder, he delivered a fierce downward slash that cracked a large stone plate. The Golem roared, swinging wildly to throw him off, but Ren held on.

He slid down the arm, landing nimbly on the ground. He wiped sweat from his brow but kept his eyes locked on the Golem.

"Impressive speed," a recruiter muttered beside the instructor, "for someone built like that."

The Golem raised both fists and slammed them into the ground, sending a shockwave toward Ren. He jumped back just in time, feeling the ground crack where he had stood.

Ren smiled, adrenaline pumping.

He dashed forward again, this time drawing on all his strength. Channeling the basic

Weapon Art "Earthbreaker Strike," he swung his sword in a wide, crushing arc, the blade glowing faintly with raw force.

The strike connected with the Golem's chest, shattering several plates and causing it to stagger backward. Rocks and dust exploded in the air.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Ren's face was flushed with exertion, but his eyes shone with triumph.

"That was incredible!" Miya whispered, her eyes wide.

Kayden nodded, impressed despite himself.

Ren roared, raising his sword high. With a final surge, he charged, slashing through the Golem's remaining defenses. The Golem collapsed with a heavy crash, stones tumbling in a cloud of dust.

The instructor blew his whistle sharply. "Time! Well done!"

As Ren sheathed his sword, a wave of admiration rolled through the onlookers.

"Strength unmatched," one recruiter said. "And that strategy—he's a natural."

Ren glanced once more at Kayden, his mocking grin lingering, but with a new edge of respect beneath it.

Kayden and Miya exchanged glances, their resolve deepening. The exam had only just begun.

As the dust settled and the broken remains of the Stone Golem crumbled into the ground, the crowd stood in a stunned silence. Then the head instructor stepped forward, his voice clear and firm as he turned to face the gathered audience.

"Ren Duskveil—final grading as follows."

He raised a hand and spoke with authority.

"Strength: 10 out of 10."

A collective murmur ran through the crowd.

"His blows were not only powerful enough to break through a Stone Golem's dense core but did so with minimal effort. That kind of raw power is extremely rare, even among fully ranked adventurers."

Some guild recruiters leaned in to whisper among themselves, impressed. One even began scribbling into a leather-bound notebook.

"Speed: 8 out of 10."

"A slight delay in response time after the Golem shifted to second-phase movement, but his recovery was swift and controlled. While not the fastest we've seen today, his pacing was deliberate—and effective."

Professor Xeni nodded from the side, arms folded. "He doesn't rush. He moves when he needs to. Smart."

"Strategy and Adaptability: 9 out of 10."

"Ren anticipated the Golem's phase change, redirected its strikes to weaken its stance, and used the terrain to his advantage. His ability to adapt mid-fight was exceptional—if slightly overshadowed by his overwhelming offense."

A ripple of awe spread among the students watching. Some clapped softly. Others whispered in admiration… or envy.

Ren stood calmly in the center of the court, chest rising slowly with each breath. His sword rested across his shoulders as he turned to face the stands.

His gaze found the royal ambassadors seated at the front—dressed in navy blue cloaks with golden crests of House Duskveil stitched on their shoulders. One of them gave a respectful nod; the other scribbled into a scroll.

Ren smirked and gave a slight tilt of his head in return, confident and proud.

He didn't need words. That performance had spoken louder than any noble's title ever could.

Behind him, the stone platform slowly reset for the next challenger—but the pressure Ren left behind hung in the air like a weight over everyone watching.

As the roar of recruiters filled the air around Ren, guild banners being passed and hands shaken, the instructor's voice rose above the noise, firm and unwavering:

"Up next—Miya Solemare."

Miya froze. Her breath caught in her throat.

The cheers quieted. Heads turned. Some students whispered among themselves, clearly still reeling from Ren's overwhelming performance.

Miya's hand gripped the hilt of her prototype sword tightly. She took a hesitant step forward.

Kayden turned to her, eyes steady and voice calm.

"Hey. Remember your promise. You're not here to be like Ren. You're here to be you. And that's enough."

Miya's wide blue eyes softened. Her sister's voice echoed in her memory—words of hope, of dreams they once shared.

She nodded slowly. "Right… for her."

Her nerves melted away as she stepped into the arena.

The ground beneath her was still slightly cracked from the last battle. Across the court, the Stone Golem emerged again from its pedestal—towering, with thick granite arms and runes glowing faintly along its chest. It groaned to life, heavy steps shaking the floor.

The crowd watched in silence.

Miya didn't charge. Instead, she stepped back, eyes sharp, studying every movement.

"Start!"

The Golem lunged forward, its fists slamming down. Miya rolled aside, not attacking—observing. Dust flew up around her, but she kept low, watching the way its joints moved, the timing between attacks.

"Come on, move smarter, not harder…" she whispered to herself.

She led the Golem around the court, forcing it to pivot, sidestep, swing, and miss. Her blade didn't swing until she saw the opportunity. She noticed a slight pause after each of its heavy strikes, a brief recharge before it could swing again.

She struck fast—one precise cut at the side of its knee joint—then darted away. The blow chipped stone, and the crowd leaned in.

"She's not overpowering it… she's wearing it down," one professor muttered.

"She's counting frames between its movements. That's hard to do under pressure," another observed.

The Golem swung again. This time she timed it perfectly—ducked, rolled under its arm, and slashed behind its leg again. Another crack formed. The Golem stumbled slightly.

The instructor's eyes lit up in surprise.

Miya was using the battlefield like a chessboard.

Each movement was deliberate. She moved it toward the cracked edge of the arena where Ren had shattered a stone pillar. The footing was weaker there.

The Golem advanced.

Miya breathed deep and whispered her Weapon Art.

"Falling Petal."

She surged forward with a precise dash—not a flashy move, but clean and efficient. Her sword gleamed with focus, not magic. She slid low and slashed directly into the already-weakened back of the Golem's leg.

The stone cracked fully.

The Golem collapsed forward, catching itself on one arm—exposed.

Miya didn't waste the moment.

She leapt onto its back, running up its spine, and brought her sword down onto the runes glowing across its neck.

CRACK.

The Golem collapsed face-first into the ground. Silent. Defeated.

The crowd erupted into applause—loud and stunned.

"She planned that whole fight out mid-battle…"

"She's not a powerhouse, but that strategy—"

"Brilliant control…"

Miya stood there, breathing hard but steady. Dust swirled around her, catching the sunlight.

She smiled softly, more to herself than to anyone else.

Kayden watched from the sidelines, pride lighting up his expression.

Miya turned to the stands, eyes scanning for one face she'd never see again. But in her heart, she knew her sister was watching.

And she had kept her promise.

The moment the Golem fell, the arena was silent—just for a heartbeat.

Then the crowd erupted.

Cheers burst from every corner, filling the academy grounds with raw energy. Professors stood, clapping in admiration. Guild recruiters leaned forward, some exchanging quick words, others scribbling notes.

The head instructor stepped forward, raising a hand to silence the crowd. His voice rang out clear over the commotion:

"Scores for Miya Solemare!"

A pause. The crowd hushed in anticipation.

"Strength: 6 out of 10."

"While she lacked raw power, she displayed enough physical control and force to create effective strikes at key moments. Her technique compensated for her size."

A few murmurs from the crowd, but most nodded—agreeing. It was expected. She wasn't a heavy-hitter like Ren.

"Speed: 8 out of 10."

"Though not the fastest contestant, she demonstrated excellent reaction timing and battlefield mobility. She moved with intent, not waste."

More applause. Some guild members smiled, murmuring praise.

"Strategy… 10 out of 10."

"Miya Solemare displayed an exceptional ability to read her opponent, plan under pressure, and manipulate the battlefield to her advantage. This is the highest strategy score awarded today."

The arena exploded.

A wave of cheers and gasps surged through the spectators.

"She outplayed it like a commander," one scholar remarked, eyes wide.

"She's more than we expected," a royal army ambassador said with interest.

Guild recruiters surged forward now, some of them who had just finished chasing after Ren turning toward each other, whispering excitedly.

"There's more than one gem here."

"We need to talk to her. That strategy score is no joke."

In the stands, Kayden's eyes lit up with a proud grin. He clapped hard, not caring who saw.

"She did it," he said under his breath. "She really did it."

A few feet away, Ren leaned back with his arms crossed, that same cocky grin returning—but it wasn't mocking this time. His eyes followed Miya as she walked off the arena.

"Tch… not bad, Ice Petal," he muttered with a smirk.

Miya stood at the center of the arena, bathed in sunlight, her chest rising and falling slowly. She bowed her head politely to the instructors and turned...walking calmly toward the exit as the crowd roared behind her.

She didn't show off. Didn't raise her arms. Just smiled faintly to herself.

"That's one journey finished…" she whispered under her breath, eyes focused on the future.

"On to the next."

And with quiet resolve, she stepped down from the battlefield—no longer just a nervous girl from a quiet village, but a rising star among future adventurers.

As the roaring crowd began to settle once more, the announcer's voice rang clear across the arena:

"Up next—Kayden Vaelaris!"

The name cut through the air like a ripple in still water.

Professor Xeni leaned forward in his seat, eyes narrowing slightly. Unlike the other instructors who watched with interest, Xeni's gaze held something different—measured curiosity… and recognition.

"Let's see it, Kayden," he thought.

Far in the back of the crowd, beneath the shadow of one of the viewing towers, a hooded figure crossed their arms. Their voice, no louder than a whisper, slipped into the wind.

"So… he's the one the prophecy speaks of? Let's see if the world's hope is worth the title of Chosen One."

Kayden stepped forward into the arena.

The cheers that had greeted Ren turned into a tense hum of anticipation. This was different.

Miya watched him intently, hands clasped together. You've trained for this. You've planned for this. You're going to do amazing, she thought with a small, hopeful smile.

Ren leaned on the railing nearby, arms crossed, his grin sharpened.

"Tch. Don't disappoint me, Vaelaris," he muttered. "Let's see if you're really worth chasing."

Across the arena, the towering Stone Golem began to stir—its body a massive frame of boulders and rune-forged joints, jagged fists slamming into the ground as it activated.

The ground trembled.

Kayden exhaled slowly and lowered into a stance, his prototype sword gripped tight in one hand, the other hovering near his side, ready.

"Begin!"

The golem charged.

It moved like a landslide—heavy and fast, its first strike aiming to flatten Kayden with a crushing fist.

But Kayden vanished.

A blur of motion—faster than most eyes could track. He appeared to the golem's side, landing a clean slash against its arm joint.

The crowd gasped.

"He's fast!" someone exclaimed.

"Faster than Ren?" another whispered.

Kayden didn't let up.

The golem swung again, this time aiming a spinning backhand to catch him off guard—but Kayden slid beneath it, pivoted on his heel, and leapt onto the golem's arm mid-motion.

He ran up the length of its arm as it reeled back, spun around, and landed behind its neck.

He stabbed deep into the shoulder joint and launched off just before the golem slammed itself backward into the ground, missing him by inches.

"He's analyzing the joints," a guild recruiter noted, leaning forward.

"No wasted movement. Every step is calculated," a magical scholar said.

Back on the ground, Kayden narrowed his eyes.

Strength's not enough to shatter it head-on... but I can use its own momentum.

The golem charged again. Kayden sprinted forward—not away—meeting it head-on. The crowd held their breath.

At the last second, Kayden dove low, sliding beneath its stomping feet. He jammed his blade into the ground and called out:

"Arc Drive—Echo Line!"

A glowing energy pulse followed the blade's path, detonating beneath the golem's foot as it stepped forward—knocking its stance off balance.

It staggered.

Kayden leapt onto its knee, then its shoulder, then straight into the air.

His voice rang out again, loud and clear:

"Weapon Art—Final Tempest!"

His blade surged with concentrated force—not elemental, but refined energy built through movement, timing, and precision.

Mid-air, he twisted and brought the sword down in a blinding arc.

CRACK!

The blow landed directly at the golem's neck joint. The shockwave echoed across the arena as the creature reeled back—its massive head snapping to the side—before the entire construct collapsed in a thunderous heap.

Dust billowed.

Silence.

Then—

"WHOOOOOAAAAA!"

The crowd exploded. Applause, cheers, whistles—all of it filled the stadium.

Even guild recruiters who had already been fawning over Ren were now frantically talking.

"That precision—he dissected it like a tactician!"

"He combined speed and strategy without relying on brute force. That's next-level talent."

Professor Xeni didn't clap—he simply nodded once, eyes calm, lips forming a slight smile.

"You've inherited more than your bloodline, haven't you?"

From the shadows, the hooded figure chuckled under their breath.

"Not bad, little Chosen One. Not bad at all."

Miya's eyes sparkled with pride, hands clutched near her heart.

"He did it," she whispered.

Ren scoffed, but there was no irritation in his tone. Instead, he smiled wider.

"Guess it's my turn to keep up."

In the center of the arena, Kayden stood with dust swirling around him, chest rising with every breath, sword lowered at his side.

He looked toward the stands—at his friends, at the faculty, and maybe beyond.

And for a brief moment, every eye in the academy was on him.

As the crowd slowly quieted down from the storm of cheers, the head instructor stepped forward, holding a crystal tablet that shimmered with Kayden's results.

He raised his voice, projecting clearly to the entire arena.

"Kayden Vaelaris—your results are as follows:"

"Strength: 8 out of 10."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

The instructor continued, voice firm.

"Though not overwhelming like his peer before him, Kayden displayed exceptional combat strength, striking with purpose rather than brute force. Every blow was intentional—enough to destabilize a Stone Golem's structure. This is strength with finesse."

A few guild scholars nodded in appreciation.

"Speed: 10 out of 10."

The audience gasped.

"In terms of reaction time, movement precision, and the ability to outmaneuver an opponent multiple times his size, Kayden Vaelaris is unmatched among today's candidates. A perfect score."

Some students in the crowd whistled in amazement.

One instructor leaned to another and whispered, "That boy moved like lightning itself."

"Strategy: 10 out of 10."

Now the crowd exploded again, louder than before. Cheers and gasps swept through the arena like a wave.

"Exceptional adaptation. Flawless execution. Kayden not only analyzed the battlefield mid-fight—he exploited the golem's own weight and momentum to end the battle in moments. A tactical mind of the highest order."

Guild recruiters were now frantically scribbling notes, murmuring to assistants, and preparing letters. Some weren't even trying to hide their excitement.

"We need him."

"He's beyond promising—he's a generational talent."

"His future weapon affinity might determine his path, but with skills like that… he's already ahead."

Professor Xeni, arms folded, gave the faintest nod of approval.

"I knew you were special. But now the world sees it too."

Miya's eyes lit up, a soft smile spreading across her lips. She whispered quietly to herself, "Told you you'd do well."

Ren, still leaning on the railing, gave a dry chuckle and shook his head.

"Of course you'd match me," he said with a grin. "Guess we're both going all out from here on."

And far above them all, the hooded figure took one final glance at the arena before turning away.

Their voice was calm, almost amused, as they disappeared into the crowd:

"Be seeing you soon, Chosen One."

With that, they vanished, leaving behind only the distant echo of fate…

And a storm that had only just begun to gather.