⚔️ Chapter 21
The entire first-year division of Sinjai Academy had gathered in the grand combat arena. Nearly 327 students stood, divided by class and rank.
Above them, the glowing banners of their classes fluttered in the wind:
Class 1 – Wood Rank, lowest tier.Class 2 – Stone and Iron Rank.Class 3 – Bronze Rank.Class 4 – Silver Rank.Class 5 – The Elite, where only top-tier students like Anshi studied.
And among them, in the very last row, stood Aeren, hands slightly trembling, heart calm.
🎙️ The Announcement
Director Elzhar stepped onto the central stage, flanked by two Diamond-ranked instructors.
"This is not a test of who is strongest."
"This is a test of awareness, survival, strategy, and team contribution."
"You will be placed in randomized teams of five. You will be dropped into the Shroudveil Training Grounds—a dungeon forest replica with controlled yet real monsters."
Gasps and murmurs.
"You must collect 10 Trial Cores by defeating monsters, locating hidden zones, or stealing them from others."
"You will have 2 hours. The top 100 scorers move forward. The rest—fail."
🎲 Random Team Reveal
Magical light flickered above as team names began to form:
✅ Team 48: Aeren - Lio - Mersha - Gen - Kaith
None of them knew each other. All from Class 1 except one: Kaith, a fast-talking Iron-rank from Class 2 who seemed less interested in teamwork.
"Oh great," Kaith muttered. "We're dead weight. Especially this guy—what's your name again? Aaren? Haha."
The others stayed quiet.
Aeren… didn't respond. He was already analyzing Kaith's rhythm, eye movement, and stance.
🚪 The Trial Begins
With a flash of light, all 60 teams were teleported into the Shroudveil Grounds.
The air was thick with mist, trees twisted unnaturally, and low growls echoed in the distance.
"Stick together," Aeren finally said.
Kaith rolled his eyes. "Right, wood-rank boy's gonna lead us now?"
But before anyone could argue, a Level 3 Snarler Beast leaped from the fog—aiming straight for Mersha.
Aeren moved first.
🧠 Power Awakens Mid-Combat
He ducked instinctively, spun behind the monster, and pointed his hand.
In his mind, he could already see the monster's next 3 moves—like a script playing out.
"Claw. Dodge left. Jump—then strike."
As if following his mental projection, he timed a kick to its joint just as the beast launched forward.
Crack!
The monster shrieked—stumbled—and Lio landed the final blow with a spear.
A Trial Core fell to the ground, glowing white.
They stared at Aeren.
"What… was that?" Gen whispered.
Kaith, silent for the first time, narrowed his eyes.
🧭 Observation Master
They moved forward, collecting two more cores. While others ran blind through the forest, Aeren read the terrain like a map.
He spotted claw marks others missed.He sensed monster patterns.He avoided traps instinctively.
And every few minutes, he'd mutter things like:
"There's something watching us from the west."
"That cave has echo—likely a flyer nesting inside."
"We'll flank left. I saw movement… slow… probably a lumber beast."
They followed him like a commander now.
Even Kaith.
🧟 The Ambush – Fear Test
When Team 27 ambushed them near a riverbank—attempting to steal their cores—Aeren remained calm.
While everyone panicked, he read their fighting style within seconds.
"Leader has weak right leg. Third uses predictable spear thrusts. Second is over-reliant on aura shield…"
"Lio, sweep the leg of the big one. Mersha, use your terrain spell near the edge. Kaith—go invisible and grab their bag."
They followed blindly, unsure why.
They won in under 2 minutes.
🔔 Trial Ending Bell
As the timer ended, Team 48 had 14 cores. Way above the cut-off.
They were teleported back to the main field.
Cheers broke out. Teachers noted them with surprise.
But the biggest shock came from Anshi… when she saw Aeren standing unharmed, calm, and ranked 19th overall.
💥 But Something Strange…
As Aeren turned to return to his class…
A mysterious symbol pulsed faintly on the back of his neck.
Only one person saw it—Instructor Zenar, the Diamond-ranked hunter who once fought the Level 9 Behemoth.
He narrowed his eyes.
"That mark… that's impossible."
🌑 End of Chapter 21