The next morning, the Central Academy training grounds were already alive.
Clang!
Steel collided with steel.
Boom!
Mana erupted across reinforced arenas.
Shouts, commands, and explosions filled the air like constant thunder.
Kael stood at the edge of the Combat Training Field with Lyra beside him.
Today’s lesson was simple.
“Practical Combat Assessnt.”
A tall instructor with a scar across his face stepped forward.
“Listen up.”
“This academy does not train scholars.”
“It trains survivors.”
A few students straightened.
Others smirked.
The instructor’s eyes scanned the crowd.
“Your rank ans nothing here.”
“Only what you can do matters.”
Kael observed silently.
Lyra leaned slightly toward him.
“This is where they start filtering students,” she whispered.
Kael nodded.
“I see.”
The instructor pointed toward the arena.
“You will fight in pairs.”
“Win or lose, we record your ability.”
“Begin.”
Instantly, the field erupted in movent.
Students rushed forward to choose partners.
Mana flared everywhere.
Lyra looked at Kael.
“Looks like you’ll be picked fast.”
Kael replied calmly.
“…Maybe.”
But no one approached him.
A strange distance ford around Kael.
Not fear.
Not respect.
Uncertainty.
He was the “unknown classification.”
No one wanted to risk him.
Then—
A voice called out.
“I’ll take him.”
The crowd turned.
A boy stepped forward.
Tall.
Sharp eyes.
Wrapped in controlled mana pressure.
Even without releasing full power…
Everyone felt it.
Legendary-tier presence.
Lyra’s expression changed slightly.
“…That’s him.”
Kael glanced at her.
“Who?”
“Reyn Volkar.”
Lyra’s voice lowered.
“Top candidate in this year’s intake.”
“Legendary Mage — Beginner Stage.”
Kael looked back at the boy.
Reyn walked forward casually.
“You’re the weird one from yesterday.”
He stopped a few ters away.
“I’m curious.”
Kael replied simply.
“…That’s dangerous.”
Reyn smirked.
“Good.”
The instructor raised his hand.
“Begin.”
The mont the word dropped—
Reyn moved.
BOOM!
The ground cracked as he launched forward.
Wind mana condensed around his fists like blades.
Fast.
Precise.
Deadly.
Kael didn’t move imdiately.
He watched.
Studied.
Then—
Shadow Step.
WHOOSH!
Kael disappeared.
Reyn’s attack struck empty air.
“Predictable,” Kael said from behind him.
Reyn turned instantly.
Surprised.
Then excited.
“Oh?”
He smiled wider.
“Interesting.”
Mana exploded outward.
The arena trembled.
Lyra watched silently.
“…This is bad.”
Kael and Reyn clashed.
Boom!
Wind fist collided with shadow barrier.
Kael was pushed back slightly.
His arm tingled.
Strong.
Very strong.
System flickered.
====================
Target Analysis
Enemy: Reyn Volkar
Rank: Legendary Mage (Beginner Stage)
Threat Level: High
Recomndation: Avoid prolonged combat
====================
Kael exhaled slowly.
“…Of course.”
Reyn attacked again.
Faster this ti.
Kael dodged narrowly.
A cut appeared on his cheek.
Blood dropped.
Reyn tilted his head.
“You’re not bad.”
“But you’re definitely not normal either.”
Kael wiped the blood slowly.
“…Neither are you.”
Reyn laughed.
Then his mana changed.
Wind condensed into a spiral.
“The difference is…”
“I control mine.”
BOOM!
A massive wind blast exploded forward.
Kael crossed his arms.
Shadow barrier ford instantly.
CRACK!
The barrier shattered slightly.
Kael slid back.
His feet dug into the ground.
Lyra’s eyes widened.
“…He’s holding back Reyn Volkar?”
But Kael knew.
He wasn’t winning.
Not even close.
He was surviving.
That was all.
Reyn suddenly stopped.
He lowered his hand.
“…Enough.”
Kael frowned slightly.
Reyn smiled.
“I’m not here to kill you.”
“Just to see what you are.”
He turned away.
“You’re interesting.”
“But still too weak.”
Kael said nothing.
Reyn walked off.
The arena went silent.
Instructor stared at Kael for a long mont.
“…Unclassified.”
“…But not useless.”
Kael turned away without reacting.
But inside him—
The system flickered.
====================
Combat Data Recorded
Enemy Gap Detected
New Objective: Bridge Power Gap Using External Resources
Reward: Shadow Adaptation Boost
====================
Kael exhaled slowly.
“…So I’m still too weak.”
He didn’t feel frustrated.
He felt… focused.
Lyra walked beside him.
“That guy was dangerous.”
Kael replied quietly.
“I noticed.”
Lyra looked at him.
“And yet you still fought him.”
Kael paused.
Then said simply:
“…I needed to see the gap.”
Lyra was silent for a mont.
Then she said softly:
“You’re going to get killed like that.”
Kael looked ahead.
“…Not yet.”
Far away—
Reyn stood alone on a rooftop later.
He looked at his hand.
Then smiled faintly.
“…That shadow thing.”
“This is going to be fun.”
And deep inside the academy tower…
The elders finally marked Kael’s file.
SUBJECT: UNKNOWN CLASSIFICATIONSTATUS: WATCH LISTPRIORITY: HIGH
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