The sky above Lunaris Academy dimmed into a glowing amber as the second trial came to an end, casting long shadows across the sprawling campus. Bells chimed distantly, signaling the day's close — but for those who had survived the Maze of Illusions, rest was still a luxury.
"Tomorrow's the final trial," someone muttered near the central dorm plaza, voice hushed with anticipation and dread.
Mano didn't speak as he crossed the field, his team behind him. The Crystal of Clarity pulsed faintly in Lyria's hands — a tangible symbol of their victory. They'd returned first, ahead of even the top noble students. And that... was already stirring unrest.
As they approached the main gates of the temporary candidate quarters, they could already hear murmurs.
"There he is."
"That's him — the black-haired one. I heard he led the whole team through the Maze blindfolded."
"No way. I heard he saw through the Headmaster's illusion spell with just a glance."
"They say his sword glows because he channels divine mana."
Mano blinked.
"…What?"
Lyria snorted a laugh behind him. "They've started building a religion around you."
"I like this version," Kaela chimed in. "Blindfolded swordsmanship? That's some next-level flair."
Mira, walking with her arms behind her head, grinned. "Guess you shouldn't have saved us so stylishly. People love a misunderstood genius."
"I didn't do anything that special," Mano muttered.
"Exactly," Mira said with a wink. "That's what makes you so mysterious."
Mano sighed. The misunderstandings were spiraling. But deep down, he knew it wasn't entirely bad. As much as it annoyed him, the image people formed around him was… useful.
---
Elsewhere – The Observation Tower
From a high circular tower that overlooked the entire campus, several faculty members sat in a semicircle, observing the crystal monitors floating before them.
One displayed Mano's team cutting through illusions. Another showed his moment of clarity as he touched the Crystal — and broke a centuries-old illusionary trap without aid.
"He's… unusual," murmured one professor, stroking his beard.
"His mana signature is clean," said another. "Balanced between elemental and spiritual. Rare, but not unheard of."
"His swordplay, however… that's something else."
In silence, they watched his movements on loop — footwork sharp as razors, timing precise to the breath. It wasn't just talent. It was technique honed through years of blood and repetition.
The Headmaster, seated at the highest point, tapped his fingers on the railing.
"There's something else," he finally said. "Did you notice it?"
The others looked at him.
"His aura doesn't match his age. It's as if... he's lived more than one life."
---
Back at the Candidate Quarters
Mano sat in his assigned room, modest compared to the luxurious dorms the noble candidates received. He didn't mind — in fact, he preferred the quiet.
The room was dim, only a single mana-lamp glowing gently in the corner. His sword rested beside his bed, wrapped neatly.
He pulled out the small black crystal the system had rewarded him with after the Maze: a [Fragment of World Understanding].
> [Fragment of World Understanding] Grants basic insights into the world's elemental balance, domain alignment, and latent leylines. Passive Ability: Reveals ambient mana flows within a 10-meter radius.
The moment he held it, lines began appearing in his vision — glowing threads that pulsed through the walls, through his body, through the floor. It was as if he were seeing the heartbeat of the world itself.
"Essence," he whispered.
This world, unlike his last, was deeply entwined with mana — not just energy for casting spells, but the very building block of life. There were Essence Paths, Elemental Leylines, and Anima Wells — mysterious sources of pure power buried beneath the earth or hidden in ancient ruins.
He opened his system panel.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Mano Ardent
Age: 17
Race: Human
Talent: Heavenly Blade (SSS-Rank)
Essence Affinity: ???
Soul Resonance: 27%
Store Points: 310
Current Quest: Survive Final Trial of Entrance Exam
---
He frowned. The "Essence Affinity" still read as unknown. He'd awakened his swordsmanship, gained vision over mana paths… but the system wasn't fully aligned yet.
"Is it because I'm not attuned to any element?"
Suddenly, a message flickered:
> New Path Unlocked: Anima Resonator (Rare) You do not channel elements — you balance them. Soul Type: Harmonic Next Step: Awaken Core at Essence Nexus.
He inhaled sharply.
A Core Awakening… that would set the path of his future power. Whether he became a mage-knight, a blade-dancer, a full-elementalist… or something else entirely.
But the "Essence Nexus"? That wasn't inside the academy grounds.
He'd need to find it — but first, survive the final trial.
---
Next Morning – Central Arena
The final test was posted on the floating board for all candidates to see:
> Final Trial: Survival Combat Simulation Teams of 4 will be dropped into an artificial monster zone for 6 hours. Objective: Survive. Protect your teammates. Gain points for every monster slain, rare artifact retrieved, or elite opponent defeated. Top 20 individuals will be granted immediate enrollment into the Core Academy and gain access to faction invitations.
Cheers erupted. Gasps followed.
This was no longer a simple test. This was a miniature war — an audition to the world's most powerful institutions.
But the real twist?
"…Randomized team selection?" Kaela frowned, reading the small print.
Mano's heart sank.
This wasn't good.
---
Announcement Crystal Activated
"Group 17 — Mano Ardent, Serena Vaelis, Elysia Reinhardt, Darnen Kreel."
A pause.
Then chaos.
"What?!"
"Are you kidding me?"
"You've got the genius swordswoman, the Ice Witch and the Monster Slayer in one team? With him?!"
"It's over. No one's beating that group."
"I heard they're sending that team because they want to test his limits."
"Or they're just afraid of what would happen if he had his own team again."
Mano blinked. "...Wait. Who is Darnen Kreel?"
A tall, muscular young man approached, grinning. His arms crossed over a massive warhammer strapped to his back. "That's me, partner."
Serena stormed up, fuming. "I don't need teammates!"
Elysia arrived moments later, composed but clearly displeased. "This was unexpected. But manageable."
Darnen shrugged. "Well, this'll be fun. We've got the Ice Princess, the Warhammer Madman, the golden boy of the Vaelis House, and…" He looked at Mano. "You. The center of all the rumors."
Mano exhaled slowly. "Let's just focus on surviving."
Darnen gave a toothy grin. "Surviving? Nah, buddy. I'm planning to break the academy record."
---
Later, inside the Simulation Zone
The team dropped into a jungle zone filled with dense foliage, mana-saturated beasts, and hidden ancient ruins. The environment changed hourly, adapting to their presence.
Their survival had begun.
And as monsters howled in the distance and egos clashed at close quarters, Mano realized something:
This wasn't just a test.
It was the beginning of a chain of events that would spiral beyond the academy — into the world beyond, into kingdoms yet unseen, and enemies yet unknown.
And amidst it all, the legend of the "misunderstood genius" only grew.