Eron opened his eyes slowly.
The first thing he noticed was the slime—bouncing quietly beside his desk, glowing faintly with blue mist. Its form had changed. It was slightly larger, with shimmering runes pulsing within its core.
[Summoned Creature Status Updated]Name: (Unnamed)Level: 4Trait Gained: Mana Absorption (Minor)Trait Gained: Independent Training ProtocolNew Ability: Tackle Burst
"…You trained on your own?"
The slime bounced once.
Then twice.
Then headbutted his shin with alarming force.
[You took 1 damage. Slime seems proud.]
Neha entered the room, brushing her hair into a braid. "That thing stayed up all night practicing against your spellbooks."
Eron blinked. "My books?"
"They're… mostly shredded now."
He sighed. "Very tactical."
The slime bounced again, proud.
A thousand students lined the stone balconies above the arena. Massive banners floated mid-air, each depicting a different noble house.
At the center of the coliseum floor, Eron stood alone.
He wore simple black reinforced robes. On his back was the Requiem Edge, humming with latent mana.
Beside him?The bouncing slime.Wobbling like a battle-hungry pudding.
Across from him stood his opponent—a Third-Year Duelist named Kaien Dros, known for controlling spectral weapons with mental threads.
"You're a first-year transfer?" Kaien sneered. "And they gave me you?"
Eron didn't reply. He unsheathed his blade with one smooth motion.
The arena silence deepened.
Then the duel began.
Kaien launched spectral spears mid-air—shimmering blue weapons controlled by mind-threads. They spiraled toward Eron like a volley of lightning bolts.
Eron activated Spell Orchestra.
Arcane Wall + Wind Shift + Body Glide
He deflected the first barrage with a rapid spin, then countered with a Reverb Slash from Requiem Edge, sending a sonic pulse that threw Kaien back.
The slime leapt forward with surprising speed.
Tackle Burst: Critical Hit!
Opponent momentarily stunned.
Eron advanced.
Kaien summoned five more weapons—but before they struck, Eron called:
"Construct Summon: Version 2."
Mana Cost: 40
New Creature Blueprint: Blade Hound – Dual Element: Flame & SteelSuccess!
From the summoning circle, a quadrupedal beast emerged—blades for limbs, glowing red eyes, and a trail of heat behind it.
"Impossible!" Kaien shouted. "That's not even beginner magic!"
The crowd gasped.
Then came the final move.
Eron infused mana into Requiem Edge and used Echo Cleave, slashing down the length of the battlefield.
The pulse shattered Kaien's defense.
The slime bounced into Kaien's face for added insult.
Duel Over – Winner: Eron Valemere
The stands were silent.
Then erupted in whispers.
System Update
[Trial Grade: S+]+1 Bonus Level+1 Skill Evolution Token
Eron Level: 3 ➤ 4 ➤ 5
Stat Choice Unlocked:Choose one:▸ All Stats +2▸ One Stat +4
Eron chose:
One Stat +4 → Mana Capacity increased from 60 ➤ 64
Result: +15 Max Mana | +1 Spell Sustain Threshold
[Skill Evolution Triggered: Create Concept ➤ Reality Smithing]➤ Creation now allows semi-living constructs➤ Reduced cooldown (5 hrs)➤ Creations can evolve over time if used often➤ Skill instantly maxed upon evolution
[Class Advancement Triggered]
Old Class: Arcane Prodigy (Custom)➤ Replaced with:
New Class: WARLORD – Unique Tier
A hybrid frontline controller who commands sword, spell, and summon in battle.Benefits:• Stat growth doubled with level• Access to multi-discipline synergy skills• Gains a new exclusive skill every 5 levels
Exclusive Skill Gained:Tactical Flow (Lv. 1 – MAX)– Shortens cast delay on hybrid actions– Boosts Summon-Skill link attacks– Allows battlefield strategy input to minions in real time
Eron leaned on the railing, wind brushing his face.
Behind him, the slime jiggled while holding up a stick like a sword. Neha watched from a nearby chair, pretending to read, though her gaze never left him.
"They called you a Warlord," she said. "That's a title, not a class."
"Not anymore," he replied, eyes shining with system glyphs. "Now it's both."
He turned toward the moonlit sky.
This world had tried to bury him once.
Now it would kneel.