The next morning,
The central plaza of Verdan Academy was more bustling than usual.
After a night of anticipation, the freshmen were a mix of nervousness and excitement about the upcoming dungeon trial, gathering in small groups to discuss team formation.
The air was thick with a palpable sense of eager readiness.
Kieran arrived at the plaza alone. Compared to the students eagerly discussing and actively seeking teammates, he seemed exceptionally quiet.
His gaze fell upon the center of the plaza, where a stone archway about three meters tall stood.
Its frame was carved with intricate runes, and the space within the arch was not a normal view, but a slowly swirling, faintly glowing vortex of energy, rippling like water. Clearly, that was the gateway to the unknown "Novice Trial Dungeon."
Many teams had already assembled.
The genius who had awakened as a "Flame Mage" was surrounded by several people; a few combat profession holders holding wooden staves or crude shields had gathered together, discussing tactics loudly; even support professions like "Alchemists" or "Enchanters" had found teams willing to accept them, as logistical support was equally important.
Those standing alone like Kieran were in the minority.
"Kieran!" A familiar voice called out.
It was Tommy, rushing over enthusiastically. Behind him were two other students: a short-haired girl who had awakened as an "Archer," and a "Guard," a boy who looked very sturdy.
"Our team still has a spot. Do you want to join us? It's... well... it's too dangerous for you to go in alone." Tommy's words were hesitant, clearly considering Kieran's "nominal" profession, but inviting him out of friendship nonetheless.
Kieran felt a warmth in his heart, but he already had a plan.
He offered a slightly apologetic smile and shook his head. "Thanks, Tommy. But... I'd like to try it on my own first. Given my situation, I might just hold the team back."
Tommy opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him further, but the "Guard" behind him frowned slightly, seemingly agreeing with Kieran's assessment.
Tommy finally sighed. "Then... be extremely careful! If anything feels wrong, retreat immediately!"
...
Just then, the Headmaster also noticed Kieran standing alone.
He walked over slowly, his face filled with concern. "Kieran, although the dungeon has been cleared, the risk of acting alone is still significant. Have you considered joining a team? Having someone to watch your back is much safer."
The Headmaster was genuinely concerned for everyone's safety, especially Kieran, this special case who had just experienced such a "dramatic rise and fall."
Kieran bowed respectfully to the Headmaster, his tone sincere but firm. "Thank you for your concern, Headmaster. I have thought it through and wish to try adapting on my own first. I will act according to my abilities, staying only in the outermost areas. I will not recklessly venture deeper."
His reasoning was impeccable. A holder of a "useless" profession, familiarizing himself with the environment alone in the outskirts sounded perfectly reasonable.
The Headmaster looked at his steady eyes, which didn't seem impulsive, and didn't press further. He just patted Kieran's shoulder and advised, "Alright then. Remember, safety first. If you encounter danger, use the distress signal issued by the academy immediately."
"I will."
After bidding farewell to the Headmaster and Tommy, Kieran hesitated no longer. Under gazes filled with pity, confusion, or schadenfreude, he walked straight towards the energy vortex. He adjusted his breathing and stepped into it.
Instantly, a slight feeling of weightlessness and the dizziness of spatial displacement washed over him. The scene before his eyes changed abruptly.
The noise of the academy plaza was instantly replaced by absolute silence.
A biting chill hit him, making Kieran shiver involuntarily. He found himself standing on a vast, snowy plain.
Soft snow reached past his ankles. The sky was a dull gray, with tiny snowflakes falling slowly like grains of salt.
As far as the eye could see, there were rolling mountain ranges, thickly covered in white snow, like slumbering white giants.
Verdan City was located in the northernmost territory of the Solaria Empire, bordering the expansive Ever Frost Snowfields and the Icy Spire Mountains.
This novice dungeon, constructed by the academy, clearly replicated this northern environment.
'Aqua, initiate environmental scan. Mark potential threats and energy sources.' Kieran silently commanded, simultaneously tightening his thin academy uniform.
A slight circulation of spiritual energy within his body dispelled some of the chill.
[Scan initiated. Constructing environmental map…]
[Low-level lifeforms detected. Analyzing target: Snowfield Hare (Level 1-2). Traits: Timid, agile, almost non-threatening.]
[Cluster lifeform signals detected. Analyzing target: Snow Goblin (Level 3-5). Traits: Group-living, attack with crude bone clubs or ice chunks. Threat Level: Low to Medium.]
[Medium predator signals detected. Analyzing target: Frost Wolf (Level 6-8). Traits: High speed, cooperative hunting, sharp claws and teeth. Threat Level: Medium.]
[Warning: High-intensity energy signature detected deep within the dungeon. Presumed to be a regional elite or boss-level creature (Level 9-10). Host is advised to avoid at present.]
[No other Profession Holder energy signals detected.]
Aqua's calm voice and the semi-transparent markers that subsequently appeared in his vision allowed Kieran to quickly grasp the situation around him.
He was in the safest, outermost area of the dungeon, with only a few fluffy Snowfield Hares hopping around in the snow.
This was exactly what he needed – a perfect, undisturbed testing ground.
He took a deep breath of the icy air, feeling the coolness in his lungs, and set his sights on a rocky outcropping partially obscured by wind and snow not far away.
The terrain there was relatively concealed, suitable for his "first summoning."
"Alright then, let's begin," Kieran murmured to himself. The icy blue eyes that yesterday held pretense now held only pure anticipation and focus.
He started walking, leaving a clear trail of footprints in the pristine snow, heading towards the rocky area.
He intended not only to level up here but to thoroughly familiarize himself with the mech linked to his soul – the Psionic Knight.
A short while later, he reached the rocky area. The large boulders effectively blocked the view from outside. He stood still, closed his eyes, and sank his consciousness deep into his spirit, touching that "Soul Link" tightly connected to the mech.
'Come out – Psionic Knight!'
He chanted silently in his heart. Although he found the summoning incantation somewhat indescribably cringey, the surging power left him no time to dwell on that slight sense of embarrassment.
As his will guided the energy, a huge, deep blue magical circle suddenly unfolded beneath his feet, complex runes flowing within it.
Light converged at the center of the circle, and the massive outline of metal began to rise slowly from the ground up, like an ancient guardian awakening from slumber.
A steel giant abruptly manifested, towering majestically on the snowy plain.
Its design was unique, blending the solemnity of a medieval knight with the layered aesthetics of Eastern armor.
Its main body was a cool silver-white, with profound blue energy lines flowing like blood vessels across the armor surface.
The head featured a closed helmet with sharp dual horns. The dark blue visor glowed with an icy blue light, surveying its surroundings with authority.
The shoulder armor adopted a layered Eastern design, with heavy silver-white plates embedded with circular blue luminous modules that pulsed like breathing.
A large blue circular core at the center of the chest armor throbbed with energy.
Tattered pieces of a cape hung from its waist. Most striking was the giant weapon on its back – a great sword nearly as tall as the mech itself.
A channel running through the metal blade flowed with liquid blue light, emitting a cold, sharp gleam in the snow.
In just two or three seconds, a steel giant nearly ten meters tall, wreathed in deep blue energy – the Psionic Knight – stood imposingly in this world of ice and snow!
It stood there silently, its cold metallic shell strangely blending with the surrounding white world, emanating a silent yet powerful pressure.
Kieran looked up at this power that belonged to him, a genuine, brilliant smile spreading across his face.
With a thought, a soft blue beam of light projected down from the core in the mech's chest, enveloping him.
Kieran felt his body lighten, his feet slowly leaving the ground as he floated upwards along the beam.
During the ascent, his body gradually became semi-transparent, eventually completely dissolving and merging into the mech.
The cockpit interior wasn't the traditional type filled with complex levers and buttons as he had imagined, but a simple, technologically advanced spherical space, just large enough for him to move freely.
The surroundings were curved, encircling light walls displaying flowing streams of deep blue data and real-time images of the external environment, giving him a seamless, panoramic view. Underfoot was a soft, elastic, responsive floor.
Kieran looked around curiously; this was completely different from any cockpit he had envisioned.
He subconsciously raised his right hand. Immediately, a wonderful, perfectly integrated sense of connection spread throughout his entire being.
He felt as if he were raising a gigantic metal right arm! Through the forward light wall display, he clearly saw the external Psionic Knight synchronously raising its right arm, sheathed in silver-white armor, the movement identical to his own – precise and fluid!
"This... is incredible!" he couldn't help but exclaim, his astonishment far exceeding his expectations.
He tried making a fist, and the mech's massive metal hand clenched accordingly, emitting a low, powerful sound of metal friction.
He tried taking a step forward, and the mech's heavy leg stepped steadily onto the snow, kicking up a circle of snow dust.
Excitement drove him to try more. He began to jog within the cockpit, and the external steel giant started running with heavy strides across the snowy plain, its steps quickly shifting from slightly awkward to coordinated.
He even attempted a sideways roll, and the mech, with an agility completely unbefitting its size, traced a graceful arc through the air.
Every movement, every action, required no thought of how to control it; it was entirely instinctive.
His consciousness seemed directly linked to the mech's core. His thoughts were the mech's commands. His actions were the mech's actions.
This was a "psychic synchronization" that transcended physical manipulation, as if this steel giant were an extension of his own body – an enlarged, armed, external shell.
'Aqua, connect to the mech's systems. Synchronize all data.' He commanded mentally, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
[Connection successful. Mech Psionic Knight, all systems operational. Energy reserves are at 100%. Standing by.]
Adapting to this wondrous sense of control, Kieran used the sensors to lock onto a Level 5 Snow Goblin a few hundred meters away, which was digging in the snow for food, completely unaware of the impending danger.
A curve, a mix of novelty and fighting spirit, played on his lips.