After the four winners were determined, all the students exited the gate and returned to the academy following the conclusion of the tournament. The injured were taken to the clinic for treatment, while the four winning champions remained, ready to enter the academy's treasure room.
The headmaster summoned the four winners to the secret vault, explaining that they could choose only one item from within, and each choice would have a unique effect on their abilities.
The Dragon Heir, Rhyn, entered first. With confident strides, he approached a high platform and retrieved the crown belonging to his family, which had been lost for a long time. His spirit felt strong and proud; he felt that his family's legacy had been restored to its rightful place.
Next came the Ice Heir, Lucien, who went directly to the Frost Crystal, a powerful piece that granted his "Emperor's Awakening" technique a higher level and corrected his offensive and defensive movements by absorbing the energy stored within it, thus developing his skill to its full potential.
Then came Kyle, the heir to the storms, brimming with caution and confidence. He pushed through the ranks to reach his family's ancient hammer, once wielded by one of the founders. It fused with him, allowing him to shape and conceal it at will. He felt the latent power stored within it, and the dormant lightning energy within him surged forth, multiplying his speed and strength to an astonishing degree.
Finally, it was Saruto's turn. He entered cautiously, his eyes scanning the rows of ancient weapons and luminous artifacts. Suddenly, he stopped before a helmet radiating a dragon's energy fused with the power of darkness. Its form was strange and awe-inspiring, its head resembling a dragon's head and covered in shimmering purple scales. It felt as if it were calling to him, urging him to wear it.
He hesitated for a moment, then said to himself,
— This… is probably what I need…
He put the helmet on, and immediately felt the energy of darkness and the dragon flowing harmoniously through his body. His armor skill evolved and began to manifest: the armor was stronger and more robust than before. His strength had even doubled. He felt two powers within him. He decided to try this new form of armor but postponed it until after the ceremony.
Saruto smiled as he glimpsed this newfound power and said,
— This is the true form of armor… finally…
He then returned to his original form, afraid of attracting attention or revealing his identity, but he knew deep down that his strength had reached a new level, and that the next stage would be more challenging than ever before.