The following morning came gray and cold, the light dim behind the cracked barrier dome that covered Sanctum-9.
Students gathered once again in the plaza before the Eternal Spirit Academy, the air thick with noise and tension.
Hundreds of newly awakened stood in uniform lines, their gear polished, their weapons glowing faintly with personal runes.
Above them, a massive holographic banner displayed the words:
[PHASE TWO: SPIRIT SYNCHRONIZATION TEST]
Measure your affinity. Reveal your soul.
Stark stood near the back, hood down this time.
He'd slept only a few hours, replaying yesterday's battle in his mind.
The looks he got afterward—half curiosity, half suspicion—still lingered in the air around him.
"That Soul Caster from yesterday… did you see how he fought?"
"No caster moves like that. He used spirit chains!"
"Maybe he's some hybrid class—like a Spirit Warrior."
He ignored the whispers, eyes scanning the academy courtyard.
Instructors in silver uniforms stood near floating crystals the size of carriages—Spirit Synchronization Orbs.
Each pulsed faintly with colorless light, waiting for a candidate to touch them.
It was simple in theory:
Every awakened person would place their hand on the orb.
The Spirit Network would analyze their Soul Depth, Affinity, and Spirit Link Strength.
In practice, the test exposed your essence.
No illusion or false class could hide forever.
[System Notice]
Mission Update: Path to the Academy — Phase Two in Progress.
Objective: Complete Spirit Synchronization Test.
Warning: Spirit Summoner Class may trigger abnormal reactions. Proceed cautiously.
Stark's spirit flickered beside him like a faint shadow.
"You could fail this test if they see too much," the Wraith murmured.
"Your false identity will not hold before a synchronization crystal."
"I know," Stark whispered. "But I can't avoid it. I have to take the test like everyone else."
The spirit tilted its masked head. "Then let me anchor the link. I will show only a fragment of my power—enough to pass unnoticed."
"Do it."
Candidates began stepping forward one by one.
A tall girl in red robes placed her palm on the crystal.
The orb flared orange, runes swirling within.
[Affinity: Fire – 82%]
[Soul Depth: High]
[Synchronization: 74%]
Rank: Gold Candidate Confirmed.
The crowd clapped lightly. The instructors nodded in approval.
Then a spear-wielder went next.
Blue light flared. His synchronization reached 61%.
Another success.
Names were called, one after another.
The glowing orb reflected excitement, frustration, pride, fear—every color of the human soul.
Then the instructor looked up from his tablet. "Next—Stark, Soul Caster, Level 16."
The murmurs started again.
"That's the one from yesterday."
"The weird one with the chains."
"Bet his score isn't even stable."
Stark stepped forward. The Wraith faded from sight, hiding inside his shadow.
He placed his hand on the orb.
The crystal pulsed softly, and then—
It stopped.
The glow dimmed.
The surface flickered like static.
The instructor frowned. "Hmm? That's odd—try focusing your energy."
Stark exhaled slowly, pushing a thin stream of Spirit Energy into the crystal.
Light exploded.
[Synchronization Test Initiated.]
[Warning: Multiple Spirit Signatures Detected.]
[Primary Source: Unknown Class Type.]
[Analyzing Soul Link Stability…]
The orb glowed so brightly that nearby students shielded their eyes.
Runes flared across the ground, circling Stark's feet.
The instructor stepped back instinctively.
Then came the voice.
"Who calls the forgotten?"
The Wraith appeared—not as the faint shadow it had been, but as a towering figure of flame and ash. Its mask cracked open, revealing empty blue fire where a face should have been.
Chains of energy burst outward, wrapping around the orb itself.
[Spirit Evolution Detected.]
Wraith of Ashes → Ash Phantom (Rare Tier).
Synchronization Rate: 42% → 68%.
Skill Evolved: Soul Drain Lv.2 → Soul Reap Lv.1.
New Passive: Spirit Armor — Converts Soul Energy into defensive shielding.
Gasps filled the courtyard.
The crystal's light dimmed again, leaving trails of blue mist in the air.
The instructor's voice trembled. "That… that's not possible. A spirit evolved during testing?"
The other instructors exchanged glances.
One of them whispered, "A live evolution—his spirit link is beyond stable. It's—unnatural."
The crowd began buzzing louder now.
"That wasn't a caster skill!"
"He's lying—he's something else!"
"Did you see that aura? It felt like death!"
Stark stepped back, forcing the Wraith to fade.
He clenched his hand to calm the surge of power inside him.
"Sir," he said quietly, "is the test complete?"
The main instructor hesitated before checking his tablet.
Lines of unreadable data filled the screen, but one result flashed in bold.
[Synchronization: 68%]
[Affinity: Unknown (Abyssal/Shadow Detected)]
[Soul Depth: Exceptional]
Rank Assessment: Gold — Elite Candidate.
The man cleared his throat. "Y-Yes. Test complete. You may proceed."
Stark nodded and walked off before anyone could stop him.
As he passed through the crowd, he could feel their eyes on him.
Admiration.
Fear.
Suspicion.
But one pair of eyes burned hotter than the rest.
A blond youth stood near the edge of the plaza, his expression unreadable. His weapon—a long silver spear—was polished to a mirror shine.
He had the confident posture of someone born to win.
When Stark's gaze met his, the boy smiled faintly.
Not friendly. Not hostile. Just… aware.
The name tag above his head read:
[Aiden Crest – Class: Spirit Spear Master – Level: 22 – Gold Rank]
Aiden tilted his head slightly. "Interesting control," he said aloud, voice carrying just enough for others to hear. "Didn't know Soul Casters could make spirits evolve."
Stark didn't answer.
Aiden chuckled softly. "I'll see you in the next phase, 'Soul Caster.' Try not to break the equipment again."
Then he turned and walked away, his cloak fluttering.
The crowd parted for him automatically.
Stark watched him go. His heartbeat slowed. The Wraith's voice whispered faintly through his mind.
"That one smells of arrogance. Dangerous."
"Yeah," Stark murmured. "He noticed too much."
"You draw attention with every fight. Soon, they'll all notice."
"I'll handle it," Stark said. "One problem at a time."
He looked down at his hand. Blue lines of energy pulsed faintly beneath his skin, slower now, heavier. The aftershock of the evolution still ran through him like a heartbeat.
For the first time, he felt it clearly:
his bond with the Wraith was no longer a link.
It was a fusion.
[System Update]
Spirit Evolution Confirmed: Ash Phantom (Rare).
Synchronization Rate Increased: 68%.
New Ability: Spirit Armor — absorbs 30% of damage as Soul Energy.
Secondary Effect: Partial Materialization — Spirit can act independently for 30 seconds without link drain.
He smiled faintly. "You're getting stronger."
The spirit's voice was smoother now, clearer, almost human.
"We both are. You carry my ashes, Stark. And I carry your shadow."
He let out a low laugh. "That sounds poetic for a ghost."
"I learned it from you."
The rest of the tests passed in a blur.
More candidates took their turns, but none caused such a reaction.
When it ended, the instructors gathered results on a large holographic board.
[Eternal Spirit Academy – Provisional Rankings]
Aiden Crest – Level 22 – Spirit Spear Master – Synchronization 73%
Stark – Level 16 – Soul Caster (?) – Synchronization 68%
Lira Vane – Level 17 – Spirit Summoner – Synchronization 59%
Kael Norn – Level 19 – Rune Caster – Synchronization 56%
…
Stark's name glowed in the second position.
The crowd turned again. Murmurs rose, sharper this time.
"How is he ranked that high? He's under-leveled!"
"Soul Caster my ass—no support class has synchronization that high."
"He's hiding something!"
The head instructor stepped forward, raising his voice to quiet the noise.
"Silence! Rankings are provisional. Tomorrow begins Phase Three — Mental Synchronization and Combat Simulation. Candidates will demonstrate not just control—but compatibility between mind and spirit."
He looked directly at Stark as he said it.
"Rest well. You'll need it."
When the test ended, Stark slipped out of the plaza before the crowd could swarm him.
He found an old stairwell leading to the academy's outer wall, climbing until the noise faded below.
The view from the top stretched across the city—rusted towers, glowing runes, the faint shimmer of the barrier beyond.
Somewhere past that horizon lay the Spirit Frontier, the next world waiting for those who could reach Level 250.
He touched the Soulgun at his side. The weapon pulsed faintly, warm.
"Second place," he murmured. "Not bad for a fake Soul Caster."
The Wraith appeared beside him, floating quietly.
"The spear-wielder will challenge you soon."
"I know."
"Do you fear him?"
Stark smiled faintly. "No. But I'm curious."
The Wraith tilted its head. "About what?"
"Whether he'll still be smiling when he realizes what I really am."
[System Notice]
Mission Progress: 85%
Next Objective: Pass Phase Three — Mental Synchronization Trial.
Potential Reward: Class Evolution Path Revealed (Hidden).
Warning: Rival Entity Detected — Aiden Crest.
Far below, Aiden watched from the plaza, his silver spear resting against his shoulder.
He looked up at Stark on the wall, eyes narrowed.
"So that's him," he muttered. "The one the instructors are whispering about."
His spear's core glowed faintly, answering his thoughts.
"Spirit Summoner," a voice whispered in his mind. "Ancient… dangerous."
Aiden smiled. "Good. It's been a while since I had a reason to take something personally."