Kyle glanced around, taking in his surroundings.
He was in a dense forest, the tall trees casting long shadows on the ground.
The air was cool and quiet, but he knew better than to let his guard down.
This was the Solvayne Entrance Test, and danger could come from anywhere.
"I need to hide for a while," Kyle decided.
"I've only little amount of my mana left."
"I just hope I don't run into anyone now."
He moved cautiously through the forest, keeping his senses sharp.
Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made him tense, but he forced himself to stay calm.
He needed to find a safe spot to rest and recover his mana.
Just as he was about to settle behind a large tree, he heard voices.
Kyle froze, his heart pounding.
"Oh, come on," he grumbled quietly. "Can't you let me rest for a bit?"
From the tall grass, two figures emerged.
One was a tall, muscular guy wielding a spear, his earth affinity evident from the faint glow around his weapon.
The other was a lean, sharp-eyed mage with fire affinity, his hands crackling with small flames.
They looked like they meant business.
The spear user spotted Kyle first, his eyes narrowing.
"Well, well, look who we have here," he said, a smirk spreading across his face.
Kyle's heart sank as the two figures stepped into view.
He was in no condition for another fight, but it seemed like he didn't have a choice.
His mana was nearly depleted, and his body ached from the previous battle.
Still, he straightened up, gripping his Jian tightly.
He couldn't afford to show weakness, not here, not now.
The spear user stepped forward, his weapon gleaming in the dappled forest light.
His earth affinity gave him a solid, grounded presence, and his smirk was full of confidence.
The mage lingered behind, his fiery hands flickering with small flames, his sharp eyes locked on Kyle.
"You look like you've had a rough day," the spear user said, his tone mocking.
"Why don't you make this easy on yourself ? We'll make it quick."
Kyle didn't respond.
He couldn't waste energy on words. Instead, he focused on his breathing, steadying himself.
He had only a sliver of mana left—just enough to reinforce his limbs slightly. It would have to do.
The spear user's smirk faded as he realized Kyle wasn't going to comply.
"Fine," he growled. "Have it your way."
The mage raised his hands, and a fireball shot toward Kyle.
Kyle sidestepped, the flames grazing his shoulder.
The heat seared his skin, but he ignored the pain.
He couldn't afford to hesitate.
The spear user charged next, his weapon thrusting forward with deadly precision.
Kyle parried the strike with his Jian, the clash of metal ringing through the forest.
The impact sent a jolt through Kyle's arms, but he held his ground.
He couldn't afford to lose focus.
Kyle's movements were precise and calculated.
He didn't waste energy on flashy techniques or unnecessary maneuvers.
Instead, he relied on pure swordsmanship, his blade moving like an extension of his body.
He reinforced his limbs with the little mana he had left, his strikes faster and stronger than they should have been in his exhausted state.
The spear user swung again, but Kyle ducked under the attack, his Jian slicing upward.
The blade cut through the air, narrowly missing the spear user's side.
The man stumbled back, his confidence wavering.
The mage launched another fireball, but Kyle was ready this time.
He dashed forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.
The fireball exploded behind him, the heat licking at his back, but Kyle didn't stop.
His Jian flashed, and the mage barely had time to raise his hands in defense.
The blade cut through the flames, slicing his neck off.
The spear user recovered quickly, lunging at Kyle from behind.
Kyle spun around, his Jian meeting the spear mid-thrust.
The force of the clash pushed Kyle back, but he used the momentum to his advantage.
He twisted his body, his blade sliding along the spear's shaft and forcing the weapon aside.
With a quick, fluid motion, Kyle brought his Jian down, the blade slicing through the spear user's neck.
He had defeated them, there bodies glowed and they vanished from there positions.
Kyle stood there, huffing and clearly exhausted.
His body trembled from the effort, but he didn't have time to rest.
He knew more students could be nearby, drawn by the commotion.
"I can't stay here," Kyle muttered, glancing around. He spotted a tall tree nearby and quickly made his way over to it.
Using the last of his strength, he climbed to the highest point, where he could hide among the thick branches.
Once he was settled, Kyle let out a long breath, his body sagging with relief.
"Thank goodness there ranks were lower than me," he said to himself, grateful that the fight hadn't drained him further.
Kyle leaned back against the tree trunk, closing his eyes for a moment.
He needed to recover his mana, and this was the best spot to do it.
The high vantage point gave him a clear view of the area, and the thick foliage would keep him hidden from anyone passing by.
"Alright," Kyle whispered, taking a deep breath.
"Just a little rest, and then I'll get back to it."
As he sat there, the sounds of the forest surrounded him—the rustling leaves, the distant calls of birds, and the faint hum of magic in the air.
Kyle knew the exam was far from over, but for now, he allowed himself a moment of peace.
****
Somewhere deep in the forest, the air was thick with tension.
The towering trees seemed to lean in, as if watching the confrontation unfold.
Cedric Valtieri, a boy with golden hair that shimmered like sunlight and piercing blue eyes that glowed with determination, stood in a flawless fighting stance.
His longsword gleamed in his hands, reflecting the faint light that filtered through the dense canopy.
This was Cedric—calm, confident, and ready for battle.
Before him loomed the massive tortoise-like monster, its hulking form casting a shadow over the forest floor.
Its shell was a fortress of stone spikes and tangled tree vines, each spike sharp enough to pierce through steel.
The creature's glowing eyes burned with a primal rage, and its low, rumbling growl sent shivers through the air.
This was no ordinary monster—it was a Grade 2 Silver-rank beast, the undisputed ruler of this part of the forest, and it was worth a staggering 200 points.
Few dared to challenge it, and none had ever survived.
The tortoise monster's massive claws dug into the earth, and its glowing eyes narrowed as it studied Cedric.
It could sense the power radiating from the boy, a power that made even a creature of its stature hesitate.
For the first time in a long while, the monster felt a flicker of uncertainty.
But it was still a predator, and its instincts took over.
With a deafening roar, the monster slammed its front claws into the ground.
The earth trembled, and suddenly, three thick roots burst from the soil, shooting toward Cedric like spears.
The roots were massive, each one as thick as a tree trunk, and they moved with terrifying speed.
Cedric's eyes narrowed, but he didn't flinch.
He raised his longsword, the blade glowing with a soft, golden light.
With a swift, precise motion, he slashed through the first root, the light-infused blade cutting through it like butter.
The severed root fell to the ground, writhing before going still.
But the other two roots were already upon him. Cedric leaped into the air, his movements fluid and graceful.
As he soared above the roots, he swung his sword again, this time igniting it with flames.
The fiery blade sliced through the second root, reducing it to ash.
The third root twisted mid-air, trying to strike him from behind, but Cedric spun around, his sword trailing a arc of fire.
The root was severed, its charred remains falling to the ground.
Cedric landed lightly on his feet, his sword still glowing with a mix of light and fire.
He didn't let his guard down. He knew this was just the beginning.
The tortoise monster roared again, its frustration evident.
It slammed its claws into the ground once more, and this time, the forest itself seemed to come alive.
Dozens of roots erupted from the soil, twisting and writhing like serpents as they lunged toward Cedric.
At the same time, the monster's shell began to tremble, and with a loud crack, several stone spikes shot out, hurtling toward Cedric with deadly accuracy.
Cedric's calm expression faltered for a moment as he realized the sheer scale of the attack.
He couldn't afford to hold back any longer.
He channeled his light and fire elements, his sword blazing with golden flames.
He moved like a whirlwind, his blade cutting through roots and deflecting stone spikes with precision.
But the onslaught was relentless.
A root managed to slip past his defenses, slamming into his side and sending him flying.
Cedric grunted as he hit the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of him.
He rolled to his feet just in time to dodge another stone spike, which embedded itself into the ground where he had been lying.
"This thing's tougher than I thought," Cedric muttered, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
He knew he couldn't keep this up forever. He had to end this quickly.
Summoning all his strength, Cedric focused his light and fire elements into his sword.
The blade glowed brighter than ever, the golden flames roaring to life.
He dashed forward, his movements a blur as he weaved through the roots and spikes.
The tortoise monster roared, sensing the danger, but it was too late.
Cedric leaped into the air, his sword raised high.
With a powerful swing, he brought the blade down, the golden flames erupting in a brilliant explosion of light and fire.
The attack hit the tortoise with a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves through the forest.
Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the battlefield.
But Cedric knew the monster wasn't defeated yet.
He landed gracefully on the ground and dashed forward, his golden aura blazing.
As the dust began to clear, the tortoise emerged, a deep slash mark on its forehead. It was wounded but still alive, its eyes burning with rage.
Before the monster could react, Cedric was already in front of it.
He thrust his longsword into the wound he had created earlier, driving the blade deep into the monster's skull.
The tortoise monster let out a final, pained roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive form shaking the earth.
Cedric landed a few feet away, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.
His sword was still glowing, but the flames were beginning to fade.
For a moment, the forest was silent.
Then, the monster's body began to dissolve, its form breaking apart into shimmering particles of light.
Cedric watched as the particles floated into the air, a sign that the monster had been defeated.
He sheathed his sword, his expression calm once more.
Cedric allowed himself a small smile.
"One down," he said quietly, his voice calm but determined.
But he knew this was only the beginning. The Artificial Rift was full of dangers, and he couldn't afford to let his guard down.
As he turned to leave, he glanced at the spot where the monster had fallen.
"I'll have to be more careful next time," he murmured.
With that, Cedric disappeared into the forest, his golden hair catching the light as he moved.
The forest was quiet again, but the echoes of the battle lingered, a reminder of the power that had just been unleashed.
With that, he turned and walked deeper into the forest, his golden aura fading as he prepared for whatever came next.