Chapter 17
Blaze and his friends waded through the crowd of excited hopefuls, their eyes scanning the massive plaza of the Wizard Knight Academy. The air was thick with tension, buzzing with the presence of young warriors who had gathered from across the White Continent to take the legendary entrance trial.
Yet, the moment Blaze entered, the murmurs started.
"A Zero? Here?"
A boy clad in fine silk robes elbowed his friend and pointed straight at Blaze, his lips curled in disgust. The crowd began to stir, voices rising like a tide.
"Why is a Zero even bothering?"
"He should go back to whatever gutter he crawled out of."
"Hey, Zero, don't embarrass yourself!"
Lucas clenched his fists, his face contorted in fury, ready to lash out. Nephis's sharp eyes flicked toward the source of the insults, her fingers twitching in anticipation. But before either could react, a shift in the atmosphere made the entire crowd go silent.
A figure stepped forward, his presence like an unshakable mountain.
A young man with flowing black hair and piercing silver eyes strode through the crowd, his steps carrying an effortless dominance. His simple black robes bore a golden fist crest—a symbol of the Hailo Faction, the most powerful wizard faction on the White Continent.
The teenager who had been shouting the loudest turned to see the newcomer. "Who the hell are—"
SLAP!
The boy's own partner struck him across the face before he could finish his sentence.
"Idiot!" the partner hissed, eyes wide with fear. "That's Rayden Hailo!"
Gasps spread like wildfire through the crowd.
"Rayden himself is participating in the trial?"
"Why would the young master of the strongest wizard faction need to take an entrance exam?"
Rayden ignored the hushed whispers, his silver gaze locking onto Blaze, who remained unimpressed and—more importantly—not bowing.
A slow, knowing smile crept onto Rayden's lips. "A Zero, huh?" he mused. "And what is a Zero doing at the Wizard Knight Academy's trial?"
Blaze met his gaze without hesitation. "I'm not just a Zero."
Silence.
The crowd stared at Blaze as if he had just declared himself emperor of the continent.
Rayden's expression shifted from amusement to intrigue. He stepped closer, his presence almost suffocating. "I'd love to see what you've got, then. Prove everyone wrong today, including me. Pass the trial."
Then, without another word, Rayden walked away, his golden-lined robes swaying behind him.
As the attention gradually shifted away, Blaze's gaze swept over the remaining competitors, his Chaos Eyes scanning their mystical essence.
And then... something strange happened.
There were five individuals he couldn't read at all.
One of them was a black-cloaked figure, his presence like a void, absorbing all light around him. His hood concealed his face, but strands of white hair peeked through. His aura felt unnatural, as though he did not belong to this world.
The second was a short, yellow-haired boy, leaning lazily against a wall with his eyes closed. His old-fashioned clothes were pristine, and a bright yellow sword hilt gleamed at his hip. There was something off about him—his breathing was perfectly still, as if he weren't even alive.
The third was a pink-haired girl with a serene expression, standing alone with her face turned toward the sky. Her long hair flowed like silk in the wind. She looked almost ethereal, as if she existed outside of reality itself.
The fourth was a blonde-haired man with an eerie, permanent grin. He had two sword hilts strapped to his waist—but no blades. Despite the hostile stares directed at him, his creepy smile never wavered, as though he was drinking in their negativity.
Beside him was the fifth figure—a short black-haired girl with a completely expressionless face. Her presence felt unnatural, almost like an emotionless doll, yet the power radiating from her was undeniable.
Blaze's instincts screamed that these five individuals were not normal.
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
A powerful surge of mystical energy swept through the plaza like a storm, forcing everyone's attention forward.
Floating above the grand steps of the Wizard Knight Academy were six figures, each radiating terrifying power. These were the Head Wizards, the leaders of the six major squads of wizard knight school.
Willow - The Blue Whisper (Blue Department Head)
A middle sized man with white hair and a golden eyepatch covering his right eye. His deep blue robe bore golden melody insignia, and his single black eye seemed to pierce through souls. Silent and unreadable, Willow radiated an unsettling calm, as if he already knew everything about those before him.
Hannah - The Green Ember (Green Department Head)
A lively green-haired woman, her bright smile a rare contrast to the other Head Wizards. Dressed in a flowing green robe with a golden flame insignia, she waved enthusiastically at the crowd. Friendly and energetic, but beneath her warmth lay a magician of terrifying skill.
Charlotte - The Purple Nightshade (Purple Department Head)
Tall and poised, with long black hair and sharp violet eyes. Her deep purple robes bore silver crescent moons, exuding both elegance and authority. Cold, calculating, and observant, Charlotte's mere gaze was enough to make most applicants nervous.
Kami - Black jaguar (Black Department Head)
A massive, scarred man with spiky black hair and a rugged, battle-worn appearance. His half-black robe was plain, devoid of insignia. Arms crossed over his muscular frame, his predator-like gaze scanned the crowd, his disinterest hiding a warrior's ruthlessness.
Enax - The Red Inferno (Red Department Head)
A fiery red-haired man with brown eyes, his crimson tunic and golden chain giving him the air of a warrior. Unlike the others, he wore a playful grin, but behind it lay a fierce and relentless fighter, known for pushing his students to their limits.
Tryin - The White Dragon (White Department Head)
At the center stood Tryin, a man with long silver hair tied into three plaits. His golden eyes and pristine white cloak, embroidered with a golden dragon, made him seem almost ethereal. He was rumor to be the most powerful among them, his mere presence distorted the air, demanding absolute respect.
Raising his hand, Tryin's voice echoed across the courtyard.
"What are you doing here?"
All eyes followed his pointed finger—
It was aimed at Blaze.
Blaze's eyes narrowed and reply. "I'm here to take the trial."
Tryin sneered. "This is not a place for a Zero. Leave."
A heavy silence fell over the crowd. Everyone was waiting for Blaze to back down.
But instead, Blaze speak up.
"I'm no ordinary Zero."
The entire plaza collectively sucked in their breath.
Tryin's lips curled downward. "How dare you reject my command?"
With a flick of his finger, two wind essence balls shot toward Blaze at breakneck speed.
His mind raced. I can't dodge them, they are too fast!
Charging forward with the Feral pounce he shouted –
"Astro Punch!"
Blaze's fist collided with the first wind ball. The impact sent him flying back, his body crashing into the ground. His health plummeted by 20 HP, and his vision blurred from the force.
And then... he remembered the second wind ball.
Before he could react—
BOOM!
Two figures shot past him like lightning.
"Beast Lunge!"
"Rushing Flame!"
Lucas and Nephis's attacks clashed against the incoming wind ball, exploding in midair.
They landed beside Blaze, standing defiantly against the Head Wizard.
"I'm sorry, sir," Lucas said, his voice unwavering. "But don't count him out so easily."
Nephis crossed her arms. "We've seen him fight. He's not as weak as you think."
A tense silence followed.
Then, a new voice rang out—
"Count us in!"
A yellow-haired girl dragged a wobbly black-haired boy into the scene.
Tryin's expression turned cold. "Expelling you all from the trial would be too easy. Allow me to properly punish you."
He raised his right hand.
The sky itself trembled as the air twisted and roared with overwhelming energy.
Kaito's voice shook. "What happens if that attack hits us?"
Nephis remained calm. "Best case scenario? We get crippled. Worst case? We die."
Blaze's heart pounded.
Then, in his mind—
The system voice rang out –
"WARNING! WARNING! DANGER LEVEL: IMMEASURABLE."
Sweat beaded on his forehead. The weight of Tryin's power pressed against them, suffocating.
Tryin's hand was still raised—poised to strike.
Blaze clenched his fists. His mind raced.
If he attacks with full power, we're dead.
The courtyard held its breath.
Tryin's fingers curled slightly—
The attack was coming.
And Blaze had no idea how to survive it.
Stay tuned for the next chapter.