Some of you may have lost. But others… have arrived."
The voice of Teacher Vairon echoed across the training grounds as students stood, exhausted and bruised. The atmosphere was heavy, filled with silence and slow breaths. Some students looked around in disbelief. Others stared down at the ground.
The mock test had just ended.
Kain stood quietly among the crowd. His body ached, sweat dripping from his brow. His uniform was torn in several places, a deep bruise on his side from the earlier match. But he wasn't thinking about the pain. He was thinking about Elmore—the final opponent he couldn't defeat.
The match had been brutal.
Elmore, the top-ranking student from a prestigious noble family, had unleashed a storm of techniques and pressure. Kain fought hard, pushing himself to the limits. He even used the unstable version of Horizon's Sword: First Form – "The Sword That Cuts Nothing."
It had stunned the teachers.
A flashback sparked in Kain's mind—the moment when he was taught this form by the wandering swordsman known only as Horizon Cutter. In a quiet mountain clearing, the man had told him:
> "To cut everything, you must first learn to cut nothing. Even if your sword touches a thousand things, it must only cut your one target. That's the only way to cut anything—and everything—at once."
Back then, Kain had scoffed. But now, it made sense. The blade moved with will, not just force.
In the fight, Kain had used that lesson. His sword passed through Elmore's shield without resistance—without cutting. It almost struck his core. But Elmore, gritting his teeth, flared his aura in one final desperate surge and struck Kain down.
Kain lost.
But Elmore had to use everything to win. Even his last drop of mana. He barely remained standing at the end, breathing heavily.
After the match, the students murmured. Even the proud ones looked at Kain differently.
He wasn't just a village boy anymore.
Earlier that day, Kain had fought Anna, the noble girl with the Ice Empress blessing. Their fight was fierce—but Kain surprised everyone. Despite her devastating ice spells, his movements were sharp, his aura precise. He closed the distance with ease and disrupted her casting. She was strong—but as a swordsman, Kain had the upper hand. He defeated her without struggle.
It was his fight against Kai, however, that left everyone speechless.
Unlike Anna, Kai was a fellow warrior—close combat. Fast. Strong. The clash between them was intense, filled with rapid exchanges and deadly aura techniques. Neither gave an inch. Kain's blade clashed with Kai's fists, his iron will matching Kai's fury.
In the end, the match was declared a draw.
Teacher Vairon watched the fight with narrowed eyes. Later, he called Kain aside and said, "You fought with restraint. That Horizon Sword… it's not just a technique. It's a path. If you continue, you'll surpass even the knights of the capital."
Kain bowed silently.
By the end of the day, new rankings were announced. Students buzzed with excitement and shock. Due to his performance, Kain's name climbed the list—but not to the top. Elmore remained first. Kai stood at third. Anna dropped down to fifth. And Kain?
He was now ranked second.
The class sat in stunned silence.
Kain didn't smile. He sat quietly, staring ahead.
Next time… he wouldn't lose.