Leo rushed into the ruined city. Robots emerged. He fought, struggling with lower-tier enemies. Ard, however, moved like a phantom, destroying robots instantly.
Observers whispered. His speed, his power—it was inhuman.
Satisfied, Ard checked his score—80 points. Done with fighting, he retreated to a rooftop, relaxing in the moonlight.
Then—the ground trembled.
The hard-level robot awakened, towering over the battlefield. Students screamed and ran. Leo saw it moving toward sleeping Ard.
Without thinking, Leo sprinted forward, trying to wake him—only to get caught in the robot's grip!
Before the machine could crush him—Leo vanished. Snatched out of harm's way. It was Ard.
Ard:"Are you trying to die?"
Leo: I-I was trying to help!"
Ard sighed, glancing at the towering monster.
Ard: "Not impressive."
He leaped onto its head, muttered "Pathetic," and obliterated the machine with a single flick of his finger.
Silence.
The examiner, the students—everyone stood frozen.
The exam ended. Ard held the highest score—130 points.
---
The written exam passed without issue. Now, the final trial remained—the Mana Rank Assessment.
Each student placed their hand upon the Mana Detector Orb, revealing their power rank.
Leo swallowed hard, watching. His heart pounded.
Leo: In this world, knights are judged by their rank. Strength determines everything—status, respect, legacy."
One by one, students saw their fates.
Finally, Leo and Ard stepped forward.
The orb glowed. Their results would change everything…
The ancient halls of Arcadia Academy had witnessed many fates, but none as earth-shattering as today.
Students gathered around the Mana Crystal, the revered artifact that dictated their rank, their magicaffinity, and their destiny. It was the system of power—eight ranks, each determining one's strength in the arcane arts.
Leo stepped forward, his voice steady as he recited the hierarchy:
Rank D—wielders of common magic like fire or water.
Rank C—slightly stronger, with access to four elemental forces: fire, water, earth, and wind.
Rank B—a rare chance of obtaining a unique skill, but only through intense training and a rigorous exam.
Rank A—the last rank achievable through training, granting access to Ethereal Conflux, an ability only 7% ever unlocked.
S Rank—a birthright, beyond the reach of effort, with immense mana reserves and mastery over Ethereal Conflux.
SS Rank—those gifted with not one, but two magic skills.
SSS Rank—masters of three unique magic abilities, feared and revered.
SSS+ Rank—the legends, wielders of more than three magic skills, beyond mortal comprehension.
Leo placed his hand on the crystal, and the moment his fingers made contact, the hall trembled. The mana crystal pulsed, its glow deepening into an abyssal black.
S Rank.
A stunned silence rippled through the room. High mana reserves. The power of Ethereal Conflux. But more importantly—his unique skill.
_"Shadow."_
It whispered through the room like a lingering specter. A magic of concealment, movement, and knowledge—he could vanish into darkness, traverse unseen paths, and even interrogate shadows themselves for secrets hidden within the void.
Then came Ardy. The hall was already electrified, but as he approached the crystal, the air thickened with anticipation.
He placed his hand on it.
The mana crystal shattered.
A deafening pulse of energy erupted, shards of the divine artifact scattering across the floor. Gasps, screams, silence—all at once.
Never in history had the Mana Crystal broken during an assessment.
Leo turned to Ardy, his expression shifting from awe to trepidation. _What are you?_
Because this wasn't just a rank beyond their understanding.
This was something that should not exist.