Reyon stood at the center of a large, underground arena deep within the headquarters of the Classers. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, metal, and blood, remnants of countless battles fought in this very ring. Encircling the arena were dozens of Classers, both new recruits and veterans, all watching with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Among them stood Berth, the leader of the Classers, his piercing gaze fixed on Reyon with disdain.
"This is the Classer Gauntlet," announced Cyrus, Berth's right-hand man. "To join, you must prove your worth. You will face multiple opponents, one after the other, until you either collapse or win. Only those strong enough to endure may stand among us."
Reyon nodded, unfazed. This was exactly what he had expected. He had no intention of failing.
First Opponent: The Bladed Dancer
A lean figure stepped forward, dual daggers glinting under the torchlight. Kairos, an elite assassin known for his speed and deadly precision.
"Fresh meat," Kairos sneered. "Let's see if you last more than a minute."
With a blur of movement, Kairos vanished and reappeared behind Reyon, daggers aiming for his back. But before the blades could reach their target, Reyon's Vector Shift activated, redirecting the attack. Kairos stumbled as his own momentum betrayed him, sending him skidding to the side.
"Too slow," Reyon said, his voice calm.
Kairos gritted his teeth and launched a flurry of attacks. Dagger strikes came from all angles, slashing through the air with deadly precision. But Reyon remained untouched. He weaved between the attacks effortlessly, using Vector Field to subtly alter the trajectory of each dagger.
Frustrated, Kairos leaped back and conjured a 5th-circle wind spell – Phantom Blades. Ethereal daggers materialized and shot toward Reyon. Without hesitation, Reyon raised his hand and cast Mana Absorption, draining the energy from the spell mid-air, causing the blades to disintegrate.
Kairos' eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, Reyon thrust his palm forward and released a compressed wind burst. The impact sent Kairos flying across the arena, slamming him against the stone wall.
"Defeated," announced Cyrus begrudgingly.
Second Opponent: The Berserker
A hulking brute stepped forward, a massive war hammer resting on his shoulder. His muscles bulged, veins pulsing with battle lust.
"Name's Gorv. Let's see if you can handle raw strength."
Gorv charged, swinging his hammer down with the force to crush bones. Reyon didn't move. Instead, he activated Vector Nullification, dispersing the impact force around him. The hammer slammed into the ground, cracking the stone, but Reyon remained untouched.
Gorv roared and swung again, this time aiming for Reyon's ribs. But before the strike could connect, Reyon used Vector Shift, redirecting the momentum. Gorv's own swing sent him off balance, exposing his back. Seizing the opportunity, Reyon cast Lightning Lance, a piercing 5th-circle spell. The bolt of electricity struck Gorv's exposed spine, paralyzing him on the spot.
Gorv crumpled to the ground, unable to move.
"Next," Reyon called, unfazed.
Final Opponent: The Dark Mage – Lucien
The crowd murmured as a tall figure in a black cloak stepped forward. His aura reeked of dark mana, and his crimson eyes gleamed with malice.
Lucien smirked. "A mere 5th-circle magician thinks he can defeat me?"
Raising his hands, Lucien chanted, summoning tendrils of dark energy that slithered toward Reyon like serpents. The air thickened with malevolence as he cast 6th-circle spell – Abyss Chains.
Reyon didn't move as the chains surged forward. At the last moment, he activated Vector Warp, shifting his position instantly, appearing right behind Lucien.
Lucien barely had time to react before Reyon unleashed Wind Surge, sending the dark mage stumbling forward. Regaining his footing, Lucien snarled and unleashed a barrage of Shadow Spears, each one laced with lethal dark mana.
But Reyon had already anticipated the attack. With a flick of his wrist, he activated Vector Acceleration, increasing his speed tenfold. He weaved through the spears effortlessly, his movements like a blur to the onlookers. Before Lucien could cast another spell, Reyon shot forward and struck him with a Lightning Fist, enhanced by Vector Amplification.
The force of the impact sent Lucien crashing into the arena wall. But Reyon wasn't done.
Raising his hand, he conjured 5th-circle spell – Storm Breaker, infusing it with vector manipulation to amplify its power beyond its usual limits. The storm condensed into a massive spear of raw lightning energy, crackling with unrestrained force.
Lucien barely had time to gasp before the spear was hurled at him. The explosion of light and thunder that followed blinded the arena for a moment. When the dust settled, Lucien lay motionless on the ground, unconscious.
The crowd was silent.
Cyrus's lips parted in shock, while Berth narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping against his armrest.
Finally, Berth let out a slow chuckle. "Interesting."
Cyrus cleared his throat. "Reyon… has officially passed the trial."
Cheers erupted from the crowd, but Reyon barely reacted. His mind was already focused on his next step.
He was now a Classer. And this was only the beginning.