The First Challenge
The tension in the ranking hall didn't fade. It lingered, thick and suffocating, hanging over the students like an unspoken challenge. No one outright questioned the rankings, but the doubt was there.
Kyle could feel it as he walked toward the exit.
He had no interest in proving anything.
But the others?
They wanted proof.
"If these rankings are real, we should test them."
Kyle paused.
He turned slightly, just enough to see the speaker—Soren Vale.
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. The students who had been watching in silence now exchanged looks, eyes flicking between Soren and the two names that stood out on the screen.
Kyle Corvayn – Level 5.
Vivian Marchand – Level 3.
Soren's gaze was sharp but unreadable. Beside him, his Ironback Stag stood like a fortress, its plated body as solid as the floor beneath them.
"Marchand jumped an entire level," he said, voice steady but edged with something else. "Corvayn did the same. That's impressive… if it's real."
The implication hung in the air.
Vivian stiffened. She didn't need anyone to defend her.
"You think I don't deserve my rank?"
Soren shrugged. "I think a test wouldn't hurt."
Vivian didn't hesitate.
"Fine."
Instructor Vaughn, who had been watching in silence, finally spoke.
"Arena. Now."
---
Training Arena – Vivian vs. Soren Vale
The combat circle was drawn.
Students gathered around, forming a loose ring around Vivian and Soren.
The Silverwing Moth perched on Vivian's shoulder, its wings shimmering in the dim lighting. Across from her, the Ironback Stag stomped a hoof, the sound echoing through the hall like a warning.
Soren exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Nothing personal, Marchand. If you deserve Level 3, prove it."
Vivian didn't answer. She just stepped forward, her hands already raised, mana coursing through her veins.
Instructor Vaughn gave the signal.
The fight began.
Soren moved first, closing the gap in a single, decisive movement.
His Ironback Stag charged, lowering its head like a battering ram. The sheer force behind it sent a rush of wind through the arena.
Vivian didn't try to block. She couldn't.
Instead, she sidestepped at the last second, the stag's plated form grazing past her. As it passed, her Silverwing Moth flicked its wings, releasing a burst of shimmering dust.
Soren grunted, his vision momentarily obscured.
Vivian moved in.
She struck low, a sharp, precise blow aimed at his ribs.
Soren barely blocked in time, but her speed caught him off guard. He countered with a knee strike, but Vivian was already gone, slipping out of range before he could land a hit.
The crowd murmured.
She wasn't just dodging. She was reading him.
Soren narrowed his eyes. "Not bad."
He adjusted his stance. His Ironback Stag stomped down, sending a small shockwave through the floor. The dust in the air scattered instantly, revealing Vivian's position.
Soren saw her now.
And he attacked.
She was ready.
This time, when he lunged, Vivian met him head-on.
She ducked under his punch, twisted, and drove a palm strike straight into his chest. Hard.
Soren stumbled back.
For the first time, his expression shifted—not just concentration, but something close to surprise.
Vivian pressed forward, launching another strike.
Soren blocked. Barely.
She could feel it now.
She was overwhelming him.
The realization sent a surge of adrenaline through her.
This wasn't the same as before.
She wasn't fighting to survive. She was winning.
Soren tried to create distance, but Vivian didn't let him.
She stepped into his space, faster, sharper, striking again and again.
One hit landed.
Then another.
And another.
She had him.
Almost.
That was when Soren pivoted suddenly—not retreating, but stepping into her attack.
His movement threw off her balance for just a second—but it was all he needed.
Vivian saw the counterstrike coming—but too late.
A sharp elbow connected with her side, knocking the breath from her lungs. The moment she faltered, his knee came up.
The impact sent her staggering back.
Vivian dropped to a knee, gripping her ribs.
Soren exhaled, rolling his shoulder. "Damn." He wiped his brow, a smirk flickering across his face. "You almost had me."
Vivian clenched her fists.
She had lost.
But she had almost won.
And by the way the crowd wasn't whispering anymore, she knew they had seen it too.
She wasn't just another weak student.
She was worth it
---
Kyle vs. Lena Voss
When the dust settled, all eyes turned to Kyle.
Vivian had proved her strength. She had earned her rank.
But Kyle?
No one could explain his.
And the one person who wasn't going to let it slide was Lena Voss.
She stepped forward, arms crossed, her Glassthorn Viper coiled at her feet. Its translucent, bladed scales gleamed under the light.
"Corvayn." Her voice was calm, but edged with challenge. "Let's go."
Jace, standing beside Kyle, let out a low breath. "You knew this was coming."
Kyle said nothing.
He stepped into the arena.
Unlike Soren and Vivian, there was no hesitation.
No buildup.
Just two fighters facing each other.
Instructor Vaughn gave the signal.
Kyle moved first.
He closed the distance so fast that Lena barely had time to react.
His first attack wasn't reckless. It wasn't aggressive.
It was methodical.
A simple feint—a flicker of motion to the right, then a pivot into a precise, controlled strike.
Lena blocked.
But the impact sent her sliding back.
Her viper hissed, lashing forward, but Kyle was already gone.
His movements were too smooth. Too efficient.
Lena narrowed her eyes. "You're holding back."
Kyle didn't deny it.
Because she was right.
He was in control.
With Every step,Every attack,Every reaction.
He would have already won
The arena was silent.
Kyle stepped forward, his movements smooth, measured. Across from him, Lena Voss stood with her arms loose at her sides, her Glassthorn Viper coiled near her feet. Its translucent, bladed scales shimmered, reflecting the overhead lights in jagged slivers.
Unlike Soren, Lena wasn't testing the rankings out of curiosity.
She was testing him.
Her dark eyes locked onto his. Are you holding back cause I don't buy it
C'mon CORVAYN give me all you got
Kyle said nothing.
He didn't need to.
Soren vale's voice cut through the stillness.
"Are we here to see some action or what"
Lena moved first.
Her Glassthorn Viper lashed out, its thin body snapping forward like a whip. The moment it struck, the razor-sharp edges along its scales extended outward, turning the attack into a shredding saw-blade of motion.
Kyle didn't dodge.
He shifted.
A slight pivot, no wasted movement, the viper's attack grazing past him. Too close. Deliberately close.
His footwork was perfect.
Lena narrowed her eyes.
She was fast, but Kyle was faster.
She pressed forward, shifting seamlessly into a high-speed assault.
Her viper struck again—from the left, then the right, then below. Each attack came faster, sharper, forcing Kyle to react, to move.
And he did.
Without effort.
Without struggle.
Every attack missed by inches.
No blocks. No counters.
Just perfect avoidance.
The crowd murmured.
Jace, watching from the side, crossed his arms. "He's not fighting."
Vivian glanced at him. "What?"
"He's calculating." Jace's jaw tensed. "Look at his movements. Every dodge, every step—it's planned. Like he already knows what Lena's going to do before she does it."
Vivian looked back.
Kyle's expression hadn't changed.
Cold. Detached.
Lena seemed to notice it too.
Her stance shifted.
She went for a **feint—**a fake step to the left, then a sharp twist as her viper circled behind him, aiming for his blind spot.
A kill strike.
Fast. Precise.
Kyle's hand snapped out.
The entire arena froze.
Because for the first time—Kyle wasn't dodging.
He caught the viper's head mid-strike.
It twisted violently in his grip, its scales extending like glass shards, but Kyle didn't flinch.
His fingers tightened.
Lena's breath hitched.
The viper hissed, thrashing, but it was trapped.
Kyle finally spoke, voice quiet. "Is that all?"
Lena reacted instantly.
She lunged, aiming for his ribs—but Kyle had already moved.
His knee came up—**fast, controlled—**slamming into her stomach before she could land a hit.
Lena choked on a breath, stumbling back.
Kyle released her viper.
The fight should have ended there.
Lena should have yielded.
But she didn't.
She wiped her mouth, exhaling sharply. Then—she smirked.
"Finally."
Before Kyle could react, her Glassthorn Viper exploded into movement.
Not attacking—shedding.
Its entire body split apart into hundreds of razor-like scales, each one hovering in the air, vibrating with stored mana.
Kyle's eyes flickered.
A hidden ability.
Lena **thrust her hands forward—**and the storm of bladed scales shot toward him like a thousand knives.
Fast. Too fast.
Kyle should have dodged.
Instead—he stepped into it.
The first shard cut through his sleeve, drawing a thin line of blood along his forearm.
The second one barely missed his cheek.
The rest—he moved through.
Lena's smirk faltered.
Because Kyle wasn't just dodging anymore.
He was reading.
Adjusting.
Each movement was precise, controlled, slipping through the gaps in her attack like he had already memorized the pattern.
Like it wasn't even a fight.
Lena's eyes widened—too late.
Kyle closed the distance.
One second she was attacking.
The next—she was airborne.
Kyle's foot hooked behind her ankle, his arm pressing against her shoulder in a sharp, fluid motion. The ground vanished from under her as he flipped her over his hip, slamming her onto the arena floor.
Hard.
Lena gasped, her breath knocked from her lungs.
Silence.
The fight was over.
Kyle stepped back. No expression. No exhaustion.
He had barely tried.
Instructor Vaughn watched for a moment, then nodded. "Winner: Corvayn."
The crowd exhaled, murmurs breaking the silence.
But Jace wasn't moved afterall its roommate he has to expect something like this once in a while
His gaze stayed locked on Kyle, his stomach twisting.
Because Kyle hadn't just fought methodically.
He had fought with absolute control.
Too much control.
Like he was holding back something more.
And Jace was just thankful he was holding back like what would happen when Kyle finally stopped holding back.
He didn't want know nor did he want to find out
---