The grueling Forest Race had finally come to an end. The battle through the dense wilderness had tested the limits of every competitor, but now, with 60,000 finishers, the challenge was over.
Thirty minutes after Dan crossed the finish line...
Dan was making his way toward the relaxation center when, out of nowhere, Samuel leaped onto his back.
"Dannnn!" Samuel beamed, his arms wrapped around Dan.
Dan let out a small laugh. "Of course, I was going to make it."
"At least we're both finally done with the Forest Race," Samuel sighed in relief.
"Yeah," Dan agreed.
Suddenly, the announcer's voice echoed through the area.
"Congratulations to all competitors who have finished. The 60,000 participants required for completion have been reached. All competitors should proceed to their respective relaxation centers for further instructions."
Dan sighed. "Would have liked to talk more."
Samuel shrugged. "Guess we'll catch up later."
A shared smile passed between them before they fist-bumped and parted ways.
The 5 Nations Children's Relaxation Center
Standing in front of the heavy wooden doors, Dan took a deep breath.
"Just go in and sit down… nothing bad will happen."
As soon as he stepped inside, an overwhelming aura filled the air. A mix of powerful presences weighed down on him like an invisible force.
"What the hell…?" Dan thought, scanning the room.
"Yo, Dan!" Ash's voice called out, his usual relaxed tone cutting through the tension. "Congratulations on finishing."
Dan nodded and smiled. "Thanks! I couldn't have done it without what you taught me."
Ash grinned. "So you actually pulled it off with ease?"
"Yeah."
Ash's grin widened as his eyes gleamed with interest. "I knew it. This kid is an unpolished gem."
"Hey, you," a familiar voice called out.
Dan turned and immediately recognized Rebecca. He smiled. "Rebecca, you made it too!"
Rebecca scoffed. "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Dan hesitated. "Erm…"
"I'm actually surprised you survived with the lack of skill you had," she teased.
Dan chuckled. "All I needed was my resilience."
Rebecca laughed. "Right, right."
Chase, who had been nearby, smirked. "I'm surprised you can even hold a conversation with someone else, Rebecca."
Rebecca shot him a glare. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Ash chimed in. "Yeah, that's true. You usually just pick fights with everyone you meet."
"Shut up, both of you!" Rebecca huffed.
Dan couldn't help but smile. These guys are nice… I'm so happy to be here.
But his moment of peace was shattered when a sharp glint caught his eye. A blade came rushing straight toward his head.
Reacting on instinct, Dan barely dodged the strike, but the edge of the sword grazed his cheek, leaving a thin line of blood.
Alexis stood there, sword still raised, eyes locked onto Dan with a dangerous glint. "What are you now? The new star? Know your place, newbie."
Dan's expression darkened. "You—"
Ash stepped forward. "Be mature, Alexis, and—"
"Stay out of this, Ash," Alexis cut him off, his voice firm. "This is between the newbie and me."
Dan clenched his fists. "Fine. Let's go. Round two."
Alexis smirked. "Gladly."
Before they could clash, Henry suddenly grabbed Alexis's sword. "Stop it, Alex."
At the same time, Ash seized Dan's shirt and pulled him back. "Cool your jets, Dan. He's far stronger than you."
"But—"
"Hush," Ash ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Before the tension could escalate further, the room's doors burst open. A woman clad in striking red armor strode in, her presence alone demanding silence.
"Get to your seats, twerps," she commanded.
Dan's eyes widened. Vixen…
"I SAID, SIT DOWN!" she bellowed.
Dan sighed, a small smile creeping onto his lips. Forever angry, I see…
As everyone took their seats, Dan found himself sitting next to someone he didn't expect—Norman.
The moment their eyes met, Dan stiffened. He remembered their encounter in the forest all too well—the way Norman had effortlessly overwhelmed him, his attacks too fast to even see.
Norman leaned in slightly. "Yo, Lightning Boy."
Dan's grip tightened on his seat. You…
Norman chuckled. "Good job finishing. Hope we meet in the next round. I'd really enjoy it more this time." His smirk turned wicked.
Dan swallowed. Shit.
Before he could respond, Vixen spoke. "Now that you're all seated, he can come in."
The doors opened again, and a man stepped inside. He wore heavy red armor, a Cuban cigar hanging from his lips. His presence filled the room like a roaring fire.
Dan's eyes widened. Greg…
Greg took a slow drag from his cigar before exhaling. His deep voice carried authority as he spoke.
"Congratulations to you all, lumps of talent. I was really impressed with your fights and progression. This year had a 100% success rate for all of you."
Dan sat up straight. He's the real deal…
Greg continued, "Also, congratulations—you're all knights now."
Murmurs immediately spread throughout the room. Shocked voices whispered among the competitors.
Greg raised a hand to silence them. "We don't tell competitors—even you kids—until this stage because we want you to reach it with full power. But here's the thing… you've all been certified as knights. The lowest-ranked knights."
Dan's eyes widened. "What?"
Greg's smirk deepened. "That's right. You're going to compete in the next round. And this time, it won't just be about finishing a race. The next stage will be for honor, prestige, and respect."
Silence hung in the air.
Greg let out a breath of smoke before delivering the final words.
"The next round will be the final test of the Knight Exam… The Rank Battle."
And with that, the true battle was about to begin.