The Skill Slot hovered in Hitake's vision like an empty golden frame.
He stared at it for several seconds before leaning back in his chair.
“So… twenty Attribute Points and a Skill Slot.”
Nefertiti floated upside down near the ceiling, her long golden hair hanging toward the floor.
“Correct.”
“Why are you upside down?”
“Because gravity is boring.”
Zena, sitting across from him, glanced upward.
“You're strange.”
Nefertiti smiled.
“I like you too.”
“I wasn't complimenting you.”
“I know.”
Hitake sighed. “Can we focus?”
Nefertiti flipped upright.
“Fine. Open your status.”
Hitake did.
[STATUS]
Name: Hitake Kael
Level: 2
Strength: 28
Agility: 34
Endurance: 30
Mana: 32
Perception: 35
Luck: 12
Charm: 8
Available Attribute Points: 20
Skill Slots: 1 [EMPTY]
Hitake stared at the numbers.
He was still Level 2.
That fact almost made the numbers more absurd.
Only a short time ago, he had been the weakest student in his class. His original attributes had barely been worth mentioning.
Then Nefertiti had activated the Foundation Package.
[FOUNDATION PACKAGE ACTIVATED.]
[BASE ATTRIBUTES ENHANCED.]
[STRENGTH: 7 → 28]
[AGILITY: 8 → 34]
[ENDURANCE: 6 → 30]
[MANA: 5 → 32]
[PERCEPTION: 4 → 35]
[LUCK: 10 → 12]
And now there was one additional attribute.
Charm: 8.
Hitake pointed at it.
“Why is Charm only eight?”
Nefertiti placed a finger against her chin.
“Because I'm generous, not irresponsible.”
Zena raised an eyebrow.
“Those are almost the same thing with you.”
“They are completely different.”
Hitake couldn't help laughing.
Nefertiti smiled.
“There. See? Eight is enough.”
He shook his head and looked back at his status.
The twenty points remained.
He remembered his fight with Thorne.
Thorne had been stronger.
Faster.
More experienced.
Yet Hitake had still won.
Not because his body was superior.
Because he could see.
The Eyes of Truth had shown him the subtle movement of Thorne's shoulder, the shift of his weight, the flow of mana beneath his skin.
He had known where the attack was going before it arrived.
That was what had won him the fight.
“Perception.”
Zena looked at him.
“All twenty?”
“All twenty.”
Nefertiti's smile widened.
“Then do it.”
Hitake allocated the points.
[PERCEPTION: 35 → 55]
[AVAILABLE ATTRIBUTE POINTS: 0]
Nothing happened.
Then—
The world became unbearably clear.
Hitake's eyes widened.
The ticking clock on the wall sounded like a hammer.
He could hear footsteps passing outside the dorm.
A door opened somewhere down the corridor.
Two students were whispering on the floor below.
He could even hear the academy's defensive wards humming inside the walls.
Zena shifted slightly.
Hitake's eyes followed her before he consciously realized it.
He saw the movement of her shoulder.
The tightening of her fingers.
The slight change in her breathing.
Then her heartbeat.
Hitake immediately looked away.
“That's… a lot.”
Nefertiti smiled proudly.
“The Eyes of Truth aren't simply eyes. They're an information-processing ability. The more Perception you possess, the more the world reveals itself.”
Hitake sat back down.
“So I basically made my brain stronger.”
“Among other things.”
Zena studied him.
“You look different.”
“How?”
“Focused.”
Hitake smiled faintly.
“Maybe I'm finally seeing things the way they're supposed to be seen.”
Nefertiti clapped.
“Beautiful.”
A golden menu appeared before Hitake.
[AVAILABLE SKILLS]
Observe — Passive
Analyze Weakness — Active
Mirage Step — Movement
Hitake studied them.
“Observe.”
Nefertiti shook her head.
“Useful, but redundant.”
“Mirage Step?”
“Helpful for movement, but your current abilities already make you difficult to hit.”
Zena pointed toward the middle option.
“Analyze Weakness.”
Hitake looked at her.
“You think that's the one?”
“You've already built your entire fighting style around seeing weaknesses.”
She shrugged.
“Might as well make it official.”
Hitake smiled.
“You've been paying attention.”
“I always pay attention to you.”
Zena seemed to realize what she'd said.
Her cheeks reddened.
Nefertiti's eyes lit up.
“Oh?”
“Don't.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was merely observing.”
Hitake quickly selected the skill.
Golden light filled the empty slot.
[SKILL ACQUIRED]
ANALYZE WEAKNESS
Type: Active
Effect: Reveals structural and magical weak points.
Cooldown: 5 seconds.
His vision shifted.
For an instant, Zena's body became outlined in crimson.
One point near her left knee glowed brighter.
Hitake frowned.
“Your knee.”
Zena's expression changed.
“What about it?”
“You injured it.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“How do you know?”
“The skill.”
She stared at him.
Then at her knee.
Hitake rubbed the back of his neck.
“Sorry.”
Nefertiti laughed.
“Perfect.”
Hitake looked at her.
“What?”
“You're developing into an information-based fighter. Strong foundation, exceptional Perception, Eyes of Truth, Analyze Weakness.”
Her smile softened.
“Very much like Kael.”
The name immediately changed Hitake's expression.
“My father.”
Nefertiti's smile disappeared.
“Your father could perceive things ordinary beings weren't capable of comprehending.”
“What things?”
Nefertiti looked toward the window.
“The kind of things that make civilizations afraid.”
Hitake's eyes narrowed.
“You keep saying civilizations.”
“And you keep asking questions.”
“Because you keep avoiding them.”
Nefertiti looked directly at him.
“Because you're not ready.”
Before Hitake could respond, a notification appeared.
[FATED QUEST GENERATED]
SURVIVE THE TRIAL
Objective: Survive for 10 minutes against a Level 10 opponent.
Victory Condition: Survival.
Reward: 30 Attribute Points.
Failure Penalty: Severe Injury.
Hitake's expression froze.
“Level ten?”
Zena immediately stood.
“No.”
Hitake looked at her.
“No?”
“You heard the quest.”
“I did.”
“Then you heard the part about Level Ten.”
“I did.”
“You're not doing it.”
Hitake stood.
“I have to.”
Zena stepped in front of him.
“Why?”
He stared at her.
For a moment, the old Hitake returned to his mind.
The boy who lowered his head.
The boy who avoided stronger students.
The boy who had accepted being called useless because eventually he had begun believing it himself.
His hand tightened.
“Because I'm done being the zero.”
Zena's expression softened.
She grabbed the front of his jacket.
“If you get seriously hurt…”
“I won't.”
“If you die…”
“I won't.”
Her grip tightened.
“You'd better not.”
Hitake gently placed his hand over hers.
“I'll come back.”
She released him.
“I'll be waiting.”
Nefertiti smiled.
“Oh, this is going to be fun.”
Hitake looked at her suspiciously.
“You already know where I'm going.”
“Of course.”
The academy announcement sounded moments later.
“All first-year students are requested to report to Training Hall Three immediately.”
Hitake stared at Nefertiti.
“You arranged this.”
“Maybe.”
Zena's eyes narrowed.
“I don't trust that smile.”
“You shouldn't.”
Training Hall Three was already crowded when Hitake arrived.
The enormous arena could accommodate hundreds of students, but today most of the attention was focused on the central combat platform.
Professor Mira stood beside the arena.
Several other instructors watched from the observation deck.
That alone told Hitake this wasn't an ordinary training exercise.
Something about this trial mattered.
Mira raised her voice.
“Today's assessment is part of your combat development program. The purpose isn't to see who can hit the hardest.”
The students quieted.
“It's to determine how you respond when facing an opponent significantly stronger than yourself.”
A few students exchanged nervous glances.
Mira continued.
“Your opponent will be a Level 10 third-year student.”
The room erupted.
“Level 10?!”
“Against first-years?”
“Who's fighting him?”
Mira turned toward the entrance.
“Hitake Kael.”
Every head turned.
Hitake walked forward.
Thorne's expression darkened.
Vicky looked shocked.
John muttered something under his breath.
Zack simply stared.
Near the back of the crowd, Mirai stood silently.
Her eyes remained fixed on Hitake.
He didn't notice her.
Mira gestured toward the opposite side of the arena.
A young man entered.
Tall.
Calm.
Dark hair tied loosely behind his head.
His uniform carried the silver insignia of a third-year.
Renji.
Hitake's Eyes of Truth activated.
LEVEL 10.
The information hit him immediately.
Renji wasn't merely stronger than Thorne.
He was on another level entirely.
His mana circulated smoothly through his body.
His breathing was controlled.
His stance was relaxed, but every muscle remained ready.
There was no arrogance in his expression.
That was what bothered Hitake most.
Thorne had fought like someone trying to prove he was stronger.
Renji looked like someone who already knew he was.
Hitake activated Appraisal before Renji could move.
[APPRAISAL]
Target: Renji
Level: 10
Condition: Stable
Strength: 61
Agility: 68
Endurance: 57
Mana: 64
Perception: 49
Combat Style: Reinforced Close Combat
Mana Flow: Concentrated through limbs
Threat Assessment: Extreme
Detected Weak Points: Limited
Hitake's eyes narrowed.
The numbers were far beyond Thorne's. Renji's Agility was especially dangerous. Even if Hitake could read his movements, his body might not be fast enough to escape them.
The appraisal continued updating as Renji shifted his stance.
[ANALYSIS INCOMPLETE]
[TARGET'S MANA FLOW IS BEING ACTIVELY REGULATED.]
[STATIC WEAKNESS DETECTION: UNRELIABLE.]
Hitake's expression tightened.
Renji wasn't simply strong. He was deliberately concealing the openings Appraisal was trying to identify.
Renji stopped several meters away.
“So you're Hitake.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you defeated Thorne.”
Hitake glanced toward the crowd.
Thorne looked away.
Renji smiled slightly.
“Then I'll try not to underestimate you.”
Mira stepped between them.
“Rules are simple. Ten minutes. Renji is not permitted to deliberately cause permanent injury. Hitake's objective is survival.”
She looked directly at Renji.
“And you will not end the match early unless I order it.”
Renji nodded.
“Understood.”
Mira looked at Hitake.
“You don't have to prove anything to anyone.”
Hitake met her eyes.
“I know.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
Hitake glanced around the arena.
At Thorne.
At the students whispering.
At the person he used to be.
Then he looked back at Mira.
“Because I want to know what I can do.”
Mira studied him for a moment.
Then stepped away.
“Fair enough.”
The bell rang.
Renji vanished.
Hitake's eyes widened.
His body moved on instinct.
A fist tore through the space where his face had been.
The shockwave exploded against the arena wall.
The crowd gasped.
Hitake stumbled backward.
His heart hammered against his chest.
That wasn't speed.
It was precision.
Renji hadn't wasted a single movement.
Hitake's Eyes of Truth processed everything.
Foot placement.
Shoulder angle.
Mana circulation.
Breathing rhythm.
Weight distribution.
He activated Appraisal again.
[APPRAISAL REFRESHED]
Target: Renji
Condition: Stable
Current Mana Distribution: 42% arms, 31% legs, 18% torso, 9% reserve
Movement Pattern: Short-range burst acceleration
Primary Attack Vector: Right-side entry
Detected Weak Points: None stable
Hitake's eyes narrowed.
The appraisal had revealed something his first glance hadn't. Renji's mana surged into his limbs just before each burst, but the distribution changed too quickly to form a permanent weakness.
Analyze Weakness activated.
Crimson lines appeared.
One around the left shoulder.
Another around the right ankle.
A third beneath the lower ribs.
But the moment Renji shifted, the markings changed.
Hitake realized something.
The weaknesses weren't permanent.
Renji was actively correcting them.
“He's adapting.”
Renji smiled.
“You noticed.”
He attacked again.
Hitake ducked.
A knee passed above his head.
He stepped sideways.
A palm strike followed.
He barely escaped.
Every attack forced him backward.
Hitake triggered Appraisal between exchanges, using the brief distance to read Renji's condition.
[APPRAISAL]
Target: Renji
Condition: Stable
Breathing: Controlled
Fatigue: Negligible
Mana Output: Efficient
Combat Rhythm: Deliberately restrained
Opening Probability: 3%
Three percent.
That was all Appraisal could find.
The crowd slowly stopped cheering.
This wasn't a normal spar.
It was a lesson.
Renji was showing the difference between someone who had power…
…and someone who knew how to use it.
Hitake's breathing grew heavier.
Three minutes.
He had only survived three minutes.
His arms were beginning to ache.
His mind was drowning in information.
Yet beneath the pressure, something inside him began to settle.
He stopped trying to keep up with Renji.
He stopped trying to predict every movement.
Instead, he watched.
One breath.
One step.
One opening.
Then another.
He used Appraisal not to search for a weakness, but to compare the changes.
Renji's condition remained stable.
His mana output remained efficient.
But his right leg was receiving slightly more reinforcement after every attack.
The difference was tiny.
Less than a fraction of a second.
Still, it was there.
Renji attacked.
Hitake moved before the strike fully formed.
The fist passed his cheek.
Hitake pivoted and struck the exposed ribs.
THUD!
Renji slid backward.
The arena fell silent.
Hitake stared at his own hand.
He had actually landed a hit.
Renji touched his ribs.
Then smiled.
“Good.”
Hitake raised his guard.
Renji's expression changed.
“Now I'll stop holding back.”
Hitake activated Appraisal once more.
[APPRAISAL]
Target: Renji
Condition: Minor impact trauma
Fatigue: 2%
Mana Output: Increasing
Combat Restriction: Removed
Threat Assessment: Critical
Hitake's stomach tightened.
The appraisal had confirmed it.
Renji had been holding back.
Zena stood abruptly.
Mira's eyes sharpened.
And Hitake's Eyes of Truth suddenly filled his vision with crimson.
Every weak point on Renji's body disappeared.
For the first time, Hitake couldn't see one.
His blood ran cold.
Nefertiti's voice whispered inside his mind.
“Now…”
Her smile was almost feral.
“…the real trial begins.”
At the edge of the arena, Mirai watched Hitake in silence.
She had expected the weak boy she remembered.
Instead, she was watching someone she no longer recognized.
And for reasons she didn't understand, that bothered her.
Very far away, beyond Earth's known space, an unknown system awakened for less than a second.
KAEL SIGNATURE — ACTIVE.
BLOODLINE RESPONSE — CONFIRMED.
Then darkness returned.
But something had noticed.
And this time…
it was looking directly at Earth.