Yozaro was now eleven.
His training had become part of academy legend.
Every morning before dawn…
A lone boy could be seen running around the academy walls with heavy iron weights strapped to his arms and legs.
After that came sword practice.
Then mana control.
Then classes.
Many students admired his discipline.
Others envied it.
Cedric belonged to the second group.
One afternoon, Headmaster Aldric entered the classroom.
“The annual practical examination will begin tomorrow.”
“The top ten students will receive permission to enter the academy’s restricted dungeon.”
The classroom erupted in excitement.
A dungeon beneath the academy was considered nothing more than an old rumor.
Kael grinned.
“We’re definitely making the top ten.”
Luna closed her book.
“With Yozaro on our team, we should.”
Yozaro shook his head.
“Don’t depend on me.”
“We pass together.”
Mira smiled.
“That’s exactly why you’re our leader.”
The examination took place in the Whispering Forest.
Each team had one task:
Retrieve a Golden Crystal Flower guarded by monsters.
As Team Seven advanced…
Fenrir suddenly stopped.
His ears twitched.
“…Something’s wrong.”
Lyra, hidden in the trees, appeared beside them.
“I smell blood.”
Before anyone could react—
A scream echoed through the forest.
“Help!”
A second-year team was surrounded by dozens of goblins.
Their captain had fallen unconscious.
Kael gripped his sword.
“What do we do?”
Yozaro didn’t hesitate.
“We should help.”
Over thirty goblins rushed toward them.
The first swung a rusted axe.
Yozaro blocked and countered with one clean strike.
The goblin collapsed.
Kael and Rex charged into the center of the horde.
Steel clashed against crude weapons.
Luna raised her staff.
“Frost Chains!”
Ice erupted from the ground, trapping several goblins.
Mira stayed behind, healing the injured students.
The battle quickly turned in Team Seven’s favor.
Then…
The earth trembled.
A massive Hobgoblin stepped from the trees.
Nearly three meters tall.
It wore black armor.
In one hand rested an enormous iron axe.
The surrounding goblins immediately knelt.
Kael whispered,
“…That’s impossible.”
“Hobgoblins don’t appear this close to the capital.”
The creature roared and charged.
“Kael, left!”
“Rex, right!”
“Luna, keep your distance!”
“Mira, stay behind me!”
The team moved instantly.
Kael’s sword struck the Hobgoblin’s shoulder.
It barely left a scratch.
The monster swung its axe.
Rex barely blocked.
BOOM!
He was thrown backward.
Mira immediately healed his fractured arm.
Luna fired dozens of ice spears.
Most shattered against the creature’s armor.
Yozaro observed silently.
His crimson eyes followed every movement.
Then he smiled.
“I found it.”
“The left ankle.”
“The armor doesn’t cover it.”
Kael nodded.
“I’ll distract it.”
He charged fearlessly.
The Hobgoblin roared and chased him.
Exactly as planned.
Luna froze the ground.
The monster slipped.
Rex grabbed its leg.
Yozaro leapt.
Mana gathered around his sword.
One perfect strike.
CRACK!
The ankle shattered.
The giant collapsed to one knee.
Before it could recover—
Everyone attacked together.
The Hobgoblin finally fell.
Silence.
Then cheers erupted across the forest.
After the examination…
The rankings were announced.
1.
Yozaro
2.
Luna
3.
Cedric
Kael
5.
Rex
6.
Mira
Cedric clenched the ranking sheet until it crumpled.
“No matter what…”
“I’ll surpass him.”
That evening…
The top ten students gathered before an ancient stone door beneath the academy.
Headmaster Aldric spoke solemnly.
“This dungeon has remained sealed for nearly five hundred years.”
“Never separate from your team.”
“If anything feels wrong…”
“Retreat immediately.”
The massive doors slowly opened.
Cold air poured out.
Ancient stairs descended into darkness.
Torches lit themselves one after another.
Yozaro felt his heartbeat quicken.
“…This feeling.”
It was the same feeling he had experienced in the cave from his previous life.
Hours later…
Team Seven reached a vast underground chamber.
Broken statues lined the walls.
At the center stood…
Seven empty stone thrones.
Yozaro froze.
His breathing stopped.
“No…”
“They’re real.”
The exact same thrones from his dreams.
One throne still carried a faded inscription.
He stepped closer and brushed away centuries of dust.
Ancient letters appeared.
Luna gasped.
“You can read that language?”
Yozaro nodded slowly.
“It says…”
‘Only the Heir of Desire may awaken the Seven Paths.’
Before anyone could ask what it meant—
The floor began to shake.
BOOM!
A gigantic stone guardian burst from the ground.
Its eyes glowed crimson.
It drew a sword larger than a carriage.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
‘Unauthorized entrants detected.’
‘Elimination protocol activated.’
The students stood frozen.
Even the teachers outside the dungeon couldn’t sense what had awakened.
Yozaro tightened his grip on his sword.
“Everyone…”
“Get ready.”
Volume 2 will release on 10th of July Thanks for reading Volume 1.