Luciel's current strength is a constant value, calculated and monitored by the chip implanted in his body. Under normal circumstances, his power fluctuates, sometimes rising and falling. However, in theory, he is capable of achieving an even greater output.
The key to unlocking his true potential lies in executing the most perfect method of exerting strength. Mastering this technique is essential to reaching his peak performance.
Despite his presence in Julian's knight class, Luciel remained largely unnoticed. To most of his peers, he was nothing more than a handsome yet useless noble—a privileged "straw bag" with no real abilities.
So, when it was Luciel's turn to take the test, no one paid him much attention.
Breaking Expectations
Only one voice stood out in support—Anderson's.
"Lanster, go for it!"
Luciel took a deep breath, recalling the precise muscle coordination analyzed by the chip. Following its guidance, he stepped forward and struck the force plate with a fierce punch.
BOOM!
A deep, resounding thud echoed through the training grounds. The sheer force of the impact made many students' hearts jolt.
Heads snapped toward the source of the noise, just in time to see Luciel withdrawing his fist.
The force plate's crystals began to react—one after another, they lit up rapidly.
One. Two. Three...
Five in an instant.
Then six. Seven...
The eighth crystal flickered but ultimately stopped at the halfway mark.
Seven and a half crystals!
The students froze in shock.
Disbelief and Astonishment
Gasps filled the air. Eyes widened. Mouths hung open like stunned frogs.
"T-This... how is this possible?!"
"I must be seeing things!"
"Am I dreaming right now?!"
Even Julian, the instructor, stiffened. His pupils contracted as he studied Luciel carefully, as if seeing him for the first time.
Joey, a commoner prodigy who had always prided himself on his talent, was completely dumbfounded. He stared at the glowing seven-and-a-half crystals, his confidence shattered.
"Luciel Lanster... is he really this strong?!"
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"That level of power is on par with a sixth-level apprentice knight!"
"I never expected such a powerhouse to be hiding among us!"
"He keeps such a low profile… No one ever noticed!"
The gazes directed at Luciel shifted—from disregard to wonder, from skepticism to shock, and from indifference to awe.
Joey's Resentment and Denial
Joey clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Frustration. Disbelief. Unwillingness.
He had poured his heart and soul into training, yet he had only reached the fourth level of an apprentice knight.
Luciel was two full levels above him.
And he was a noble!
Joey gritted his teeth as a realization struck him.
Right!
Luciel was an aristocrat. He must have access to high-quality magic potions that enhanced his strength. His noble status gave him privileges—better resources, better training, better everything.
That had to be the reason Luciel had surpassed him!
Clutching onto this excuse to ease his bruised ego, Joey forced himself to calm down.
There was still hope.
The next assessment was swordsmanship.
Strength alone wouldn't determine the winner—skill was all that mattered.
Joey refused to believe that Luciel could defeat him in swordsmanship!
Julian's Observation
Unlike the ordinary students, Julian saw something even more shocking.
His eyes locked onto Luciel's right hand—the one that had delivered the punch.
It was completely unscathed.
No bruises. No wounds. Not even the slightest swelling.
Julian's mind raced.
"His physique is already at the level of a sixth-level apprentice knight… That's far beyond Joey, who I always thought was the most promising in class."
"And that punch… The form was flawless. Every ounce of power was optimized. This isn't just the effect of magic potions—this is genuine strength."
A realization dawned upon him.
"He was hiding his true abilities during our morning training sessions…!"
Excitement surged through Julian.
"Luciel's basic swordsmanship is already at a near-perfect textbook level. If his combat ability is just as refined… with his raw strength as a sixth-level apprentice knight…
"He might even be able to match Lawrence—the prodigy from Dean's class!"
Julian felt as though he had discovered a hidden gem. His usual stern demeanor softened slightly, and a glint of appreciation shone in his eyes.
A Stunning Evaluation
Taking a deep breath, Julian raised his voice.
"Luciel Lanster—performance: EXCELLENT!"
"WHOA!"
A collective gasp erupted through the class.
"Oh my god! An 'Excellent' rating?!"
"Even Joey never got this honor!"
"Luciel is seriously amazing!"
The academy's ranking system classified performance into five tiers:
Unqualified
Qualified
Good
Excellent
Outstanding
For a third-year student to light up seven and a half crystals on the force plate, an "Excellent" rating was more than deserved.
If Julian had rated him anything lower, it would have been outright unfair . It was Luciel's Quiet Victory
Amidst the swarm of envious, admiring, and awestruck gazes, Luciel calmly returned to his seat.
He was satisfied.
Following the optimal force exertion technique calculated by the chip, he had delivered a performance beyond expectations.
His actual power had reached 3.7 to 3.8.
As he settled into his place, his friend Anderson continued staring at him like he had just seen a ghost.
Anderson's eyes were wide with disbelief, and he hesitated before speaking.
"You… you're really the Luciel Lanster I know?!"
"No way. This has to be a joke!"
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