---
Even though Luciel is widely regarded as a prodigious talent in swordsmanship, the fact remains—he is only a fifth-grader who lost to a third-grader. As a result, Flower has become the subject of ridicule among many.
> "If Luciel can defeat Flower, then surely he can at least make it to the sixth floor of the Knight Tower," someone commented.
> "That's not necessarily true," another responded. "A one-on-one duel and the Knight Tower challenge are two entirely different trials. Swordsmanship may be graceful, but elegance doesn't always equate to effectiveness."
> "Hehe, I can't wait to see what this so-called swordsmanship genius will show us in the Knight Tower."
With all eyes on them, Luciel and Lawrence stepped into the Knight Tower, attracting the attention of many fifth-grade students.
As they entered, Lawrence lowered his voice and said firmly, "Give it your all, Luciel. This time, I won't lose to you. The fourth floor won't be my limit."
With confidence radiating from his stride, Lawrence marched ahead into the tower. Luciel simply shook his head with a hint of helplessness and followed behind.
The entrance to the tower shimmered like a mirror of light. As Luciel stepped through, darkness enveloped him momentarily before the space ahead brightened. He found himself in a spacious room.
One by one, magical lights lit up along the walls, and from each one emerged a knight clad in gray armor—ten in total. Their faces were indistinct, their forms slightly blurred, almost ghost-like.
> "This first floor shouldn't be too difficult," Luciel muttered.
Without hesitation, he approached, and all ten knights charged at him. Luciel met the closest one with a swift strike. The knight hit the wall with a crash before vanishing into nothingness. At the same time, the corresponding light went out.
> "Just as I thought—not real entities."
Their strength was comparable to first-level apprentice knights, but perhaps even a notch higher. Luciel admitted to himself that, back when he was a first-level apprentice, he wouldn't have stood a chance against them.
The remaining knights attacked. Luciel dodged effortlessly and took them down one by one. As each knight disappeared, a light dimmed. Once the final knight vanished, the room plunged into darkness once more.
Moments later, the lights flickered back on—this time, revealing ten more knights, each more powerful than the last.
> "Looks like I've reached the second floor…"
These knights were second-level apprentice class. Still, even surrounded, they posed little threat to Luciel. He dispatched them after a brief skirmish and braced himself for the next floor.
---
Outside the Knight Tower, many fifth-graders who had completed their assessments gathered, their eyes fixed on the rankings displayed on the glowing light curtain.
Suddenly, the display flickered.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
> "Ferranstu broke through to the eighth floor!"
> "Incredible! He's the first to make it that far again!"
> "Bourne's not far behind—just a few seconds apart. They're neck and neck!"
> "I wonder who's truly stronger—Bourne or Ferranstu. Who deserves to be called the chief student of the fifth grade?"
> "Looks like Ferdy only reached the seventh floor. He's still a step behind those two."
Just then, a tall, slender, gray-haired youth stepped out of the tower. It was Ferdy. Bearing a striking resemblance to Flower, he looked up at the rankings. His expression darkened visibly upon seeing the standings.
Nearby, another student pointed excitedly at the board.
> "Whoa! Look at those third-graders—Lawrence and Luciel! They've already reached the fourth floor!"
> "Impressive. Those two are no joke. But the real challenge starts from the fourth floor onward…"
Before the sentence was finished, someone nearby let out a startled cry.
> "Holy—Luciel just passed the fourth floor! He's on the fifth now!"
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Then, murmurs of surprise spread quickly.
> "He's breaking through at lightning speed!"
> "How fast did Ferranstu and Bourne clear the first four floors?"
> "Almost the same pace… is he already outperforming them at his level?!"
---
Inside the Knight Tower, Luciel still showed no signs of strain, even when facing ten fifth-level apprentice knights.
> "Quick and efficient," he thought. "Save energy for what's ahead."
His sword moved with increasing speed. The gray-armored knights relied on basic swordsmanship—Luciel's specialty—making them easier to handle.
> "It takes about seventh-level strength to beat these ten. Lawrence might cap out here."
Luciel made quick work of his opponents, clearing the fifth floor and advancing to the sixth.
Now the knights' technique changed. Their moves incorporated more refined swordsmanship. Their strength had taken a notable leap.
Luciel felt the pressure rise. Without hesitation, he issued a mental command to his AI chip:
> "Record enemy movement. Save unfamiliar sword styles to the database. Analyze the most energy-efficient strategy for clearing this floor."
> "Recording in progress… Analysis underway…"
Gripping his sword tightly, Luciel surged forward once more.
---
Back outside, another voice rang out:
> "Bourne is out!"
A tall, handsome young man emerged from the tower—Bourne. Though noble in bearing, he looked visibly drained. His pale face and sweat-soaked hair told of the intensity of the battle.
He looked up at the light curtain. Upon seeing the top ranking, his expression dimmed.
> "There's still a gap between us…"
> "The ninth floor! He defeated two ninth-level apprentice knights! Unbelievable!"
The students erupted in awe, impressed by Bourne's feat. The Knight Tower's system displayed not just floor levels, but also how many knights were defeated—making its evaluations precise.
Not long after, Ferranstu's results also finalized. The rankings shifted once again—sending another wave of shock through the crowd.