The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long amber shadows across the academy's eastern courtyard. Most students were busy resting after their brutal survival trial, basking in their brief reprieve. But Lucien remained in the shadows, training in silence.
The wind whispered softly as his blade shifted through the air, creating small arcs of glowing blue light. His eyes narrowed, analyzing every movement. Every breath. Every flow of mana.
He was alone.
Yet not unseen.
Selena Vermillion leaned quietly against a pillar atop the academy's observatory tower. Her crimson gaze followed Lucien's blade with mild curiosity and growing admiration.
"Still dancing with ghosts when the war hasn't started, little storm?" she murmured, a small smirk forming.
Down below, Lucien's training shifted. With a flick of his wrist, his weapon morphed.
From a longsword… into twin daggers.
Then into a war spear.
The Iksha Astra responded to his will with flawless obedience. It shimmered briefly with bluish silver light, reforming based on his thoughts — an adaptive relic weapon that evolved with its wielder's skill and intent.
Lucien (muttering): "Let's try a heavier balance… battleaxe mode."
The weapon shifted again, gleaming under the moonlight.
A heavy exhale. Sweat ran down his jaw. Yet his eyes sparkled—not with fatigue—but with anticipation.
Then—
[SYSTEM INTERFACE – ACCESS GRANTED]
Name: Lucien Arkanveil
Race: Human (Primordial Bloodline – Arkanveil Core)
Age: 16 Years, 0 Months
Level: 32
Rank: C-Rank
---
Traits: • [Devour] – EX Grade
• [Adaptation] – SSS Grade (Evolved: Flow of Adaptation)
• [Eye of Data] – SSS Grade (Devoured)
• [Rubberman] – A Grade (Devoured)
• [Shadow General] – SSS Grade (Evolved from Shadow Soldier)
---
Skills: • Flow of Adaptation – S Rank (Perfected Flow Achieved)
• Reactive Sword Style – Level 3 (1290/2000)
• Mana Resonance – Level 9 (8900/10000)
• Spatial Instinct – Level 2 (210/400)
• Combat Footwork: Phantom Steps – Level 3 (1025/2000)
• Meditation – Mastered (Passive: Divine Mind Stability)
• Advanced Light Weaving – Level 6 (3450/6000)
• Divine Warding Magic – Awakened (Divine Bastion – Minor)
• Radiant Mana Control – Mastered (Integrated into Core Control)
• Solar Flame Resistance – Passive (Inner Furnace – Minor)
• Affinity with Light Magic – Significantly Increased
• Internal Mana Circuit Control – Refined by 68.5%
---
Shadow General Trait:
• Current Limit: 100 Shadows
• Current Shadows: 3 (General-Class)
• Requirement: Killed target must be F-Rank or higher
---
Inventory & Bound Items: • Storage Capacity: 100 Cubic Meters
• Bound Items:
– Soulforge Catalyst
– Azrien's Flame Pendant
– Adaptive Combat Notes
– Forged Blade of Resonance
– Beast Cores ×7
– Shadow Core ×1
---
As Lucien practiced, glowing sigils formed under his feet. His mana resonance reached an elegant hum—pure, refined, and rhythmic.
The Flow of Adaptation moved like a living current inside him, showing him flaws in his form, ways to improve his footwork, even how to better circulate mana to enhance his movement.
Lucien (to himself): "So that's why the pivot felt off. Minor delay in tendon response... Flow corrected it mid-motion."
He slashed again—this time smoother. Sharper. More fluid.
Suddenly, his weapon spun behind him, parrying an imaginary strike.
Lucien: "Too slow. Again."
---
Above him, Selena chuckled. "He's like a seasoned warrior with less lies and more edge. Dangerous… but elegant."
She pulled out a crystal orb and whispered, "Leon, your prodigy's going to outpace the curriculum in three weeks."
The voice of the Headmaster echoed back through the orb.
Leon : "Then we give him something the curriculum cannot. Give him storms to break. And sharpen his fangs."
Selena watched a while longer, then vanished.
---
Lucien paused, sweat trailing down his neck. He held out his palm, summoning the weapon back to its basic form — a thin sword wrapped in radiant threads.
He closed his eyes, feeling the flow within.
Lucien: "I'm not strong enough yet. Not for what's coming."
His mind flashed back to the survival trial. To the berserk Ignis.In novel Ignis realized berserk in later part of story but now he is using it unconsciously.
The Liberation Organization movement.
To the scent of blood still faint in the air.
He sat down cross-legged and resumed meditating. Mana flowed into him. Slowly. Calmly. With resolve.
He whispered into the dark,
Lucien: "I'll be ready… before they even realize the game has begun."
And somewhere—beyond the veil of shadows—something stirred .
.....
...
NOTE : guys thinking of making system interface smaller