The rats dispersed as if choreographed, sinking back into the soil like obedient shadows. Not a squeak out of place. Not a tooth bared. Their purpose had been fulfilled: to carry their king through the underworld and announce his return.
And now he stood among them.
Alone.
Still misunderstood.
Still underestimated.
Still Zane.
---
A gust of wind rippled through the arena as the extraction runes began to form beneath the students' feet. Pale blue spirals circled outward from the central obelisk, lifting students one by one into the air like weightless puppets.
Mira and Kien stood a short distance away, staring as Zane approached the edge of the circle like a homeless specter who'd wandered onto the wrong stage.
"I think he's smiling," Mira whispered, uneasy.
"No," Kien replied. "I think that's just how his face looks when he's breathing through pain."
Professor Elandor's beard fluttered as he squinted through his monocle. "Who… let him keep a rat on his shoulder?"
Another professor muttered, "That's… that's not a summon, is it?"
"No contract sigil. That's just... a regular rat."
Zane stepped into the extraction rune, blood dripping steadily from his fingertips.
He raised one brow at the faculty stage.
"Am I late for roll call?"
The mana pulled him upward.
---
Zane landed with a light thud in the outer courtyard—a hidden platform below the plaza meant to avoid chaos during group re-entry.
As expected, no cheering committee. No fans. Just stone, wind, and the distant sound of someone vomiting into a bush.
[S.A.S.S. Personality Reboot Complete.]
A blinking icon appeared in the corner of his vision. A monocle. With a frown.
> "Well, congratulations, you sentient fungus. You survived. Again. Somehow."
Zane winced. "Oh gods. You sound like someone's disappointed gym coach."
> "I am disappointed. You were one mushroom away from enlightenment and chose diarrhea."
Zane smirked. "I had a feeling. His name was Greg."
> "Greg was a liar."
> [System Note: Personality upgrade enabled. Sarcasm now includes emotional scolding, occasional threats of uninstall, and unprompted sibling-like trauma flashbacks.]
> [S.A.S.S. Level Up Perks Unlocked:]
– Beast Command: Tier I
– Tactical Mapping (Subterranean Only)
– Dark Adaptation Boost
– Inventory Expansion: "Subdimensional Trash Heap"
– Mana Vein Affinity (Passive)
– Title Bonus Active: "Shadow Diver"
> [Warning: System perception mask active. All external rankings have been tampered with.]
Zane's smile faded just a little.
"So… no one knows what I actually did down there?"
> "Nope."
> "You're still 'Bottom-Five Zane' to the world. Congratulations. Want a cupcake?"
> [Cupcake not included.]
He stared at his hand. It trembled slightly—still too thin, still weak, but not the same.
"Good," he whispered. "Let them think that."
---
An hour later, all 300+ students had reassembled before the obsidian stage. Healers had mended bones. Priests had calmed minds. Nobles wore fresh robes. The weak were pushed to the edges, half-forgotten.
And somewhere near the rear wall, Zane sat cross-legged, eating something from a paper pouch.
Probably stolen. Possibly inedible. Definitely crunchy.
His cloak still dripped something unholy.
No one noticed.
No one cared.
Perfect.
Then a sharp pulse rang through the courtyard, silencing the crowd. Mana screens flickered to life above the stage.
Professor Dominick stepped forward.
"This concludes the Second Trial."
No applause. Too many bruises. Too many lost bets.
"Those who failed have already been removed. Those who survived have been logged. Final rankings have been updated—but will remain hidden."
Students glanced around, confused.
Dominick's voice grew heavier.
"There is no time to rest. In seven days, the Third Trial begins."
Now there was noise—murmurs, growls, curses.
Dominick raised a hand.
"The Tournament is not just a tradition. It is the first public combat before the Empires. Foreign agents will observe. Nobles will wager. Reputations will be made. And… crushed."
"The matchups will be revealed… tomorrow morning."
> [S.A.S.S.: Wanna bet you get paired with a walking mountain?]
Zane exhaled through his nose.
"I hope so. I've been dying to punch someone that doesn't explode into fur and regret."
> [You're not strong enough.]
"I'm not suicidal either."
> [Debatable.]
Zane stood, brushing dirt from his cloak, and casually walked away—fading into the background like just another loser.
Only Mira kept watching.
Her fingers clenched.
"…That guy," she muttered, eyes narrowing, "he's hiding something."
Kien scoffed. "He's hiding hygiene."
"No," she said softly, "he's hiding power. I saw it. In the way the beasts moved. In the way the air changed when he came back."
Kien rolled his eyes. "If he's strong, I'll kiss a goblin."
---
Professor Dominick reviewed a separate list. One only five people could access.
Zane's name glowed near the bottom of the public rankings.
But in the hidden list?
> [True Combat Ranking: #14]
[Potential Threat Level: Classified]
[Observed Traits: Instinctive Strategist / Subterranean Manipulator / Rogue System Activity]
Dominick closed the file and sighed.
"He's either going to become a king... or burn this place to the ground."