There was no suspense at all—Lucas was the undisputed champion of the freshman competition!
His final score?
More than 13,700 points!
That wasn't just a win—it was a complete blowout. He had over 9,000 points more than the second-place student. If Lucas had spent his last hour seriously grinding monsters instead of walking around casually, his score could've soared even higher.
From start to finish, Lucas stayed at the top of the leaderboard, breaking every previous record in the history of the Secret Realm trials.
As Lucas walked up to the podium, all eyes locked onto him—some filled with admiration, others with jealousy, and many with awe.
Everyone was focused on one person: him.
Some freshmen below the stage clenched their fists or bit their sleeves in frustration, wishing it was them up there.
"Lucas is unbelievable…"
"Yeah, no kidding. That guy's on another level."
Even the most envious students had to admit it. Lucas had promised to be number one in the grade, and he delivered.
He even defeated the Secret Realm boss alone. That alone proved he deserved the crown.
This victory wasn't just earned—it was earned with dominance.
Of course, a few sour voices still tried to tear him down.
"Too arrogant, if you ask me."
"Strong, sure. But he acts like the rest of us don't even exist."
"Exactly. Guy didn't even acknowledge anyone else on stage."
But the crowd didn't let those complaints spread.
"Please. If I had his power, I'd be even more arrogant!"
"Lucas has been super low-key. He could've rubbed it in, but he didn't."
"He's earned every bit of this. Stop being salty."
That's just how people work.
Once someone becomes strong enough, everyone starts treating them differently. Enemies become fans. Doubters become believers. Even haters begin to praise you.
Lucas knew that better than anyone. That's why he remained calm and steady, not letting the admiration—or the criticism—affect him.
He had one goal: to win the Legendary-grade equipment, the reward for first place.
The crowd's shifting opinions? Not important.
"Congratulations, Lucas," said the old headmaster with a warm smile, stepping forward to personally present the award.
He handed Lucas the Legendary item right there on stage.
"Thank you to the school and the faculty for your support," Lucas replied, his tone polite but confident.
He didn't act arrogant. Just respectful enough to keep the mood light and the crowd happy.
The audience erupted.
"Whoa! That's what the champion gets?!"
"That's a real Legendary item? I've never even seen one in person!"
"This is probably as close as I'll ever get to one... better memorize what it looks like!"
"Look at that glow… it's beautiful."
"That's gear for Rank 4 bosses! I'm so jealous!"
Everyone stared at the glowing piece of gear in Lucas's hand.
"Boss Lucas! That's our guy!"
Danny Quinn, Chris Morgan, and Zach Darnell went wild, jumping and shouting his name proudly.
"Lucas is the best!"
Amelia Su blushed as she shouted from below the stage, eyes sparkling with pride.
Alexis Lane stayed quiet, but her gaze lingered on Lucas with a warm, complicated look.
Those who had stood by Lucas in the Secret Realm earlier were full of pride now. They knew they had supported the right person.
"Thank you, all of you!"
Lucas raised his hand, waving to his supporters with real gratitude. He hadn't forgotten how they defended him when the situation turned hostile.
Back off the stage, Lucas finally had a moment to examine the Legendary item in detail.
---
Item Name: Ring of the Phoenix
Type: Jewelry
Rarity: Legendary
Stars: ★★ (Two Stars)
Required Level: 80
Class Requirement: None
Attributes:
+1600 Strength
+1600 Constitution
+1600 Agility
+1600 Stamina
+1600 Intelligence
+25% Critical Hit Rate
+100% Critical Hit Damage
+30% Damage Reduction
Special Effect – Rebirth from Ashes:
After death, instantly resurrect on the spot. All negative effects are removed, and there's no death penalty. Cooldown: 24 hours.
---
Lucas blinked. The stats were insane.
+1600 to all attributes? That alone made it powerful beyond words.
+25% crit rate and +100% crit damage? That would double his burst output.
And 30% damage reduction? That was absurd. For an assassin-type class like Lucas, that kind of defensive boost was rare.
He already had 50% damage reduction from other sources. Add this ring? 80% total reduction. That meant enemies could only deal 20% of their normal damage to him.
That's not damage—that's tickling.
And the synergy didn't stop there.
Lucas had a passive talent skill called Delusion-Breaking Eye, which guaranteed critical hits when attacking an enemy's weak point. That, paired with this ring, meant constant double damage output—devastating in PvP and boss fights.
The full attribute bonus of +1600 also stunned him. It was more than the sum of his current class stats combined.
And then there was the "Rebirth from Ashes" effect.
This wasn't your average resurrection item.
It didn't take you to a city altar or a spawn point—it revived you on the spot, fully healed and cleansed of debuffs. That kind of second chance could turn the tide of any fight.
Even more importantly, it wasn't an item—it was a passive skill tied to the ring. That meant it might not be restricted by normal dungeon rules.
"If it works in the Mysterious Tower…" Lucas whispered, eyes gleaming, "...that could be a real game-changer."
Of course, there was no way to test it safely. If it didn't work, he'd really be dead.
Still, having that ability—just knowing it was there—increased his survivability tenfold.
There was just one catch.
The required level was 80.
Lucas was only Level 25.
So for now, the Ring of the Phoenix would have to stay in his inventory, untouched. He couldn't equip it yet.
But he had expected that.
Everyone knew epic gear required Level 60, and Legendary gear started at Level 80. It was basic class knowledge.
Lucas smiled down at the shimmering ring in his hand.
"I need to reach Level 80 as fast as possible."
His desire to grow stronger burned inside him. He wanted to wear this ring. He wanted to feel its power. He wanted to push the limits even further.
This wasn't just a prize.
It was a symbol of what came next.
---
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