Three weeks had passed since I'd settled into my routine, and my efforts had finally borne fruit.
Status Window
Rank: Alpha – LV 1
Name: William Laurel – Age 16
Titles: [???], [Bookworm]
Unique Skill: Perception
Skills: Immersion, Dodge, Mana Circulation, Mana Control, Art of the Silent Current, Basic Dagger Mastery, Basic Bow Mastery, Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat
Affinity: Light
MP: 190 / 190
Stats:
STR – 11
AGI – 14
STA – 15
CON – 11
MANA – 19
[Bookworm] – Granted to those who dedicate themselves tirelessly to the pursuit of knowledge. Increases comprehension by 50% and grants perfect retention of all information read.
Thanks to constant training and long hours buried in books, I'd finally pushed all my stats into double digits. My body was stronger, faster, and tougher, but my greatest growth had come from study. The library had given me more than theory—it had given me techniques. Mana Circulation, Mana Control, combat fundamentals, and even a martial art: the Art of the Silent Current.
And, sooner than I expected, the system had rewarded me with the [Bookworm] title. I thought I'd need months of obsessive study for that, but apparently three weeks of obsession was enough.
My average running speed had climbed to forty-seven kilometers per hour—just enough to pass the physical benchmark. That left only one hurdle before me: defeating the mana doll in under five minutes.
Until now, I'd avoided the attempt, refining the Silent Current during combat drills instead. But after unlocking Dagger Mastery, I finally had access to its paired weapon techniques. The time for waiting was over.
The testing field was quieter than usual. A line of inert dolls stood waiting, silver cores glowing faintly beneath armored shells. I chose one, infused mana into its chest crystal, and synced it to my terminal watch. The doll's eyes flickered open, glowing a dull blue. It straightened, then settled into a balanced fighting stance.
I stepped back five meters, dagger sheathed at my hip. My pulse quickened as the watch gave its countdown.
Beep.
The doll moved first—fast, precise. Its opening punch was aimed at my jaw. I slipped aside and used Soft Reversal, guiding its arm past me while angling for a counterstrike. The doll blocked instantly, shifting its weight like a trained fighter.
We broke apart, circling.
I feinted with a jab, then slammed a kick into its side. The impact reverberated through my leg, but the doll barely staggered, blocking with its elbow. I gave ground, both of us reading and adjusting, waiting for the next chance.
Then it charged.
I activated Perception.
The world clarified. Every angle, every shift of balance stood out in stark relief. I half-stepped back, narrowly outside its reach, then used Falling Willow Grip to redirect its momentum. The doll stumbled just enough. I drew my dagger in one smooth motion.
Vein Piercer.
The blade thrust for the narrow seam at its neck. Metal screeched as the doll collapsed to the dirt, joints locking in simulated defeat.
The trial ended.
I yanked the dagger free, chest heaving. My watch beeped again, displaying the time:
3 minutes, 48 seconds.
A laugh escaped me, shaky but triumphant. I'd done it—under five minutes. Proof that I belonged here.
My terminal confirmed it: 74th student to clear the assessment. Above average, though still far from exceptional. I didn't mind. Progress was progress.
Miles had completed his trial the week before, ranking 40th. Not surprising—his stats were stronger across the board, and his focus was razor-sharp. What stunned me most was that ranks one through eight had been claimed within the very first weekend. Those people weren't just talented—they were monsters. In the novel, they had been highlighted as future legends. Seeing it unfold firsthand was sobering.
Douglas, meanwhile, had cleared everything except Mana Circulation. He could circulate mana manually, but hadn't yet unlocked it as a passive skill. Rumor had it he'd been caught meditating in the middle of lectures, chasing the breakthrough.
And it was worth chasing.
Mana Circulation wasn't just another skill. It was a cornerstone. With it, mana flowed constantly through your circuits without conscious effort, raising regeneration by a third. Actively circulating increased it further. That was why Arcadia drilled Refresh into us first—to familiarize our bodies with the current, so the skill would come naturally.
It was also one of the reasons Arcadia produced some of the strongest Awakeners in the world. Most schools didn't emphasize circulation at all.
As I walked off the field, blade still humming faintly with mana, one thought kept me moving forward.
This was only the beginning.