The sun over Dravania rose like a coin of dull bronze. Sand shimmered at the city's edges, but the capital's heart - stone lanes, market squares, and low ceremonial towers - already throbbed with morning life.
Merchants hawked hot spice-breads; beast-tamers walked proud kites of harnessed jackals; children chased one another between the shade-sails.
At the Ember Wharf a wind-battered Sky Liner readied to leave for Ozythra.
Lei Shan looked beyond the ship to the city spires, to the W.N. banner over the closest courtyard where a rune-flag unfurled. Traders and townsfolk had begun to cluster there; a messenger, breathless, passed through with a sheet of parchment. People glanced at the parchment in small groups and whispered.
He got up and walked towards the people who were talking to each other in groups.
Said one "The W.N. branch has opened the standard assessment panels today.They check potential Noblesse and recruit them "
Other one" The winner will become an official Nobel laureate its Great Deal.
"It's not that easy," he said sadly. If you fail once, you will be disqualified for life time.
Lei Shan turned back folded the ticket and tucked it away,Thinking calmly, "A competition is one thing. The trials are the gate. If I cannot pass the Measurements trail here and I won't be able to become nobless.
then the stage of Ozythra is meaningless." He rose, a quiet decision settling in him like armor.
__________
Outside the W.N Branch. A large crowd had gathered outside the W.N building.
And everyone was just narrating their own long, boring stories, as if no one was willing to listen to anyone else.
1st Person: "You just wait and see, my rank will definitely be A or B!"
2nd Person: "What are you talking about, bro? If I even get a D or E rank, my work will be done..."
1st Person: "Oh, you dream big, but even in your dreams, you're being stingy."
Then someone calls out, "Hey, listen, mister..."
They both look in the direction of the voice.
A boy was standing there, wearing black trousers and a black T-shirt, with red hair.
They look him up and down.
1st Person: "Yes, speak up, kid..."
The boy makes a displeased face: "My name is Lei Shan..."
1st Person: "I didn't ask for your name. What do you want to say?"
Lei Shan: "What's happening here? Why are so many people gathered?"
1st Person: "You don't know? Oh, everyone's here to get a second marriage..."
2nd Person: "Mohit, why are you teasing him?"
Mohit, the first person, makes a sour face and starts looking around.
2nd Person: "Hello, Mr. Lei Shan, my name is Aakash. All these people, thinking of themselves as Noblesse, have come to take the test... God only knows if any of them will actually become a Noblesse or not."
Lei Shan: "Aakash, brother, I also want to take the test."
Aakash: "Let me explain it to you in detail, Brother Lei Shan... You should only take this test if you feel you have special Abilities. You don't have to do much for the test, just fill out a form with your basic info like name, father's name, date of birth, etc. The main thing is that on that form, you'll see 4 categories:
1. Attack
2. Defender
3. Medic
4. Wizard
You have to select a category according to your Ability. For example, if you have fighting skills, then Attack or Defense... if you have magic skills, then select the Wizard category."
Lei Shan: "And after filling out the form, what do I have to do?"
Aakash: "After filling out the form, you have to wait. They will call you themselves. If you're lucky, that is, because only 2 hours remain. After that, no one will get a chance."
Lei Shan: "Oh, thanks, Brother Aakash. But where do I get this form?"
Aakash: (Pointing towards a corner) "Go over there to that corner. An old man is sitting there wearing black glasses. There's a touchscreen on the table in front of him. You can fill out your form there; it's all an online process."
Lei Shan: "Okay, fine. I'll go fill out the form and come back..." Saying this, he moves forward.
Aakash calls out from behind, "And hey, that old man can't speak. He won't answer any questions..."
Mohit, who was listening to their conversation, says...
Mohit: "Aakash, that kid doesn't look like a Noblesse from any angle. He might get a lifetime ban for free."
Aakash: "You should worry about yourself." Saying this, Aakash also heads in the direction Lei Shan went.
Lei Shan goes over and sees one person filling out the form... He watches the form-filling process very carefully, then fills out his own form and returns to the waiting area.
(Lei Shan thinks to himself... So you're fooling everyone. The form is just an excuse; people are being rejected right here.)
Then Lei Shan steps forward and says with a smile and great respect...
Lei Shan: "Hello, Senior... I would also like to fill out my form..."
The old man is startled and looks at him. But he says nothing and just gestures with his hand towards the touchscreen, clicks 'Reset', and a new form opens - "Form no.121"... The old man gives token number "121" to Lei Shan, who puts it in his pocket...
The screen was very large because the entire table was essentially one big touchscreen...
Lei Shan starts filling out the form. He reaches the last option where he had to select the Noblesse Type and thinks about what to select...
The old man was watching very carefully to see what Lei Shan would select...
And then he gets a shock when Lei Shan marks all four categories and submits the form...
As Lei Shan turns to leave, the old man says softly.
Old Man: "You're wasting your time. There's very little time left. From morning until now, only 3 people's forms have been accepted, and yours won't be called..."
Lei Shan: (Smiling) "It's okay, Senior. Next time I'll come first..."
And he walks away. Aakash is standing right there, watching him.
Aakash: "Did you fill out your form?"
Lei Shan: "Yes, it's done, Brother Aakash."
Aakash: "I saw that old man talking to you."
Lei Shan: "Yes, he did, but you were saying he can't speak...?"
Aakash: "Not just me, everyone standing here would say the same, that he can't speak, because he has never spoken to anyone until today." And the two of them, talking to each other, head to where Mohit is standing, glaring at them.
The old man, watching them leave, says softly to himself... "Now I must confirm whether you told the truth or lied on the form." Then he presses the first of two buttons under the handle of his chair, a green button, and after that, he presses a red-colored button...
And immediately, an announcement begins.
"All the honorable candidates are notified that the fixed time of the test is over. Candidate no. 63, 91, 92, 121 stay here, and everyone else can go now. Please try again next time."
Hearing the announcement, people start shouting... "But there's still some time left....." "It's not fair. We won't leave from here....."
People start making a commotion... Just then, the W.N security guards arrive there, and seeing them, everyone becomes as quiet as a wet cat and starts silently leaving the place...
Then only 4 people remain there. And among those four were... Aakash, Mohit, Lei Shan, and a very beautiful girl, "Priya"...
Priya was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. She seemed to have a lot of attitude, as if she were some very important person. Mohit was trying to say hello to her... But she wasn't even looking at him....
Then a man comes and tells them to follow him, but he tells Lei Shan to stay right there. The others start to leave with the man when Mohit says,
Mohit: "Kid, looks like they're going to send you back too. Hhhhhh"
Lei Shan: "You talk too much....."
Priya: (Thinking to herself) (Well, good. One less from among us. Now my competition will be with 2 people.)
Lei Shan was staring at her; Priya didn't notice this...
Anyway, the others leave from there...
Then the old man gets up from his chair, comes to Lei Shan, and tells him to come with him..... He goes into a room and opens a secret door which led to the basement.
They reach the basement, whose area was huge. The building above was just a normal one, but the basement area was massive....
There were 4 large rooms there.
but old man didn't stop infront of any door he after few minute of walk He stopped at the door of an isolated room that felt very ancient and dilapidated.
Lei Shan couldn't understand what was happening, why the old man had brought him here... Finally, he asks the old man why they are here.
Old Man : Enter through this door and you will find the answer. After saying this, he turned and went back.
After a moment's pause Lei Shan opened the door and stepped inside. As soon as he entered, the door closed on its own.
________________
A room no novice truly knew who built it-rumors said it was forged by the first Noblesse Masters themselves. Its difficulty level was known: ★★★★★ (Five-Star). Even veteran candidates dreaded stepping into it.
The chamber glowed with faint runes carved into the black crystal walls. In the center sat a young, beautiful woman behind a crystal desk. Her sharp eyes scanned everything like an eagle. Her long black hair spilled over her shoulders, and her aura of authority was unmistakable.
Her name was Rosei, one of the high-ranking Noblesse supervisors.
She gestured for Lei Shan to step forward.
Rosei: "Candidate 121, state your name and category."
Lei Shan stepped calmly, his posture unshaken.
Lei Shan: "My name is Lei Shan. As for category... I chose all four: Attack, Defense, Medic, and Wizard."
The words dropped like thunder.
Rosei's brows shot up, her sharp gaze narrowing. She leaned forward, her voice sharp as a blade.
Rosei: "All four? Do you take this as a joke? You think you can master everything?"
Lei Shan's lips curved into a faint smile. His eyes, calm yet piercing, carried no arrogance-only certainty.
Lei Shan: "No joke, Senior. I only marked what I truly am."
For a moment, silence dominated the chamber. Rosei searched his gaze for childish pride, but what she found instead was... an unshakable certainty. Something ancient. Something dangerous.
Rosei (thinking): (So that's why Master Kunal chose the most difficult Trial... even I have never entered this chamber myself. This boy... he's unusual.)
⚔️ The First Test - Physical Combat
Rosei snapped her fingers. Instantly, the floor shifted, breaking apart into a wide arena. Black walls rearranged themselves, and glowing runes flared to life.
A metallic voice echoed from the ceiling:
System Voice: "Test One: Combat Trial. Candidate must survive against three W.N. battle golems for 10 minutes."
The ground shook as three colossal golems marched forward, each twice the size of Lei Shan. Their armored bodies glowed with red cores in their chests, their eyes burning with mechanical hatred.
But Lei Shan? He only cracked his knuckles casually, his expression calm, almost bored.
Lei Shan: "Three against one? At least it won't be too dull."
The golems roared, their steps trembling the ground as they charged. One swung a fist like a boulder crashing down. Lei Shan flowed aside with liquid grace-dodging, twisting, countering. His movements weren't desperate-they were like a dancer moving through music.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Every strike from the golems smashed stone, shattering tiles, but Lei Shan slipped between them like smoke.
A swift roundhouse kick-crack!-the first golem's knee shattered, the giant tumbling down.
A sharp palm strike-boom!-the second golem's chest core ruptured, glowing red energy leaking as it collapsed.
The last one swung a blade-like arm with full force. Lei Shan caught it mid-swing, his fingers tightening with monstrous strength. Crack-Crash! The blade shattered like glass, and in the next instant, Lei Shan crushed the golem's chest with one strike.
The arena fell dead silent.
Rosei's lips parted in disbelief.
Rosei: "...Ten minutes? He finished them in less than three."
The system screen glowed:
"Physical Combat: PASS - Rank A."
🔮 The Second Test - Magic Trial
Now, Lei Shan stood before a massive crystal orb, glowing faintly with arcane energy.
Rosei: "Place your hand on the orb. If you have no magical ability, it will remain dark."
Lei Shan placed his palm gently. For a heartbeat-nothing.
Then-BOOM!
Golden light erupted, blinding and wild. Fire surged. Lightning sparked. Wind howled. Healing aura blossomed all at once. The chamber walls trembled as if the orb could not contain the storm.
Rosei, shielding her eyes from the glow, gasped aloud.
Rosei: "...Impossible. He has control over multiple elements... how is this possible?!"
The orb cracked violently, splitting apart under the overflow, then shattered into golden dust.
The screen flashed:
"Magic Ability: EX Rank."
Rosei's voice trembled.
Rosei: "...What is EX Rank? I have never heard of this in any record."
✨ The Third Test - Healing
A soldier with a shredded arm was brought in, blood soaking through cloth. Normally, even top Medic candidates could only slow the bleeding.
Rosei's tone hardened.
Rosei: "If you truly marked Medic, heal him. Otherwise, withdraw."
Lei Shan knelt. Two fingers pressed lightly against the soldier's arm. A soft emerald glow spread, not only sealing the wound but knitting veins, muscle, and bone.
The soldier gasped and stood, his strength fully restored-more than before.
Soldier: "...I feel stronger than before..."
Rosei's lips parted in disbelief, her heartbeat quickening.
Rosei (thinking): (This is beyond healing... this is restoration. A lost art... no, more than that... this is divine.)
The screen flared:
"Healing Ability: Rank S."
🕯️ The Final Test - Endurance of Will
The illusion chamber descended over Lei Shan like a coffin of light. The system activated.
He was plunged into a nightmare battlefield: corpses piled like mountains, fire devouring cities, black shadows whispering his name.
Ordinary humans broke down here-begging, weeping, even losing their sanity.
But Lei Shan? He stood unmoved. His eyes glowed faintly, steady and defiant.
Suddenly-visions struck.
He saw himself, in another time. Another life.
A battlefield of ash and fire.
A Purple Clour blade in his hands-vast, radiant, capable of splitting the heavens.
His voice, older, commanding legions.
And then a whisper, echoing in the void:
"You are not new to this war... You have only returned."
Lei Shan's eyes snapped open, sweat running down his brow.
Lei Shan (quietly):
"My past... is it returning to me?"
Lei Shan: "Illusions are just tricks. My will is stronger than your lies."
His Eyes Clour Change With a ripple of his Golden aura, the entire illusion shattered like glass.
System Voice: "Endurance Test - Passed with Supreme Resilience."
🌌 After the Tests
Rosei stared at him, her voice faint, trembling between awe and fear.
Rosei: "Candidate 121... Lei Shan... You're not an ordinary human. Tell me, who exactly are you?"
Lei Shan only gave a faint smile.
Lei Shan: "A traveler. Nothing more."
But deep inside, Priya-watching quietly-knew this boy was not just another candidate.
From the shadows above, unseen by most, Kunal watched with sharp eyes, lips curling.
Kunal (whispering): "This boy... he will change everything. Perhaps... even the fate of the world."
The tests ended. Silence lingered in the chamber. Rosei was still staring at Lei Shan as though she had seen a god walking in human skin. The other candidates were in separate rooms, unaware of what had just happened.
Lei Shan was about to leave when a deep voice cut the silence.
To be Continue