Day Six.
I woke to find Frey standing in my doorway, clearly having wrestled with the decision to enter for some time. His hand was still on the door handle, knuckles white, and despite the morning light streaming through my windows, he looked pale.
The Malevolent Aura. Even at rest, Blackheart projected enough wrongness to make my brother uncomfortable in my presence.
"Leon," he said, voice slightly unsteady. "Can we talk?"
I sat up, noting how he remained by the door rather than entering fully. "What is it?"
"I've been watching you. From a distance brother." He swallowed hard. "The way you train, the intensity..."
I said nothing, waiting.
"What are you really preparing for?" Frey's eyes searched my face. "What are you not telling us?"
I considered my answer carefully. I couldn't tell him the truth—that I knew I was supposed to die, that the entrance exam was where Leon De Stellis became cannon fodder for the protagonist's development. That knowledge would only burden him.
"I'm preparing to survive," I said finally. "That's all."
"But survive what?"
"Whatever comes." I stood, and Frey instinctively took a step back. I pretended not to notice. "The Academy isn't like our domain. There are no guarantees of safety, no family name to protect you. Only strength matters."
Frey was quiet for a moment. "You've changed so much in two weeks. Sometimes I look at you and barely recognize my brother anymore."
The words hit harder than they should have. Because he was right—I wasn't entirely his brother anymore. I was Jake and Leon and something new emerging from their fusion.
"I'm still here," I said, though I wasn't sure if that was entirely true.
He left, and I was alone again with my thoughts and the sword that pulsed with dark energy on my bedside table.
I dressed quickly, strapped Blackheart to my hip, and headed downstairs.
---
Breakfast was quick and solitary. Father was already gone, and my siblings were notably absent. I ate mechanically, mind already planning today's training.
Rita appeared as I was finishing. "Your father wishes to see you in the eastern study. Immediately."
I found Duke Aldric standing before his weapon wall again, but this time he held a document in his hands—sealed parchment with the Academy's crest.
"The entrance exam format has been leaked," he said without preamble, handing me the document. "Read it."
I broke the seal and scanned the contents:
Astral Academy Entrance Examination - Format
Stage 1: Individual Assessment
- Applicants will face the academy council and display their affinity this would vet them passing them to the second stage.
Stage 2: Group Survival Exercise
- Applicants who pass are divided into teams of 3
- Survive designated wilderness scenario for 12 hours
- Evaluation based on teamwork, resource management, and adaptation
Stage 3: Final Evaluation
- Top performers advance to tournament-style combat
- Single elimination, 1v1 matches
- Determines final rankings and special recognitions
I read through it twice, absorbing the implications. Stage Three was where it mattered—where I'd likely face the strongest applicants. Where I'd face Arielle De Luna, if the original timeline held.
"Stage Three is where your training will matter most," Father said, echoing my thoughts. "The strongest candidates will be there. That's where you'll be tested."
He moved to his desk, pulled out another document. "I've had Rita gather information on notable applicants. There's one in particular you should know about."
He slid the paper across. I saw a name: Arielle De Luna.
"Minor noble family, but word is spreading about this candidate," Father continued. "Apparently, she's been training at a temple for the past year. Her family has a bloodline affinity for Light—rare and powerful."
I kept my expression carefully neutral. No mention of Silverbright, which meant even Father's information network hadn't uncovered that detail yet. Good. The less I revealed about my meta-knowledge, the better.
"Light affinity users are formidable opponents," Father said. "Their techniques are particularly effective against dark-element abilities and cursed objects."
The implication hung in the air. Blackheart was a cursed blade. If I faced a Light affinity user...
"I'll be ready," I said.
Father studied me for a long moment. "See that you are. House Stellis cannot afford public failure."
He dismissed me with a wave, and I left to find Rita waiting in the hallway.
"I did additional investigating," she said quietly. "Arielle De Luna is estimated to be at high Mortal rank. Possibly even approaching the Peak threshold."
Mortal Peak. That meant sixty percent rank or higher, maybe even touching seventy percent. I was at thirty percent, with a goal of reaching fifty-seven.
Even at my target, I'd be significantly below her level.
"Then I'll need to rely on technique and tactics," I said.
Rita's expression was unreadable. "Whatever you're planning, young master, you'll need to be at your absolute best."
---
I rode to the ruins with renewed purpose. Arielle De Luna at Mortal Peak. Light affinity that countered darkness. The Stage Three tournament where we'd inevitably meet.
The gap in raw power was significant. But I had advantages too—Blackheart's enhancement, the Stellis techniques, Combat Instinct, my dark abilities.
I just needed to be good enough.
The ruins appeared, and I dismounted with practiced efficiency. Today's goal: push hard toward forty percent rank. Tomorrow I'd aim for fifty percent. Then I'd have a few days to refine everything before the exam.
Time to work.
---
The morning was systematic hunting. Wolf packs, goblin patrols, slime clusters—I moved through the ruins like a reaper, applying everything I'd learned.
Combat Instinct guided me to prey. Intermediate Sword Affinity made my technique execution flawless. Master Circulation kept my mana flowing endlessly.
I practiced Nightfall Strike repeatedly, refining the timing of the mana compression and release. The technique was becoming second nature—build, compress, release. My blade would blur mid-swing, and impacts became explosive.
[NIGHTFALL STRIKE: 23% → 45% toward Advanced level]
Phantom Step was harder to practice safely—the total body enhancement required precise control, and mistakes could tear muscles or worse. But I pushed anyway, using it to reposition during fights, dodge attacks I couldn't block, create openings.
[PHANTOM STEP: 31% → 58% toward Advanced level]
By midday, I'd killed thirty-seven monsters and reached thirty-seven percent rank.
[RANK PROGRESS: 30.4% → 37.8%]
I took a brief rest in a shaded section of ruins, drinking water and letting my mana regenerate. While I waited, I practiced something new.
During the morning's fights, I'd noticed something odd. When I channeled dark energy through my boots while moving, my footsteps made no sound. Complete silence, as if the darkness absorbed even the vibrations of my passage.
I stood and channeled mana through my feet, corrupting it into dark energy that coated my boots like a thin film.
Then I walked.
Silence. Complete, absolute silence. My boots on stone should have echoed, but the darkness swallowed all sound.
I tried running. Jumping. Landing hard on my heels.
Nothing. Not a whisper.
[NEW DARK ABILITY DISCOVERED: SILENT STEPS]
Coat feet in dark energy to move without producing sound. Useful for stealth, surprise attacks, or avoiding detection. Minimal mana cost but requires concentration.
Useful. Very useful.
I practiced for another hour, getting comfortable with the technique. Learning to maintain Silent Steps while moving naturally, without thinking about it.
Then I experimented with something else I'd noticed—when I'd created shadow barriers before, anything that touched the darkness seemed to slow down.
I focused, channeling dark energy, and created a sphere of shadow around my arm. Not solid—more like a barrier of concentrated darkness.
I punched a tree trunk.
My fist moved through the barrier at normal speed, but the moment it contacted the darkness, everything slowed. Not just my punch—time itself seemed to crawl within the sphere. My fist inched forward at perhaps a tenth of its normal speed.
I released the technique, and time snapped back to normal. My punch completed weakly, barely tapping the trunk.
But the implications...
If I could create a barrier like that around an enemy's weapon, or around their body, I could slow their attacks to a crawl. Make them vulnerable.
I practiced creating the sphere, maintaining it, moving it. It was difficult—required significant concentration and mana. And the effect only lasted about three seconds before collapsing.
But three seconds in combat was an eternity.
[NEW DARK ABILITY DISCOVERED: STASIS SPHERE]
Create a sphere of concentrated darkness that dramatically slows anything within its boundary. Effective against attacks, enemies, or projectiles. High mana cost, short duration, requires focus to maintain.
Two new abilities in one afternoon. My Dark Affinity was evolving faster than expected, probably due to the constant exposure to Blackheart's corruption.
[DARK AFFINITY: 23% → 38% toward Level 3]
I sheathed my practice and resumed hunting. The afternoon was more aggressive—I used Blackheart more freely, accepting the corruption cost in exchange for faster progression.
Found a large goblin encampment and cleared it methodically. Fifteen goblins, none particularly dangerous individually, but their coordination made them challenging.
I used Phantom Step to blur between them, Nightfall Strike to deliver devastating blows, and shadow tendrils to control the battlefield. The combination of all my abilities made the fight almost trivial.
[GOBLIN DEFEATED] x15
[RANK PROGRESS: 37.8% → 42.1%]
[CORRUPTION LEVEL: 6.3% → 7.8%]
The corruption increase was noticeable but manageable. My Master Circulation was definitely slowing its growth—without that resistance, I'd probably be at ten percent or higher by now.
---
As the sun began its descent, I ventured deeper into the ruins than I'd gone before. Looking for stronger opponents, more significant challenges.
That's when I heard the sounds of combat.
Metal on metal. Guttural shouting in goblin-tongue. And a human voice, strained with pain and exhaustion.
My Combat Instinct pinged—multiple threats ahead, and at least one human in distress.
I moved quietly, using Silent Steps to approach without alerting anyone. Peered around a collapsed wall to assess the situation.
A young man, maybe my age or slightly older, was bound to a wooden post in what had once been a courtyard. Blood covered his face and chest from multiple wounds. His weapon—a large axe—lay broken several feet away.
Around him, eight goblins celebrated their capture. And standing apart from the others, clearly in command, was something I'd only heard about in Leon's memories.
A Goblin Chief.
Taller than regular goblins by a foot, heavily muscled, wearing actual armor that looked scavenged from human soldiers. It carried a proper sword—not crude, but well-maintained and sharp. Its eyes held intelligence and cruel satisfaction.
[GOBLIN CHIEF DETECTED]
[ESTIMATED RANK: Mortal (Mid, ~45%)]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]
The captive human was clearly meant to be entertainment. The Chief was in no hurry to kill him—this was a demonstration of power to its subordinates.
I could walk away. This wasn't my problem. The human had clearly been careless to get captured in the first place.
But something made me hesitate.
Maybe it was Jake's memories of helplessness, of watching opportunities slip away because he was too weak to act. Maybe it was Leon's arrogance, the refusal to let goblins believe they'd won.
Or maybe I just wanted the experience from killing a Goblin Chief.
Decision made.
I drew Blackheart slowly, silently. The Malevolent Aura pulsed outward, but the goblins were too focused on their captive to notice immediately.
I channeled mana, corrupting it through the blade, feeling the three hundred percent amplification take hold. My attributes shifted—strength jumping to twenty-seven, speed enhanced beyond my natural agility.
Then I attacked.
Phantom Step carried me into the courtyard in a blur. Three goblins died before they realized I was there—Nightfall Strike powered by Blackheart's corruption, leaving wounds that festered with darkness.
[GOBLIN DEFEATED] x3
The remaining five scrambled for weapons. The Goblin Chief's head snapped toward me, eyes widening at the sight of Blackheart.
It recognized what I carried. Recognized the danger.
Good.
Two goblins charged together. I created three shadow tendrils that lashed out, wrapping around their legs, tripping them. While they struggled, I finished them with precise strikes.
[GOBLIN DEFEATED] x2
The final three regular goblins broke and ran. I let them go—the Chief was the real prize.
It watched me warily, sword held in a proper guard position. This creature knew how to fight, had probably killed humans before.
We circled each other, both assessing, looking for openings.
The Chief attacked first—a powerful overhead chop designed to use its superior strength to overwhelm me.
I used Stasis Sphere.
The concentrated darkness appeared around the Chief's sword arm. Time seemed to crawl within the sphere—the sword descended at perhaps a tenth of its normal speed.
I stepped aside casually and riposted with Nightfall Strike to its exposed torso.
The corrupted blade bit deep, and the Chief howled in pain as dark energy flooded the wound. But it wasn't dead—far from it. The creature had high endurance, and my strike had only wounded it.
The Chief backed away, clutching its side, and I saw calculation in its eyes. It was learning.
Its next attack was a feint—the overhead chop again, but this time it shifted mid-swing into a horizontal slash.
My Combat Instinct screamed warning. I used Phantom Step to blur backward, barely avoiding the blade.
We exchanged blows—it attacked with brutal efficiency, I defended with technique and speed. Neither gaining clear advantage.
Then I saw my opening. The Chief overextended slightly on a thrust, committing too much weight forward.
I created two shadow tendrils that grabbed its sword arm, holding it in place for a split second. Just long enough for me to use Phantom Step to position behind it.
Nightfall Strike, full power, enhanced by Blackheart's corruption, driven through the Chief's spine.
The blade erupted out the front of its chest in an explosion of dark energy. The corruption spread rapidly, consuming the creature from within.
The Goblin Chief collapsed, and I twisted the blade to ensure the kill.
[GOBLIN CHIEF DEFEATED]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 3.2%]
[CORRUPTION LEVEL: 7.8% → 10.9%]
I stood over the dissolving corpse, breathing hard. That had been a real fight—the Chief was skilled, experienced, dangerous.
But I'd won.
"By the fucking gods," a voice gasped behind me.
I turned to find the captive staring at me with wide eyes. Up close, I could see he was about eighteen, with auburn hair matted with blood and brown eyes filled with shock and awe.
I moved to cut his bonds with Blackheart, and the young man flinched at the sight of the obsidian blade. But he held still as I sliced through the ropes.
"Thank you," he said, stumbling as he stood on shaky legs. "I thought I was dead. That Chief was toying with me, and I—" He cut himself off, seeming to really see me for the first time.
"You're from House Stellis," he said, spotting the crest on my gear. "I'm Stark. Stark Dawner. My father is the guard captain at the domain gates."
The name was vaguely familiar from Leon's memories. The Dawner family served House Stellis loyally, had for generations. Stark would have been trained by his father and the domain guards—good instruction, solid fundamentals.
"Leon De Stellis," I said, sheathing Blackheart.
Stark's eyes tracked to where the blade disappeared into its scabbard. "That weapon... I've never seen anything like it. The way it moved, the darkness it left..." He shook his head. "You saved my life. I won't forget that."
He retrieved his broken axe, looking at it with disappointment. "I was training here for the entrance exam. Thought I could handle a few goblins. Got overconfident and walked into an ambush." He laughed bitterly. "Some applicant I am."
"You survived until help arrived," I said. "That counts for something."
Stark looked at me with an intensity that was slightly uncomfortable. "You're taking the exam too, aren't you? For the Academy?"
"Yes."
"Then let me help you." He straightened despite his injuries. "You saved my life. The least I can do is assist with your training. I'm decent in a fight when I'm not being an idiot, and I know these ruins well."
I considered the offer. Having another person around would slow me down, require me to be more careful with Blackheart's usage, potentially complicate things.
But it might also be useful. Stark clearly had combat experience, and his Axe Affinity would make him a solid fighter once he recovered. Plus, having someone who felt they owed me a debt could prove valuable at the Academy.
"Can you fight in your current condition?" I asked.
Stark tested his limbs, wincing but managing. "I've got healing potions. I'll be functional in an hour or so. Not perfect, but functional."
"Fine. Rest and recover. I'll continue hunting. Meet me at the ruins' entrance at sunset."
His face lit up with gratitude and determination. "I won't let you down. I swear it."
I left him to his recovery and moved deeper into the ruins. The sunset was still a few hours away, and I had more work to do.
---
The afternoon hunting was productive. I found several goblin patrols and cleared them systematically, using the full range of my abilities without holding back.
Phantom Step into Nightfall Strike became my standard combination. Shadow tendrils for battlefield control. Stasis Sphere for critical moments when I needed to slow an enemy's attack.
Everything was coming together—techniques, abilities, instincts. I was becoming a complete fighter rather than just someone with powerful individual skills.
[NIGHTFALL STRIKE: 45% → 67% toward Advanced level]
[PHANTOM STEP: 58% → 82% toward Advanced level]
[RANK PROGRESS: 42.1% → 48.6%]
[CORRUPTION LEVEL: 10.9% → 11.7%]
By the time I returned to the ruins' entrance, the sun was touching the horizon. Stark was waiting, looking significantly better than when I'd left him. The healing potions had done their work—his wounds were closed, and he moved without the earlier stiffness.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Ready," he confirmed. Then he hesitated. "I know I'm not at your level. The way you fight, the techniques you use... that's House Stellis training, isn't it? I can't match that."
I nodded briefly, lacking the response to his words.
We rode back to the Lourven together—Stark had his own horse tied near the ruins. The journey was quiet, but I noticed him glancing at me repeatedly, clearly wanting to ask questions about Blackheart, about my techniques, about everything he'd witnessed.
To his credit, he didn't pry. Just rode in respectful silence until we reached Lourven Domain proper.
"I live in the eastern district," Stark said as we approached the estate gates. "I'll meet you at the ruins tomorrow morning. Dawn?"
"Dawn," I confirmed.
He rode off, and I continued to the estate. The gates opened for me, and I rode through to find Rita waiting in the courtyard as always.
"Young master," she said, her eyes immediately assessing my condition. "You've been pushing hard again."
"The exam is in five days. I don't have time for anything else."
She studied me for a long moment. "You brought someone back with you. I saw you riding with a companion."
"Stark Dawner. Guard captain's son. He'll be training with me for the next few days."
Rita's expression shifted slightly. "The Dawner boy is competent. His father has trained him well. But young master, having someone around will complicate your... other activities."
She meant using Blackheart. Meant the corruption that was steadily growing despite my resistance.
"I'll manage," I said.
Rita didn't look convinced, but she nodded. "Dinner is in an hour. Your father expects your attendance."
---
Dinner was the usual uncomfortable affair. Father at the head of the table, reading correspondence. Frey and Kira present but keeping their distance.
The Malevolent Aura made everything awkward. Even Father, who dealt with demons regularly, seemed slightly tense in my presence now.
We ate in silence until Father spoke without looking up from his papers. "I heard you encountered a Goblin Chief today."
I shouldn't have been surprised that he knew already. Father had informants everywhere.
"I killed it," I said simply.
"And rescued the Dawner boy in the process." Father finally looked at me, steel-gray eyes assessing. "That was pragmatic. His father is loyal, and having the son feel indebted to you will be useful at the Academy."
Of course Father would interpret my actions through the lens of political advantage. I hadn't saved Stark for that reason—or at least, not primarily—but explaining that seemed pointless.
"The exam is in five days," Father continued. "You've prepared extensively. More than any entrance exam requires." He paused, and something in his expression shifted. "Whatever you're anticipating, whatever you think is coming, I hope your preparations are sufficient."
It was the closest Father would come to expressing concern. I nodded. "They will be."
Dinner concluded shortly after, and I returned to my chambers.
---
Alone in my room, I reviewed my status.
[STATUS DISPLAY]
NAME: Leon De Stellis
AGE: 17
RANK: Mortal (Mid, 48.6%)
AFFINITY: [??????]
ATTRIBUTES:
- Strength: 12 (27 with Blackheart)
- Agility: 17
- Endurance: 13
- Mana Pool: 10
- Mana Control: 9
- Intelligence: 18
- Wisdom: 16
- Charisma: 14
TALENTS:
- Sword Affinity (Level 2, Intermediate)
- Mana Circulation (Master)
- Combat Instinct (Passive)
- Dark Affinity (Level 2, Intermediate)
SWORD ABILITIES:
- Nightfall Strike (Intermediate, 67% toward Advanced)
- Phantom Step (Intermediate, 82% toward Advanced)
DARK ABILITIES:
- Shadow Tendril (Max: 4 brief, 3 sustained)
- Silent Steps (Stealth movement)
- Stasis Sphere (Slowing field)
CORRUPTION LEVEL: 11.7%
ACTIVE QUESTS:
- Survive the Astral Academy Entrance Exam (5 days remaining)
- Master the Darkness (A-Rank, complete before 50% corruption)
Forty-eight percent rank. Nearly at my goal of fifty-seven percent. Both Stellis techniques approaching Advanced level. New dark abilities that gave me tactical options.
Corruption at eleven percent—noticeable increase, but the Master Circulation was definitely helping. Without that resistance, I'd probably be at fifteen percent or higher.
Five days until the entrance exam. Five days to reach fifty-seven percent, refine my techniques, and prepare to face Arielle De Luna.
I practiced my shadow abilities for another hour before bed. Silent Steps until I could maintain them without thinking. Stasis Sphere until I could create and position it in under a second. Shadow tendrils until I could manifest all three simultaneously and control them independently.
[DARK AFFINITY: 38% → 43% toward Level 3]
[CORRUPTION LEVEL: 11.7% → 11.9%]
The corruption was growing, but slowly now. The constant use of dark abilities without drawing Blackheart seemed to increase it less than direct combat with the cursed blade.
Good to know.
I lay down, exhausted but satisfied with the day's progress. Master Circulation worked automatically as I drifted toward sleep, mana flowing through my pathways even in rest.
Tomorrow I'd train with Stark, push toward fifty percent rank, continue refining everything.
Five days.
That's all the time I had.
But looking at my progress, feeling the power that thrummed through my body, I thought maybe—just maybe—it would be enough.
I closed my eyes, one hand resting on Blackheart's hilt, and let sleep take me.
The corruption pulsed in sync with my heartbeat, steady and constant.
A second heartbeat that would never stop.
Not until I reached fifty percent corruption.
Or until I died.
Whichever came first.