(Arin's Perspective)
Pitch-black night blanketed the capital sky, scattering thousands of stars that seemed to peek down at the bustle below with a cold, indifferent gaze. Under the dim glow of mana-powered street lamps, my shadow stretched long across the pavement, limping and dragging the weight of a body on the verge of collapse.
The sound of footsteps clashing with the rhythmic clinking of metal echoed through the deserted dormitory hallway. It was a symphony of exhaustion understood only by those who work hard in silence.
Upon reaching my room, I placed all the equipment on the floor with extreme care, treating them as if they were fragile porcelain. A steel breastplate covered in scratches, iron gauntlets with slightly jammed hinges, thick-soled boots patched twice over, a shoulder guard, a dagger sheath, and a worn leather bag held together by coarse thread.
To others, this pile of metal and leather might be nothing more than scrap worthy of the smelter. But to a poor student like me, these were treasures bought with months of hunger; the result of every copper coin I had hidden under my mattress.
"Enough to survive," I muttered with satisfaction, wiping the sweat from my temple.
Erika had already prepared our stock of herbal medicine. It was a mixture of Hyssop, Moon Grass, and a bit of cheap alcohol as a solvent. As for weapons, I borrowed a standard Longsword and a dagger from the Academy armory. The quality was mediocre. The steel was slightly too heavy and the balance was imperfect, but at least the iron was dense and wouldn't snap when striking monster bone.
I dragged the wooden chair to my desk, its surface stained with ink and knife cuts. I opened my tattered notebook. I dipped my pen into the dark ink. The night was not over yet.
My hand paused for a moment as I turned to a page marked by a folded corner: "Cardiovascular Breathing Technique: Prototype 1.0" and "Tissue Elasticity Serum: Version 1.0".
A thin smile carved itself onto my lips, a small smile of victory. This was not just medical notes or the scribbles of a madman. This was a manifesto of resistance. Tangible proof that an ordinary human sentenced as a cripple by fate could cheat the laws of nature.
My mind drifted to the events of yesterday afternoon after training, when the setting sun burned the arena into a landscape of orange.
Instructor Brook, the foul-mouthed Dwarf, approached me while I was cleaning chalk dust from my blade. He observed my weapon with a critical gaze, his sharp old eyes seeming to strip bare every flaw in my technique.
"Boy, a longsword needs momentum in every swing. It is an aggressive weapon that demands space. It fits your style of relying on physics and body weight. But remember, without Aura to create distance, you will lose in speed if the enemy manages to close the gap. Carry a dagger as a backup. Use the enemy's momentum when your sword cannot be swung. Be water, not rock."
That advice rang clear, circling in my head like a mantra. His analysis was sharp and irrefutable. I was indeed weak in close-quarter combat because of my blade's length, which reached one hundred and twenty centimeters. In a tight space, this sword was an awkward metal bat. That was why I had spent the last few days practicing basic dagger techniques, letting my hands get accustomed to the deadly short blade.
Satisfied after jotting down simulation strategies for tomorrow, I turned off the magic lamp. Total darkness seized the room. Sleep was part of training. A focus shattered by drowsiness in tomorrow's Forest Exam was tantamount to suicide.
Dawn broke on the eastern horizon, bringing with it morning air that chilled the bones and a thin mist creeping along the ground.
I was up before the sun truly appeared, accompanied by the crowing of roosters from the village at the foot of the hill. Hard wheat bread that had to be soaked in water to be chewable and two boiled eggs were my fuel for the day. Simple nutrition for a heavy task. Once all equipment was strapped neatly to my body, every strap tightened, and every buckle locked, I hurried toward the North Gate of the Academy.
There, the first-year students had already gathered. The scene was a contrast of day and night. The nobles stood in groups, wearing polished armor encrusted with silver and gold that dazzled the eye, laughing crisply while keeping their distance from us; the commoners wearing dull leather gear or rusted scrap metal.
"Arin!"
A familiar voice called out, cheerful and full of spirit. I turned.
Erika jogged toward me. She wore a simple but clean blue robe, with a sling bag bulging comically at her hip, most likely filled with unnecessary food supplies. In her hand, she gripped a new wand. It was polished Oak, far sturdier and more responsive than her old crooked stick.
"Erika, you practiced, right?" I asked to confirm, my tone serious.
"Of course."
"The stacked circuit visualization training we discussed yesterday, right?"
"No. Cooking practice for the picnic at the Goblin nest later."
"..."
I stared at her flatly while she giggled. Erika grinned mischievously, her eyes twinkling with humor. I wasn't sure since when this shy girl had become brave enough to tease me like this. Perhaps the confidence from her magical success the other day had unlocked another side of her. A courage that had been buried under insecurity for so long.
Suddenly, a baritone voice, firm and commanding, shattered the noise, silencing all laughter.
"Attention, everyone!"
A man in a black instructor's uniform stood tall on the balcony of the Guard Post, looking down like a war general. Instructor Karim. A retired Royal Knight who was now the Homeroom Teacher for Class S. An aura of authority radiated strongly from him, making hundreds of students instantly shut their mouths and straighten their backs.
Karim viewed the sea of students with an intimidating hawk-like gaze. "Today, the Forest Exam begins. The rules are absolute and inviolable. Attacking other teams is forbidden. Stealing prey from other teams is forbidden. Instructors will be watching from the shadows of the trees. If you are caught cheating, you will be expelled on the spot. Return before dusk. Understood?!"
"YES, SIR!"
"Exam starts! DISMISS!"
Instantly, a wave of humans surged into the forest. The sound of hundreds of feet stomping shook the ground. Most ran straight toward the center of the forest, driven by ambition to secure the best hunting grounds and the most monsters.
I held Erika's shoulder, letting the main current pass. "According to plan. We take the detour to the mountain slope. That is the natural habitat of Cave Goblins. Nobles hate their smell, so we will have few competitors."
"Are you sure?" Erika tightened her bag straps while running beside me, matching my pace as we cut through the bushes. "We've never fought real Goblins, you know. Simulation is different from reality."
"That is exactly why. They are stupid, greedy, and move in packs. Easy targets for your new area magic. Unless you prefer meeting a Grizzly Bear."
"A-A Grizzly Bear?!" Erika's face paled instantly, her steps faltering.
"Haha. Relax. A Tier Three monster couldn't possibly enter the beginner exam area. The magic barrier must have been activated by the academy mages."
"Don't joke at a tense time like this, Arin! My heart nearly stopped!"
We continued to push our pace along the rising contours of the land, moving away from the crowd. The forest grew denser, and sunlight began to be blocked by the thick canopy of leaves. Breath began to come in heavy pants, but adrenaline kept our feet light as we jumped over giant tree roots jutting from the earth.
Upon reaching the mountain slope, we lowered our tempo. We moved stealthily behind thick, thorny bushes. The musty smell of a damp cave and the scent of animal droppings began to waft through the air.
Before long, a shrill, annoying laughter was heard. Keee-keke-keke! Typical sounds of dwarf creatures having a feast.
I parted the giant fern leaves slightly with the tip of my sword.
Below the rock cliff, at the mouth of a damp and dark cave, about twenty-three Goblins were gathered. Green creatures the height of a twelve-year-old child held rusted weapons. A broken sword, a blunt axe, and a wooden club full of bent nails. They danced happily, swinging their weapons with the worst and most chaotic movements I had ever seen.
Goblins. Tier 1 Monsters. Low intelligence, high killing lust. They were notorious for torturing prey.
My eyes narrowed at their weapons. All of them were junk from the academy warehouse. It seemed the Academy deliberately scattered these broken weapons for the Goblins to scavenge, raising the difficulty level from 'Wild Monster' to 'Armed Force'. A hidden mental test.
I turned to Erika, then gave a hand signal. Index finger pointing up the cliff, then two fingers forming a V. Plan B.
Erika nodded in understanding. Her face was serious; her 'combat mode' was active. Without a sound, she retreated and climbed the mossy path toward the top of the cliff overlooking the Goblin nest. High ground was the key to victory for a bombardment mage like her.
I waited behind the bushes, counting the seconds. My heart beat calmly, its rhythm regulated to match my breath.
One minute later, a flash of sunlight reflected off a small mirror atop the cliff. Erika's signal.
Up there, Erika stood tall, her silhouette framed by the blue sky. Her lips chanted a fast spell. Not one circuit, but ten small circuits stacked into a single humming tower of energy.
First Circle Magic: Mana Flash.
Not to wound, but to destroy visual sensors.
BLAAAR!
A pulsar of white light exploded in the middle of the Goblin crowd. The intensity was equal to a tactical flashbang detonating in a dark room. The Goblins screamed in pain, their hands reflexively covering eyes burned by the light. Momentary mass blindness.
"NOW!" I shouted in my heart.
I drew my sword. I leaped out from the bushes, sliding down the steep slope.
Running momentum plus a sharp descent gave my first strike double the weight and destructive power.
Target: The Goblin standing on the far edge, still busy rubbing its eyes with saliva.
SPLASH!
The blade ate through flesh without resistance. The ugly green head rolled onto the ground, separated cleanly from its neck. Black blood sprayed, dyeing the grass dark.
One down.
Without pause, I crashed into the center of the chaotic formation. Don't let them think.
Slash left. Thrust. Spin.
Four more Goblins fell before they realized what was happening. The metallic stench of blood instantly filled the air, triggering the savage instincts of the remaining herd that was still blind.
However, the flash effect began to fade. The golden time was over.
"Keeekk! Gyaaa!"
The remaining eighteen Goblins began to regain their vision, though their eyes still watered. Their yellow eyes stared at me with pure hatred. Seeing five of their brothers dead, their fear transformed into primitive rage.
They surrounded me, forming a circle of death. Their yellow teeth gritted together.
Erika needed a cooldown time of about twenty seconds to stabilize her mental state before she could fire again. During that cooldown, I had to survive this siege alone.
Inhale... Hold...
I drew a deep breath, compressing my diaphragm with all my might. My heart responded, pumping blood more heavily to the muscles of my extremities. The world around me slowed, sounds became dull, and my focus sharpened.
A thin Aura, barely visible, enveloped my body like heat haze.
I did not take a static stance. Against a siege, stillness meant death. My feet kept moving, dragging lightly to form a circling pattern, ensuring the Goblins could not attack my back simultaneously. I had to be a shepherd herding these savage sheep.
"Gyaaa!"
Three Goblins jumped at once from the front. Their rusted weapons were raised wildly.
They had short reach. I had a one-hundred-twenty-centimeter Longsword. Simple math.
I didn't just wait. I released a straight thrust at the Goblin in mid-air.
CRASH!
The tip of the sword slammed into its chest. With the addition of Aura, the thrust didn't just penetrate; it exploded the ribcage from the inside. The momentum of the thrust threw its small body backward, crashing into two other friends and knocking them over.
Strike!
However, an opening appeared. Five Goblins swarmed from below, crawling like cockroaches, targeting my legs and groin.
The greatest danger for a Longsword was dwarf enemies attacking the low area.
I changed my sword grip. I twisted my waist with extreme torque until my back muscles screamed.
Mittelhau! (Horizontal slash at waist height).
SWUUUSH!
The steel blade flew like a fan of death. The first Goblin's neck was severed instantly. The second Goblin's shoulder was split diagonally down to the chest. And the tip of the sword slammed into the third Goblin's temple until the skull cracked with a horrific sound.
Black blood sprayed in a gruesome arc, bathing my face in warm, metallic-smelling fluid. Three lives extinguished in a single heartbeat.
Unfortunately, one Goblin managed to slip under my sword swing. It leaped, its skinny hand with sharp claws gripping my leather belt. The rusted knife in its hand raised, ready to stab my thigh to sever the femoral artery.
Zero distance. Too close to parry with a longsword.
I didn't panic. I flowed the remaining Aura into my left hand until my palm felt like it was burning.
I released my left hand from the sword, letting the weapon be held by my right hand alone to maintain balance, then quickly grabbed the neck of the Goblin clinging to my waist.
Aura Grip.
My finger muscles hardened like an iron vise.
SNAP!
The sound of a breaking neck bone was crisp and wet. The Goblin's eyes bulged, its tongue lolled out, and its body went limp instantly like a broken doll.
Instead of discarding it, I turned the corpse into a weapon. I threw the forty-kilogram body at the crowd of Goblins trying to advance.
THUD!
Four Goblins toppled over, hit by the corpse of their own friend.
The remaining nine Goblins wanted to attack, but their steps halted in hesitation. Fear began to creep into their eyes again. They no longer saw me as prey, but as a predator far more savage.
Right at that moment, a dark shadow covered the sunlight from atop the cliff, as if storm clouds had suddenly arrived.
"Move, Arin!" Erika's shout echoed, her voice full of confidence.
I leaped back as far as possible, rolling away from the kill zone.
From the top of the cliff, Erika pointed her wand downward. The tip glowed bright blue, vibrating violently under the weight of compressed magic. Her face was focused, her eyes glowing blue.
Stacking Technique: Mana Barrage.
DU-DU-DU-DU-DU!
A stream of mana balls the size of fists rained down. Not one or two, but dozens of projectiles fired at the speed of sound.
Gravity plus firing speed made the destructive power terrifying. Like a rain of mini meteors.
The ground around the Goblins exploded, throwing dirt and stone in all directions. The green bodies were not just shot; they were erased. Pulverized into minced meat under the bombardment of Erika's magical artillery. Their screams were swallowed by the boom of mana explosions.
In five seconds, nothing moved anymore. Only plumes of dust, the smell of ozone, and the scent of burnt flesh remained in the small crater.
Silence.
I stood straight, regulating my ragged breathing. My lungs felt hot, my muscles twitched with fatigue. I extinguished my Aura slowly so my heart wouldn't explode from overwork.
"We won! Arin, we won!"
Erika jumped up and down in joy on the cliff, waving at me with her wand. Her face was beaming, her smile erasing all the tension from earlier.
I looked up, wiping black blood from my cheek with the back of my hand, then gave a thumbs up and the widest smile I could muster.
"Good job, Erika! You are terrifying!" I shouted sincerely.
We won decisively. Without significant injury.
However, in the distance, hidden behind the thick trees untouched by light, a pair of eyes watched us from the darkness.
Instructor Adnia stood there, leaning against a tree trunk. Her lips curled into a thin, suspicious smile. Not the proud smile of a teacher seeing her students improve, but the smile of a predator who had just found interesting prey for her next experiment.
We were too naive back then, laughing over a small victory. We didn't know that this was just the beginning of the true nightmare.