Kaiden barely evaded a sharp thrust that tore past his head before bringing down his broadsword with all his strength.

His opponent’s eyes narrowed as he hastily formed a dense shield to block.

Boom!

The sword crashed into it with overwhelming force, sending the youth hurtling backward. He slammed violently into a distant tree before coughing out a mouthful of blood.

Moments later, light engulfed him and teleported him away.

Kaiden released a deep breath before glancing toward his trembling arm.

’I’ve gotten stronger.’

Ever since receiving that relic from Zephyrion, he had used it relentlessly. It had sharpened his comprehension tremendously while greatly deepening his understanding of the Metal Rune.

Everything... was thanks to Zephyrion. The very person who had personally handed him the relic.

Now he could grow stronger faster. Now he could truly pursue his goal of restoring his House.

Kaiden clenched his jaw slightly.

Even after all these weeks, he still struggled to properly express his gratitude. Every attempt always ended the same way. He would awkwardly stare at Zephyrion for far too long before eventually deciding to simply stand beside him instead.

’After this...’

Yes. After the Proving ended, he was absolutely determined to properly show his appreciation.

...

Fiona’s blade stopped mere inches from piercing her opponent’s throat before light engulfed the youth and teleported him away.

She released several ragged breaths as a thrilled smile spread across her face.

’I did it!’

She had just defeated a Mark Four in less than a minute.

Ever since her epiphany at Pulsegrove Village weeks ago, her fighting style had changed completely. She no longer hesitated. She took greater risks. She ended fights quickly and decisively.

’It’s all thanks to him.’

A soft smile appeared on Fiona’s face as Zephyrion’s image surfaced within her mind.

Grateful did not even begin to describe how she felt.

Suddenly, the urge to craft something else for him welled within her chest.

As she reached down and picked up the flag, her thoughts drifted toward the countless things she could make for Zephyrion.

...

As the Proving continued, the excitement of the masses only intensified.

Battles erupted across countless regions simultaneously. Candidates fell one after another while others utterly dominated their opponents. Roars and cheers continuously thundered throughout both the streets and the coliseum.

Still, most eyes remained fixed on the descendants of the High Houses.

On one screen, Kaelion Calderalth dismantled multiple candidates with effortless ease.

Draven Hartvain flexed his massive muscles while hurling boulders and uprooted trees through the air with savage laughter.

Nedra Heno floated calmly within a clearing, seemingly defying gravity itself as multiple candidates were lifted helplessly into the sky before being slammed brutally back into the earth.

Lucien Donvaire stood silently at the center of a lake while numerous blades orbited around him soundlessly at incredible speed. The blades flashed continuously through the air, disqualifying candidate after candidate before they could even approach him.

Five youths surrounded Vaelor Ocren cautiously.

The instant they attacked from every direction, Vaelor moved with minimal, almost lazy motions. He evaded each strike while delivering lethal blows to vital points with terrifying precision.

An instant later, he stood behind them expressionlessly, not a single strand of hair out of place.

Blinding light engulfed the defeated candidates one after another.

The effortless display earned thunderous applause from the crowd.

Within the coliseum, City Lord Ociden smiled proudly as he straightened slightly in his seat. The other City Lords were similarly pleased with their descendants’ performances.

That child may have rattled them earlier, but there was clearly nothing to worry about.

Among them all, only Darius Korrath wore a somber expression as he watched his son’s first confrontation.

Kaelith stared at the youth before him before slowly exhaling inwardly.

’Not now.’

Their clash lasted visibly longer than the others, and unlike the rest, it was far from effortless. Even so, Kaelith ultimately emerged victorious.

Amused glances were immediately thrown toward Darius, whose expression darkened even further.

For a direct descendant of a City Lord to appear this weak...

Still, the Proving continued exactly as expected.

While everyone else’s attention remained divided among the various contestants, Ingrid’s gaze stayed fixed solely on Zephyrion.

Every time he entered combat, her fingers would unconsciously tighten around the armrest before gradually loosening after he won. Then she would scoff irritably beneath her breath, muttering how such an outcome had been expected from the beginning.

As the event continued, more and more eyes gradually began shifting toward Zephyrion’s screen.

It was then Ingrid’s eyes sharpened faintly.

’It’s time.’

The singular reason the qualifier stage was considered insane.

...

Zephyrion kicked off a tree before landing in a smooth roll across the forest floor. He rose fluidly, his gaze already locked onto the candidate sprinting desperately through the woods ahead.

Panic covered the youth’s face as he continuously glanced backward before cursing loudly and forcing himself to move even faster.

"Slip State."

Zephyrion vanished.

He flashed past the candidate in a single swift motion.

The youth’s eyes widened as Zephyrion abruptly appeared before him. Even as light engulfed his body, teleporting him away from the Proving, he still did not understand what had happened.

The flag shot toward Zephyrion before imprinting itself onto the back of his palm.

Zephyrion stared at it calmly.

’Five flags.’

Enough to qualify.

During the last thirty minutes moving through the forest, Zephyrion had already concluded that this stage was unsuitable for his actual goal.

The candidates were scattered randomly throughout the massive forest, meaning he would need pure luck to encounter anyone possessing a rune art truly worth studying.

Now that he had gathered five flags, qualification was guaranteed.

Suddenly, bright crimson light erupted from his relic.

Zephyrion’s eyes narrowed faintly.

The relic had begun emitting a loud blaring sound while a voice echoed from within it.

"Survive for ten minutes to qualify."

Zephyrion frowned deeply.

Survive? From what?

A moment later, his eyes caught sight of multiple figures rapidly approaching from every direction.

As the seconds passed, more and more candidates emerged into the clearing, each staring toward Zephyrion warily.

The instant he noticed their relics flashing the same crimson light, understanding dawned on him immediately.

’My location is being announced.’

At this moment, every candidate within what he estimated to be a massive radius was converging directly toward him.