[You have killed 300 Goblins]

[You have gained +1500 FP]

[Your Magical Aptitude has risen from C- to B+]

[Your Physical Strength has risen from D+ to C]

[You have gained +300 Combat Power]

[Bonus FP Awarded: +300]

[Current FP Balance: 3,236]

[Special Item Dropped: You have gained one (1) Golden Skill Stone]

Lucian’s eyes narrowed, a deep frown creasing his forehead as he scanned the cascading notifications.

"B+ Aptitude?!"

C-minus straight to B-plus? That’s...

"Hey, hold on a second..." Lucian muttered as his focus snagging on the final line of text.

What the hell is a Golden Skill Stone System?"

[Fool, do you seriously not remember your own novel’s script? Try using your own brain for once before you come crying to me.]

Lucian rubbed the back of his neck, a slightly awkward expression crossing his face.

"Ah... well, to be honest... I’ve actually forgotten quite a few parts of the novel."

The System paused for a solid five seconds — as if taking a moment to silently process his sheer stupidity — before finally responding.

[This Skill Stone allows you to upgrade your innate Unique Skill.]

"By Unique Skill... you mean Zero Domain?"

[Correct.]

"Alright, do it."

[Are you entirely sure? This item is insanely valuable. If you sell it to the system store, you could easily net over 50,000+ FP for it.]

"I said, do it," he scoffed.

"I’m not falling for your traps. I know exactly how you operate, always trying to screw me over."

"Upgrade Zero Domain to Level Two."

Ding!

[Upgrading ZERO DOMAIN: Level 1 ➔ Level 2]

Radius: 5 meters ➔ 10 meters

Duration: 3 seconds ➔ 10 seconds

Mana Cost: 50% of current mana ➔ 40% of current mana

Cooldown: 10 minutes ➔ 8 minutes

Daily Uses: 3 ➔ 6

"Hohoho..."

"This is really cool." A wide, goofy grin spread across Lucian’s face as he soaked in the massive buffs provided by the Golden Stone.

Realizing he was getting a little too excited, he quickly cleared his throat. Wiping the grin off his face, he forced his expression back into dead-serious neutrality and addressed the System in an unusually polite tone...

"So, System... I mean, I know my stats just shot up like crazy in a single night, but still, I think it’s time I take a proper look at my status window. What do you say? I mean, a few more battles like this and I might just be able to face Professor Myra head-on."

That old, immature cockiness bled all over his face for a solid two minutes... right until the System mercilessly slapped his status screen directly into his face.

[STATUS WINDOW]

Name: Lucian Valemont

Age: 18

Title: The Bastard Prodigy

Mana: 569 / 1000

Physical Strength: C

Magical Aptitude: B+

Charm: S

Reputation: Playboy Tier

Skipping right past his mana and all the other crucial combat stats, Lucian’s eyes zeroed in on his reputation.

His eyelid immediately started twitching.

"Hey, what is this ’Playboy Tier’?! I mean, I’m literally still a virgin! Why the hell does everyone think I’m a playboy?"

[Yes, well, your actions speak for themselves. The entire student body views you as some alluring playboy, especially since the two main heroines are constantly drawn to you.]

Lucian blinked two, three times.

"Haha... maybe you’re right. Well, whatever. Let people think what they want to think..."

Suddenly—

A massive, fifteen-inch fireball roared out from behind him, shooting straight for the back of his head.

Lucian frantically dove to the side, hitting the dirt and narrowly dodging the explosive blast.

What the—?

He spun toward the direction it came from.

[ALERT: Familiar entity detected nearby.]

As the figure stepped out of the darkness of the forest, Lucian’s eyes went completely wide with sheer disbelief.

Tight jeans, a perfectly fitted white top, and those unmistakable red cross-shaped earrings.

"Professor Myra...?"

Lucian stood up, confusion etched across his face. Staring at her in disbelief, a dead-serious question slipped from his lips.

"Master, what are you doing here so late at night?"

Myra didn’t answer. She just stopped and stood there.

Then something strange happened.

Slowly, a steel sword emerged from the flesh of her palm. in an unnatural way. It didn’t look like magic at all; it looked grotesque .

"I... I don’t understand...

"Sweat beads began gathering on Lucian’s forehead. An intense, gnawing feeling of dread washed over him as he stared at the woman standing before him.

That faint noise right before I crossed the gate... was that her? Has she been following me this whole time?

"Please, tell me... why are you here?" his voice wavered slightly.

"Were you tailing me? Is... this some kind of training?"

A chaotic storm of questions raged in his mind. Why would Myra track him into a portal in the dead of night? Deep creases formed around his eyes as his pupils shrank to pinpricks... he couldn’t read her intentions at all.

"Please... say something..."

Still, she said nothing. Gripping the sword in one hand, she rested the other on her hip, standing in that familiar, sophisticated, and regal posture of hers. Her face was infuriatingly calm and commanding, with her gazes fixed on him.

That mischievous spark still danced in her eyes. Slowly, she raised her free hand, dragging a finger horizontally across her own throat in a clear, slit-throat gesture.

Then, her lips curled into a vicious, predatory smile.

Lucian’s confusion turned to dread. His throat constricted, and a cold knot of fear coiled in his chest as he frantically searched Myra’s face for answers...

When he had first arrived at the academy, Lucian had been pretty much broken from the inside. This shameless, overbearing master of his was the first woman who had ever genuinely tried to offer him the warmth of a family.

But right now... staring at this chilling, bloodthirsty version of Myra, dark, unwanted thoughts of betrayal inevitably began to poison his mind.

Lucian had barely regained his balance when Myra moved like a shadow.

She slipped to the side with blinding speed and lunged straight toward him.

Lucian reacted instantly, stepping back—

"Wait — what’s happening—? You—"

Slash.

The sword whipped past his face. He ducked, but the blade sliced through a few strands of his bangs.

"Is this some kind of training—? Or—"

Another strike.

This time he rolled to the side.

"Answer me —! Why are you doing this—?!"

Then, it happened. For a split second, his focus flickered — and that was the only opening she needed.

Whack— Myra’s brutal kick landed square in his stomach, forcing every ounce of oxygen from his lungs.

"—ghh—!"

He folded backward, dropping to his knees, coughing violently.

"Kh—kh—!"

His body shook violently as he struggled for each breath.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps drew closer. Lucian forced his head up — and there was Myra, towering over him.

That mysterious, alluring smile was still etched onto her lips... but there was something more. A faint, satisfied blush colored her cheeks, as if she were genuinely savoring every second of his agony. She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of his cheek.

It was soft. And very "Cold."

Lucian froze.

He didn’t push her away. Didn’t say anything. Just stared at her.

His eyes no longer held confusion. Only an uneasy clarity.

Myra leaned down, her face inches from his, that slow smile spreading.

Then—

She raised her sword.

The blade swung straight toward Lucian’s throat.

Lucian asked no questions. No hesitation.

His eyes simply locked onto that blade.

And just as—

The blade was about to touch his skin—

CRACK—

A sharp sound echoed as a solid ice wall shot up from the ground between them.

Myra’s expression distorted for a second as she pulled back, creating distance.

And from behind came a cold, Calculating voice —

"When will you learn... to stop this habit of dying alone?"

Lucian’s eyes shifted slightly to the side.

His breathing was still heavy.

"...Elira..."