Two hours before the award ceremony began, the main square of Celestia Arcane Academy was a sea of people. Banners and massive portraits celebrating the conquest of the Centennial Gauntlet fluttered in the wind, draped across every available pillar.
Elena, dressed in threadbare cloth that had long since faded to a dull, washed-out grey, walked through the corridors at the edge of the square with her head bowed. She clutched a sack containing coarse dough and a bottle of the cheapest water, fresh from the general store.
Three students in ornate magi robes approached from the opposite direction. They were the same group who had mocked her mercilessly at the entrance of the Proving Grounds a few days ago.
The leader recognized Elena instantly. He stopped in his tracks, a malicious, provocative grin spreading across his face. "Well, look at this. If it isn't the 'great genius' of House Nocturne. You actually have the nerve to walk around the academy?"
The second student scoffed in agreement. "I heard she was eliminated at floor 45, literally scared half to death by the monsters. She couldn't even find a team. She’s an absolute disgrace to this academy."
The third student didn't even bother to look at her, his expression one of pure disgust. He stepped forward and deliberately rammed his shoulder into Elena. "Get lost, you piece of gravel. Don't block the path!"
It was a heavy, violent collision.
With her Vitality weakened to such a degree, Elena couldn't withstand the force. She was sent sprawling to the ground.
The cloth bag flew from her hand. The coarse dough landed in the filthy mud, and the glass bottle shattered instantly. Cold water soaked through her thin clothes, chilling her to the bone.
As she tried to brace herself, her palms pressed into the jagged glass shards, sending a sharp, stinging pain through her nerves.
[System Message]
[HP Reduced]
HP: 60 → 58 (-2)
The leader burst into a fit of raucous laughter at the sight. "Hahaha! Everyone, come look! The former S-Rank genius is crawling on the ground like a dying dog!"
His companions joined in the laughter, and several passing students stopped to watch. Not a single person offered a hand. Instead, some pulled out Arcane Crystals, eagerly recording the sight of Elena sitting in the mud.
"Look at that, the loser is getting bullied. How pathetic."
"Tsk, wasn't she so proud before? Now she can't even say a word."
Elena sat on the damp ground, her head hanging low as water dripped from the strands of her reddish-brown hair. She didn't resist. She didn't speak. She simply pulled her injured fingers back into her sleeves.
Seeing no reaction, the leader lost interest and spat on the ground. "Pathetic. She doesn't even have the balls to spit back. Let's go, we need to grab seats in the Grand Hall. It’s almost time for Zephyr's ceremony!"
"You're right. That's what a real genius looks like. Looking at this trash is just polluting my eyes!"
The three students walked off laughing, and the crowd slowly dispersed.
Inside the Grand Hall, the atmosphere was electric. Gold leaf and magical lights illuminated the space, and every seat was packed with students, faculty, and high-ranking nobles from the prestigious families of Valorhold.
On the central stage, the Headmaster of Celestia Arcane Academy stood in magnificent purple and gold robes. His voice trembled with excitement as he spoke into the amplification array. "Everyone! Today, we witness history! The iron rule of this trial, which stood unbroken for 50 years, has been shattered!"
"Zephyr has successfully cleared the 100th floor! He is now, without question, the greatest student in the history of our academy!"
The hall erupted in thunderous applause and frantic cheering.
"Now, please welcome our hero—Zephyr!"
The side doors groaned open.
A tall, slender figure stepped onto the stage. The broken sword from the 95th floor had revealed its true nature—the legendary longsword, Duskfang. Its Shadowmend property, forged from concentrated Primordial Umbra, allowed the blade to reforge itself by consuming Shadowheart Essence. After the night spent drenched in the blood of the Voidlord Supreme, the sword had quietly returned to its original form.
Zephyr wore heavy jet-black armor, the legendary blade hanging at his hip, radiating an aura of pure destruction. A cold, black mask covered most of his face, leaving only a pair of eyes as deep and dark as an abyss visible.
"Zephyr! Zephyr! Zephyr!"
Thousands of people rose to their feet, screaming his name in a frenzy.
The Headmaster’s hands shook slightly as he respectfully removed a shimmering gold medal from a crystal case and pinned it to Zephyr's chest.
[System Message]
[Medal Obtained]
[The Crown of Trials] (Legendary Honor)
Effects:
- Lifetime honorary member of the Academy.
- Free access to all Academy resources.
- Eligibility for immediate promotion to Academy Instructor.
- Special commendation from the City Lord’s Manor.
The Headmaster beamed with pride. "Zephyr, you have created a legend for this era! From this day forward, you are the supreme pride of Celestia Arcane Academy!"
The hall was swallowed by a mountain of cheers.
Yet, at that very moment, on the cold stone steps outside the hall...
Elena sat alone in the shadows, using a wet strip of cloth to slowly wipe the dirt and blood from the wounds on her palms. Her clothes were still damp and clung to her skin, making her shiver as the cold wind bit at her.
A patrolling guard walked over, waving an iron baton with an expression of pure distaste. "Hey! What do you think you're doing? No beggars allowed at the entrance of the Grand Hall! Scram!"
Elena looked up, her voice raspy. "I'm a student here."
The guard paused, looking at her ragged clothes and the mud staining her skin. He let out a sneer of utter contempt. "A student? Oh... I remember now. You're that Elena, the one with the shattered Mana Core. Today is a ceremony for a super genius, not a place for trash like you! Get lost before you offend the nobility!"
Cursing, the guard reached out and roughly shoved Elena down the steps.
She managed to catch her balance. Without a word of protest, she brushed the dust from her clothes and turned into a dark alleyway.
Inside the hall, in the VIP section, Vincent Nocturne stared at the radiant figure of Zephyr on stage. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the armrests of his chair, his face dark with suppressed envy.
Beside him, Alaric, the patriarch of House Nocturne, turned with a heavy, reprimanding tone. "Vincent, look at the man on that stage! That is what a true powerhouse looks like! You pride yourself on your talent, but in the face of a real peerless genius, you are nothing!"
The words were like poison needles in Vincent's heart. He gritted his teeth and lowered his head. "I understand, Father."
Alaric hummed coldly, his gaze fixed hungrily on Zephyr. "I’ve already prepared the highest-quality gifts. If we can bring this SS-Rank Shadow Spellblade into House Nocturne... our family's status will be unshakable!"
Alaric seemed to remember something and asked casually, "By the way, how is that girl Elena doing?"
A cruel smirk played on Vincent's lips. "That cripple? I heard she was eliminated at floor 45. She can barely afford to eat now, and everyone in the academy treats her like a pariah. She’s a complete embarrassment to the family."
Alaric didn't even blink. "Trash belongs in the trash heap," he said indifferently. "House Nocturne has no room for useless failures."
In a nearby section, Vivienne Duskwood rested her chin in her hands, her eyes filled with adoration as she stared at Zephyr. Her breathing was shallow and hurried.
"God... he's so handsome... so powerful and mysterious... If he would just look at me, I’d die happy..."
A noblewoman from another major family overheard her and scoffed. "Give it a rest, Vivienne. How many daughters of high houses are lined up to marry him? Who do you think you are, daydreaming like that?"
Vivienne shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Why not me?! I'm the genius of House Duskwood! A B-Rank Flame Mage!"
The noblewoman rolled her eyes. "He’s an SS-Rank powerhouse who conquered the Centennial Gauntlet. Your 'strength' is nothing but dust in his eyes."
Vivienne’s face flushed red. She clenched her fists and muttered under her breath, "So what?! At least... at least I’m ten thousand times better than my loser cousin Elena, who’s crawling in the dirt!"
Midway through the ceremony, the Vice-Headmaster stepped forward and announced, "Since the century-old record has been broken, the Academy will now reveal a selection of new content—floors 101 to 105, which are currently being calibrated for the next Gauntlet. We are opening the observation zone for interested students to experience the intensity!"
The students cheered.
The leader of the group that had bullied Elena earlier jumped up in excitement. "Awesome! Come on! Let’s go to the floor 103 observation zone and see how terrifying it really is!"
He and his two friends rushed into the Proving Grounds.
However, the moment they entered, the runic screens of the Proving Grounds began to flicker violently! A shrill alarm pierced the air as mana began to leak out of control.
[Warning]
[System Failure]
[Protective Barriers Offline!]
A massive shadow, previously contained within the floor 103 simulation, suddenly tore through the failing light barrier, bursting out in a storm of stench and fury!
[Threat Detected]
[Rampage: Duskstinger]
Level: 14
Combat Power: 1800
Status: Rampage
It was a giant scorpion, as large as a small hill, its sharp stinger snapping through the air with the sound of a whip!
"Aah! The barrier broke! The monster is out!"
"Run!"
The observation zone descended into chaos as students fled in terror.
The bully leader was paralyzed with fear. His legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed onto his backside.
The Duskstinger’s eyes glowed with a feral red light. Its massive pincer, carrying the weight of a ton, swung down toward the boy's head!
"No! Help! Help me!" he screamed, a warm wetness spreading through his trousers as he lost control of his bladder.
Just as the stinger was inches from his forehead, a black blur exploded into existence!
[Battle Log]
Shadowstep activated!
Shadowstrike activated!
Damage Calculation: 2650 (Combat Power) × 2.5 (Crit) = 6625!
A flash of black light tore through the air.
Boom!
The massive Duskstinger didn't even have time to shriek. Its head was pierced through by a black longsword, and its body slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The sound of combat boots landing on the rubble was light and effortless.
[Battle Settlement]
[Rampage: Duskstinger] (Level 14) has been slain!
[Zephyr - Rescue Successful]
Rescue Target: Student
The boy lay on the ground, his body twitching, staring up at the black-armored swordsman standing atop the monster's carcass.
Zephyr slowly withdrew Duskfang. He tilted his masked head slightly, casting a cold, indifferent glance at the boy.
There was no emotion in that gaze. It was the look one gave a worthless stone on the side of the road.
Without a single word, Zephyr turned and walked away.
It took a long time for the bully to recover from the sheer terror of death. He looked at the smoking corpse of the monster, then at Zephyr’s receding, solitary figure, and his eyes suddenly welled with tears.
The fleeing students began to trickle back, whispering in awe.
"God! It’s Zephyr!"
"One hit! He one-shot a Level 14 Rampage scorpion!"
"You're so lucky! You were saved by Zephyr himself!"
Hearing the envious whispers, the bully’s emotions boiled over. Ignoring the stains on his pants, he scrambled to his feet and chased after the swordsman, throwing himself onto his knees behind Zephyr.
"Lord Zephyr! No... Master Zephyr!" He sobbed, banging his head against the stone floor. "Thank you for saving my life! If it weren't for you, I’d be dead!"
"From this day on, my life is yours! Just say the word, and I'll walk through fire or dive into the abyss for you! I won't even blink!"
Zephyr stopped. He tilted his head slightly and uttered two ice-cold words:
"Unnecessary."
With that, he ignored the boy completely, his figure flickering as he vanished into the corridor.
The boy remained kneeling, his eyes filled with fanatical worship. He shouted to his companions, "Did you hear that?! Lord Zephyr spoke to me!"
"This is what a top-tier powerhouse looks like! Expecting nothing in return, pure noble character!"
"I owe him my life! If anyone in this academy dares to disrespect Lord Zephyr, I’ll be the first to tear them apart!"
He pranced around the crowd, boasting about his "special bond" with the SS-Rank warrior, his face flushed with pride.
Outside the academy, in a deserted alley.
Elena leaned against the cold wall, her eyes closed. Through the seamless Consciousness Link between her main body and her avatar, everything that had happened in the Proving Grounds—including the bully’s pathetic display of gratitude—played out clearly in her mind.
"Heh..."
A chilling, bone-deep laugh escaped her lips.
Two hours ago, that same person had pushed her into the mud, trampled her food, and spit on her dignity, calling her a worthless crawler.
Two hours later, that same person was kneeling like a dog before her avatar, weeping and calling her his savior, swearing to give his life for her.
"How ironic..." Elena opened her eyes, her reddish-brown pupils shimmering with a ghostly light in the shadows.
This was human nature.
In their eyes, the dignity of the weak was worthless, something to be trampled at will. But a cold, indifferent scrap of mercy from the strong was enough to make them bang their heads in gratitude.
They weren't worshipping a savior. They were worshipping Strength.
"But... this game is getting more interesting," Elena whispered to herself, her gaze turning cold enough to freeze the air.
Back in the hall, the ceremony resumed.
It was time for the noble houses to show their intentions. Representatives from the most powerful families in the academy swarmed the stage, hoping to offer an olive branch to the new SS-Rank powerhouse.
Alaric, Patriarch of House Nocturne, walked onto the stage with his head held high. He adjusted his luxurious robes and smiled. "Lord Zephyr, I am the Patriarch of House Nocturne, Alaric."
Zephyr stood as still as a mountain. A cold voice came from behind the mask. "I know."
Alaric nodded, pleased. He offered an incredibly tempting deal. "Your talent is once-in-a-century. If you join House Nocturne, I will grant you the position of Vice-Patriarch immediately! You will have full access to all the top-tier mana crystals and ancient texts in our treasury!"
A collective gasp swept through the hall. The position of Vice-Patriarch? That was practically giving away half the family!
But Alaric wasn't finished. He lowered his voice, offering his final bargaining chip. "Furthermore... I will give you my daughter’s hand in marriage, binding us in the highest bloodline union!"
In the audience, Vincent felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
His daughter? Elena had been kicked out. Was his father planning to adopt a girl from a branch family? To recruit Zephyr, his father was willing to abandon even their bloodline standards?!
However, facing such an enormous temptation, Zephyr didn't even blink.
"Not interested."
The rejection was short and final, leaving no room for negotiation.
Alaric’s smile froze. His outstretched hand hung in the air, creating a moment of excruciating awkwardness. But he was a veteran of the social scene; he forced a dignified expression. "If you have no such intentions for now... we shall speak again in the future."
The old patriarch retreated, humiliated.
Several other families tried their luck, and one by one, Zephyr shut them out with the same cold indifference.
Vivienne watched this, gritting her teeth. She summoned her courage and tried to push through the crowd toward the stage. "Lord Zephyr! I am from House Duskwood—"
Before she could get close, several bodyguards from the major factions shoved her aside without mercy, sending her tumbling into the aisle.
"Where did this little brat from a minor family come from? Move! You're in the way!"
Vivienne scrambled up, watching Zephyr, who hadn't even looked in her direction. Her eyes filled with jealousy and a crushing sense of isolation.
In that moment, she finally realized that in the eyes of a true peerless powerhouse, she was nothing. She didn't even have the right to stand near him.
The ceremony finally drew to a close amidst a whirlwind of gossip.
Zephyr accepted no invitations to banquets and skipped the academy's victory party. Under the worshipful gaze of the crowd, his figure flickered and vanished into the night.
As the crowd poured out of the Grand Hall, the whispers were everywhere.
"Who is this Zephyr? Why have we never heard of him?"
"There's no record! I heard even the academy archives don't have his background. It’s like he appeared out of thin air!"
"He rejected all the marriage offers and high positions... What does he want?"
Vincent walked through the crowd, his brow furrowed, a growing sense of unease gnawing at him.
Marcus Duskwood, the patriarch of House Duskwood, hurried to Vincent's side. After checking their surroundings, he lowered his voice. "Vincent, that suspicion I mentioned before... I had my men look into it. We cross-referenced the rumors of Zephyr’s first appearances in Valorhold with the activity at Elena’s shack. Long before he officially registered, every time a rumor surfaced about this swordsman, that shack was locked up tight for days. No sound, no movement. Once the rumors died down, Elena would reappear. This is beyond coincidence."
Vincent stopped. A muscle twitched in his brow, but he didn't laugh this time. He remained silent for a long moment before hissing through his teeth, "...Keep digging. Don't say a word to anyone else."
Marcus blinked, surprised that Vincent wasn't mocking him. He nodded a low "Yes" and faded back into the crowd, his own doubts deepening.
Vincent ignored him and turned toward the exit.
But as he stepped out of the hall, he subconsciously looked back at the direction where the mysterious powerhouse had vanished, then thought of Elena lying in the mud. For some reason, a primal chill crawled up his spine.