Chapter 1

  Another Brick In The Wall

  Combat Class

  Dan had thought he’d trained his human body pretty well in preparation.

  Turns out… it still wasn’t enough for Artheris Academy. Or at least, he felt it wasn’t enough after actually seeing the other students in class.

  Everyone here had a warrior’s blood. Some of them were already set on becoming knights—students born with innate talent.

  Dan stood quietly in the corner of the training hall, watching them clash with deadly seriousness. Magical energy swirled and collided in the air, making his human body want to throw up from the pressure.

  Then the instructor blew a sharp, blaring whistle.

  BWEEEEEEEEEET!!

  Every clang of steel ceased. Every mana aura stilled. The entire class straightened and turned toward the instructor.

  “WELCOME TO COMBAT CLASS!”

  His voice thundered like a military drill sergeant, flanked by over twenty assistant instructors who moved out to surround the students.

  “The only thing that will determine your fate in this class is your own ability!”

  Today was what they jokingly called “Awakening Day”—the day when eager students, or those who thought themselves gifted, would get a harsh dose of reality and see where they truly stood in the class.

  Think of it as a PE class—if PE were dialed up by a hundred and fully militarized.

  But not just yet.

  “Today, you won’t be swimming through swamps or sprinting through hurricanes… not yet. That’s next class. For now, your task is to get to know your classmates. We’ll be pairing you up for one-on-one duels. Show us what you can do!”

  Dan, sitting in the corner gripping his training sword, nearly jumped out of his seat.

  Wait—what?!

  He sprang up in disbelief. He’d heard right. All the students looked at each other—some crossed their arms and closed their eyes like they didn’t care.

  “For those of you who don’t plan on pursuing the knight path, report to him.”

  The instructor pointed to one of the assistants.

  “Give him your name and student number. You’ll be exempt from one-on-one duels. That paper will be the list of those who’ve already given up! If you don’t even have the courage to fight one-on-one, then go find another path!”

  The assistant held up the sign-up sheet and shouted,

  “If you don’t want to fight, come here and sign out. You’ll be immediately disqualified from entering the knight track in year two!”

  Dan, upon hearing that, abandoned any thoughts of avoiding trouble.

  They’re really doing it like this?

  From their perspective… it did seem fair.

  It wasn’t so different from Professor McClaff’s class. At least the students were given a choice.

  Unsurprisingly, those lining up to opt out were the same type—physically weak, bookish kids with glasses, or quiet types who thought knighthood was too barbaric.

  An hour later, after names were removed and pairs were drawn…

  Dan looked around at those who remained. Still a large number. Big, burly boys prepped with weapons—and of course, Princess Nora and that short-haired girl with the French accent were still around, each in her own solitary corner.

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  Zeedee, meanwhile, had disappeared into the spectator stands. As they’d planned, she didn’t care about the knight track and wasn’t going to waste time with it.

  “The pairings are in!”

  The instructor began calling out names—one pair at a time—each pair fighting before the next was announced.

  Dan sat and watched intense duels unfold. Some students were knocked out of the ring, literally. It was brutal, a perfect filter that separated talent from mere dreamers. The skill gap formed a steep S-curve.

  Then… he heard his own number.

  Number 069, paired with 022!

  That number belonged to the short-haired girl.

  “!”

  He looked up—she was already staring back at him. And now was as good a time as any to describe her:

  Her hair flowed naturally in an asymmetric bob cut. The roots were jet black, blending into violet, and fading into crimson at the tips.

  Her face was long and sharp, with a soft pointed chin and high cheekbones that gave her the sleek, cutting look of a blade. Her crimson eyes gleamed with the cold confidence of someone used to winning.

  Cool, fierce, and utterly decisive. Her finely arched brows added a defiant edge to her face—she looked like a queen who knew she was the center of every battlefield.

  And Dan had to fight her? The same girl he’d seen slice a fountain in half with a single swing?

  Oh, shit. This is insane.

  Don’t expect much from a mere human body that Everton mocked as “hopelessly stupid” only three months ago. What chance did he have against someone who clearly learned to wield a sword before she learned to walk?

  “Instructor… if I lose, does it affect anything?”

  Dan turned to an assistant. They exchanged a glance, then smirked as if to say “Oof, tough luck, kid” and replied:

  “No. But your performance will be ranked. It’ll determine your place in class until the end, and whether you belong here or not.”

  So even if he lost, he could climb the ranks later—if he did well enough. But if he couldn’t catch up by the end… everything would be for nothing.

  “Can I switch partners?”

  “No!”

  “Ugh…”

  Dan swallowed hard, then gripped the dull steel sword he’d picked from the training rack and stepped up to the dueling platform… in front of the entire class.

  A buzz of whispers filled the arena. Dan knew he was screwed. He exhaled sharply and accepted it.

  Well, screw it. Let’s see where I stand right now.

  Zeedee leaned forward from the stands, cheering for him silently.

  Dan and the girl approached the center of the arena. By tradition, he extended a hand for a shake—but…

  She ignored him.

  He awkwardly pulled it back.

  “Uh… What’s your name?”

  “Finish the duel. If I care, I’ll learn your name.”

  “I’m Dan Burn.”

  She turned around without a word, returning to her mark. Her fierceness was blinding—it irked Dan a little.

  “Ready…”

  The instructor raised a hand.

  “Numbers 069 and 022—begin!”

  In a flash, the girl’s body launched toward him with inhuman speed.

  “!!!”

  Her red eyes flared. Her face was emotionless—like she just wanted this over with.

  Dan raised his sword to block. One single metallic clash—and his sword went flying out of the arena.

  She wasn’t done. She spun low and slammed her blade into his legs.

  He collapsed.

  Then the blade stopped at his face.

  “Uh… ah…”

  Dan’s mouth hung open. His eyes were wide. His brain hadn’t even processed what just happened.

  He hadn’t stood a chance. No—he hadn’t even gotten to respond. The gap between them was so wide, he couldn’t even see her shadow.

  “Enough!”

  The instructor signaled. Zeedee was as stunned as Dan.

  The girl sheathed her sword.

  “I don’t remember the names of the weak.”

  That was all she said, then she walked off the stage.

  If you’re arrogant and rude, people will hate you. But if you’re arrogant, rude, and real… they’ll hate you with respect.

  And what the prince learned today was… his human body still wasn’t strong enough to survive in this world.

  The arena was cleared for the next match. Dan stepped down, still in shock. The sword in his hand felt like a worthless piece of junk. Zeedee ran over.

  “Dan! …Dan!”

  She helped him to a seat in the back of the stands.

  “Your Highness…”

  “I didn’t even get to fight back… Just lost outright… No excuses…”

  “At least you raised your sword and blocked.”

  “…That’s true.”

  The prince stared at the arena, hands clenched.

  The next match: a towering male student versus Princess Nora.

  From this distance, Nora was clearly at a physical disadvantage. And what was she even doing here? Wasn’t she on the magic track?

  “…Or is she just doing everything?”

  Then came the answer.

  The male student hefted a massive axe.

  “I don’t care if you’re a princess.”

  But Nora remained stoic. Her demeanor was different from Dan’s opponent—she wasn’t looking down on him. She treated it like work.

  “Yaaah!”

  The axe came crashing down—Nora had no weapon in hand.

  BOOM!!

  The axe smashed into the arena floor, almost splitting it in half. But Nora dodged with ease, and what came next—

  A pair of ice gauntlets, summoned by magic.

  Dan: “!!!”

  Why carry weapons when you can just summon them?

  Nora spun, quick as lightning. She stepped on the axe, vaulted into the air, drew back her fist—

  CRACK!!!

  Her icy gauntlet exploded into shards as she punched him square in the face. The boy was knocked out midair, eyes rolling back.

  “!!!”

  The instructors were speechless. So was Dan.

  Because that was a hand-to-hand combat style from Snowhaven—something only masters could execute, people who’d trained it into their blood.

  Nora didn’t just know magic—she could fight, too.

  It was over for Dan.

  “These kids… they’re insane…”