… From the narrator's view …
People were thrilled watching this trial.
A moment where Tom was far behind his toughest rivals…
But he destroyed the walls.
No one believed it.
He caught up to Henry and Dan.
No one believed it.
And suddenly… he crossed the finish line himself.
Everyone believed then—
That Tom's iron will was stronger than the labyrinth of zombie vines that had trapped his rivals.
After all the excitement and joy…
They were now worried about Tom.
Why did he suddenly collapse?
Was it a conspiracy by the court that always wanted Tom eliminated?
Melodia and Adia Flor, who had enjoyed watching Tom's struggle…
A moment where Tom was on the verge of elimination…
And now Tom had finished first.
They cried, choked up, yet were happy for Tom's victory.
But Tom was unconscious.
They were deeply worried… what had happened to Tom?
They tried to rush toward him, but Adia Flor stopped them and said Tom, like his father, would never give up.
King Harold was pleased.
He had never reached Tom's true power, and now he was happy about Tom's sudden collapse.
Whatever it was, he wanted Tom eliminated and the Church defeated.
Adrian Flor was extremely worried and hoped Tom would be alright.
The High Priest prayed for him and did not consider Tom's collapse without reason.
Lucas the Cruel was also very pleased.
He had barely managed to finish the trial.
He had almost fainted from fear.
But Tom—Tom the lucky one—had drawn all attention away from him.
And he… he only wished this collapse would lead to Tom's death.
… From Dan's view …
I couldn't believe it.
I really couldn't.
How—how did Tom win?
How could he suddenly appear and finish first?
I was frustrated, but when I looked back and saw the destroyed walls…
I couldn't believe Tom had done that.
But then I remembered—who else had such power besides Tom?
For the first time, I was scared.
Scared of Tom's power.
Scared of Tom's will.
He could threaten everyone with that power.
And the gods would have mercy on us if he ever turned against the Church.
Was there anyone who could stop him?
I turned and looked at him—he was crying.
He deserved it. After all the accusations and humiliation from the court, he truly deserved this. I admired him.
Suddenly he fell to the ground.
I rushed toward him, Henry too.
I was shocked—why would the Church's enemy be worried about Tom?
I was stressed, terrified something had happened to him after all the effort and pain I knew he had endured.
The trial's doctor quickly came to Tom's side.
He unbuttoned the top of Tom's shirt, exposing his chest.
And what I saw shocked me—shocked me to the core.
His body was full of deep wounds, infections, fractured ribs, bite marks, bruises, and signs of poison.
I was horrified and worried seeing how damaged his body was.
And terrified that despite all these injuries—injuries that should have killed him—he had used so much power.
And the doctor's words made me even more afraid.
Doctor: "Tom's body can't handle this. With all these wounds and pain…
He… he can only use a portion of his power, not all of it.
And for a body this damaged, which needs all its mana to heal, that's not enough."
A portion of his power?
Just a portion?
And with just a portion he had this much strength—if he ever used all of it…
I looked at Tom and felt even more fear.
Would Tom become another Manuel?
A destroyer of all?
Or like Ziad—a hero and savior of all?
… From Henry's view …
When I heard the explosion, I didn't care who caused it.
But when I realized Tom had done it, I couldn't do anything but admire him.
How did he overcome his biggest obstacle and finish first? How?
I was lost in thought when he suddenly collapsed. I worried again.
Seeing Tom's wounded body made pain bloom in my chest.
Tom… Tom…
A lump formed in my throat.
Tom, I just hope you get better… please…
With tears, I went to Daneris, who had fortunately won her trial.
I hugged her.
And I cried into her shoulder.
Just tears.
For everything.
For Tom.
For Tom, who I only hoped would recover and prove he entered the academy through his own effort, not anyone's support.
Seeing Tom's wounded body proved that to me.
… From William Jordan's view …
I wanted to burst into laughter.
Tom Breach—the one who ruined all my plans—was now unconscious, and no one knew if he could continue the competition.
If only this collapse turned into eternal sleep.
But I realized something—Tom had immense power, and I certainly couldn't match him.
If he woke up, I'd have to trick him.
Turn Tom against Tom.
Make him destroy himself.
And that thought made me very happy.
… From Hardy Melodia's view …
When Tom finished first, I couldn't believe it.
But I remembered how he had destroyed half the labyrinth alone—that showed his immense power.
Power beyond my understanding.
I knew that well.
When he collapsed, I thought it was a simple fainting, but now they were taking him to the infirmary inside the stadium.
I was worried.
Even though he was someone I disliked…
He had helped me.
Not just me—two hundred magic trainees.
Even if he didn't want to help, he did.
I saw his effort, and it would be a shame…
A shame if his effort didn't reach completion.
His effort was admirable.
And even though I disliked him, I only hoped he would wake up and show everyone his true power—complete his effort.
… From Adriana's view …
The sun beat down like a whip.
The trainees were resting after a brutal trial.
No one expected it to be this hard, and many were eliminated.
But it was their fault—having no power in this world equals death.
I heard spectators worrying about Tom.
I clenched my teeth in anger.
Tom, Tom, Tom.
Everyone talks about Tom.
Even my father looks at him—at Tom.
Even my mother.
I felt a surge of rage toward Tom.
My magic flow was slipping out of control again.
I took deep breaths and calmed myself.
Tom… I hope you're okay… wake up…
So I can defeat you and prove to father you're not worthy of all this praise.
Just wake up.
Because you're going to lose to me, Tom.
A smile crept onto my lips at the thought of defeating him.
… From the doctor's view …
I looked at the lifeless body of this teenage boy.
Sweating heavily.
Hair disheveled.
Chest rising and falling rapidly.
Tom.
Tom Breach.
The most controversial person in the empire right now.
Who didn't deserve all this controversy.
I looked at his body.
Aside from his chest, the rest of his body was covered in infections, fractures, and deep wounds.
I had to bandage his entire upper torso.
I had treated many noble trainees in my life.
None were ever this damaged.
What happened to you, Tom?
I barely stabilized him.
He was practically a breath away from paralysis and death.
I sighed.
Why?
Why does a fourteen-year-old boy have to endure this much pressure?
Judged from every direction.
Suffering this much.
Yet no one sees it.
No one sees Tom's extra effort.
Not the court that wants him eliminated.
Not the Church that uses a fourteen-year-old boy as a tool.
Do other noble-born trainees suffer like this?
Or is it because Tom isn't noble-born that he's judged, humiliated, pressured?
I gave a bitter smirk.
Tom, you deserve admiration.
But not now. Not here.
If you were noble-born…
With half the effort you've shown…
They would call you a hero.
But…
Even if you die—even if you saved everyone before dying—
People, the Church, the court will still judge you and say:
"Why didn't he survive?"
You deserve the best, Tom.
With all this effort… all this pain…
I was lost in thought when…
… From Tom's view …
With difficulty and pain, I opened my eyes.
No sound of spectators.
No burning sunlight.
No blue sky.
Only a clay-colored ceiling and endless silence.
I moved my body with difficulty and saw a middle-aged man standing over me, worried.
Doctor: "I'm your physician. How do you feel?"
"I… I feel tightness and pain in my chest."
He sighed deeply.
Doctor: "I knew it."
"Knew what?"
Doctor: "Your body is in the worst possible condition.
Most of your ribs are fractured.
Your veins are unstable.
Your heart can't distribute mana properly.
Your magic flow is severely damaged."
"What… what does that mean?"
Doctor: "It means you can only use a portion of your power.
Not all of it.
If you use more magic, you'll damage your body further."
So that's why I felt abnormal pain when using magic.
The exhaustion.
The weakness.
It wasn't without reason—one month of nonstop training, near-death from rats, and the forbidden technique had aged my body years without rest.
The doctor continued:
Doctor: "You must stop the trial.
Your body needs treatment."
"If I continue?"
Doctor: "Your body will be damaged beyond repair.
It won't heal anymore.
Right now—"
"What happens if I continue?"
He sighed again.
Doctor: "Continuing will lead to paralysis… or even death."
I smirked.
Look at my life.
I've been on the verge of death countless times.
On the verge of paralysis.
All because I wanted a better life and not be judged.
And now the doctor tells me to quit?
Me?
Who was in a coma for a month?
Who nearly died for real?
Who learned a forbidden technique?
Quit?
Just to survive?
What's the point of surviving in a world full of judgmental people?
Nobles who humiliate me.
Lucas who mocks me.
The court that accuses me.
The Church that doesn't support me.
If I die, all of this ends.
Just one pain.
But if I live…
I suffer thousands of deaths.
I said:
"Look, I know you mean well."
Doctor: "But—"
"I'm not done."
"You don't know my life.
I've been near death countless times.
Because I'm not noble-born.
Because my family is Breach.
And I learned something:
If I die, I suffer once.
If I live, I suffer a thousand times."
"If I die, I won't feel humiliation.
If I live, I'll feel humiliations worse than death."
"If I die, only my soul suffers judgment.
If I live, my body, mind, and soul suffer."
"So yes…
A death with honor is better than a life with humiliation."
I stood up.
Buttoned my shirt.
The doctor was stunned.
Anyone would choose life.
But I had my pride.
I wasn't going to let it be shattered again.
Despite the pain, the suffocation, the trembling…
I walked toward the trial grounds.
"I'll prove to all of you…
That I, Tom Breach, can finish first.
That all your judgments were wrong."
… From the narrator's view …
Tom walked with unwavering resolve despite the pain.
The future he once wanted no longer mattered.
Only one thing mattered—his pride and honor.
He would not abandon them just to survive.
The doctor watched him with admiration.
He couldn't believe it.
How could he walk?
Anyone else would cling to life.
Except Tom—this fourteen-year-old boy who understood:
Survival at any cost is worthless.
Tom entered the tunnel.
The soldiers stared at him in disbelief.
He raised his hand toward the sunlight…
And as he stepped forward…
… From Rez Tarin's view …
Dan came to us after meeting Tom.
Daneris, Henry, and Adriana were beside me.
Dan told us what the doctor said—
That Tom was on the verge of death and only using a portion of his power.
I could only feel fear and admiration.
Fear of his resolve.
Admiration for his strength.
I didn't know why…
But Tom was becoming important to me.
"Did you notice something?" I said.
They all looked at me.
"Tom is only using a portion of his power…
And he's this strong."
"If he ever uses all of it…
I can't even imagine."
I saw fear and admiration on all their faces.
Dan and Henry realized someone stronger than both of them existed.
Even I was scared.
If Tom ever used all his power…
Could anyone stop him?
Then we heard the crowd cheering.
We looked quickly—
Tom was walking toward the arena.
We were all shocked.
He was going?
Even though he was on the verge of death?
His body trembled slightly—pain.
His face showed exhaustion.
Yet he was going to fight?
I couldn't believe it.
Tom's eyes met mine.
Behind all the pain…
He still had resolve.
He still wanted to prove himself.
And all I could do…
Was admire him.
And cheer for him.
End of Part 47
...
My apologies—I had uploaded Part 46 incorrectly. It is fixed now; the previous part labeled "46" has been renumbered to 47. Please read and enjoy the new Part 46. Once again, I apologize.