"Phew…"
I lowered the practice sword and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
My arms ached, but the movements were finally starting to feel smoother.
"I think with this… I can at least reach the top 1500."
For someone ranked dead last, that would already be a huge jump.
Not bad.
Within just two days, I had already made this much progress.
The B-Rank sword style was slowly becoming easier to execute, though my body still struggled to keep up with the memories.
I placed the sword back on the rack.
"Well… that's enough warming up."
I glanced toward the wall clock.
It was almost time.
"Let's head to Professor Nox Valen's class."
When I arrived at the academy's main training grounds, the place was already filled with students.
Cadets from multiple classes had gathered across the massive field.
It seemed today's lesson would be different from usual.
At the front of the training grounds stood two instructors.
The first was Professor Nox Valen.
Even from a distance, his presence stood out.
Snow-white hair framed his sharp features, and his piercing blue eyes swept across the gathered cadets like blades.
Despite being a professor, his physique was well-trained and athletic. His posture alone carried the calm confidence of someone who had spent his entire life on the battlefield.
Nox Valen…
An S-Rank Swordmaster.
He was famous for his incredible speed in combat.
In fact, according to the records mentioned in the novel…
He had never once failed a mission.
Not a single one.
That alone made him a legend among professional hunters.
Beside him stood another instructor I recognized.
Professor Clara.
Unlike Nox's calm presence, Clara radiated strict authority.
Her purple hair rested neatly above her shoulders, and her sharp eyes scanned the students with quiet intensity.
She too was an S-Rank Mage, specializing in multiple elemental affinities.
Before joining the academy, she had worked for an organization known as the Reaper Corporation.
Not much was known about that group.
Even in the novel, it was only mentioned briefly.
But the name alone carried a dangerous reputation.
Together, the two instructors stood before the massive gathering of cadets.
After everyone had assembled, Professor Nox stepped forward.
His voice was calm, yet it carried easily across the entire training ground.
"Cadets."
The chatter immediately died down.
"Today, we will be conducting a combined session with all classes."
A few students murmured quietly in excitement.
Professor Nox continued.
"You will each be assigned a partner."
He paused briefly.
"And you will spar with them three times."
Some students straightened up immediately.
Others looked slightly nervous.
Professor Clara stepped forward next.
"Your movements, techniques, and decision-making will all be evaluated."
Her sharp gaze swept across the crowd.
"We will analyze your strengths…"
"…and more importantly—"
"Your failures."
A tense silence settled over the training grounds.
This wasn't just practice.
This was an evaluation.
And judging from the atmosphere…
It was going to be brutal.
Soon the pairings were announced, and multiple matches began taking place across the training grounds.
Steel clashed against steel as cadets tested their skills against one another.
Some fights ended quickly.
Others dragged on as students struggled to gain the upper hand.
But among all the matches taking place…
One duel quickly caught everyone's attention.
Two names had just been called.
Leon Ardent — Rank #1
versus
Liam Veridian — Rank #3
A wave of murmurs spread through the gathered cadets.
"Wait… already?"
"Those two are fighting this early?"
"That's basically the strongest matchup possible…"
Even the students who had been busy with their own sparring began glancing toward the central arena.
Because everyone knew something.
This wasn't just another training match.
This was a clash between two of the academy's strongest first-years.
Leon stepped into the arena calmly, rolling his shoulders slightly as he adjusted his grip on the wooden training sword.
Across from him, Liam stood tall and composed, his expression focused and serious.
For a brief moment…
The training grounds grew quiet.
Even the instructors seemed interested.
At the front of the field, Professor Nox Valen watched the two students carefully.
"…Begin."
The moment the command left his mouth—
Both of them moved.
The moment the signal was given, both fighters moved.
Leon Ardent dashed forward first.
Fast.
Too fast.
The wooden practice sword in his hand cut through the air in a straight thrust aimed at Liam's chest.
Clack!
Liam Veridian parried immediately.
The clash echoed across the training grounds.
Students nearby stopped their own matches to watch.
From the sidelines, I narrowed my eyes.
Both are swordsmen…
But their styles were completely different.
Liam stepped forward with a clean diagonal slash.
His movements were disciplined, controlled, and refined.
Arthur Veridian's lineage swordsmanship…
Every motion looked textbook perfect.
Leon, however, fought differently.
He slipped past the strike with a sudden burst of speed.
Fast.
Too fast.
Before Liam could reset his stance, Leon's blade shot forward again.
Clack!
Liam blocked again—but his feet slid half a step backward.
A faint murmur spread among the cadets.
Leon smiled slightly.
"Your guard is solid."
Liam's eyes remained calm.
"But your speed is troublesome."
The two separated for a brief moment.
Then Liam inhaled slowly.
Mana gathered around his blade.
A faint silver glow appeared.
Several students gasped.
"That's a Veridian technique!"
Liam stepped forward.
"Veridian Sword Art — First Form: Rising Horizon."
His sword slashed upward in a smooth arc.
The strike was powerful enough to create a sharp gust of wind across the training field.
Leon's eyes widened slightly.
He raised his blade just in time.
CLANG!
The impact forced Leon to slide backward several meters.
Dust kicked up around his feet.
I watched carefully.
Powerful…
That technique carried both strength and control.
Leon rolled his shoulders once before standing upright again.
A faint golden light began to gather around him.
Light mana.
Several students whispered.
"Leon's using his affinity…"
The air around him brightened slightly.
I narrowed my eyes.
Light affinity…
Leon lowered his stance slightly.
"Solar Shift."
His body vanished.
A streak of golden light cut across the arena.
CLACK!
Liam Veridian barely managed to raise his blade in time as Leon appeared beside him.
The impact echoed across the training grounds.
Leon attacked again.
And again.
His sword flashed rapidly.
"Aurora Sequence."
Three slashes appeared almost instantly.
Left.
Right.
Then a downward strike.
Liam stepped back while blocking each one, his expression finally turning serious.
The force pushed him several meters across the arena.
Students gasped.
"Did you see that speed?!"
"Leon just disappeared!"
But Liam didn't panic.
He steadied his breathing.
Mana gathered around his blade once again.
"Veridian Sword Art — Third Form: Skybreaker."
Liam stepped forward and unleashed a powerful horizontal strike.
The air itself seemed to split as the blade cut forward.
Leon immediately retreated using Solar Shift, appearing several meters away.
The shockwave from Liam's strike tore through the ground where Leon had been standing.
I watched silently.
Interesting…
Leon relied on speed and pressure.
Liam relied on power and refined sword forms.
Two completely different philosophies.
Leon rolled his wrist once before smiling.
"Not bad."
Golden light slowly condensed along his blade.
The air around him brightened.
Even the nearby cadets instinctively shielded their eyes.
Leon pointed his sword forward.
"Let's finish this."
Mana surged.
"Dawnbreaker."
Leon shot forward like a beam of sunlight.
The distance between them vanished instantly.
Liam's eyes widened.
He raised his blade.
"Veridian Sword Art — Second Form: Falling Star."
The two techniques collided.
CLANG!
A shockwave spread across the arena.
Dust exploded outward.
For a brief moment, both swords locked together.
Then—
Liam's feet slid backward.
Leon stepped forward.
His wooden blade stopped just inches from Liam's neck.
Silence filled the training grounds.
At the front of the field, Professor Nox Valen nodded slightly.
"Enough."
His voice carried across the arena.
"Winner… Leon Ardent."
The cadets immediately erupted into excited chatter.
"Rank #1 for a reason…"
"That was insane."
"Liam almost held him though!"
Liam lowered his blade calmly.
"…Your speed is still absurd."
Leon laughed lightly.
"You're not far behind."
From the sidelines, I remained silent.
Solar Shift… Aurora Sequence… Dawnbreaker…
Fast.
Efficient.
But still predictable.
If I could close that gap in speed…
Maybe.
Just maybe.
I could deal with him.