Chrono moved first.
No hesitation.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly as he rushed forward—
His blade cutting through the air with precision.
Kazis swordstyle.
The form he had practiced endlessly.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Nox's eyes flickered with interest.
"…Impressive."
Clang—
Steel met steel.
Every strike—
Parried.
Every angle—
Read.
Chrono didn't falter.
He expected this.
His foot shifted.
His body leaned forward—
And then—
He accelerated.
Time Perception.
The world slowed.
Not stopped—
But dragged.
Nox's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh?"
Chrono's blade came again—faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
Nox's smile widened.
"…This is quite fun, Chrono."
"Show me more."
Chrono didn't respond.
He surged forward again.
Faster.
Cleaner.
Deadlier.
At this point—
Nox had already abandoned restraint.
His presence shifted.
From F—
To C rank.
The air itself grew heavier.
And yet—
Chrono kept up.
The students were stunned.
"H-how is this possible…?"
"That's the last rank… 2500…?"
"No—screw that—"
"He's fighting like a top ranker!"
On the sidelines—
Leon narrowed his eyes, golden light flickering faintly.
Vayne…
Watched.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
The clash continued.
Seconds felt longer.
Movements sharper.
Until—
Beep.
Five minutes.
Silence crept in.
Nox stepped back slightly, exhaling.
His eyes locked onto Chrono.
"…You want to keep going, don't you?"
Chrono said nothing.
He moved.
Again.
Straight toward him.
Nox's smile returned.
"…Very well."
His stance shifted.
"Let's end it, Chrono."
He rushed forward.
Faster than before.
Decisive.
Absolute.
And then—
Chrono stopped.
Abruptly.
Completely.
The entire arena froze in confusion.
"…Huh?"
"He just—stopped?"
Even Nox's eyes narrowed mid-charge.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
And then—
Vayne's eyes widened.
For the first time—
Her expression changed.
No one else understood.
Not yet.
Chrono slowly raised his sword.
And whispered—
"Future Trace."
—
The world broke.
Color vanished.
Sound died.
Everything—
Stopped.
White.
Endless.
Silent.
Time—
Had halted.
Only for him.
Chrono stepped forward.
Calm.
Untouched by motion.
Nox stood frozen mid-strike.
Unreachable.
Undefended.
Chrono moved past him—
Turned—
And struck.
—
The world snapped back.
BOOM—
A shockwave exploded across the arena.
Nox Valen was sent flying—
His body tearing through the ground before crashing at the far end.
The entire training field trembled.
Students staggered—
A crushing pressure washing over them.
Eyes wide.
Breath stolen.
Dust rose into the air.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unbelievable.
At the center—
Chrono stood.
Still.
Calm.
Watching.
From within the dust—
A figure emerged.
Unharmed.
Nox stepped forward slowly.
But his aura—
Was completely different now.
Dense.
Overwhelming.
Terrifying.
"…That attack…"
His voice was quiet.
Serious.
The entire arena went still.
He had just raised his Mana Core from C to to A just to block that.
For a student.
For a single strike.
Leon's eyes widened slightly.
"Chrono."
Vayne—
Was staring directly at Chrono now.
No indifference left.
Only focus.
Pure.
Sharp.
Interest.
And Chrono—
Stood there.
Breathing slightly heavier.
His eyes faintly ticking.
But inside—
A single thought echoed.
I… won.
____
Professor Nox didn't say anything for a long moment.
The weight of what had just happened still lingered in the air.
Then—
He turned away.
Calm.
As if nothing had happened.
"Your physical examination has come to an end."
A pause.
"Now only the written exam remains."
His voice returned to its usual tone.
"That will be supervised by Professor Maya."
And just like that—
It was over.
The cadets slowly began to leave the training grounds.
Some walked in silence.
Some whispered frantically.
Some…
Were still trying to process what they had just witnessed.
"I-it's impossible…"
"He made Professor Nox raise his Mana Core to A rank…"
"Who even is he…?"
A few students cried—
Broken by the harsh reality of the exam.
Others smiled—
Proud they had passed.
But one thing had changed for everyone.
Chrono.
He was no longer the last-ranked nobody.
He was—
Something else.
Something unknown.
—
Chrono walked through the academy halls.
The same halls as before—
But everything felt… different.
Eyes followed him.
Every step.
Every movement.
Whispers trailed behind him like shadows.
But he didn't care.
Not even a little.
His focus was elsewhere.
Right in front of him.
A glowing blue screen.
Flickering slightly.
Waiting.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Show it."
The screen responded instantly.
[QUEST COMPLETED]
Defeat Nox Valen — SUCCESS
For a moment—
His heartbeat quickened.
Then—
The next line appeared.
Reward: Time Affinity — Unlocked
The moment the words appeared—
Something changed.
Deep within him.
A pulse.
Subtle—
Yet absolute.
Chrono froze mid-step.
His pupils trembled slightly.
The world around him—
Felt… slower.
No—
Not slower.
Clearer.
More defined.
As if every second—
Had layers.
And he could now… see them.
A faint ticking echoed in his ears.
Soft.
Endless.
Ancient.
His hand twitched.
"…What… is this…?"
The blue screen flickered again.
[New Attribute Acquired]
Time Affinity (SSS-)
Description:
A forbidden affinity governing the flow of time itself.
Further synchronization required.
Warning: Stability Unknown.
Chrono's breath hitched slightly.
Time… itself?
Before he could process further—
The screen shifted again.
Glitching.
Distorting.
The text warped.
And then—
A familiar presence seeped in.
A voice.
A chuckle.
Low.
Distorted.
Smiling.
Chrono's eyes darkened slightly.
"Paradox…"
A pause.
Then—
That same maniacal tone.
Quieter this time.
But far more dangerous.
Now… it begins.