"It means you are going to walk into that trial with a massive, unfair advantage," Sir Red grinned.
The veteran knight turned away to finish breaking down the campsite. He kicked the compacted snow off the heavy tent stakes and tossed the thick iron rods into the back of his waiting transport wagon.
Henry stepped forward to help load the remaining supplies. He reached down and grabbed the edge of a massive wooden supply crate. He fully expected the familiar straining weight he had known before entering the dungeon.
Instead, the crate felt entirely hollow. Henry lifted the massive box with ease. He hoisted it onto his shoulder and placed it gently onto the wagon bed. His new Strength stat of 74 made the physical world feel drastically different.
He also noticed his footing. The Swift Tale Boots gripped the icy ground flawlessly. His modified Speed and Agility stats made his heavy steps feel completely weightless.
"Easy there, lad," Sir Red chuckled while securing the last canvas strap. "You don't want to break the carriage before we even start the journey back."
Henry climbed into the passenger seat of the wagon. Sir Red took the reins. The two strong draft horses snorted in the freezing air and began pulling them down the mountain trail.
As they moved, Henry looked closely at the path they were taking. When they first traveled here, they had to climb for hours on foot because the terrain was far too jagged. Now, a narrow but perfectly flat trail snaked its way down the steep cliffs.
"You cleared a path," Henry observed aloud.
Sir Red kept his gaze focused on the rocky path ahead. "I had to do something to keep from going crazy out here. I spent the last two months carving out this trail through the ice and rock. I widened the ledge just enough to bring the carriage up. It was the only way to get those daily food rations and water kegs to the cave entrance."
Henry nodded in quiet appreciation. The snow-covered trees passed by in a rapid blur as they descended from the high altitude.
"So," Henry said, keeping his eyes on the passing woods. "How exactly does an Aura work? If I need to use this Intense Burst, how do I actually trigger it?"
"An Aura is essentially your life force bleeding out into the physical world," Sir Red explained over the rattling wooden wheels. "Right now, your body acts like a sealed pressure valve. During that boss fight, your sheer desperation cracked the valve open for a split second. To do it on command, you need to learn how to open that valve yourself."
Henry listened closely.
"It comes down to pure intent," Sir Red continued. "You cannot just swing your sword and expect the red energy to appear. You have to visualize the exact point of impact. You need to gather your focus in your chest and force it out through the steel."
Henry closed his eyes to follow the instructions. He focused on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He imagined pulling that internal energy outward. For a brief moment, a faint warmth bloomed deep in his chest. A tiny spark of red light flickered across his bare knuckles.
The spark vanished instantly. A heavy wave of exhaustion washed over his mind.
"Don't push it," Sir Red warned. "You just woke up from a week-long coma. Your mana channels are completely dry."
Henry opened his eyes and released a long breath. The faint warmth in his chest completely dissipated. It left behind a hollow ache. He realized his body was still recovering from the massive trauma of the boss fight. He leaned his head against the wooden bench. The carriage's rhythmic swaying slowly lulled him into a light slumber.
The journey back to the Colored Unknowns' base of operations took eight solid hours of driving. They descended from the freezing mountain peaks down into the milder climate of the lower territories.
Henry spent most of the trip resting his eyes. He woke occasionally to eat simple rations or drink from the heavy water keg. His body demanded quiet time to process the extreme stat increases.
Every passing hour made his muscles feel slightly denser. The wooden carriage rattled violently over the uneven dirt roads, yet Henry barely felt the jarring impacts. His enhanced physique absorbed the shock effortlessly.
They finally reached the familiar military fort under the cover of darkness. Sir Red guided the wagon through the heavily guarded main gates without any issues. The sentries recognized the veteran knight and waved them through immediately.
They navigated straight toward the dilapidated district at the edge of the base. The streets here were empty. Most soldiers avoided this condemned sector entirely.
Sir Red halted the carriage in a shadowy alleyway. The familiar smell of coal smoke hung heavy in the damp air. Henry stepped down from the passenger seat. His Swift Tale Boots muffled the drop entirely. He turned toward the heavy wooden door of the ruined building. The exterior looked like it could collapse at any moment.
Before they could approach the entrance, two figures stepped out from the shadows near the brick wall. Henry immediately recognized the stark white armor reflecting the dim moonlight. Ma'am White stood with her arms crossed over her chest. Standing quietly beside her was Hannah.
Recruit 1 looked exactly the same as she had on graduation day. Her posture was perfectly rigid. Her face betrayed zero emotion, but underneath, he could tell she was much stronger and might have improved even more than he had.
Ma'am White raised an eyebrow as Sir Red approached. She looked Henry up and down. A smirk formed on her face.
"You are back early," Ma'am White noted. Her voice carried a teasing lilt. She shifted her gaze to the veteran knight. "Did you help him cheat, Red? I know you always had a soft spot for the underdogs. There is no way a regular recruit cleared a solo objective this fast."
Sir Red let out a deep grunt. He unhitched the massive warhorses from the wagon. "The boy does not need my help to cheat. He maxed out his progression. He even awakened his Aura."
Ma'am White's smirk vanished. Her eyes widened in genuine shock. She stared at Henry with newfound respect. Awakening an Aura before reaching E-Rank was exceedingly rare overall for knights.
Henry ignored the instructor's reaction. He focused his attention entirely on Hannah. He remembered his thoughts before the trial. He had wondered if the stoic recruit would survive her own brutal test. She looked completely unharmed.
"How long has it been since you finished?" Henry asked.
Hannah met his gaze. Her eyes were blank and unreadable. "I just got back a few days ago," she answered flatly.
Henry nodded. He felt a strange sense of camaraderie. They had both survived, and they were the first two back.
Sir Red pushed open the heavy wooden door. Stepping inside was like crossing into another reality. The interior lobby was lavishly decorated. It was immaculately clean. Soft light emanated from expensive mana crystals embedded in the ceiling. The contrast to the filthy alleyway felt just as jarring the second time.
The lobby was not empty. Sir Black stood near the center of the grand room. He wore pristine dark armor. Standing attentively beside him were Ana and Recruit 13. They looked nervous but determined.
Sir Black turned his head as the heavy door clicked shut. His sharp eyes locked onto Henry. The Head Recruiter's usual lackadaisical expression wavered for a fraction of a second.
"Henry," Sir Black said. His tone carried a rare note of surprise. "You finished near Hannah's time. I did not expect to see you walk through those doors for at least another month. Assuming you walked out at all."
"He cleared a Rare-tier cavern," Sir Red announced loudly. "He capped his Rank Progress."
Sir Black slowly nodded. He processed the information with mechanical efficiency. "Impressive. You and Hannah haven't disappointed me, that's for sure. We will evaluate your new capabilities soon."
Ana broke formation. She took a quick step toward Henry. A bright smile spread across her face. During their initial training, Henry had always supported her. She had struggled with the physical demands back then.
"You made it back," Ana said happily. Her voice echoed slightly in the large lobby. "I knew you would pass your test. I just knew it."
"It's good to see you, Ana," Henry replied. His voice was tired but genuine. He noticed her training gear looked heavily battered. "Did you finish your remedial training?"
Ana nodded enthusiastically. "Sir Black says we are finally ready. We are heading out right now to take our own trials."
"Enough socializing," Sir Black commanded. His voice cut through the room. "We have a strict schedule to keep. Ana. Let's go."
Ana instantly stepped back. She returned to her rigid stance beside recruit 13. Sir Black turned toward the double doors leading back out to the alleyway. A carriage waited that hadn't been there just a few seconds before.
Before they followed the commander out, Recruit 13 paused. He looked directly at Henry.
"Alan," Recruit 13 stated clearly. He held his head high. "My name is Alan. I will see you later, 14."
Henry stood up perfectly straight. He looked the recruit in the eyes. He appreciated the gesture of respect.
"Henry," he replied smoothly. "That is my name."
Alan gave a firm nod. He turned around and hurried after Sir Black and Ana. The heavy oak doors swung shut behind them. The lavish lobby returned to a quiet stillness.
Henry watched the doors close. He felt a heavy weight settling onto his shoulders. The reality of their situation was unavoidable. Ana and Alan were heading out into the same deadly unknown he had just escaped. He could only hope they possessed the strength to survive.
Sir Red placed a massive hand on Henry's shoulder. The veteran knight squeezed firmly.
"Do not worry about them," Sir Red advised. "They have their own paths to walk. You need to focus on your own recovery. You pushed your body entirely too far."
Henry nodded slowly. He felt the exhaustion pulling at his bones. The adrenaline from returning to the base was fading fast.
"What happens next?" Henry asked. "Do I select my advanced combat technique today?"
"Not today," Sir Red answered. "You are completely drained. Your mana channels need time to stabilize. Go to your quarters. You have a day to rest."
Sir Red let out a low chuckle. He crossed his thick arms over his chest. "After that, you can go home to the barony for two weeks. You earned it, lad."
Henry's heart skipped a beat. The thought of seeing his family flooded his mind. He pictured his father's proud smile. He imagined Mia's relief. Two weeks of absolute peace sounded like a dream. He had survived the dungeon. He had awakened his Aura. Now, he was going home.