The gates of Blackfang groaned open. No guards. No welcome. Just silence and ash.
Azel stepped in.
The courtyard was cracked stone. Dozens of figures stood in line. Some shivering. Some armed. All hungry for a future.
Above them, an orb hovered. Black steel with blinking crimson runes.
> [Identify: Exam Sentinel]
Function: Initial threat filter
It turned. Scanned. Whispered. Chose.
The orb hovered toward Azel.
> Scanning applicant... Mana core: damaged. Physical state: critical. Recommendation: Reject
Azel tilted his head.
The orb's rune flashed red. The ground trembled.
> Initiating Combat Evaluation
A golem rose from the earth. Nine feet tall. Plated. Burned symbols across its chest. Its arm spun with jagged spikes.
Azel didn't blink.
The others stepped back. He stepped forward.
No magic. No weapons. Just a broken blade and sharper thoughts.
The golem charged.
He moved sideways. Slow body. Fast mind. He counted the seconds between its movements.
Two seconds to lift. One to slam. Weak joint under the right elbow.
He ran. Not at it. Around it.
On the fourth rotation, he ducked under the swing and drove the broken blade straight into the rune pulsing on its knee.
The rune cracked. The golem froze.
Azel grabbed a fallen stone and smashed the rune clean.
> Evaluation: Complete
Combat intelligence: Above S-class
Admission granted
He turned.
Silence.
The students stared. In fear. In awe.
He walked past them. Left the ruined golem behind. Blood still dripping from his side.
At the top of the stairs, a man waited. White robes. Blindfolded eyes.
"Name"
"Azel Raen"
The man's head tilted.
"You are not from this world"
"No"
"You have enemies"
"Not yet"
The man nodded once. Then turned.
"Welcome to Blackfang"