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The next day, Lukas had the morning free since Alpha Class's schedule was lighter to allow for independent training. He spent it in his dorm room, reading through some combat theory texts he'd borrowed from the library while lounging on his bed.
[You have been idle for 2 hours]
[+2 to all stats]
[Current Stats: Strength 54, Agility 54, Mana 54, Endurance 54]
By afternoon, Marcus knocked on his door. "Hey, Beta and Gamma trials are starting soon. Want to watch?"
"Sure, why not," Lukas said, setting his book aside.
They made their way to the arena, which was already filling up with spectators. The atmosphere was noticeably different from Alpha trials. Students laughed and chatted casually, treating the event more like entertainment than a serious competition.
Beta Class had seventy students, and thirty-two had entered the tournament. The magical bracket display showed the matchups, though most of the names were unfamiliar to Lukas.
"First match: Garrett Stone versus Philip Mar!" Instructor Gareth announced.
Two students stepped onto the platform. Garrett was a stocky boy with brown hair and a solid build, while Philip was taller and leaner, moving with quick, nervous energy.
"Begin!"
Philip attacked first, his blade coming in with a quick thrust aimed at Garrett's chest. Garrett didn't try to dodge. Instead, he brought his sword up in a tight defensive arc, deflecting the attack with minimal movement. Philip followed up with a combination of slashes, each one faster than the last, trying to overwhelm his opponent with speed.
But Garrett held his ground. His footwork was minimal, his movements economical. He parried, blocked, and redirected rather than meeting force with force. After a full minute of Philip's aggressive assault, the taller boy was breathing hard while Garrett looked barely winded.
"You're too defensive!" Philip shouted, launching another attack.
Garrett waited until Philip overextended on a wide slash, then stepped forward and delivered a quick strike to Philip's exposed ribs. One hit. Philip stumbled back, frustrated, and came at Garrett even more aggressively. The pattern repeated twice more, with Garrett weathering the storm and countering when opportunities appeared.
Three hits to zero.
"Winner: Garrett Stone!"
"That was boring," someone in the crowd muttered.
Marcus shrugged. "Effective though. He fights smart, not flashy."
The matches continued throughout the afternoon. Most were competent but unremarkable. Fighters with decent technique but nothing exceptional, trading blows back and forth until someone made a mistake.
One match caught Lukas's attention. A girl named Iris Vane fought with dual short swords, her style focused on rapid strikes and constant movement. Her opponent, a boy using a standard longsword, couldn't keep up with her pace. She darted in and out of range, landing quick hits on his arms and shoulders before he could properly defend. The match ended in under a minute.
"She's fast," Marcus observed.
"Good technique too," Lukas agreed. "She'd probably do well in Alpha Class."
After several rounds, the bracket narrowed down to the semifinals. Garrett faced off against Iris in what turned out to be the most interesting match of the tournament. Her speed versus his defense created an actual dynamic. She circled him constantly, probing for openings, while he rotated to face her, maintaining his guard.
Iris landed the first hit with a quick thrust that slipped past his guard. But Garrett adjusted, tightening his defensive pattern and limiting the angles she could attack from. The match went back and forth, both fighters landing hits, until Garrett finally caught her mid-strike and delivered a decisive counter.
Three hits to two.
Garrett went on to win the finals against another defensive fighter, grinding out a methodical victory that had the crowd half-asleep by the end.
"Garrett Stone is your Beta Class Captain!" Instructor Gareth announced.
Polite applause filled the arena. Garrett accepted the position with a simple nod, looking more practical than proud.
"Finally," Marcus said, stretching. "I thought that last match would never end."
"At least Gamma trials should be faster," Lukas said.
He was wrong.
Gamma Class had over a hundred students, and forty had entered the tournament. The organizers set up four platforms simultaneously to speed things up, but the matches themselves were painfully slow.
The first match Lukas watched featured two students who clearly had minimal training. They circled each other cautiously for nearly thirty seconds before the first strike was even thrown. When they finally engaged, their technique was rough and their movements telegraphed. One boy swung his practice sword like he was chopping wood, while his opponent blocked with both hands on his blade, barely maintaining his grip.
"This is hard to watch," Marcus muttered.
"They're trying their best," Lukas said, though even he found it difficult to stay focused.
Most Gamma matches followed a similar pattern. Basic techniques, predictable attacks, and lots of hesitation. A few students showed potential, but the overall skill level was significantly lower than Beta Class.
One girl stood out, though. Sara Venn was small and didn't look particularly strong, but she fought with calculated intelligence. In her first match, she faced a boy nearly twice her size. Instead of trying to match his power, she used footwork to stay out of range, making him chase her around the platform until he was exhausted. Then she darted in with quick strikes, landing three hits before he could recover.
Her subsequent matches followed similar patterns. She analyzed her opponents, identified their weaknesses, and exploited them with smart tactics rather than raw skill.
"She's clever," Lukas observed during her semifinal match.
"Yeah, but her technique is still pretty basic," Marcus replied.
"Technique can be learned. Tactical thinking is harder to teach."
Sara won the finals against a boy who relied purely on strength, using the same strategy of exhausting him before striking. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
"Sara Venn is your Gamma Class Captain!" Instructor Gareth announced.
The trials finally concluded as the sun was setting. Students began dispersing, stretching and talking about dinner plans.
Lukas stood and stretched. "That took way too long."
"At least it's over. Now all three classes have their captains," Marcus said, checking his schedule. "Want to grab dinner?"
"Yeah, I'm starving."
They made their way to the dining hall, joining the stream of students heading in the same direction. The hall was packed and noisy, with conversations about the trials mixing with general chatter about classes and training.
They found seats at a half-empty table and loaded their trays. The food was good as always. Roasted chicken, seasoned potatoes, fresh bread, and some kind of vegetable stew.
"So what do you think about the field exercise being moved up?" Marcus asked between bites.
"Doesn't really matter to me," Lukas said, tearing off a piece of bread. "Two weeks or next month, same difference."
"You're not worried? We'll be facing silver-rank monsters in the Whispering Woods. Those are way more dangerous than the Crimson Waste."
Lukas shrugged. "We'll handle it when it comes. No point stressing about it now."
Marcus shook his head with a small smile. "You're weirdly calm about everything. Most people would be nervous."
"Worrying doesn't change anything."
It was true. With his system making him stronger every day, stressing about future challenges seemed pointless. By the time the field exercise rolled around, he'd be significantly stronger. He'd deal with whatever happened when it happened.
Kieran appeared at their table, his tray balanced in one hand. "Mind if I sit?"
"Go ahead," Marcus said, gesturing to an empty seat.
Kieran dropped into the chair with his usual easy smile. "Long day, huh? Those Gamma matches really dragged on."
"Tell me about it," Marcus groaned. "I thought some of those fights would never end."
"Well, that's the reality of skill gaps," Kieran said, starting on his food. "But hey, at least all three classes have their captains now. Makes organizing things easier." He paused, then leaned forward slightly. "Speaking of which, I heard something interesting earlier."
"What now?" Marcus asked.
"Professor Kaine is apparently planning special training for Alpha Class. We're getting access to the restricted training grounds starting next week."
"The restricted grounds?" Marcus's eyes widened. "I heard those have advanced magical equipment and monster simulation chambers."
"Exactly. Apparently, they want to push Alpha Class harder than usual." Kieran's expression grew more thoughtful. "Though I have to wonder why. First the field exercise gets moved up, now special training. Feels like they're preparing us for something specific."
"Maybe they just want us to be ready for the exercise," Lukas suggested.
"Maybe," Kieran said, though he didn't sound convinced. "But I've been hearing other things too. More patrols around the perimeter, professors having closed meetings, that kind of stuff. Something's going on that they're not telling us."
Marcus glanced at Lukas. "We did have that briefing about monster activity."
"Right, the unusual sightings near the academy," Kieran nodded. "That's definitely part of it. Gold-rank monsters showing up where they shouldn't be in the first week of classes? That's not normal." He studied Lukas for a moment. "You don't seem too worried about it."
"Worrying won't help," Lukas replied, focusing on his food.
"Fair point," Kieran said with a grin. "I like that attitude. Too many people panic over things they can't control."
They finished eating and talked about lighter topics. Training schedules, upcoming classes, and complaints about particularly difficult professors. Eventually, they parted ways, with Marcus heading to the library to study and Kieran off to gather more gossip from who knows where.
Lukas returned to his dorm. He changed into comfortable clothes, lay down on his bed, and simply existed for a while.
[You have been idle for 1 hour]
[+1 to all stats]
[Current Stats: Strength 55, Agility 55, Mana 55, Endurance 55]
He closed his eyes and let himself drift.
[You have been idle for 8 hours]
[+8 to all stats]
[Current Stats: Strength 63, Agility 63, Mana 63, Endurance 63]
Morning came, and with it, the start of a new day of classes.
---
The next few days fell into a rhythm. Alpha Class attended advanced lectures in the mornings, covering topics like tactical command, advanced mana theory, and historical battle analysis. Afternoons were dedicated to practical training under Professor Kaine's watchful eye.
The training was intense. Professor Kaine ran them through combat drills, teamwork exercises, and sparring sessions that left most students exhausted. She paired them up randomly, forcing them to adapt to different fighting styles and strategies.
Lukas found himself paired with various classmates throughout the week. On the second day, he sparred with a boy named Thomas Cray, who specialized in heavy, powerful strikes. Thomas came at him like a battering ram, each swing designed to overwhelm through sheer force.
Lukas deflected the attacks easily, his Intermediate Sword Mastery guiding his blade to redirect the force rather than meet it head-on. After two minutes of fruitless assault, Thomas was breathing hard while Lukas looked barely winded.
"You're too relaxed," Thomas complained.
"You're too tense," Lukas replied, then landed three quick strikes before Thomas could adjust.
On the third day, he was paired with Lyra Ashford. She approached the match with her usual detached interest, fighting with quick, precise movements that tested his reflexes. Unlike Thomas, she didn't waste energy on powerful strikes. Every movement had purpose, every attack aimed at genuine openings.
It was a better match. They traded hits back and forth, both landing strikes in what turned into the longest sparring session Lukas had experienced since arriving at the academy. After five minutes, Professor Kaine called it a draw.
"Good adaptability, both of you," she said. "Grant, you read patterns well. Ashford, your efficiency is excellent."
Lyra gave Lukas an appraising look before walking away without comment.
On the fourth day, Professor Kaine paired him with Ace Reinhardt.
The protagonist approached the sparring circle with visible focus, his hand already on his practice sword. Lukas could see the determination in his eyes, the same intensity that had carried him through the entrance exam and the Captain trials.
"Ready?" Ace asked.
"Sure," Lukas replied.
"Begin!" Professor Kaine called.
Ace attacked immediately, his blade coming in fast and direct. No feints, no tricks, just straightforward strikes backed by solid technique. Lukas parried, noting how much Ace had improved even in just a few days. His movements were sharper, his transitions smoother.
The system was working for him.
They exchanged blows, neither gaining a clear advantage. Ace fought with relentless pressure, constantly attacking and forcing Lukas to stay on the defensive. But Lukas's higher stats and superior skill meant he could hold the line without much effort.
After three minutes, Lukas saw an opening and took it, landing a quick strike on Ace's shoulder. The protagonist reset immediately and came at him again, even more focused than before.
The second and third hits came easier. Not because Ace was getting worse, but because Lukas was simply stronger. His stats had climbed high enough that the gap was becoming noticeable.
"Winner: Grant," Professor Kaine announced.
Ace stood there for a moment, breathing hard, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded once and walked away.
Lukas watched him go, noting the tension in the protagonist's shoulders. Ace was working harder than anyone else in the class, training extra hours, pushing himself constantly. And yet, others were still ahead of him.
That had to be frustrating.
But it wasn't Lukas's problem. He was just doing what he needed to do to survive and improve. If that happened to put him ahead of the protagonist, so be it.
The week continued. Classes, training, sparring, lectures. All while Lukas's system worked steadily in the background.
[You have been idle for 8 hours]
[+8 to all stats]
[You have been idle for 6 hours]
[+6 to all stats]
[You have been idle for 8 hours]
[+8 to all stats]
[Daily Skill Lottery Available]
[Skill Acquired: Combat Instinct (B-Rank)]
[Combat Instinct: Heightened awareness during battle, allowing for faster reaction to threats and improved tactical decision-making]
[Daily Skill Lottery Available]
[Skill Acquired: Reinforced Physique (C-Rank)]
[Reinforced Physique: Body naturally resists physical damage, reducing impact from blunt force and cutting attacks]
By the end of the week, seven days after the Beta and Gamma trials, Lukas checked his status.
[Current Stats: Strength 127, Agility 127, Mana 127, Endurance 127]
He'd more than doubled his stats in a single week. At this level, he was stronger than most veteran knights, faster than professional soldiers, and had more mana than trained battle mages.
And all he'd done was exist.
The field exercise was now just three days away, and Lukas felt no anxiety whatsoever. With his current power, silver-rank monsters would be trivial. Even gold-rank creatures would struggle against him.
He lay on his bed that evening, staring at the ceiling with a satisfied smile.
Life was good.