The results of the Prime Division's first Ranking Spar sent ripples throughout the entire Zenith Academy campus. The footage of the top matches—Goliath's overwhelming power, Yuna's elegant ice mastery—were broadcast on the campus network for the general student body to see, meant to inspire and intimidate.
But the match that generated the most discussion wasn't one of the top-ranked duels. It was Match #8.
Jin Park vs. Marcus.
The footage circulated wildly among the student forums. It was replayed and analyzed countless times. The conclusion was always the same: bewilderment.
Forum Post by 'SwordGeek88':
Did anyone else see the Chef vs. Brawler fight? I've watched it twenty times. The Chef didn't use a single registered combat skill besides a weak energy pulse that might be a low-level Power Strike. His technique makes no sense. It's not swordsmanship, it's not martial arts... it's like he's just... breaking him down piece by piece. What are we even looking at?
Reply by 'MageQueen_Lia':
My prof in the General Magic Division said it's a demonstration of "pure mechanical leverage and anatomical knowledge." Basically, he dismantled Marcus not with power, but with technique that shouldn't be possible for a first-year. The "Chef" thing has to be a cover. No Normal-grade Job gives you that kind of insight.
Reply by 'HunterBro7':
It's a fluke. Marcus got arrogant and underestimated him. If they fought again, Marcus would crush him. Still, that frying pan deflect... that was weirdly skillful.
The culinary prodigy who had shocked the nation with his dish had now proven he wasn't just a one-trick pony. He was an enigma. The prevailing theory among the 20,000 general students was that "Jin Park" was the secret scion of some hidden martial arts family, using the Chef job as a bizarre cover for his true abilities.
This public perception was exactly what Muyeong wanted. Confusion and mystery were a far better shield than fear. Fear invited challenges from the strong. Mystery invited caution.
Back in his lab, Jin Park ignored the campus-wide gossip entirely. He was focused on his own, silent progression. He stood before his workbench, laying out two seemingly unrelated items he had requisitioned from the vault.
One was a "Shadow-Weaver's Silk," a small patch of Ultrarare-grade cloth known for its ability to absorb light and muffle sound. It was incredibly expensive, costing him nearly a third of his monthly stipend. The other was a simple, Normal-grade leather glove.
He activated Material Synthesis.
His System Weaver talent gave him an intuitive understanding of the process. He wasn't just crudely merging them. He was unravelling the concept of the silk's silence and the concept of the glove's form and reweaving them into something new. The mana drain was immense, but his control was growing more precise with each use.
After a tense minute, the process was complete. The patch of silk was gone. The leather glove now sat on the counter, but it was different. It was no longer brown, but a deep, matte black that seemed to drink the light around it.
[You have successfully created a 'Glove of Silence' (Rare-grade item).]
> Description: A glove that passively muffles the sound of the user's movements and actions.
[Skill: Material Synthesis (Unique) has reached Lv. 3.]
He slipped the glove on. It was light and fit perfectly. He tapped his fingers on the steel counter. The sound was noticeably duller, quieter. It was another tool for his arsenal of stealth and misdirection.
A chime from his campus data chip interrupted his work. It was a message from Instructor Zane.
[To: Jin Park, Prime Division #16]
[From: Instructor Zane, Combat Evaluation]
[Subject: Your new ranking grants you access to the 'Path of Growth' program. Choose a mentor from the academy faculty to oversee your development. Your choice must be submitted by the end of the week. Failure to comply will be noted in your evaluation file.]
Muyeong's eyes narrowed. A mentor. A faculty member who would have regular, direct access to him, who would oversee his training. This was a dangerous complication. It was the System's way of ensuring its prized assets didn't stray too far from the path. A mentor would ask questions. They would want to see his "progress" up close.
He pulled up the list of available faculty mentors. There were dozens of names: powerful combat masters, renowned elementalists, tacticians. And then he saw her name.
Dean Elara Vane.
It was an audacious, almost suicidal thought. Choosing the highest-ranking, most powerful, and most perceptive person on campus as his mentor was the definition of walking into the lion's den. Any other student would be terrified.
But Muyeong's mind worked on a different axis. A combat master would try to 'fix' my technique, he reasoned. A mage would dismiss me. But her... she's a Mythical-grade defender. Her expertise isn't in attacking; it's in observing, analyzing, and withstanding. She above all others might understand—or be made to believe—that my 'skill' comes from analysis, not power.
More importantly, it was the perfect cover. No one would suspect that the student being personally mentored by the Dean of Admissions was secretly plotting to undermine the very system she represented. It was the ultimate misdirection.
He made his selection.
A few hours later, he received a terse, one-line reply.
[Request Approved. My office. Tomorrow. 0800. Do not be late.]
[- Dean Elara Vane]
The board was set. The next phase of the game was about to begin.