Kael's heart pounded as he stood at the edge of Bronze Haven's Sparring Arena, a dusty oval ringed by cracked stone bleachers packed with students. The morning sun beat down, glinting off the weapons and shimmering skill effects of his peers. The Sparring Trials were a monthly ritual, a chance to earn Forge Points and climb the academy's ranks—or, for Kael, a chance to survive another day as the "Sock Summoner." But today was different. His Skillforge interface hummed in his mind, no longer just a mockery of socks but a Mythic secret: the Skill Mimic System.
The cloaked woman's words from last night echoed in his head: "You shouldn't have survived that surge." Her glowing eyes and cold tone had kept him awake, tossing in his dorm bunk. Who was she? What did she know about the Experimental Wing's crystal surge that had rewritten his system? Kael shoved the questions aside. He had to focus on the Trials—Dren was out there, itching for revenge, and Kael's new skills were his only edge.
His interface flickered, displaying his updated stats:
System: Sock Summoning (Common) / Skill Mimic System (Mythic)
Level: 5
Stats:
Power: 4 (Your flames are more spark than blaze.)
Control: 8 (Steady hands, shaky skills.)
Resilience: 5 (Backlash penalty active for 30 minutes.)
Insight: 12 (You see the angles others miss.)
Mimic Energy (ME): 40/50
Skills:
Sock Summon (Active): Summon a random sock. Cost: 5 ME.
Sock Sense (Passive): Detect socks within 10 meters.
Skill Copy (Active): Copy a skill by observing or defeating a Wielder. Cost: 20 ME.
Copied: Glimmer Veil (Novice, 12 hours remaining): Invisibility field. Cost: 15 ME.
Copied: Fireball (Novice, 12 hours remaining): Fiery projectile. Cost: 10 ME.
Forge Points (FP): 200/1,000 to Level 6
Kael grimaced. His copied skills—Glimmer Veil and Fireball—were game-changers, but his low ME and Power made them unreliable. Glimmer Veil had saved him from the cloaked figures, but it flickered under his shaky Control. Fireball was a pathetic fizzle compared to Dren's blazing orbs. And with his Resilience still reduced from last night's backlash, one solid hit could knock him out. He needed to play smart.
"Next match!" Instructor Veyra's voice boomed, her Wind Manipulation System sending a gust to clear dust from the arena. "Kael Varn versus Lila Torm!"
The crowd jeered, a familiar chorus of "Sock Boy!" and laughter. Kael's stomach twisted, but he stepped into the arena, his tattered cloak flapping. Lila, a wiry second-year with a Rare Lightning Arc System, smirked from the opposite side. Her fingers sparked with electricity, her eyes glinting with confidence. Kael had seen her in class—she wasn't cruel like Dren, but she wouldn't hold back.
Mira, standing at the bleachers' edge, gave Kael a thumbs-up. "You got this!" she called, her Plant Growth System useless in a fight but her spirit unwavering. Kael nodded, grateful for her support. If he could win this, he might earn enough FP to hit Level 6—and maybe impress someone enough to keep Dren off his back.
"Begin!" Veyra shouted.
Lila moved first, her hands crackling as she unleashed Lightning Arc, a jagged bolt streaking toward Kael. His Insight stat screamed—dodge or die. He dove left, the bolt scorching the ground where he'd stood, the crowd gasping. Kael's mind raced. He could copy Lightning Arc with Skill Copy, but his ME was only 40, and copying would leave him too drained to use it. Fireball was his best bet.
He focused, summoning the copied skill. A weak flame sputtered in his palm, his low Power stat choking its strength. He hurled the Fireball, aiming for Lila's legs. It wobbled, barely singeing her boots as she sidestepped with a laugh. "Is that it, Sock Boy? A candle flicker?"
The crowd roared, but Kael's lips twitched. Lila was fast, but her taunting gave him an opening. He activated Sock Summon, conjuring a grimy gym sock and tossing it into her path. She slipped, her next Lightning Arc veering wide, crackling into the bleachers. Students yelped, scattering as sparks flew.
Kael sprinted forward, his Insight guiding him. Lila's system relied on range—if he closed the distance, she'd struggle. He summoned another sock—a woolen monstrosity—and whipped it at her face, using his Control stat for precision. The sock hit, momentarily blinding her. Kael tackled her to the ground, pinning her arms before she could summon another bolt.
"Yield!" he gasped, his ME at 25 and his body aching from the sprint.
Lila struggled, then sighed. "Fine. You win, Sock Boy."
The crowd went silent, then erupted in murmurs. Veyra raised an eyebrow, her wind gust signaling the match's end. "Kael Varn wins. 100 Forge Points awarded."
Kael's interface pinged: FP: 300/1,000 to Level 6. He stood, panting, as Lila dusted herself off, giving him a grudging nod. The crowd's jeers turned to whispers—had the Sock Summoner actually won? Kael caught Mira's grin, but his relief was short-lived. Dren's voice cut through the noise.
"Not bad for laundry," Dren called, leaning against a bleacher. His fireball spun lazily, twice the size of Kael's. "But you won't last against me."
Kael's stomach clenched. Dren was a third-year, Level 8, with a Rare Fire Manipulation System. His Fireball could melt stone, and he'd be Kael's next opponent if he advanced. Kael's copied Fireball was too weak, and Glimmer Veil wouldn't last long enough to dodge Dren's onslaught. He needed a new skill—fast.
As the arena cleared for the next match, Mira pulled Kael aside. "How'd you do that?" she whispered, her green eyes wide. "That fire—you've never used anything but socks!"
Kael hesitated. Mira was his only friend, but the cloaked woman's warning echoed: his Skill Mimic System was dangerous. If the academy—or worse, those shadowy figures—learned about it, he'd be a target. "Just… got lucky," he mumbled. "Practiced some tricks."
Mira frowned, unconvinced, but didn't push. "Be careful with Dren. He's been training with a new skill—Flame Burst. It's an area attack. You can't dodge it."
Kael nodded, his mind racing. Flame Burst? If he could copy it, he might stand a chance. He scanned the arena, spotting Dren practicing. The bully raised his hand, and flames erupted in a wide circle, scorching the ground. Kael's interface locked on: Flame Burst (Rare) – Area fire explosion. Cost: 15 ME.
He activated Skill Copy, his ME dropping to 5 as pain stabbed his temples—another backlash warning. His interface updated:
Skill Copied: Flame Burst (Novice). Duration: 24 hours. Cost: 15 ME.
Kael swayed, his low ME making him dizzy. He couldn't use Flame Burst now, but if he rested, his ME might recover before facing Dren. He needed a plan—and a way to avoid suspicion. A Level 5 Common Wielder shouldn't have Rare skills.
The Trials continued, Kael watching from the bleachers, his Insight analyzing every move. He noticed a third-year with a Rare Water Shield System conjuring a shimmering barrier. Water Shield could block Dren's flames, but copying it would overwrite one of his current skills—Glimmer Veil or Fireball—since his limit was three. He cursed his low ME and Level 5 cap. He needed to level up, and soon.
As the final matches ended, Veyra called the next round: "Kael Varn versus Dren Korr!"
The crowd roared, eager for a slaughter. Dren strode into the arena, his fireball blazing like a miniature sun. Kael's ME was back to 20—not enough for Flame Burst, but Fireball and Glimmer Veil were options. He stepped forward, his cloak hiding his trembling hands. He'd beaten Lila with socks and wit, but Dren was a different beast.
"Ready to burn, Sock Boy?" Dren sneered, flames dancing in his eyes.
Kael's Insight sparked an idea. The arena's dust could obscure vision if he used Glimmer Veil strategically. He activated it, his ME dropping to 5 as his body shimmered, nearly invisible. Dren's Fireball shot forward, missing as Kael darted aside. The crowd gasped, unable to see him.
But Dren wasn't fooled for long. He unleashed Flame Burst, flames exploding outward, singeing Kael's cloak as he dove behind a boulder. His Glimmer Veil flickered out, his ME at 0. Backlash hit, his Resilience dropping to 4. Pain seared his legs, but he summoned a sock—a thick, damp one—and tossed it into Dren's face.
Dren roared, swatting it away, but the distraction gave Kael a second to breathe. His interface flashed: ME regenerating. 5/50. Not enough. Dren charged, a new Fireball forming. Kael was out of tricks—until a shadow moved at the arena's edge.
The cloaked woman from the Experimental Wing stood there, her glowing eyes fixed on Kael. A pulse of energy shot from her hand, not at him, but at the arena's center. The ground cracked, and a blue crystal—identical to the one that rewrote Kael's system—burst from the earth, pulsing wildly. The crowd screamed, Veyra shouting for order, as the crystal's light enveloped Kael and Dren.
Kael's interface screamed: System Overload Detected. Skill Mimic System Evolving.