CHAPTER 3: The Dungeon Trial
Dawn hadn't broken yet.
The training grounds were empty, silent except for the rhythmic sound of fists hitting air. Ryou moved through his forms with mechanical precision, each punch flowing into the next. His breath came steady despite the sweat soaking through his shirt.
Punch. Step. Dodge left. Counter.
He'd been at it for an hour already, running through the same combinations his father had taught him years ago. Basic martial arts. Nothing fancy. Just fundamentals drilled into muscle memory until thinking became unnecessary.
"Haste."
The basic spell activated, and his movements accelerated. The world seemed to slow around him as his body moved faster. Punch, punch, duck, sweep kick. His feet barely touched the ground.
He let the spell fade and switched tactics.
"Wind Gust."
The air pressure changed as he threw a straight punch, the wind magic adding force and reach to the strike. Not powerful enough to devastate an opponent, but enough to keep them off balance, to make them hesitate.
Fire next. A quick Fireball at his feet as he moved, creating a flash of light and heat that would blind an enemy at close range. Not meant to damage meant to disorient.
Ice Shard aimed at the training dummy's knee joint. Perfect precision. The kind of shot that would make someone stumble mid-attack.
This was his advantage. Not power. Not raw magical strength. But creativity. Timing. Using basic magic in ways that made opponents second-guess everything.
"I can't waste time," Ryou murmured, resetting his stance.
"I need to grow stronger."
"Talking to yourself? That's either dedication or insanity."
Ryou spun around.
Zix stood at the edge of the training ground, goggles pushed up on his forehead, carrying what looked like a toolbox that was almost as big as he was. The goblin grinned.
"Couldn't sleep either?"
"Something like that." Ryou grabbed a towel and wiped his face.
"What about you? It's not even dawn yet."
"Goblins don't need much sleep. Blessing and a curse." Zix set down his toolbox with a heavy thunk.
"Besides, I wanted to tinker with some new designs before classes start. Figured I'd find you here though."
"That obvious?"
"You've got that look. The 'I need to prove myself' look." Zix pulled out what appeared to be a metal sphere covered in intricate runes.
"I respect it. Just don't burn yourself out before the real challenges start."
Ryou sat down on a nearby bench, catching his breath.
"What's that?"
"Flash grenade. Theoretically." Zix turned the sphere over in his hands.
"Should produce a blinding light and loud sound. Non-lethal but effective for crowd control or escape. Assuming it works."
"Assuming?"
"Sixty percent success rate. The other forty percent it either does nothing or explodes more than intended." Zix set it aside carefully.
"Still working out the kinks."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the pre-dawn darkness slowly giving way to the first hints of light on the horizon.
"Hey Ryou?" Zix's voice was quieter now, more serious.
"That thing you did yesterday. Against Marcus. The way you fought... that was all basic magic and martial arts, right?"
"Yeah."
"But at the very end, when you had him pinned..." Zix leaned forward.
"There was something else. Just for a second. The mana around your hand felt... wrong. Like it was moving backward."
Ryou's hands stilled on the towel.
Zix noticed.
"I'm a magical engineer. I'm trained to sense mana flow, to understand how spells construct themselves. And what you did..." He adjusted his goggles nervously.
"It wasn't normal. It wasn't broken either. It was just... different."
For a long moment, Ryou didn't respond.
Then he held up his hand, palm facing upward.
"Watch."
Mana gathered at his fingertip. But instead of forming into the usual spherical shape of a basic spell, it compressed, collapsed inward, glowing a deep crimson red.
"Reversal Magic," Ryou said quietly.
"That's what I call it."
Zix's eyes went wide behind his goggles.
"That's... that's not possible. Magic doesn't work like that."
"It does for me." The red orb pulsed gently, casting strange shadows.
"Normal magic flows outward. Fire burns. Ice freezes. Lightning shocks. But I discovered I can reverse that flow. Collapse it inward instead."
"Reverse... the fundamental structure of a spell?" Zix stood up, moving closer.
"But that would require precision on a level that most mages can't even comprehend. The mana control alone..."
"That's why I can only use basic magic." Ryou let the orb dissipate.
"My mana circuits are compressed. Malformed. I can't handle the complex patterns needed for Intermediate or Advanced spells. But that same compression gives me perfect micro-control. I can manipulate mana at levels that would be impossible for normal mages."
"So you turned a weakness into a strength."
"Had to. It was either that or give up on being a mage entirely." Ryou looked at his hand.
"Reversal Red is the first technique I mastered. It's created by reversing healing magic, collapsing restorative energy into destructive energy. The result is a concentrated projectile that can pierce through armor and barriers."
Zix was practically vibrating with excitement now.
"That's incredible! That's revolutionary! Do you know what this means? You've created an entirely new branch of magic! The applications alone..."
"Nobody can know."
Zix stopped mid-sentence.
"Not yet," Ryou continued.
"If word gets out that I can use magic nobody else can... I'll either be studied like a lab experiment or targeted by people who see me as a threat. Right now, I'm just a copper badge commoner who got lucky against a noble. That's manageable."
"But you showed it to me."
"You're my friend. And you already figured out something was different." Ryou smiled slightly.
"Besides, I might need your help understanding it better. You said you're a magical engineer. If anyone can help me develop this technique..."
"Say no more." Zix extended his hand.
"Your secret's safe with me. And anything you need, anything at all, I'll help however I can."
They shook on it.
The sun finally broke over the horizon, flooding the training grounds with golden light. In the distance, other students were beginning to emerge from their dormitories, heading for breakfast before the day's classes.
"We should probably get ready," Zix said, picking up his toolbox.
"First real day of instruction. Don't want to be late."
"Yeah." Ryou stood, his muscles pleasantly sore from training.
"Thanks, Zix. For understanding."
"That's what best friends are for." The goblin grinned.
"Now come on, I heard the dining hall serves actual bacon on Wednesdays. Not that mystery meat they tried to pass off yesterday."
The Grand Hall was packed with first-year students.
Unlike yesterday's orientation, this was purely functional. Long tables were set up with class assignments and schedules. Instructors moved through the crowd, directing students to their designated areas. The noise was manageable chaos: hundreds of conversations happening at once.
Ryou and Zix collected their schedules from the copper badge section.
"Combat Theory, Magical Fundamentals, Physical Conditioning, Dungeon Exploration..." Zix read his schedule out loud.
"Looks pretty standard. What about you?"
"Same classes." Ryou folded the paper.
"Makes sense. We're both Class D copper badges."
"For now." Zix adjusted his goggles.
"Give it a few weeks and we'll be climbing ranks like nobody's business."
A sharp whistle cut through the noise.
Everyone turned toward the front of the hall where a tall, severe-looking woman stood on a raised platform. Her silver badge was pinned prominently on her dark robes, and her eyes swept the crowd with the kind of attention that missed nothing.
"Attention, first-year students." Her voice carried without magical amplification, trained to command.
"I am Professor Therese Blackwood, head instructor for first-year dungeon exploration and combat assessment. You will refer to me as Professor Therese."
The hall quieted down immediately.
"Today, you will participate in your first official academy trial: the Dungeon Team Exercise." She gestured, and a magical projection appeared in the air behind her, showing a stone corridor lit by dim crystal lights.
"You will be divided into teams of three students. Your objective is simple: navigate the training dungeon, defeat the training golems within, and retrieve the Arcane Core Chip located in the final chamber."
The projection shifted to show massive stone constructs, humanoid but crude, with glowing runes carved into their bodies.
"The training dungeon is equipped with Level 1 Stone Golems only," Professor Therese continued.
"These are the most basic combat constructs we use for training purposes. Slow but strong. Predictable but durable. They are designed to test your ability to work as a team, apply creative problem-solving, and execute basic combat tactics."
A hand shot up from the silver badge section.
"Professor, what's the success rate for this trial?"
"Approximately seventy percent of teams complete the objective." Professor Therese's expression didn't change.
"Twenty percent fail to retrieve the core chip but survive the experience. Ten percent require instructor intervention to prevent serious injury."
Nervous whispers rippled through the copper badge students.
"However," Professor Therese continued,
"exceptional performance will be noted. Teams that demonstrate superior tactics, creativity, or teamwork may be recommended for class promotion. This is your first real opportunity to prove you belong at this academy."
Ryou and Zix exchanged glances.
"Team assignments will be posted momentarily. You have thirty minutes to meet your teammates, discuss strategy, and prepare." Professor Therese's eyes swept the crowd one more time.
"Do not disappoint me."
The projection vanished, and crystal boards around the hall lit up with names organized into groups of three.
Students surged forward to check the assignments.
Ryou pushed through the crowd until he found the copper badge listings. His eyes scanned down the alphabetical list until he found his name.
Team 47:
Ryou Lykandor (Human, Class D)
Zix the Quick (Goblin, Class D)
Varis Silverclaw (Beast Race, Class C)
"We're together!" Zix appeared at his elbow.
"And we got a Class C student too. That's good, right? More experience?"
"Depends on if they're willing to work with copper badges." Ryou looked around the hall.
"Have you seen anyone from the beast race?"
"Over there."
Zix pointed toward the far side of the hall where a group of beastfolk students were checking their assignments. Most of them had wolf or feline features, and they moved with the kind of natural grace that came from enhanced physical abilities.
One of them stood slightly apart from the others. Wolf-like features, silver-gray fur, amber eyes that scanned the crowd with obvious displeasure. His copper-and-silver striped badge marked him as Class C.
"That's got to be him," Ryou said.
They made their way over. As they approached, the wolf beastkin's eyes locked onto them. His expression shifted from neutral to something closer to resigned disappointment.
"Let me guess," he said before they could speak.
"Team 47?"
"That's us." Ryou extended his hand.
"Ryou Lykandor."
Varis looked at the offered hand for a long moment before shaking it briefly. His grip was strong, controlled.
"Varis Silverclaw. Class C." His eyes moved to Zix.
"And you're the goblin."
"Zix the Quick, magical engineer extraordinaire!" Zix gave a theatrical bow.
"At your service."
"Right." Varis crossed his arms.
"Look, I'm going to be direct. I got stuck with two Class D copper badges. That means you're both either unproven or genuinely weak. No offense."
"Some taken," Zix muttered.
"But we're in this together, so here's how it's going to work." Varis's voice was matter-of-fact, not cruel but not friendly either.
"I'll take point. I'm faster and stronger than both of you. You two hang back, provide support, and try not to get yourselves killed. Follow my lead and we'll probably make it through."
"Or," Ryou said calmly,
"we could work as an actual team. Use everyone's strengths instead of having you do all the heavy lifting."
Varis raised an eyebrow.
"And what exactly are your strengths? You're a copper badge commoner."
"I'm tactical. Good at close combat. Creative with basic magic."
"Basic magic." Varis's tone made it clear what he thought about that.
"And the goblin?"
"Engineering! Gadgets! Traps! Explosives that work most of the time!" Zix pulled a small device from his pocket.
"I've got gear that can disrupt golem joints, create distractions, and..."
"Slow them down so I can finish them off. Fine." Varis uncrossed his arms.
"Alright. New plan. I engage directly. Goblin uses gadgets to create openings. Human..." He looked at Ryou skeptically.
"Stay alive and jump in if you see an opportunity."
It wasn't respect, but it was better than being told to stay out of the way entirely.
"We can work with that," Ryou said.
"Good." Varis glanced at the crystal board.
"We've got fifteen minutes before we need to be at the dungeon entrance. I'm going to do some warm-up stretches. Don't be late."
He walked off without waiting for a response.
Zix let out a long breath.
"Well. He's... direct."
"He's not wrong to be skeptical." Ryou watched Varis disappear into the crowd.
"Class C means he's already proven himself. We're unknowns. He's just being practical."
"Yeah, but he could be less of a jerk about it."
"We'll prove ourselves in the dungeon." Ryou turned toward the exit.
"Come on. Let's make sure your gadgets are ready. If we're going to impress him, we need to be prepared."
The entrance to the training dungeon was located beneath the main academy grounds.
Stone stairs descended into the earth, lit by floating crystals that cast a cold blue light. The air grew cooler as they went down, carrying a faint metallic smell that Ryou couldn't quite place.
Other teams were already gathering at the massive iron doors that marked the dungeon entrance. Twenty teams total, sixty students, all first-years trying to prove themselves.
Professor Therese stood near the doors with several other instructors, each one holding a crystal device that would monitor the teams inside.
"Listen carefully," she called out.
"The training dungeon is equipped with safety measures. If a team member's life signs drop to critical levels, you will be automatically extracted. If you call for help using the emergency crystals located throughout the dungeon, instructors will intervene. However, both of these outcomes result in automatic failure."
She let that sink in.
"The golems inside are training constructs. Level 1 only. They will not kill you unless you do something catastrophically stupid. But they will hurt you. They will test you. And they will not stop until they are destroyed or you retreat." Her eyes swept the crowd.
"This is your first real taste of combat. Treat it with the respect it deserves."
Varis appeared beside Ryou and Zix, his amber eyes focused on the doors.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready," Ryou confirmed.
"Let's hope so." Varis rolled his shoulders.
"Remember, follow my lead."
The iron doors began to open with a deep grinding sound. Beyond them, stone corridors stretched into darkness, illuminated only by scattered magical lights.
"Teams 1 through 10, proceed!" Professor Therese called out.
The first wave of students entered, their nervous chatter echoing off the stone walls before fading into the distance.
"Teams 11 through 20, prepare!"
Ryou checked his gear one more time. No weapons allowed; this was a test of magic and tactics. His fingerless gloves were secure. His copper badge was pinned to his chest. And his mana reserves were full.
Beside him, Zix adjusted his goggles and patted the various pouches on his belt that contained his gadgets.
Varis was perfectly still, breathing controlled, already in a combat mindset.
"Teams 21 through 30, proceed!"
They moved forward together.
The stone corridor swallowed them whole. The temperature dropped immediately, and the sound of the outside world cut off as if someone had closed a door. Only their footsteps and breathing remained, echoing softly.
Dim magical lights flickered along the walls, just bright enough to see but not enough to feel safe. The corridor was wide enough for three people to walk abreast, with side passages branching off at regular intervals.
"Stay alert," Varis said quietly.
"Golems could be anywhere."
They walked in formation: Varis in front, Ryou and Zix slightly behind on either side. The stone under their feet was worn smooth from years of students walking these same paths.
A distant sound echoed through the corridors. Heavy footsteps. Mechanical and rhythmic.
Varis held up a hand, and they stopped.
The sound grew louder. Closer.
Then it appeared.
The Level 1 Stone Golem was humanoid in the most basic sense: two arms, two legs, a crude approximation of a head. Eight feet tall, made of reinforced stone with glowing blue runes carved into its surface. Its movements were slow but deliberate, each step making the ground tremble slightly.
It turned toward them, and its rune-eyes flared brighter.
"Here we go," Varis muttered.
"Goblin, be ready with your gadgets. Human, stay back unless..."
The golem charged.
Or rather, it moved faster than something that size should be able to move, closing the distance with surprising speed. Its stone fist swung toward Varis like a wrecking ball.
Varis dodged left with inhuman speed, his beast race agility making the movement look effortless. His claws extended, and he raked them across the golem's arm as it passed, leaving deep scratches in the stone.
The golem barely seemed to notice.
"Zix, now!" Varis called.
"On it!" Zix pulled a device from his belt and threw it at the golem's legs. The small metal sphere stuck to the stone and immediately began glowing.
"Sticky bomb! Three seconds!"
The golem took another step forward.
The device exploded in a flash of light and sound, cracking the stone around the golem's knee joint. The construct stumbled slightly, its movement disrupted.
"Nice!" Varis darted in, aiming for the damaged joint. His claws struck true, tearing through the weakened stone. Pieces fell away, exposing the golem's internal structure.
But the golem adapted. Its other arm swung around in a wide arc, forcing Varis to abandon his attack and leap back.
"It's learning!" Varis growled.
"We need to hit it harder!"
Ryou watched the golem's movements. Slow but powerful. Predictable but durable. It favored its damaged leg now, compensating by putting more weight on the other. And its arm movements had a slight delay, a windup before each attack.
Exploitable.
"I'm going in," Ryou said.
"What? No, just..."
Ryou was already moving.
He sprinted forward, lower to the ground than Varis had been. As the golem's fist came down toward him, he slid under it, the stone missing him by inches.
"Wind Gust!"
The basic spell fired at the ground, creating a burst of air pressure that altered his momentum, sending him skidding to the side just as the golem's other fist cratered the stone where he'd been.
Now he was inside its guard.
"Lightning Spark!"
The spell crackled from his palm directly into the exposed joint that Zix's bomb had damaged. Electricity arced through the golem's internal structure, disrupting whatever magical mechanisms controlled its movement. The leg seized up entirely.
The golem toppled, its balance destroyed.
"Varis, now!" Ryou rolled away as the construct fell.
Varis didn't need to be told twice. He launched himself at the falling golem, claws extended, and tore into its head with savage efficiency. Stone shattered. Runes flickered and died. The golem's body went limp, collapsing into an inert pile of broken rock.
Silence fell in the corridor.
Varis stared at the destroyed golem, then at Ryou, then back at the golem.
"You..." He paused.
"That was good. Fast thinking."
"Team effort," Ryou said, standing up and brushing stone dust off his clothes.
"Zix weakened it, you damaged it, I disrupted it, you finished it."
"Efficient," Zix added, examining the broken golem.
"Took less than a minute. That's got to be above average."
Varis was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded slowly.
"Alright. Maybe you two aren't completely useless."
"High praise," Zix muttered.
"I mean it." Varis looked at Ryou with new assessment in his eyes.
"You read that thing's movements perfectly. Waited for the right moment. That takes skill."
"Thanks."
"Don't let it go to your head. That was one golem. There are more ahead." But Varis's tone was less dismissive now. More like he was talking to equals.
"Let's keep moving. We've still got a core chip to find."
They continued deeper into the dungeon.
Two more golems appeared over the next ten minutes, both Level 1 constructs. Each fight went smoother than the last as they settled into a rhythm. Varis engaged directly, using his speed and strength to keep the golems occupied. Zix deployed gadgets that weakened joints and disrupted movement. And Ryou struck at critical moments, using basic magic to create openings for Varis to exploit.
By the third golem, they were operating like a well-oiled machine.
"Golem, left corridor!" Varis called.
"Electric clamp ready!" Zix threw the device. It latched onto the golem's arm, sending electrical pulses through the stone.
"Got it!" Ryou fired an Ice Shard at the golem's knee just as it tried to step forward. The joint froze, and the construct crashed to the ground.
Varis finished it with a single strike to its core.
"We're good at this," Zix said, grinning.
"Don't get cocky," Varis replied, but there was a hint of satisfaction in his voice.
"We're making good time though. Should reach the final chamber soon."
They rounded another corner and found themselves facing a large set of double doors. Unlike the rest of the dungeon, these doors were decorated with intricate carvings showing golems in various combat poses.
"Final chamber," Ryou said.
"Probably one more golem inside protecting the core chip." Varis cracked his knuckles.
"Alright team, one more fight and we're done. Same strategy as before. In, disable, destroy."
They pushed open the doors.
The chamber beyond was vast compared to the corridors, easily fifty feet across with a high ceiling that disappeared into darkness. Magical lights created a circle of visibility in the center where a raised platform held a glowing crystal the Arcane Core Chip.
And between them and the platform stood a golem.
Except this one was different.
It was massive at least four times larger than the Level 1 constructs they'd been fighting. Its armor plates glowed red instead of blue, and steam vented from joints that looked far more advanced. Its eyes burned crimson, and when it moved, the ground shook.
"That's..." Zix's voice was barely a whisper.
"That's not a Level 1 golem."
Professor Therese's voice echoed through the chamber from a crystal embedded in the wall.
"Well done, Team 47. Only one golem remains. Defeat it and retrieve the core chip."
"Professor!" Varis shouted.
"That's not a Level 1 training golem!"
No response.
The massive golem took a step forward. Mana radiated from it in visible waves.
"Error. Combat Mode Overwrite. Level 3 Active. Threat Level High."
The mechanical voice came from the golem itself, emotionless and final.
"THAT'S A LEVEL 3 GOLEM!" Zix screamed.
"THAT'S FOR GOLD BADGE STUDENTS ONLY!"
"Why is that thing here?!" Varis's confidence cracked.
"It's too dangerous!"
The Level 3 golem didn't care about their panic.
It moved.
Not slowly like the Level 1 constructs. Fast. Impossibly fast for something that size.
Its fist came down like a meteor.
"MOVE!" Varis grabbed Zix and dove left. Ryou threw himself right.
The impact cratered the stone floor, sending shockwaves that knocked all three of them off their feet. Cracks spiderwebbed from the point of impact, and chunks of ceiling began falling.
"We need to retreat!" Varis shouted.
"Emergency crystal! Call for help!"
"Wait!" Ryou struggled to his feet.
"We can do this!"
"Are you insane?! That thing is built for advanced students! We're outmatched!"
The golem turned toward them, its crimson eyes focusing. It raised both arms, and mana gathered between its palms a charging attack that would obliterate anyone caught in it.
"Varis, get Zix to cover!" Ryou ran forward, not away.
"What are you... Ryou, no!"
But Ryou was already moving. His mind raced through calculations. Level 3 golem. Advanced armor. Enhanced speed. Regenerating cracks. Normal tactics wouldn't work. Basic magic wouldn't penetrate that armor.
He needed something stronger.
The golem's charging attack reached critical mass. Energy crackled between its palms, ready to release.
Ryou slid under its legs, feeling the heat from its mana vents singeing his hair. As he passed beneath it, he looked up at its core a glowing sphere visible through gaps in its chest plating.
There.
He rolled to his feet behind the golem just as it released its attack. The beam of concentrated mana tore through the space where he'd been standing, melting stone and leaving a smoking trench.
The golem turned to find him.
Ryou held up his hand. Mana gathered at his fingertip, but this time he didn't form a basic spell. He concentrated, compressed, reversed the flow.
A small crimson orb appeared, glowing with unnatural light.
"Reversal Red."
The golem's sensors seemed to detect something wrong. It tried to move, to defend, but it was too close and too slow.
Ryou fired.
The red orb shot forward, a tiny projectile that seemed insignificant compared to the massive construct. But when it struck the golem's core through the gap in its armor, everything changed.
The reversal magic didn't explode outward. It collapsed inward.
The core began to crack, internal pressure building as destructive energy ate away at it from the inside. The golem's movements became erratic, its arms swinging wildly.
But it was still standing.
Still fighting.
"Not enough," Ryou muttered. The golem was already adapting, trying to seal the breach in its armor. He needed to finish this.
The golem's fist came at him like a battering ram.
Ryou didn't dodge.
"Reversal Blue!"
This spell was different. Instead of a projectile, it created a pulling force, reversing kinetic energy. The golem's massive fist, moving with tons of force, suddenly had that momentum redirected.
The construct stumbled, its own attack pulling it off-balance. Its damaged core shifted, exposing itself further.
Ryou didn't waste the opening.
"Reversal Red maximum output!"
Every drop of mana he had left poured into his hand. The crimson orb grew larger, brighter, compressing so much destructive energy that the air around it warped. His arm burned from the strain.
He fired point-blank into the exposed core.
This time, the implosion was catastrophic.
The core collapsed completely, its internal structure failing. Cracks spread from the impact point like lightning, racing across the golem's entire body. Stone armor plates fell away. Mana vents exploded. The crimson light in its eyes flickered and died.
The Level 3 golem stood frozen for one eternal moment.
Then it fell apart, collapsing into rubble with a sound like thunder.
Ryou dropped to his knees, gasping. His mana reserves were completely depleted. His arm felt like it was on fire. Black spots danced at the edges of his vision.
"RYOU!"
Footsteps pounded across stone. Hands grabbed his shoulders Varis on one side, Zix on the other.
"You idiot!" Varis's voice was a mix of anger and relief.
"You could've been killed!"
"But... I wasn't," Ryou managed.
"You destroyed it." Zix stared at the rubble.
"You actually destroyed a Level 3 golem. With... what was that? That red magic?"
"Later," Varis cut in.
"We need to get that core chip and get out. Can you walk?"
"Yeah. I think so."
They helped him to his feet. His legs were shaky but functional. Together, the three of them made their way to the platform and retrieved the Arcane Core Chip a crystal the size of a fist that pulsed with soft blue light.
The double doors opened. Professor Therese stood on the other side, her expression unreadable. Behind her, several other instructors examined crystal monitors with growing alarm.
"Team 47," she said.
"Report."
"Ma'am." Varis stepped forward, supporting Ryou.
"The golem in the final chamber was a Level 3 construct. It malfunctioned. We were forced to destroy it to complete the objective."
Professor Therese's eyes moved to the pile of rubble visible through the doorway.
"I see. And you managed this... how, exactly?"
"Teamwork," Ryou said before anyone could answer.
"Varis kept it occupied. Zix disrupted its joints. I found the weak point."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Just... incomplete.
Professor Therese studied him for a long moment. Then she nodded slowly.
"The malfunction has been logged. A Level 3 training golem should never have activated in a first-year exercise. You three will not be penalized for the equipment failure."
"Thank you, ma'am," Varis said.
"However." Professor Therese's expression didn't soften.
"A Level 3 golem is designed to challenge gold badge students. The fact that three first-years two of them copper badge not only survived but successfully destroyed it is... noteworthy."
She gestured, and one of the other instructors approached with three new badges.
"Effective immediately, Ryou Lykandor and Zix the Quick are promoted to Class C." She handed them each a badge with a copper-and-silver stripe.
"Varis Silverclaw, your performance today confirms your current placement. All three of you have demonstrated exceptional teamwork, creative problem-solving, and combat effectiveness under extreme circumstances."
Ryou stared at the new badge in his hand. Class C. After one day.
"Report to the medical wing for evaluation," Professor Therese continued.
"Then take the rest of the day to recover. Classes resume tomorrow. Dismissed."
They left the dungeon together, emerging into afternoon sunlight that felt impossibly bright after the dim corridors below.
Word had already spread.
Students gathered in clusters, whispering as Team 47 passed. Ryou caught fragments of conversation:
"...defeated a Level 3 golem..."
"...just copper badges..."
"...what kind of magic was that?"
"...promoted to Class C in one day..."
Varis walked beside them, his expression thoughtful. Finally, he spoke.
"You're strong, Ryou. Stronger than you look. That magic you used at the end... I've never seen anything like it."
"It's complicated," Ryou replied.
"I'm sure it is." Varis stopped walking and turned to face him.
"But whatever it was, you saved our lives in there. Both of you. So..." He extended his hand.
"Thank you. And I'm sorry for doubting you."
Ryou shook his hand.
"We're a team. That's what teams do."
"Yeah." Varis smiled for the first time since they'd met.
"We are."
Zix cleared his throat.
"This is all very touching, but Ryou looks like he's about to pass out. Medical wing. Now."
"Right." Varis took Ryou's other arm.
"Come on, hero. Let's get you checked out."
As they walked toward the medical wing, Ryou allowed himself a small smile. One day into academy life and he'd already been promoted. He'd shown a fraction of his Reversal Magic's potential. He'd proven himself to skeptics.
But more importantly, he'd found a real team. People who had his back.
"Hey Ryou?" Zix said quietly.
"That Reversal Red thing. We're going to need to talk about it later. Because if that was just the basic version..." He adjusted his goggles.
"I think you might be sitting on something revolutionary."
"Later," Ryou agreed.
"After sleep. Lots of sleep."
"Deal."
The medical wing was efficient.
A healer examined Ryou, confirming mana depletion and minor strain but nothing permanent. A stamina potion and six hours of rest would have him back to normal. Zix got checked for bumps and bruises. Varis was declared completely fine, which surprised no one.
"You're lucky," the healer said, a middle-aged elf woman with kind eyes.
"Mana depletion can be dangerous if you push too far. Another few seconds and you might have done permanent damage to your circuits."
"I'll be more careful," Ryou promised.
"See that you are." She handed him a vial of blue liquid.
"Drink this before bed. It'll help your mana regenerate faster."
By the time they left the medical wing, the sun was setting. Azure Blade Hall loomed ahead, warm lights glowing in windows as students returned from their own dungeon trials.
"I'm going to grab dinner," Varis said at the entrance.
"You two coming?"
"I think I'm just going to sleep," Ryou admitted. His whole body felt heavy.
"Same," Zix agreed.
"Today was... a lot."
"Fair enough." Varis clasped both their shoulders.
"Get some rest. And hey... good work today. Both of you."
He headed toward the dining hall, leaving Ryou and Zix alone.
They climbed the stairs to their floor in comfortable silence. When they reached their rooms, Zix paused.
"You know everyone's going to be talking about this tomorrow, right? The copper badge who destroyed a Level 3 golem. You're going to have a target on your back."
"I know."
"And some people are going to want to know how you did it."
"I know that too."
"Good." Zix grinned.
"Just making sure you're prepared for fame. Or infamy. Probably both."
"Thanks for the warning."
"That's what best friends are for." Zix opened his door.
"Sleep well, hero. Tomorrow we get to enjoy being Class C students."
Ryou entered his own room and collapsed onto his bed without even changing clothes. The new Class C badge rested on his chest, copper-and-silver catching the moonlight from his window.
Class C. One day. One dungeon. One impossible fight.
And he'd used Reversal Red in front of others. Not the full extent of it, but enough that questions would be asked. Enough that people would remember.
Was that a mistake?
Maybe.
But it was also necessary. If he wanted to climb to the Elite Ten, if he wanted to stand among the children of legends, he couldn't hide his abilities forever. People needed to see that he was more than just a copper badge commoner.
They needed to see he was worth watching.
Outside his window, the academy grounds stretched out beneath the stars. Somewhere out there, the Elite Ten were training, pushing themselves to stay ahead of the challengers below. Aamon Celsborne, holding his position as Apex. Draven Vael'Korath with his elemental mastery. Bellavere Darkvorn and her blood manipulation.
And six more spots waiting to be filled.
Ryou closed his eyes, feeling exhaustion pull him under.
"If that was Level 3..." he murmured, echoing his earlier thought.
"How far can I push Reversal Magic?"
Sleep claimed him before he could answer his own question.
But in his dreams, crimson light pulsed like a heartbeat, growing brighter with each passing moment.
END OF CHAPTER 3