The world was a cruel place, everything was ruthless, and despite being from the Joseph knight family, he was someone who had entered Class B because of his high potential.
Even though he had a foul mouth, hmmm, what am I thinking? Why do I feel regret? Why? He was just one of the stepping stones I needed to survive in life. That's just the truth.
He slapped both hands against his cheeks and
Ash, there's no need to be sad. When he came to this academy, he had already accepted death. Kaiser said so.
This academy was a place where only the strongest could survive.
It was natural for nobles to die. They had received blessings and training since their youth, and nobles usually had many children. Those here were no different from pawns sent to bring prestige to their families.
Ash: Okay, okay. He calmly got up. What was Kaiser thinking? Did he care about that foot?
Ash: Okay, okay. He calmly got up. What was Kaiser thinking? Did he care about that foot?
We were passing through forests and staying away from monsters. Generally, not having Joseph, who was class B, was a significant loss of fighting power.
Even though Ash was strong, he didn't seem like he would help. He was a sadistic demon.
Most importantly, the points were enough to pass the survival game. The gears were falling into place. People were eliminated in the class determination exam, and now this is probably happening in the other
classes too. Although our hero, the main character, had never been involved in this. Probably because the S class was too high up, it wasn't done to them.
2 Our meaning and values were measured again. Now they are training soldiers. The age of peace is not as peaceful as it seems.
There had been many wars and deaths in the novel. He wasn't sure what stage of the novel he was at now. SLAP
Ash looked at him with a smug expression and said, "You screwed up, hahahahaaaaaa."
He began to smile sweetly.
When Kaiser looked at himself, he realized how distracted he was and felt embarrassed. He should have paid attention to Leonard and his group first. The potential he was showing now was enough to keep him in Class B, but Leonard and his group were provoking people and drawing attention to themselves. Moreover, the system had given him a mission to survive.
He would hunt down Leonard and his group; he wouldn't be the prey. But Leonard had someone from Class A with him. Being in Class A didn't change anything. There wasn't much difference between Class 1 and Classes B and A.
It was just that their potential for development and, generally, one of their abilities was superior.
This exam would last five days. What kind of process awaited him?
Kaiser was crouched by the lake, cleaning the sticky, foul-smelling mud from his feet. The cold water eased the pain in his wounded shoulders a little, but the dark focus in his mind remained undisturbed.
Ash was right next to Kaiser, floating on the water's surface as lightly as a feather. His violet eyes followed Kaiser's every movement like a hunter watching its prey.
"Ah, Kaiser... No matter how much you clean your feet, the dirt of this world has seeped into your soul," said Ash, her voice silky and provocative. She moved closer to Kaiser and placed her hand on his shoulder, right next to his wound. "Don't worry, you're not alone in this forest. If things get too messy... I can back you up for a small price. My lust could turn into a fire that fuels your weary spirit."
Kaiser responded to Ash's words, which smacked of half-offer, half-harassment, with only a cold stare. "No need, Ash. I light my own fire."
As they got up and moved deeper into the forest, they heard wild growls and screams coming from the bushes ahead. Kaiser hid behind a tree and began watching the scene.
A group of three was fleeing from a B+ Level Shadow Bear chasing them. The leader of the group pushed the wounded girl beside him toward the beast without hesitation. "I'm sorry, Elena, but it's better than all of us dying!" the man shouted, continuing to run without looking back with his two other friends.
The girl's screams suddenly stopped as the Shadow Bear's claw tore into her chest. Kaiser, standing only a few meters away, didn't move a muscle. Ash whispered into Kaiser's ear: "You could have saved her... An ice arrow would have stopped the beast, even for a second."
Kaiser was unresponsive. After tasting the monster's corpse and walking away, he slowly approached the girl's lifeless body. He took the ID card she was clutching tightly in her blood-soaked hand.
"Elena... No last name. Just like me," Kaiser muttered. He threw the card onto the ground, into the middle of the blood. "I'm sorry, my friend. That monster was B+ level. I'm just a 'mistake'. Saving you would have wasted both my purpose and my plan. Do I regret it? Maybe... But staying alive outweighs regret."
Kaiser's eyes turned toward the direction the three men who had let the girl die had fled. He had seen the glint on the leader's finger: a Storage Ring. Inside were food, mana potions, and perhaps stolen points.
"I have a nice method to kill them," Kaiser said, turning to Ash. His voice carried that Kaiser Ruin-style absolute confidence.
"That B+ level bear is still around here and has caught the scent of blood. I'll force them into a fight with the beast. While they're struggling with the beast, I'll slip through the shadows and take their breath away one by one. First the guards, then the leader... And that ring will be mine."
Ash smiled admiringly at Kaiser's plan. "Cunning, calculated, and completely emotionless... That's my Kaiser."
Kaiser watched the events unfold with absolute calm, gliding through the trees like a shadow. Below, a massacre was taking place. The B+ level Shadow Bear had cornered the three men who had sacrificed Elena and fled. The leader and his two men were fighting desperately, but with every swipe of its paw, the bear claimed another life.
Ash, standing beside Kaiser, was almost in a trance as he watched the scene. His pink eyes glowed brighter than ever in the darkness, his thin lips slightly parted, breathing rapidly. The demon blood had awakened with the scent of this savagery and helplessness. When Kaiser glanced at him, he noticed that Ash's "little brother" beneath his robe had already awakened. Such was the nature of an Incubus; pain, death, and dark plans were his greatest aphrodisiacs. Although Ash constantly provoked and mocked Kaiser, he watched these inhuman scenes with silent approval and perverse admiration.
Kaiser descended onto the field at the speed of light. The bear noticed Kaiser and tried to roar, but Kaiser had already driven his Ice Arrows into its open wound, piercing its heart. The destructive energy froze and shattered the bear's internal organs. As the beast collapsed to the ground, Kaiser turned and walked toward the leader, who was watching him in fear.
Kaiser pulled the Dimension Ring off the man's finger. He scanned the ring's contents through the system in his mind:
Healing Potions (High Quality): 5 pieces. (Just what Kaiser needed for his injured shoulders).
Gold Coins: As expected, a considerable amount, given he was a pawn of a noble family.
Academy Point Crystal: Points stolen from others.
Ash approached Kaiser from behind and placed her hands on his bloody shoulders. "We're much richer now, aren't we, my love?" she said, rubbing her face against Kaiser's neck. "You should drink those potions... and maybe let me heal the rest of your body. You deserve to be rewarded after such a 'brutal' victory."
Kaiser poured one of the potions over his head. As his wounds began to close, he felt his stamina and mana slowly replenishing.
Kaiser felt the energy flowing through his veins intensify, his Core glowing like a flame. The deadly chase, hunger, and sleeplessness that had lasted for days had borne fruit. Although this arduous journey had exhausted his body, this pain was necessary for Kaiser's Ruin-style development.
At that moment, the cold voice of the system echoed in his mind:
[MISSION COMPLETED: CORE ASCENSION] [Core Level: Level 1 (Low) -> Level 2 (Beginner)]
With this ascension, Kaiser's most trusted but weak speed blessing also evolved. The old "Double Speed" ability was now history. In its place came a much more insidious and destructive power.
[BLESSING EVOLVED: INSTANT LEAP]
Level: B+++
Description: The user can instantly appear at their target location with the speed of a blink.
Limit: 18 uses per day.
Feature: As it is a spatial leap, it can overcome physical obstacles (if they are thin enough) and reduce opponents' reaction time to zero.
Kaiser clenched his hand lightly in the air. The fact that this seemingly weak ability had risen to level B+++ was the greatest proof of his "Anomaly" status in this world. He was no longer just fast; he was now a phantom.
Midnight in the Forest
Ash trembled with excitement when he sensed this sudden burst of power around Kaiser.
Kaiser found Leonard and his group, or rather, Ash found them and told him.
By the fourth day of the exam, Kaiser was moving like a ghost. The points in his pocket were sufficient, but his goal was not just to pass; it was to eliminate anyone who could stand in his way. Level 2 Core and Instant Leap abilities granted him absolute freedom of movement in the forest.
Kaiser found a pack of Shadow Wolves deep in the forest. This pack was unlike ordinary wolves; they were C+++ level soldier wolves fused with shadows, led by B level elites, and headed by a massive B+ level Alpha wolf. Their numbers resembled an army.
Initiating Chaos
Kaiser used his Ice Bomb ability to attract the pack's attention. However, this time he did not detonate the bomb directly; he froze the air, creating a sharp sound that drew the Alpha wolf's wrath upon him.
"Come on," Kaiser whispered. "Follow me."
Hundreds of shadow wolves began to flow after Kaiser like a black river through the forest. Kaiser carefully used his Instant Dash ability to maintain the distance between them. With every blink, he teleported 10-15 meters forward, ensuring the wolves remained right behind him.
Leonard and his group were exhausted as the final day of the exam approached. They had set up camp on a hillside, believing themselves to be safe. Just then, a dark figure burst out of the forest: Kaiser.
Kaiser passed right through the middle of the group. Leonard jumped to his feet in shock. "You! You'll die—"
The words stuck in his throat. Kaiser used Instant Dash to vanish from Leonard's field of vision in a second and appeared atop the rocky outcrops behind him. A second later, the forest erupted; hundreds of Shadow Wolves charged toward the fresh human scent behind Kaiser.
Kaiser began watching from the top. Leonard drew his sword with all the strength his noble training had given him. "Hold on! Form a formation!" he shouted.
Leonard was indeed fighting bravely. He was mowing down C+++ level wolves with his sword, while Celia, an A-class, tried to scatter the pack with her wind spells. But they were vastly outnumbered. For every wolf that fell, three more took its place.
Kaiser looked down from the top of the tree like an angel of death. The counter in his mind ticked mercilessly: Assault Power: 4/18. He had to use this limited power most effectively. His eyes focused on the A-class mage behind the group, trying to keep the pack at bay with wind and light spells. As long as that woman was there, Leonard and the group could survive. But in Kaiser's plan, "survival" was a concept that applied only to himself.
The mage possessed immense magical power, but like all high-level mages, her defense was as thin as paper against a physical attack.
"The time has come," Kaiser whispered.
INSTANT STRIKE ACTIVE - Usage 15/18]
Kaiser appeared in the shadows directly behind the wizard with a blink of an eye. Ash laughed at the air current created by this sudden transition. Kaiser extended his hand toward the back of the wizard's neck, aiming for maximum destruction at the lowest mana cost.
"Ice Arrows."
Kaiser drove the black-veined ice arrows from his hand directly into the wizard's back, right at heart level. Before the wizard could even comprehend what was happening, he collapsed to the ground, ice shards bursting from his chest. The magic shield collapsed in seconds. The Shadow Wolves, waiting to pounce on the defenseless woman, began tearing her apart within seconds.
Leonard turned around when he saw the group's greatest support vanish in an instant and came face to face with Kaiser's cold, expressionless face.
"KAISER! YOU... WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Leonard roared. He swung his sword and lunged at Kaiser, but it was too late. The pack of wolves had broken through the defensive line the moment the mage died.
Kaiser took one last look at the pure horror and helplessness in Leonard's eyes. He said nothing. As Leonard's scream echoed through the forest, Kaiser played his final cards.
[MOMENTARY LEAP ACTIVE - Usage 16/18] [MOMENTARY LEAP ACTIVE - Usage 17/18]
Kaiser leapt twice in succession, landing hundreds of meters away from the battlefield atop a high crag. Behind him came Leonard's voice, screaming, "KAISER! I'LL CARVE YOUR NAME ON YOUR GRAVE! KAISER!" But this voice slowly faded away amid the howls of hundreds of wolves and the clanging of shattered armor.
Ash wrapped her arms around Kaiser's neck from behind; his breath was warmer and more irregular than usual. "Ah... That name... Shouting his name as he died... How romantic, isn't it?" said Ash, gently biting Kaiser's ear. "You finished off an A-level and a whole group with just four strikes. You really are a disaster."
SYSTEM CALCULATION: DIFFICULTY ANALYSIS]
Enemy 1: B+ Level Alpha Shadow Wolf and Pack (C+++)
Enemy 2: A Level Mage (High Mana Pressure)
Enemy 3: Leonard (B-Class Warrior)
User Status: Core Level 1 (leveled up to Level 2 during battle), F+ Defense.
[Difficulty Rating: - S]
System Note: "The user not only survived a scenario with less than a 1% chance of survival, but utilized all threats as resources. The reward scale has exceeded B-class limits."
[ANCIENT REWARD: A+ POTENTIAL ITEM]
[NEW ITEM: DEMONIC SPEAR - LUFISTER ALDE]
Class: A+ (Ancient / Cursed)
Active Feature (Recall): When the spear is thrown or lost, the user can instantly summon it back into their hand with a thought (a spatial bond).
Passive Feature (General's Fury): While the spear is held, the user's Attack Power stat temporarily increases by 2 levels. (Kaiser's D++ attack jumps to B level!)
Side Effect (Curse): The weapon instills an instinctive hatred and fear in nearby people. Nobles and holy knights may directly view Kaiser as an "Enemy" or "Demon Worshipper" due to the presence of this weapon.
The moment Kaiser took Lufister Alde, the reward of the system, into his hands, the intense demonic aura emanating from the spear weighed down the surrounding air. However, Kaiser knew that this weapon would attract too much attention at the moment and that he had not yet received training in spear use. With Ruin-style pragmatism, Kaiser immediately sent the weapon's dark glow into the depths of his dimension ring rather than watching it.
"A powerful toy," Kaiser muttered. "But in the hands of a novice, it's just a target. Let it stay there until the time comes."
When the numbers began to roll on the massive crystal screen in the academy plaza, the scarcity of survivors hit everyone like a slap in the face.
Class B (Strivers): Only 40 out of 120 returned. Ninety-five percent of the class had been eliminated or killed.
Class A (Vanguards): 67 out of 100 elite students were alive. Though better equipped, their losses were heavy.
When the rankings were announced, Kaiser's name appeared in 23rd place. Rising to 23rd place out of more than 229 people was a miracle for an "unknown"; but for Kaiser, it was just a number. Leonard's points and the loot he had collected had propelled him to the top of the list.
Kaiser paid no attention to the cries around him, the screams of the students, or the astonished looks of the professors. Covered in blood, walking with that dark cloak on his shoulders, he thought of only one thing: he had survived. He had passed the bloodiest beginning phase of the novel, upgraded his core, and was no longer a "pawn."
When Kaiser returned to his homeland, he noticed that the corridors were quieter than usual. Most of the 40 people who had returned out of the original 120 were either seriously injured or psychologically broken. However, when Kaiser entered his room, he took off his bloodstained cloak and threw it aside.
Ash sat cross-legged on the bed, watching Kaiser's every move with those glowing pink eyes. "You started with 120 people, but only 40 of you made it out of that forest," Ash said, his voice like a dark melody. "And from those 40, an 'unknown' child took 23rd place. Did you see the arrogant faces of the nobles, Kaiser? Your being at the top of that list makes them feel like mud splattered on their clean clothes."
The next day was a day of intense work and vacation time. After this intense training, if it could even be called training, the first class had finally settled into place and would probably no longer tolerate the bloodshed.
Kaiser's opponent was Smith Brown, the boss of Chapter 1 of the novel. Although he appeared to be a respectable instructor from the outside, he was actually a necromancer who had fallen into the dark arts. He was stealing the souls of the first-year students who had died in the academy to bring back his lover. As a necromancer, he was powerful in terms of blessings and abilities, but he had never progressed. He had put his plan into action with the seductive temptations of a lustful incubus. Anyway, that wasn't important.
He walked past the teacher and started walking towards the shops near the academy, looking at the ring in his hand.
Without Ash by his side, Kaiser noticed something interesting: invisibility. When Ash was around, all eyes were locked on that lustful and sinister aura, but now people passed by Kaiser as if he were a shadow. This was actually a huge advantage for Kaiser, who possessed the spirit of an assassin.
Feeling the weight of the gold in the ring, Kaiser entered the city's most prestigious magic shop. His goal was clear: books on ice magic that would combine the ice element with Destruction, increasing the efficiency of his spells.
After leaving the magic shop, Kaiser headed for the area where the armorers were located. As a mage-warrior hybrid, he knew his greatest weakness was his defense (F+++). When fighting a Necromancer like Smith Brown, being caught naked against his spirit energy blasts or corrosive magic fumes would be suicide.
Armor Selection: Shadow Steel Shoulder Guards
Kaiser found what he was looking for in the shop of an old dwarf blacksmith on a narrow street.
Item: Rune-Engraved Silver-Steel Shoulder Protection
Property: Increases magic resistance and provides protection.
Cost: Nearly all of his remaining gold.
When Kaiser put on the shoulder guard and tightened the straps, he felt his left shoulder was now safer. But when he looked in his purse, he saw only the last crumbs of gold left inside. For a moment, the bloody scene in the forest flashed through his mind.,
"If only..." Kaiser muttered, gritting his teeth. "If only I could have taken the other gold pouches from Leonard's pocket in the chaos."
Considering the amount of cash a nobleman like Leonard carried with him, the money he was spending now was a drop in the bucket. But at that moment, his priority was survival.
When Kaiser retired to his room and picked up the Lufister Alde, the spear's weight and balance felt completely foreign to him. He tried a few swings, but his movements were clumsy and inefficient; the spear felt like a dead piece of wood in his hands. He sighed deeply. As a mage, he was highly intelligent, but physical technique wasn't something you could gain solely through status points.
When he went to the academy's training grounds, open even at night, to clear his head and catch his breath, he saw that figure training alone.
Future Sword Saint: Seraphina
Her golden hair glistened in the moonlight, and the beads of sweat dripping from her training clothes revealed her flawless physique with every swing of her sword. She was Seraphina. In the original novel, she was one of the strongest members of the hero's harem, the future Sword Saint. She should have been in the S class, but after losing to the hero (protagonist) in an entrance exam, her pride was shattered. Although she should have been expelled due to her status, she was demoted to the next lower tier, the A class. She now harbored deep hatred and disappointment toward the hero.
Seraphina sheathed her sword and caught her breath, sensing Kaiser's presence. Her golden eyes locked onto the darkness, precisely where Kaiser stood.
"Hiding in the shadows and watching is not befitting a gentleman," Seraphina said, her voice weary but authoritative. "Do you want to fight, or are you just spying?"
Kaiser slowly stepped into the light. The new shoulder pads and mysterious cloak he wore gave him an air far more dangerous than that of an ordinary student.
Seraphina initially rebuffed him, saying, "Get out of my face, loser! You don't even know how to hold a spear!" but Kaiser had no intention of leaving.
Seraphina's "Kaiser" Ordeal
Operation 1: The Sweet Trap Seraphina, furious at the hero, sat alone in the cafeteria, stabbing her plate with her knife in anger. Just then, a plate suddenly appeared on the table. An enormous soufflé with "Please teach me" written in chocolate sauce! Kaiser was waiting at the edge of the table, napkin in hand.
Seraphina: "I'm not eating that, it's definitely poisoned!"
Kaiser: "It's not poison, just a high-calorie bribe."
Seraphina: "Get lost!"
Operation 2: Toilet Dead End When Seraphina went to the showers/toilet after training, an unfortunate moment occurred. When she realized the paper was out in the stall, there was a deep silence. Just then, a rolled-up piece of paper slowly extended from under the door.
Kaiser's Voice: "If you teach the basic stance of the spear, there will be another roll waiting outside."
Seraphina: "KAISEERR! ARE YOU CRAZY? GET OUT!"
Kaiser: "As you can see, I'm everywhere, Seraphina. There's no escape."
Operation 3: No Sleep When Seraphina lay down in her bed at night, she heard a faint tapping outside her window. When she opened the window, Kaiser was there, hovering on the windowsill using his Instant Dash ability.
Kaiser: "Moonlight spear training is a great time, don't you think?"
Seraphina: "Enough! I'll kill you! What kind of maniac are you?!"
The next morning, Seraphina entered the training ground with dark circles under her eyes. Kaiser was already there, waiting with two spears in his hands (one wooden). Seraphina snatched the spear from Kaiser's hand with determination.
Seraphina: "Fine! Enough! I accept! Just so you'll leave me alone and I can go to the bathroom in peace, I'll teach you how to use a spear. But if you make even one mistake, I'll break the spear over your head like a sword!"
Kaiser adjusted the monocle over his single eye and smiled triumphantly. "Excellent decision. When do we start, 'Master'?"
The training ground echoed with Kaiser's clumsiness with the spear and Seraphina's endless scolding. Each time, Seraphina knocked Kaiser to the ground by hitting his wrist or stomach with the spear shaft.
"You're still swinging like a log! Where are your feet? Where is the spear's extension? You have no idea!" Seraphina yelled. Every time Kaiser fell, he rose again from the dust and dirt, never once taking his icy gaze off the girl.
"Your stance is garbage! Your feet aren't touching the ground; it's like you're walking in the air. If you took a hit like that, you wouldn't just fall to the ground, you'd die!"
Kaiser got back up again, gripping his spear more tightly this time. But his hands, which held the spear, were visibly trembling from exhaustion and the heavy training load.
Seraphina frowned as she looked at Kaiser's trembling hands. "You killed all those beasts in the forest with these hands? With that shakiness, you couldn't even swat a fly. How did you become a B-class? I really don't get it... Are you just a lucky mouse?"
Seraphina gripped her spear again. "Ordinary warriors make the biggest mistake when swinging their swords or spears: they either hold their breath or breathe irregularly. The moment you hold your breath, your muscles are deprived of oxygen. Your attack starts strong, but within seconds, your speed drops."
Suddenly, she made three quick thrusts with her spear in the air. With each strike, a short, sharp, controlled hiss escaped her mouth.
"Did you see that?" she said, her breathing unbroken. "You have to release your breath at the moment of the strike. If you don't breathe in that instant, the strike relies solely on arm strength. But if you do it at the right moment, your whole body joins in the strike. If you forget to breathe while making a series of attacks, your lungs feel like they're going to burst and your mind becomes clouded. A man whose mind is clouded on the battlefield is a dead man."
Seraphina shot a stern look at Kaiser's still trembling hands. She came over and tapped Kaiser's chest firmly with her finger.
"Breathe from your diaphragm. Don't lift your shoulders! You're breathing shallowly like a mage, which is why your body is stressed and your hands are shaking. A warrior's heart should be calm, but his breath should be like a storm."
"This is the most fundamental thing: learn to trap your breath inside the attack. If you can't do that, that spear in your hand is nothing more than a walking stick." Turning away, he added in his famous tone: "Don't waste my time by coming back to me until you've mastered this. And remember, the price for this lesson will be steep... You owe me!"
Kaiser gripped the wooden spear in his hand tightly as he watched Seraphina's receding silhouette. Seraphina might have been a swordsman, but she had proven that the language of weapons was universal. From her, he had learned not only technique, but a warrior's greatest secret: the spirit of the breath.
One thought occupied Kaiser's mind: This woman would not be the faithful "Sword Saint" who entered the hero's harem in the original story.
Days chased weeks. Every morning before sunrise, Kaiser endured Seraphina's hellish "breath and stance" training, while at night he engaged in secret drills with Lufister Alde. The spear no longer felt like a foreign object in his hand, but like an extension of his arm. His stamina had slowly climbed from level (D-) to (D+), and thanks to his breath control, his strikes had become as heavy as a sledgehammer.
In the academy corridors, Kaiser was no longer known as the "lucky peasant," but as the "mysterious spearman who should not be approached."
One morning, Seraphina approached Kaiser with her usual fierce but determined stride. Her face wore a strange expression, tinged with pride she couldn't quite swallow.
"Hey, peasant!" Seraphina called out, folding her arms across her chest. "You know the rules for first-year students are strict. Only A and S class students are allowed to enter high-level dungeons. It's forbidden for someone like you, a B class, to even pass through the door."
He paused, averting his golden eyes as he continued: "But... I have an A+ Level Dungeon key. It's too risky to go in solo, and rather than teaming up with that arrogant 'noble' crowd at the academy, I'd rather take someone who owes me a favor. Besides... I need to see what you've learned with that spear."
Kaiser adjusted the monocle over his single eye. Normally, an A+ dungeon was suicide for a B-class student. But Kaiser wasn't "normal."
"How will you get me in?" Kaiser asked, his voice smooth and cold.
Seraphina smiled slightly, this time with the excitement of a true warrior. "Your class doesn't matter. You'll be registered as my 'special assistant'. No one dares to oppose the candidate of the Sword Saint. Besides... you still owe me, remember?"