"Cling. Cling. Cling."
Roland took a few steps back as he watched the frozen leaves fall to the ground, shattering into small, glistening shards.
"Not bad... I originally thought it would only freeze the outer layer, but to think it could completely freeze the entire tree." He bent down to inspect the ice shards, the corners of his mouth twitching in satisfaction.
Hmm, what should I test next? Roland wondered, brimming with excitement.
Curious if he could enhance his physical capabilities, he conjured an ice lance in his right hand. Walking to the edge of the clearing, he set his sights on a tree at the opposite end.
He pulled his arm back, twisting his body to the right. His legs planted firmly, anchoring him in place. Closing his eyes, he focused—feeling that same cold sensation surge through his body and into his arm like liquid frost.
"Whew." Roland let out a deep breath as he opened his eyes. Without hesitation, he twisted his body and released the lance.
The frozen spear tore through the air with a powerful whoosh, slicing cleanly through the clearing.
"Bang!" It struck dead-center, piercing straight through the tree trunk. For a moment, the tree stood still—then it gave a deep creak before slowly toppling over and crashing to the ground.
Behind it, splinters flew and frost spread out from the impact zone like a web of icy veins.
That's gotta be at least 200 meters… Roland thought in awe, eyes wide as he observed the aftermath of his attack. After I pass this trial… will I really be able to wield this kind of power in the real world?
With excitement still buzzing in his chest, Roland spent the next several minutes pushing his abilities to their limits. Ice spears were hurled, barriers conjured, trees frozen solid and shattered like glass. By the end, the once-peaceful clearing looked like a frozen battlefield, littered with frost-bitten bark and shards of ice.
Eventually, Roland slumped under a shady tree, seeking refuge from the afternoon sun. His chest rose and fell heavily, beads of sweat rolling down his temple.
It seems there are limits, Roland thought, letting out a long sigh. The more I use it, the more my body starts to feel… drained. It's like MP in a video game.
He glanced at his hand, watching a few remaining snowflakes melt off his fingertips.
However, it's not just physical fatigue… Roland narrowed his eyes, watching his hand tremble slightly. The more I use these powers, the harder it gets to think clearly. It's like my thoughts slow down—like my mind is trudging through sludge.
He clenched his fists, frustration flickering in his eyes. So it taxes me mentally too... That's dangerous. One mistake in a fight with that monster, and I'm done for.
Resting his head back against the rough bark of the tree, he stared up at the afternoon sky above the forest canopy. Still… even with the risks, it's power I didn't have before. And if I use it smart, I might just survive this trial.
...
In the capital of the Ilios Empire, Golden City. The evening light poured through the tall windows of a luxurious lounge within the imperial palace.
Eugene Lyon sat on a velvet sofa, his expression twisted with impatience. Behind him stood John, the skinny butler.
"Are you sure he's not dead?" Eugene asked sharply, his fingers tapping against the armrest in agitation.
"No, my lord...
"We have already confirmed Lord Roland's condition. He is still alive." The head butler responded in a calm and polite tone.
"Tsk. It's been five hours since the trial began. The rest of us passed ages ago," Eugene snapped, his tone sharp and impatient. "Why is he taking so long?"
He wore a clearly dissatisfied expression, tapping his foot against the marble floor.
Across the lavish lounge, Cyrus Solaris, Alice Albertine—with her knight standing quietly behind her—and Aurora Augustus all remained silent, choosing not to voice their opinions.
"Please wait a little longer," the head butler said, bowing respectfully to the room. "Should Lord Roland remain unconscious by sundown, the elders have prepared rooms for you all to stay the night."
He straightened slightly, his voice calm yet firm. "Furthermore, by order of the elders, none of you are permitted to leave the palace until all candidates have either passed… or perished."
Upon hearing this, Eugene's expression remained irritated. Alice, in a rare show of emotion, showed a flicker of irritation, while the youthful Aurora wore a faint look of sadness.
In contrast, Archduke Cryus appeared completely unbothered. Reclining further into the velvet sofa, he made himself comfortable before speaking in a calm, composed tone.
"In that case, it seems we have no choice but to stay."
Hearing that Archduke Cryus had no objections, the remaining candidates nodded in agreement.
Relieved by their cooperation, the head butler let out a quiet sigh.
"Thank you for your understanding. We will send someone to inform your families of the arrangement," he said with a respectful bow before turning and exiting the lounge.
...
Outside the wooden door of Roland's chamber, the scholarly Enzo sat alone.
The dead silence, so still that even the drop of a pin would echo, was broken only by the soft sound of dripping water.
Curled into himself, Enzo let silent tears stream down his face.
"Roland..." he whispered softly.
...
Beneath the dense canopy, gray clouds covered the sun, which dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows and ushering in the encroaching darkness.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Roland stood at the edge of the forest, eyes fixed on the hill above. Massive boulders, each the size of his own body, tumbled down violently, smashing into the earth and sending sharp shards of rock flying in.
Such bad timing... Once the sun sets, I'll lose my advantage. Roland frowned, eyes narrowed as he calculated his next move.
Fortunately, the mountain was about 200 meters tall—just within the range of his ice spear throw. If everything goes according to plan, I can definitely bring it down within thirty minutes—right before the sun disappears.
He stood still at the forest's edge, steadying his breath. With a sharp inhale, Roland conjured a solid lance of ice in his hands, the cold energy surging through his veins like a raging current.
Preparing his throwing stance, Roland didn't dare take his eyes off the cave entrance. Boulder by boulder, the debris shifted, letting slivers of light creep into the darkness.
He began counting down in his mind, every muscle tense with anticipation.
Three... two... one...
"BANG! ROAR!"
The final boulder crashed to the ground, and from the shadows emerged the monstrous beast—its roar shaking the trees as its grotesque form was fully revealed.
"Now!" Roland shouted, releasing the lance with a burst of inhuman strength.
It tore through the air like a comet, closing the distance in a blink.
Thud! The lance slammed into the beast's shoulder, piercing deep into its flesh.
"ROAR!"
The creature howled in agony, staggering back a step. Its eyes locked onto Roland—burning with rage and bloodlust.
"Nice! It worked!" Roland grinned, elated as his plan succeeded. A few more of those, and I'll finish it off!
Without wasting a moment, he reset his stance, frost swirling in his palm as another icy lance began to form. But this time… something felt off.
His eyes narrowed.
The beast wasn't charging—it was backing up. Slowly. Purposefully. Then, it crouched low, muscles tensing, eyes locked on him like a predator sizing up its prey.
Dont tell me...
In a panic, Roland hurled his spear, hoping to intercept the beast mid-move. But he was too late.
With a mighty leap, the creature launched itself from the cave's entrance, soaring through the air and crashing down at the base of the hill.
BOOM!
Dust and debris exploded outward, rocks flying in all directions.
"ROAR!"
From within the settling dust, the beast emerged—its massive, three-sectioned maw wide open in a thunderous howl, as if declaring its return.
Roland stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief. His mind echoed with a single thought:
Shit.