Chapter 4: The Pre-Tournament Trials
The courtyard of Addson Dojo was transformed.
What was once a cracked sparring ground had been swept clean and lined with chalk borders. Wooden seats were hastily set for visitors, and Federation officials loomed like silent statues at the edge. This wasn't just practice anymore—it was a proving ground.
Thirty students stood in a wide circle, some bouncing on their heels, others clutching wooden swords or tightening gauntlets. Their nerves crackled in the air. Only five would make it out. The rest would return to routine training—forgotten.
Kairo stood on the far end, calm, arms folded.
He didn't need a weapon. Evalof had made sure of that.
A gentle ding echoed only in Kairo's mind.
> "Welcome to the Pre-Tournament Trials. You have one registered mission. Don't forget—don't die. That would really slow us down."
Kairo rolled his eyes.
> [Mission Active: Defeat Bren. Reward: 2 Attribute Points, 'Flowing Step' Footwork Manual, +200 EXP.]
Master Rendo stepped forward with the bracket.
"Match one: Bren vs. Kairo!"
Kairo sighed. "He just had to start with us, didn't he?"
Bren cracked his neck and strutted to the ring like a celebrity. "Try not to break anything, Weed."
Kairo said nothing. He entered the circle and stood still, relaxed. Around them, students leaned in, eager.
Master Rendo dropped a red scarf. "Begin!"
Bren moved fast—fast enough to surprise most. His fists came in low and heavy. He was strong. Years of drills and weight training had chiseled him into a tank.
But strength alone wasn't enough.
Kairo stepped aside, barely shifting his foot, and Bren's punch whooshed past him.
Ding.
> Passive Skill Activated: 'Combat Perception I'
You now subconsciously analyze and adapt to the enemy's movement.
Kairo felt it—an awareness creeping through his spine, reading Bren's steps, anticipating his next move before it happened.
"Stop dodging!" Bren roared, charging again.
Kairo ducked under the wild hook, pivoted, and delivered a clean palm strike to Bren's ribs. It wasn't much—until Evalof's voice whispered again:
> "Remember the new muscle booster? Try it now."
Something flickered inside him—like a pressure valve releasing.
BOOM.
Bren crashed to the ground, rolling twice before groaning.
The arena went silent.
Master Rendo stared. Even the Federation officials whispered among themselves.
"Match one… Kairo wins," Rendo said quietly, eyes lingering.
Kairo looked down. His palm tingled. That wasn't a normal strike. That was—
> "New Elixir Detected in Bloodstream. STR +1. VIT +1."
"Mission Complete. EXP Gained: +200."
"Level Up! Now Level 3."
Evalof laughed inside his mind.
> "Now that's more like it. Welcome to the game, little King."
Kairo walked off the ring silently as whispers broke out:
"Was that Kairo?"
"Since when did he…?"
"He just leveled Bren in one hit."
The rest of the matches continued, but eyes kept darting toward Kairo. Some curious. Some cautious.
And some—like the quiet, hooded girl standing by the wall—were calculating.
Her name wasn't known to many, but her aura flickered strangely. She hadn't spoken a word since she arrived last week. But her name would soon echo far: Saya of the Lunar Glade.