Word traveled fast.
By midday, the entire first-year class had heard about the "Versatile Amateur" who shattered a noble's sword in one strike.
Some said it was luck.
Others whispered he was hiding something.
Most simply watched him now — curious, cautious, or already resentful.
Kaelen paid them no mind.
He had bigger goals.
The second round of the Combat Assessment was announced in the afternoon.
This time, paired duels — two against two.
Kaelen found himself standing beside Selina Heartgrove, the soft-spoken priestess he'd met that morning.
Across the ring were two opponents:
Joran Velst, a blunt, heavily-armored boy boasting a C-Class Tank Talent ("Ironhide Fortress")
Bran Marchen, a wiry Thief student with a cocky grin.
Kaelen sized them up quickly.
Joran was a wall — a real tank, meant to absorb blows and wear enemies down.
Bran was fast and slippery, meant to flank and finish.
A tough combination — especially for a first-year.
Selina looked nervous.
"I'll do my best to support you," she whispered.
Kaelen nodded once.
"Stay behind me. I'll open a gap."
He gripped his sword — but this time, he also felt something else pulsing inside him.
The System.
[System Alert: Basic Mage Skill Available — 'Mana Bolt'.]
[Requirement: Imprint Mana into Sword.]
[Would you like to attempt Skill Integration?]
Kaelen's mind raced.
"Magic… through my sword?"
He smiled slightly.
Yes.
The duel began.
Joran charged forward like a living boulder, shield raised.
Bran vanished into the crowd, trying to circle.
Kaelen moved fast — not to attack, but to stall.
He let Joran come close, baiting him with feints, watching Bran's movement from the corner of his eye.
The moment Bran lunged from behind, dagger flashing — Kaelen spun, swinging his sword low.
At the same time, he reached inward, drawing on the raw mana now whispering through his body.
Mana Bolt: Integrated.
His sword flashed blue.
A shockwave of pure force erupted from the blade, catching Bran mid-air.
The Thief flew backward, smashing into the dirt with a heavy grunt.
The students around the ring gasped.
Magic and swordplay — fused into one move.
Kaelen didn't hesitate.
He turned, charged Joran before the tank could react.
Using momentum, skill, and raw instinct, he slipped inside the shield guard and slammed the hilt of his sword into Joran's gut.
The big boy staggered, winded.
Selina, bless her, finished it — a soft glow at her hands casting a minor binding spell, locking Joran's feet to the ground.
Kaelen swept Joran's legs from under him and pressed the blade to his throat.
"Yield," Kaelen said calmly.
Joran coughed once — and nodded.
"Victory: Kaelen Drayce and Selina Heartgrove!"
The instructor's voice rang out.
Another shock passed through the watching students.
Selina smiled shyly. "That was… incredible."
Kaelen nodded once, breathing steadily.
Inside, though, he felt something deeper stirring — not just victory, but evolution.
The System chimed softly:
[Quest Progress 50%. Talent Stability Increased.]
[New Ability Path Unlocked: Hybrid Class Branches.]
Kaelen closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the possibilities bloom.
He wasn't just copying warriors or mages separately anymore.
He was combining them.
Creating something new.
Something no one in the world had ever seen before.
Elsewhere — Astralis Academy
Aria Valcrest sat stiffly in a velvet chair, her silver-blue hair catching the sunlight.
Around her, noble heirs and daughters smiled their polite, venomous smiles.
The academy's first social gathering was underway — a place where alliances were formed and futures decided.
"Lady Aria," one young lord said smoothly, "your talent is wasted among commoners. Surely you see that?"
Another leaned in.
"You would be celebrated — honored — if you aligned yourself with House Darvane. We have… influence, you see."
Aria smiled sweetly, sipping her wine.
"Thank you," she said. "But I already have someone worth more than a thousand noble houses."
The nobles frowned, confused.
Aria's mind drifted — not to Astralis's shining towers, not to the polished sons of lords and dukes —
— but to a boy with stubborn gray eyes, a broken sword, and an unbreakable heart.
"Stay strong, Kaelen."
"I'll meet you again, at the top."