Valdis was briefly shocked when the instructor disappeared, looked at his finger, and smiled upon seeing the spatial ring.
The core would significantly boost his growth and strengthen his current power, making it easier to break through to the next realm. He was at the peak of the Body Refinement Realm, and this core was exactly what he needed now.
'Once I finish this trial, I'll refine it. It should be enough to push me to the Meridian Opening Realm.'
Valdis then turned to the purple-haired boy sitting a short distance away, still recovering his lost energy.
As if sensing Valdis's gaze, the purple-haired boy's eyes snapped open and met Valdis'. They stared at each other for a moment before he spoke:
"You arrived here earlier than the rest of us, which makes sense since you're at the peak of the body refinement realm, but you're unknown to us, and no one with your talent level remains unknown."
Listening, Valdis understood the boy had a point. Talented people rarely stay unknown for long, as powerful families and organizations quickly try to recruit them, making their names known.
"So, may I ask, who are you exactly?" Just as Valdis was about to reply, they suddenly heard a rustling in the forest, and both turned their attention toward the sound, waiting to see who would emerge next.
The next person to step out was a dark-haired boy. His eyes quickly locked onto the two figures in front of him as he smiled and walked over.
"It seems you're bonding well with the new guy, Silas. Why don't you introduce me?" he said.
Silas sighed and replied, "Cassian, if you're done acting like a snake, come over and introduce yourself."
The boy chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, and closed the distance.
"No need to be so cold," he said lightly, though his sharp eyes flickered between them, lingering on Valdis a bit longer than necessary—calculated and deliberate, Valdis noticed immediately.
Silas clicked his tongue. "This is Cassian," he said flatly. "Annoying. Talks too much. Don't trust him too quickly."
Cassian mock-offended, placing a hand over his chest. "That hurts, after everything we've been through together."
"You mean the part where you tried to steal my kill?" Silas shot back.
Cassian grinned. "Semantics."
His gaze returned to Valdis. "And you…" he said, tone shifting slightly, more curious than playful. "Are you the one who arrived first?"
Valdis hesitated before nodding in response.
"Talented and mysterious. What's your name, if I may ask?" Cassian inquired.
After a brief pause, Valdis answered, "Valdis."
Cassian's eyes narrowed slightly, searching for recognition.
"…Valdis," he repeated, but nothing came to mind. He hadn't heard that name from any known house in the Ebonhart duchy, nor from any prodigy by that name.
Yet, this boy emitted undeniable power, proof he shouldn't be a nobody. But he had no information on him.
'Interesting,' Cassian thought.
Cassian never claimed to be the smartest or the strongest of his generation, but when it came to gathering intel on kingdom affairs, if he said he was second, no one would claim first. His information network was vast, thanks to his father, leader of the Shadow Guards under the Ebonhart patriarch.
The only info he couldn't access was about the upper echelons of the ducal houses and the three most powerful organizations.
"Well, Valdis," Cassian said smoothly, "you've definitely made this trial more interesting."
Before anything else could be said, the forest rustled again—lighter this time, controlled and measured.
A slender figure stepped into the clearing, with silver hair flowing effortlessly, catching what little light filtered through the trees. She moved steadily, unhurried, almost untouched, only her chest's faint rise and fall betraying effort.
Her eyes—cold, pale, distant—scanned the clearing, pausing briefly on Silas, then Cassian, and finally Valdis. There was no curiosity or surprise in her gaze; she just quietly assessed everything.
Cassian broke the silence first. "Well," he said lightly, "looks like the ice queen has arrived."
The girl didn't react, not even a flicker—she treated Cassian's words like the air.
Silas sighed. "Don't mind him," he said. "He's just being the annoying Cassian we all know."
Hearing this, Cassian chuckled briefly and gestured toward Valdis. "This is Valdis," he said. "He arrived first and finished the first trial faster than even Silas."
Her expression shifted ever so slightly—then she spoke. "Is that so? It seems you're quite exceptional."
Her voice was calm, emotionless.
Valdis met her gaze directly. "Yes. It seems I am."
A moment of silence followed. Silas and Cassian looked at him in surprise—what he just did was unlike anything they had seen before.
She nodded once and said, "Adequate." That was it—no praise, no additional comments. She then walked past them to a short distance away, seated on a flat stone, closed her eyes, and began recovering energy.
Cassian blinked. "…Still as friendly as ever."
Silas snorted softly and said, "At least she didn't ignore you completely this time."
Valdis said nothing, but his eyes lingered briefly on the silver-haired girl before shifting away.
Almost immediately, the forest stirred again, louder and more chaotic—as if something large was approaching. Two figures burst out nearly simultaneously.
Both with red hair
Their movements were quick and energetic—completely different from the exhausted others emerging.
One stretched as he stepped into the clearing.
"Finally out of that damn forest!"
The other cracked his neck, grinning. "That was fun."
They looked identical in many ways—same height, sharp features—but their expressions differed slightly. One had a relaxed grin, the other a sharper, more intense look.
Their eyes quickly scanned the area. Then they locked on Cassian, and instantly the mood shifted. The grin on one twin faded, and the other clicked his tongue.
"…You."
Cassian raised both hands casually. "Ah, the twins Thorne and Tyras. Still alive, I see."
"Unfortunately for you," one replied coldly, while the other crossed his arms. Both looked at him with disdain.
"Still slithering around instead of fighting head-on?" the first twin challenged.
Cassian exaggeratedly sighed. "You brutes won't understand. While you muscle heads enjoy the thrill of battle, I prefer ending fights fast and efficiently without wasting effort."
"Call it what it is," the sharper twin snapped. "Cowardice."
Silas watched them silently, sighing as he often did—used to this kind of confrontation.
Valdis observed silently, analyzing each of them.
Cassian's smile didn't fade, but his eyes sharpened slightly. "Funny," he said softly, "coming from people I defeated fair and square, using brute force, not tricks."
Their expressions darkened immediately—obvious insult.
One twin, Thorne, stepped forward threateningly. "I dare you to say that again."
Tension soared, and it looked like violence might erupt. But the other twin, Tyras, placed a calming hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Not here," he said quietly.
The first twin clicked his tongue and stepped back.
"…Fine."
They moved away from Cassian and stood on the opposite side of the clearing, remaining alert and energized.
"Monsters," Silas muttered.
Valdis agreed silently—those two seemed to draw from an endless energy pool.
Time passed, and the forest, once silent, began to stir more frequently, more chaotically—as if something huge was coming.
One by one, more figures emerged—some stumbling out barely able to stand, others walking with obvious injuries.
Without exception—each person, upon leaving the forest, scanned the area briefly, then sat down, crossed their legs, and closed their eyes to recover.
The clearing filled with a growing number of tired trainees. The air grew heavy with circulating energy, breaths steadied, and auras calmed.
Finally, after the last individual exited, Silas exhaled slowly and asked, "…Is that everyone?".
Valdis's gaze swept the group, counting the survivors. "We are eighteen remaining from the initial fifty that started the trial."
Silas was silent at the analysis. If Valdis was correct, more than half had been eliminated in the first part.
Just before he could respond, a figure suddenly appeared in the sky, exuding a domineering presence. As he arrived, the barrier before the mountain flickered, and faint runes glowed, signaling that the next stage of the trial was about to begin.