Rael stayed on his knees for a moment, gasping for air, his sword buried in the ground to keep himself from collapsing entirely. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, his lungs burning with each ragged breath.
The young candidate he had saved dashed toward him, his face lighting up with disbelief.
"You… you did it!" he stammered, eyes wide.
He knelt beside Rael, quickly checking him over, then rummaged in his bag.
"I… I have some potions," he said, pulling out a small glass vial filled with pale blue liquid and holding it out.
"Take this."
Rael hesitated for just a second before nodding. He drank it in one gulp. A warm sensation spread through him, easing the pain, steadying his breath.
"Thanks," he said simply.
Time, however, didn't pause.
Rael lifted his head, vision clearer.
"Tell me… what's your name?"
The boy straightened his back, pride in his posture.
"Izen."
Rael nodded.
"Izen… how about we finish this test together?"
The boy blinked, stunned.
"R-really?"
"Yeah."
Izen nodded vigorously.
"All right!"
Rael pushed himself fully upright, gripping his sword tightly.
"Before that… how many monsters have you taken down?"
"Ten."
Rael went silent. A long, heavy silence.
"…?"
"Do you… have a problem, sir?" Izen asked, genuinely worried.
The realization hit Rael hard. Even this younger boy was ten monsters ahead of him. He was far behind.
Yet a tired smile tugged at his lips.
"No. No problem," he said, tightening his grip on the sword.
"Let's go."
Meanwhile, at the gathering point, several candidates were already returning. Some were chatting excitedly, others simply collapsed, exhausted but relieved.
Lyo arrived as well, his clothes marked by battle, his steps steady. He had just passed the time limit. The instructors recorded his results as he scanned the crowd.
Rael was not there.
Lyo didn't frown. He didn't show the slightest worry. He simply looked away, calm, almost indifferent.
Inside, a single thought formed.
Rael will make it. I know he will.
Somewhere deeper in the forest, still vibrating with the echoes of battle, Rael was already moving again.
Rael and Izen pushed through the test area at a relentless pace. The forest felt different now—less oppressive, less threatening. Together, the sounds that once warned of danger now guided them, shadows no longer just threats but potential hiding spots.
"There," Izen whispered, pointing ahead.
A group of Rank D monsters lurked near a cluster of rocks—stout creatures with dark skin and thick claws, slow but aggressive. Normally, Rael might have hesitated. This time, he simply nodded.
"We split up. You take the right, I'll take the left."
They moved in sync.
The fight was swift. Rael's strikes were surer, more decisive. His movements weren't perfect, but they were deliberate, each swing counting. Izen covered angles, anticipated attacks, striking whenever Rael opened a gap. One by one, the monsters fell.
They pressed on.
A little further, a small pack of Rank C monsters prowled among the trees—stronger, more resilient. Rael felt his muscles protest, but there was no room for hesitation.
"We take them too," he said.
"Are you sure?"
"We don't have the luxury of doubt."
The battle was harder. Rael took a slash across his shoulder. Izen almost stumbled. Yet they held firm. Together.
The counter climbed.
Seventeen.
Eighteen.
Nineteen.
The last monster let out a guttural roar before collapsing. An eerie silence settled. Rael and Izen exchanged glances, then burst out laughing before collapsing on the forest floor, arms spread, breath heaving.
"Twenty…" Izen gasped.
"Twenty…" Rael echoed, closing his eyes.
They stayed like that for a few seconds—just enough to savor the moment, just enough for exhaustion to crash down on them like a heavy weight.
Then Rael sat up abruptly.
"We're not done."
Izen understood immediately. He pushed himself to his feet, as fast as his aching legs allowed.
"The validation zone."
They ran again, stumbling at times but never stopping, rising each time. The forest rushed past, no longer judging, only letting them pass.
When they finally reached the instructors' checkpoint, breathless, dust-covered, battle-scarred, dozens of eyes turned to them. They had made it.
Rael rested a hand on his knee, drawing deep, shaky breaths. He was late. He was battered. But he was still standing.
And for the first time since arriving in the capital, he allowed himself a single thought:
Maybe… I belong here after all