The morning sun stretched its fingers across the sprawling Academy of Talents, gilding the towers and courtyards in warm, golden light. The central square thrummed with anticipation. Hundreds of students, teachers, and visiting nobles stood in silent attention or low murmurs, waiting for the trials to begin. Among them, younger students — those not yet old enough to awaken — gazed at enchanted screens, each displaying the isolated dungeon chambers of their seniors. The audience was a mix of awe, envy, and whispered expectations.
Zael Nightshade's footsteps echoed on the polished stone as he approached the shimmering portal leading to his trial dungeon. Calm on the surface, his mind ran through every possible scenario. He had seen the preliminary awakenings — Selvig, with his Hero-grade Armor Creation, had cleared his dungeon almost instantly. Seraphina, with her Epic Shadow Veil, moved like a ghost, and Tyron's Lightning Speed had carried him through effortlessly. Each glance at their screens reinforced the weight of expectation and the harsh whispers of observers who thought they knew how the trials would unfold.
Beyond the portal lay the first segment of Zael's dungeon: a twisting corridor of grey stone, faint blue runes carved into the walls, pulsing softly with mana. Shadows clung to corners, moving in the periphery like they had their own life. The faint hum of residual magic vibrated through the floor, and the air smelled of cold stone and dust.
His starting gear lay ready on a small pedestal:
Armor — White Grade 1 (Unenhanced)
Defense: 20
Weight: 8
Durability: 50
Skills: None
Longsword — White Grade 1 (Unenhanced)
Attack: 25
Weight: 6
Durability: 60
Skills: None
Zael flexed his fingers over the hilt of the sword, feeling the subtle warmth of the Talent Bank activating silently. Supreme Blessing enhanced the gear instantly to their maximum potential without altering appearances: ordinary to the eye, extraordinary in hidden capability.
Armor — White Grade 1 (Enhanced by Supreme Blessing)
Defense: 120
Weight: 8
Durability: 200
Skills: Absolute Guard, Silent Fortification
Longsword — White Grade 1 (Enhanced)
Attack: 150
Weight: 6
Durability: 250
Skills: Rapid Slash, Energy Edge
A flicker of excitement passed through him, quickly locked behind calm eyes. To everyone watching, he was just another student about to face the dungeon, but internally, he felt the surge of hidden power waiting to be tested.
The first monsters emerged from the shadows: three shadow serpents, their sleek black scales reflecting faint light, crimson eyes glowing with a predatory gleam. Their movements were sinuous and coordinated, tails snapping with precision.
The first serpent lunged at Zael's head, fangs glinting. He rolled forward, barely avoiding the strike, and countered with a thrust to the base of its skull. The serpent hissed, collapsing into shadowy dust.
Shadow Serpent 1 (kill): 18 EXP × 10,000
The second lunged from above, swinging its tail toward his legs. Zael ducked under the arc, pivoted, and drove the sword clean through its chest.
Shadow Serpent 2 (kill): 18 EXP × 10,000
The third coiled around a stone beam, eyes fixed on him, tail whipping like a flail. Zael sidestepped its strike and slashed at its neck, ending the threat instantly.
Shadow Serpent 3 (kill): 18 EXP × 10,000
Level Up — Level 2
Strength: 12 → 18
Agility: 14 → 20
Stamina: 10 → 16
HP: 100 → 120
A surge of joy pulsed within him. Observers, however, were quick to interpret his movements as luck rather than skill:
> "Nightshade dodged… barely." — Younger student
"He's alive… but that was pure luck." — Minor noble
"Hmm… odd. He's still moving. That's strange." — Scout
Zael pressed forward, keeping his pace measured, his every motion intentional. He had seen Selvig finish quickly, Seraphina's movements ghostlike, and Tyron's precision perfect. He would finish last to ensure no one suspected the true depth of his power.
Skeletal warriors emerged next from the dim corridors, rusted blades swinging with stiff efficiency. Zael assessed their joints, timing, and reach, striking only when guaranteed a kill.
Skeleton Warrior 1 (kill): 12 EXP × 10,000
Skeleton Warrior 2 (kill): 12 EXP × 10,000
Skeleton Warrior 3 (kill): 12 EXP × 10,000
Level Up — Level 3
Strength: 18 → 24
Agility: 20 → 26
Stamina: 16 → 22
HP: 120 → 140
Observers continued their commentary, divided between admiration and mockery:
> "Selvig is done. Nightshade's still… flailing?" — Younger student
"Pathetic. This is embarrassing." — Minor noble
"Or maybe he's hiding something… unlikely, but possible." — Teacher
Zael smirked faintly, hiding his grin. Let them think what they wanted. The Talent Bank pulsed quietly in his mind, waiting, enhancing, ready for the battles ahead.
Next, crystalline golems emerged. Small, nimble, their jagged bodies refracted the dim light into tiny shards. Zael moved with precision, striking at weak joints.
Crystalline Golem Small 1 (kill): 15 EXP × 10,000
Crystalline Golem Small 2 (kill): 15 EXP × 10,000
Mid-sized golems raised massive arms and swung with devastating force. Zael rolled beneath their blows and struck the joints that allowed for instant kills.
Crystalline Golem Mid 1 (kill): 25 EXP × 10,000
Crystalline Golem Mid 2 (kill): 25 EXP × 10,000
Level Up — Level 4
Strength: 24 → 32
Agility: 26 → 34
Stamina: 22 → 28
HP: 140 → 170
The dungeon's corridors twisted unnaturally, runes glowing faintly as if alive. Environmental hazards — falling rocks, swinging blades, collapsing floors — tested every instinct. Zael moved effortlessly, timing every dodge, every jump, every thrust, giving the impression of near panic to observers.
Finally, the apex chamber opened. A six-armed monstrosity rose from the rubble, molten eyes blazing, whip-like tail lashing, and stone floors quaking beneath it.
The battle began.
Claw swipe: Zael rolled forward, narrowly avoiding a strike.
Tail lash: He leapt over rubble, barely keeping balance.
Multi-arm slam: He timed his sword strike to pierce a shoulder joint as it swung past.
The creature's shriek echoed off the walls. Zael weaved, rolled, and countered with precision, each strike a lethal blow.
Apex Creature Kill: 100 EXP × 10,000
Level Up — Level 5
Strength: 32 → 40
Agility: 34 → 42
Stamina: 28 → 36
HP: 170 → 210
Outside, screens showed the disparity. Selvig had finished long ago, smirking as he exited. Seraphina, graceful and perfect, and Tyron, efficient and precise, had already cleared theirs. Observers praised them while mocking Zael for what appeared to be desperate flailing:
> "Did he just kill that thing… barely?" — Younger student
"Nightshade, pathetic, yet alive." — Minor noble
"Selvig finished hours ago. This is embarrassing…" — Scout
Selvig's own feed smirked at him. "Pathetic. The final trial will be memorable."
Tyron's voice pressed in his mind. "Ignore them. None of them see the truth. Keep moving."
Zael pressed forward, intentionally pacing, leaving the impression that he had only survived by luck. Each kill, each level-up, each enhancement of his gear, remained unseen, unremarkable to observers — his secret advantage.
Even as he finished his first dungeon segment, he knew this was only the beginning. Hidden in plain sight, underestimated, and growing stronger with every step.
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