The heavy iron door groaned open, spilling Feng into the second floor.He stepped across the threshold, and the world shifted.
The chamber stretched wider than the first floor, yet the walls pressed with a strange density, as if the air itself resisted intruders. A low hum filled the silence—residual Qi vibrating in the floor, crawling up his legs like unseen static. Feng exhaled slowly, steadying his rhythm.
One step in, his silhouette cut a figure both elegant and deadly.
He wore a black and green outfit, fitted like a ninja's but tailored with a Western cut. A flowing robe of dark green trailed at his back, its fabric whispering ghost-like with each shift of air. At his side, his katana gleamed like polished night, humming faintly with absorbed Qi. His secondary blade sat untouched against his back.
No insignia marked his clothes. No family crest, no faction colors. Only silent purpose.
The observation hall hushed. Nobles, instructors, and students leaned forward at the sight of him, remembering his feat on the first floor—five Wolfrorks slain in three seconds, eyes closed. Now, whispers rippled again.
"Was that… luck?""No. Look at his posture. He hasn't even drawn breath for the fight yet.""He's reading the room. That's not luck—that's calculation."
The challenge materialized with a grinding rumble.Ten Armored Blade Beetles crawled out from the cracks in the wall, each the size of a horse. Their carapaces glinted like jagged iron plates, forelegs sharpened into cleaving blades. Their screeches rang, metal on stone, vibrating the floor with each step.
The system's cold voice resonated across the chamber:[Second Floor Combat Initiated.]
The beetles charged.
Feng didn't move.His eyes slid shut. His hand rested loosely on the black katana's hilt.
Dense… not fast, he thought. Armor layered in six ridges, shell points angled against slashes. Weak spots… between foreleg joints. Back plates thin near the wings. Movement slow on side pivots—Qi flow lags when they shift direction.
He inhaled, letting the wind within his Natural Ki unfurl. He felt the beetles' Qi patterns—uneven, jerking currents bound within shell and limb. Their killing intent was loud, chaotic. His own Qi, in contrast, quieted until it became like still air before a storm.
The first beetle lunged.
Feng stepped once.
Silent Wind Dance: Leaf Splitter.
His blade drew black light, severing through forelegs at the joint. Before its body hit the ground, he pivoted, Natural Ki pulling his stance fluidly into the next.
Second one—predictable recoil. Slash inward.
The katana hummed. Carapace split like old pottery, fragments scattering like brittle leaves.
Another came from behind, claws sweeping low.
Wind pressure to the right. Sweep up. Neck joint, exposed after thrust.
One clean stroke, and it fell twitching.
Shhhk. Clang. Slice. Whirl.
In the observation hall, the screens showed only flickers of black and green cutting through the monsters. To the untrained eye, it was chaos. To the instructors, it was terrifying clarity.
"...he's dismantling them.""Not slashing wildly. Every cut lands on a weak point.""He's not even using flashy Qi skills. Just… analysis."
The last beetle screeched, rearing its wings.
Feng's eyes opened a sliver. Cold. Merciless.
Natural Ki only. Efficiency. Four seconds left.
The katana whispered one final arc.
The beetle's shell split cleanly in two.
Silence.
The system tone rang.[Trial Complete – Floor 2]Time: 4.0 SecondsRating: EXCELLENTADP Earned: 70 Points
Base (10 × 5) = 50
Bonus (10 × 2 for sub-5 seconds) = 20
Feng slid the katana back into its sheath. No expression crossed his face. His breath was steady, not a trace of exertion visible.
His inner monologue lingered: Second floor, ten creatures, Natural Ki alone. Their aggression was shallow—beasts rely on armor, not thought. Against men, this will not be so simple.
High above, Eva leaned forward at the monitors, voice hushed with awe."Four seconds… he's faster than Lisa's second-floor time."
Lisa's eyes narrowed. Her arms folded across her chest.She said nothing, but her fingers curled faintly into her palm.
Eva glanced at her sideways. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Lisa's lips didn't move, her gaze fixed on the screen. She was silent, but deep in her chest there was a ripple—a cool, controlled satisfaction, touched by something darker.
Academy Points Tracker
Floor 1: 105 ADP (5 × 5 = 25 | Bonus × 4 for under 5 sec = +80)
Floor 2: 70 ADP
Total: 175 ADP
⚔️ End of Chapter 10