The battlefield stank of blood and wet bark. Broken spears jutted from the mud, and the last ripples of the Mopane's collapse rippled across the swamp. Feng Jian stood among it all, calm as stone.
His twin daggers pulsed faintly in his hands, alive with new resonance.
He walked back to the swamp's edge where his swords lay half-buried in the mud. Kneeling, he reached for them—when suddenly a clear shimmer cut across his vision.
[ASURA SYSTEM NOTICE]TWIN POISON SNAKES (Shāmò Yǎnjìngshé) – UNLOCKED
At once, his left dagger shrank into a sleek, deep-black blade. Its aura flared green-black, like venom dripping into water. The right dagger widened, its surface breathing with liquid darkness.
Feng tilted his head, studying them. Their balance was perfect, as if they had been waiting for this form all along.
The Iron Fall blacksmiths were right. These aren't just weapons—they're alive. They'll keep changing with me.
He slid them back into their sheathes with deliberate care, then exhaled softly.Good. Now let's test them properly.
Without looking back at the carnage, Feng strode toward the portal glowing faintly between the trees. A step forward, and the swamp dissolved behind him.
The Arena
The instant the screen shifted to the system notice, the stadium erupted. Thousands of students stood, whispering furiously, the sound swelling like a storm.
"Did you see that? His weapons… they evolved!""Twin Poison Snakes? That's an Arcane weapon skill.""From outside Central, and he's wielding gear like that?!"
The whispers turned quickly into questions.
"Who is he really?""Did he buy them? Steal them?""No… those blades recognized him. That's different."
Lisa sat quietly, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the shifting daggers shown on the screen. Her lips curled slightly.
"So Mark was right… they're not just relics. They're evolving with him."
She allowed herself a small smile, but her eyes were cold.
I'll need to learn more. If he thinks he can just surpass Central without challenge… he's mistaken.
From behind, Arthur leaned forward in his seat, studying both her expression and the boy on the screen.
Lisa never smiles like that. Does she know him? Or… is she worried?
Arthur's fingers tapped the armrest, his jaw tightening.Whether she does or not—if he stands in my way, he'll learn his place.
Instructor's Booth
High above, Nimrodel leaned toward Miss Hareko.
Nimrodel: "Those daggers… they're at least S-Rank. Possibly higher."
Hareko smirked, resting her chin on her hand."Rank means nothing here. An Arcane class bends rules until they break. He's rewriting what weapons even are."
Nimrodel frowned. "And you? Weren't you handling the non-combat divisions?"
Hareko's eyes glinted. "Finished already. A vampire scion named Nick crushed everyone with 1,500 ADP. Meanwhile, the Unicorn twins—Chloé and Iris—scored 1,000 each."
Nimrodel leaned back, whispering: "So monsters in every division this year… and none of them care about family status."
For a long moment, both instructors watched silently as Feng Jian's icon pulsed across the big screen.
Leaderboards – After Floor 20
Combat Division Rankings
Feng Jian – 1,507 ADP
Maria's Team – 758
Corner – 700
Loreto – 700
Non-Combat Division Rankings
Nick (Vampire) – 1,500 ADP
Chloé (Unicorn) – 1,000
Iris (Unicorn) – 1,000
The crowd gasped when the totals appeared side by side.
"A non-Central soloist is above everyone.""Maria's team can't catch him if he keeps climbing like this.""Lisa lost her crown last year to time. Now… is this how it feels to be second?"
Floor 21 – The Sunlit Forest
Feng stepped through the portal, and the swamp air lifted away like a veil. He emerged into sunlight so bright it stung. The trees here were tall, green, alive with birdsong and the buzz of unseen insects.
For a moment, he simply stood still, letting the warmth touch his skin.
Floor 20 was about pressure. Suffocation. Drowning. This one… feels open, exposed. Which means my enemies won't need to cage me. They'll strike from angles I can't yet see.
He brushed his thumb over the hilt of his new daggers, the aura humming faintly against his hand.
"Alright then," he murmured under his breath. "Let's see what you two can really do."
Somewhere ahead, the forest shifted—branches bending, grass flattening. Something fast was moving his way.
And Feng Jian smiled.
Perfect.
End of Chapter 16