Dawn had just crept over the summit of Emberstone Mountain when Kai Ardent opened his eyes. A faint orange glow could be seen through the gaps in the wooden planks of his bed.
His body was still sore, the battle last night leaving wounds and pain. But his heart was full of passion; today was his first day of official training at the Ashen Wings Guild headquarters.
Kai rose slowly, wrapped a bandage around his waist, and stepped out into the wooden corridor lined with rows of blocks. His joints were stiff, but his steps were steady.
At the end of the corridor, a group of adventurers had gathered, faces half-asleep, weapons gleaming in their hands, adventurer brides ready to be tested.
Ragnar stood in the central courtyard, his body straight, his arms crossed over his chest. His blue eyes pierced the morning mist. Beside him, Luna Selene aligned her ice staff, her face solemn, not a rival now, but a training partner.
"Kai Ardent," Ragnar called in a deep voice.
"Gather in the Level 0 line."
Kai slipped between the rookies, feeling the curious and doubtful gazes from all around.
But he ignored them, his eyes fixed on Luna, who only nodded briefly in encouragement.
Ragnar shouted, "Today you will face Trial by Elements, a combat test against two types of simulated monsters, Flame Wraiths in the ember arena and Frost Wraiths in the frozen room. Both are D-rank, but can be deadly if faced unprepared!"
The bell rang loudly. The iron gate on the left opened and let a wave of heat lick, leading the rookies to the first arena.
Kai took a deep breath, remembering Bone Breaker, his first skill. His hands gripped the wooden hilt, his arm muscles tightening. He stepped into the ember arena, where three Flame Wraiths danced among the glowing embers. Their forms were vague, their bodies made of thick fire.
The first Wraith charged, flames coiling like whips. Without hesitation, Kai jumped to the side, twisted his chin back, and swung Bone Breaker into the Wraith's stomach. The energy blast struck, wiping out the flames, leaving cold embers behind. The Wraith vanished in a puff of black smoke.
The two remaining Wraiths immediately attacked together. Kai mobilized his stored Blank Points, his eyes flashed silver, his muscles moving in sync.
In one motion, he launched a flurry of attacks, a horizontal punch, a vertical punch, and finally a Charged Bone Breaker, which smashed the second Wraith's chest into pieces.
The third Wraith retreated, his scream shaking.
"RAAAHHH!"
But Kai was already in front of him. He dodged and blocked with his staff, deflecting the energy back at the Wraith, who exploded into hot dust.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the first arena. The adventurers fell silent, some busily marking notes, others opening skill books, recognizing the extraordinary performance of a Level 0.
A Glance at Preparation
Ragnar stood in the middle.
"Kai Ardent, excellent. Wraiths almost always give beginners a hard time. Next up, Frost Wraith. Keep your pace and don't let the frost freeze your mind!"
The Level 0s were ushered through the door on the right side, into a narrow hallway lined with ice crystals. The temperature dropped drastically, breath forming white steam.
Diablo Frost Wraith, a gray ice monster lurked around every corner, ready to deliver a bone-chilling frost attack.
Luna Selene pressed herself against the wall, her eyes monitoring every movement.
She whispered,
"Kai, use your instincts. Move, don't stay in one place."
Kai nodded, biting his lip. He stepped forward, feeling the cold bite on his skin. Two Frost Wraiths appeared, their bodies blurred, like a frozen mist that took on a form.
One of them fired the "Ice Shard" technique directly at Kai. The ice shard stabbed into his left arm, slicing through the bandages.
A sharp pain. Kai endured the cold that reached his bones. He took a breath, diverting Blank Points to increase his body's resistance. Once again, the silver screen appeared in his mind:
[Blank Points: 1/1]
[+0XP]
[✓] Combat Tree – Bone Breaker
Allocate +1 to Vitality
The reflex action channeled energy to his core muscles, warming his blood vessels. Kai swung Bone Breaker into the chest of the first Frost Wraith, shattering its ice mass.
The second Wraith charged, but Kai triggered Bone Breaker Shockwave, sending a shockwave that cracked the ice on the floor, causing the Wraith to bounce and explode.
Outside the frozen room, the Level 0s lined up waiting. Some held their sore arms, some gasped. But they all looked at Kai with awe.
Luna patted Kai's shoulder, her face brightening.
"You're crazy… but great."
Ragnar reprimanded seriously.
"Remember, rookies. This trial is just a basic test. If you pass, then you will move on to the real training, monster hunting in the forbidden forest."
Kai lowered his head, suppressing his pride. .
"I am ready."
Beside him, a small static screen appeared.
[Kai Ardent]
[Level: 0]
[XP: 10/100]
[Blank Points: 1/1]
[Skill Learned: Bone Breaker
Allocate +1 to Vitality]
As dusk fell, torchlight lit up the large wooden hall of the Ashen Wings headquarters. All members gathered, watching the announcement of the results of the Trial by Elements.
Kai stood beside Luna, surrounded by other novice adventurers.
Ragnar stepped up to the podium.
"We announce, out of thirty novices, only eight have passed both arenas. Among them… Kai Ardent, Pure Level 0."
A small cheer was heard, a mixture of surprise and admiration, and Kai felt the curious gazes of his teachers and fellow adventurers.
He walked forward to meet Ragnar, receiving a blue medal that read
"Trial by Elements? Pass."
As the hall emptied, the torchlight dimmed, and the laughter died down, Kai stepped out into the wooden corridor. The night rain still dripped on the roof, adding to the scent of wet earth.
He approached the small window, pressing his palms against the cool wood as he gazed out at the dense forest in the distance.
Whispering Woods…
The place where he had fought for his life that first night. The place where he had found his purest strength. And the place where he would return tomorrow, this time not alone, but with a hunting team.
The sound of light footsteps made him turn. Maia the Healer, her gaze soft, appeared carrying a bottle of warm potion.
"Close your eyes, Kai," she said kindly,
"Drink this to ease the frozen pain in your arm."
Kai smiled, accepting the bottle respectfully. "Thank you, Maia. Without you, I might still be lying in the icy hallway."
Maia nodded, "The team needs you tomorrow. Health is strength, remember that."
At the other end of the corridor, with the light of a blue crystal lamp flickering softly, a man in a night robe watched from behind the curtain. His eyes were cold, full of strategy.
He was Archon Magnus, legendary star of the Guild Council, a Level Supreme who was said to be able to calm volcanoes and summon ice storms in one fell swoop.
Magnus turned around, staring at the small disaster he had just witnessed, a Level 0 boy who had managed to subdue both Flame and Frost Wraith with a skill he had never encountered before, Bone Breaker. A faint smile crossed his face.
---
The next morning, dawn broke on the eastern horizon. Kai emerged from the dormitory in his Ashen Wings uniform, slightly damp from the rain, reflecting the golden rays of the sun.
His hand felt the medallion on his chest, a reminder that he had gone beyond the limits of "possible" in this world.
In the courtyard of the base, Luna waited with Ragnar and his hunting team: Maia, Rowan the Archer, and a number of Level C adventurers who would be their guides. Their steps moved in unison towards the large gate to the Whispering Woods.
Ragnar turned to Kai, patting his left shoulder firmly.
"This is no longer a Trial by Elements. Tomorrow, you will hunt the Dire Boar and the Mist Panther, two predators that often prey on groups of beginners. If you can survive the night, you will be officially recognized as true adventurers of the Ashen Wings Guild."
Kai nodded. His heart was pounding not just with anticipation, but with the realization, every step he took was now not just for himself, but also for his comrades and the pride of the guild that had just accepted him. He looked up at the tall trees that seemed to whisper in greeting to their arrival.
"I am ready," he whispered, louder to himself than to anyone else.
And with that, they walked together, through the forest mist, ready to face a night full of danger.