Morning dew clung to the black iron railings of the ACI's east training fields, glinting under the pale dawn.
Muzan moved like a phantom, his katana slicing through the air in precise arcs, each swing leaving faint trails of blue flame and crackling lightning. The ground beneath his feet was charred, mana burns marking the points of his sudden acceleration.
> [Flame Lightning Step: 34% Mastery]
[Draconic Flame Body Tempering Art: Intermediate Stage 19%]
His breathing was calm, the cold wind brushing against his obsidian hair tipped with silver.
---
Behind him, the other students were training under their assigned instructors:
Alice practicing mana channeling and mid-range spells under Instructor Lei.
Kai Tenrou sparring with lightning clones, sweat pouring as he clashed spears with himself.
Mira Gale darting between dummies, her daggers a blur as she practiced kill strikes.
But occasionally, their eyes flickered toward Muzan, who stood alone, training in silence, the oppressive aura around him warning others not to approach.
---
As the day progressed, groups gathered for Advanced Combat Classes:
Instructor Lei led the session in the Obsidian Arena, her cold gaze scanning the gathered novices.
"You wish to enter the Intercontinental Examination," she said. "Then you will learn that true combat is not flashy techniques but the will to kill and the clarity to survive."
She gestured, and rune-engraved metal dummies activated, moving with unnatural speed.
"Defend. Counter. Kill."
---
Kai launched forward, spear spinning with lightning, clashing against the dummy's mana shield. Mira darted in from the side, slashing joints before flipping away. Alice provided cover, casting Ice Shackles to slow the dummies, her mana refined and controlled.
Muzan remained still, watching.
Instructor Lei's gaze flicked toward him. "Renka Muzan. Show them."
The other students paused, stepping back unconsciously.
Muzan stepped forward, drawing the Onyx Edge. Blue flame ignited along the blade's edge, lightning crackling around his legs.
Step.
He blurred, appearing behind the first dummy, the blade sliding back into its sheath.
A moment later, the dummy split into four pieces, blue flames consuming its remains silently.
Step.
He appeared above the second dummy, lightning coiling around his blade as he swung downward, shattering its mana shield and splitting it in half.
Within seconds, the training field fell silent, the last dummy collapsing, its mana core flickering before extinguishing.
---
Instructor Lei's lips twitched slightly. "Good."
The other students swallowed, the gap in power made clear once more.
---
Later that evening, Muzan walked the quiet stone paths of the ACI grounds, the mana lanterns swaying in the cold breeze. He had no interest in the chatter of factions or the post-training boasts.
But he felt it.
A killing intent, sharp and thin, like a blade grazing his skin.
He turned into a dark alley between dormitory buildings, the shadows swallowing him.
Three figures dropped from the rooftops, faces hidden beneath black masks inscribed with suppression runes.
Assassins.
---
The first lunged, twin short swords glowing with poison runes. Muzan side-stepped, his hand gripping the assassin's wrist before twisting sharply, the sound of bone snapping echoing in the dark.
The second attacked from behind, a blade slicing toward Muzan's neck.
Clang.
The Onyx Edge blocked the strike, blue sparks illuminating the assassin's masked face before Muzan's knee slammed into his chest, sending him crashing into the wall.
The third tried to escape, but Muzan's cold voice stopped him.
"Too slow."
Lightning coiled around Muzan's hand before he flicked his fingers, a thin bolt piercing the runner's back, dropping him to the ground with a muffled scream.
---
The alley fell silent, the faint scent of ozone lingering.
Muzan wiped the blood from the Onyx Edge with a black cloth, his silver eyes cold.
> [Mission Complete: Trace the Observer]
[Hidden Objective Completed: Survive Assassination Attempt]
[Reward: Sovereign Points +2000, System Shop Unlock: Assassination Techniques Tier]
---
Within his Soul Space, Veldora's voice rumbled:
> "They've begun testing your defenses, Muzan."
Varan's tone was amused:
> "Tch, sending trash like this against you? Monarchs are either cautious… or stupid."
Muzan sheathed the Onyx Edge, stepping out of the shadows.
"Let them come."
His aura flared briefly, cold and oppressive, before vanishing as he continued his quiet walk back to his dorm.
---
That night, Muzan sat in meditation, the moonlight shining through the window as he opened the System Shop's new tier:
Silent Blade (Assassination Sword Art) – 5,000 SP
Shadow Step (Advanced Stealth Movement) – 4,000 SP
Vein Sever (Precision Strike Technique) – 6,000 SP
His eyes scanned the options, but he closed the shop without purchasing.
"Not yet."
---
Tomorrow would bring further preparations for the Intercontinental Novice Examination, but for now, Muzan allowed the silence to settle, the cold night wrapping around him.
Each step forward was another blade aimed at the throats of those who watched from above.
---