Eighteen students stood in a straight line, their posture rigid, eyes fixed forward. The air was thick with tension—those who had scored below average in the Mana Resonance Crystal test had been left behind, forbidden from participating.
At the front, a figure towered behind Elden Cole—a massive golem. Its stone-like body gleamed faintly under the sunlight, intricate runes carved along its limbs glowing softly. Its mechanical joints hissed as it shifted slightly, a silent promise of the challenge to come.
Elden's gaze swept over the students. "These are not ordinary constructs," he began, voice carrying clearly across the training grounds. "They are imbued with controlled mana levels and programmed combat abilities. Each one is a trial, a test of both skill and strategy."
Whispers ran through the students.
"Whoa… it looks… huge."
"Do we really have to fight that thing?"
Rina adjusted her stance, eyes narrowing. "It's just a construct… I hope."
Suzu swallowed nervously, "I-I can't believe we're actually going against it…"
Leon cracked his knuckles, excitement flickering in his eyes. "Finally. Something worth testing myself on."
Tamao exhaled slowly, her calm gaze fixed on the golem. "Let's see if it's as strong as Elden says."
Raze remained still, hands in his pockets, his sharp eyes scanning the golem. "That thing doesn't look all that strong… I could take it down with just my normal strength."
Elden lifted his hand, signaling the beginning. "This is the Ranking Test. Your task is simple: defeat the golem. Use your skills, your abilities, and your wits. Observe your opponent, plan, and execute. Your performance here will determine your rank."
The golem's eyes glowed a deep blue. A low hum vibrated through the arena.
"Remember," Elden added, voice stern, "the ones who scored below average in the crystal test are not here for this. Consider yourselves the top performers—make it count."
The students shifted, muscles tensing, hearts pounding. The first wave of challengers was about to step forward.
Elden's gaze swept over the eighteen students lined up before him, then settled on Suzu and the boy with glasses.
"You two," he said, his voice firm but calm. "Step forward."
Suzu blinked, nervous, while the boy with glasses adjusted them, expression sharpening. They moved up to stand beside Elden.
"These two will act as healers for this test," Elden explained, turning toward the rest of the students. "Your rankings today will not only depend on your combat ability but also on how effectively you can support your teammates. That includes healing—whether you can heal, how efficiently you can do it, and how well you adapt under pressure."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "I know you are still new and may not fully understand or know how to use your healing abilities yet. That is not a problem. Use whatever skills you have. Even if you cannot fully heal, attempt to support your allies as best as you can."
Suzu's hands trembled slightly, and the boy with glasses nodded seriously,
"Remember," Elden continued, "support is just as vital as offense. Those who understand how to protect, sustain, and assist their comrades are just as valuable as those who strike with strength."
He gestured toward the golem behind him, its runes glowing faintly. "The test begins now. Step forward, heroes. Show me your skill, your resourcefulness, and your ability to adapt. Every action matters."
A hush fell over the arena. The tension was palpable, and even the standing golem seemed to hum in anticipation.
"Your Ranking Test begins."
Aeron stepped forward when Elden called his name.
Elden adjusted his glasses slightly.
"Aeron," he said, "before you begin—state your class."
Aeron placed a hand on his chest respectfully.
"Tank class, sir."
The reaction was instant.
"Tank!?"
"No way…"
"He doesn't even look like one…"
"His body's so normal—how is he a tank?"
Even Leon raised an eyebrow.
Suzu blinked rapidly.
Rina whispered, "That's unexpected…"
Raze glanced sideways at Aeron, expression flat.
His physique doesn't match the usual tank build… interesting.
Elden didn't react to the murmurs. Instead, he lifted one hand.
A servant approached from the sidelines, pushing a steel table covered with various weapons—swords, spears, daggers, staves, shields, gauntlets.
Metal clinked softly as the cart stopped beside Elden.
He ran his hand over the weapons but didn't take any.
"A tank's strength," Elden said, "is not determined by muscle. It is determined by how well one endures and how efficiently they guard."
He looked at Aeron.
"For your test, you will choose only one item."
Elden tapped the table.
Aeron's eyes scanned the weapons… but Elden already reached out and handed him a single shield.
A simple, round iron shield.
No enchantments.
No enhancements.
Just raw durability.
The students whispered again, startled and impressed.
Raze simply watched, hands in pockets.
Let's see what he does with that.
Aeron stepped forward, gripping the shield he had been given.
No sword.
No armor.
Just a plain, heavy shield.
The golem's runes lit up.
FWM—!
It lunged.
Aeron raised the shield—
—BOOOOM!
The impact rattled through his bones, forcing him back several steps.
But he didn't fall.
Another strike came.
Aeron braced—
—BOOM!
—BOOM!
His arms shook violently.
The edge of the shield chipped.
Students winced.
"He's gonna break…"
"Is he really a tank?"
Aeron grit his teeth, breath heavy.
Then—
The golem pulled back its arm for a full-powered hit.
Aeron made his move.
"Haaah—!"
He pushed forward with all his weight, ramming his shield straight into the charging golem.
—CRAAACK!—
The golem staggered back—actually forced back—leaving deep skid marks on the stone floor.
Gasps erupted.
"No way…"
"He pushed a golem!?"
Aeron didn't stop.
He rushed in, lifted the shield—
—and slammed it directly into the golem's chest
THUD!
A visible dent appeared in the -plate.
The golem's arm rose again to strike—
"Stop."
Elden's voice cut through the arena.
Instantly, the golem froze mid-motion, runes dimming.
Aeron dropped to one knee, panting hard, sweat dripping from his chin.
Elden approached, observing the dent on the golem.
"That's enough," he said.
"You proved your class."
Relief washed through the students.
Aeron staggered back to the line, breathing ragged, but a faint smile on his face.
After Aeron stepped back, sweating and exhausted, Elden nodded once in approval before calling the next name.
One after another, the students entered the arena.
Each of them looked confident at first… but the moment the golem started moving, their expressions changed.
Its speed and weight were far more than anything they had faced before.
Most students barely managed to dodge the first swing.
Some rolled across the floor, scraping their arms.
Others swung their weapons desperately, landing only light hits before getting pushed back by the golem's counterattacks.
Every fight ended with the same scene—
a student stumbling out of the arena, panting, bruised, and clutching their weapon.
Elden waved them toward the healer section.
Suzu stepped forward, calm as ever.
She placed her hands over each injured student, releasing a faint glow as small cuts closed and bruises faded slightly.
Not fully healed, but enough to stand straight again.
The students bowed their heads, shocked by how quickly the pain eased.
Elden observed all of it with folded arms.
"For new recruits," he said quietly, "this level of performance is impressive. They endure well."
The line continued, each student trembling but determined, stepping forward for their turn in the test.
As the next student stepped up for their turn, Raze shifted slightly, hands still in his pockets.
Then—
a strange sensation crawled down his spine.
Someone's watching.
His eyes narrowed. He slowly turned his head.
At the far end of the training ground, half-hidden behind the crowd, stood Lara.
She wasn't talking, wasn't blinking… just staring.
Her gaze locked onto Raze first—sharp, cold, almost dissecting him.
Then her eyes moved to Mai, Tamao, Leon, and finally Suzu, analyzing each of them with the same chilling intensity.
Raze frowned lightly.
She's not glaring… she's observing us.
Lara didn't flinch when he looked directly back at her.
If anything, her expression grew even colder, as if she was comparing something in her mind.
And then, without a word, she shifted her attention back to the ongoing test—
but Raze could feel it.
She hadn't lost interest.
She had simply marked them.
After Leon stepped back, Elden checked his list.
"Next… Raze."
The class shifted.
Mai watched nervously.
Tamao leaned forward, curious.
Suzu held her breath.
And Lara's gaze sharpened—cold, focused entirely on him.
Raze walked out calmly.
The moment he stopped, the golem's runes flared brighter than before, humming as if recognizing something.
Whispers spread.
"…Why's it reacting like that?"
Elden didn't look surprised. "Raze. Begin."