Power of Runes

Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, a lone island stood, and in the middle of the forest on that island, the symphony of swords was ringing again and again.

-Clash!!

-Clash!!

-Clash!!

Luthan moved like a phantom, his body weaving between a sword and a rapier as if he were performing a dance. Every step he took resembled the rhythm of a divine melody, his movements flowing so smoothly that even the ringing of steel seemed to follow his pace. He tilted his head slightly, dodging the rapier that flew dangerously close to his face, while his blade turned aside another strike in the same breath.

Maybe I showed a little too much...

The thought circled in his mind as his arms continued to move instinctively. Luthan was far stronger than he allowed anyone to see, and right now he was only showcasing his skills with swordplay and footwork. The truth was that he had built a perfect foundation in both the Novice and Apprentice ranks and he could break into Adept rank anytime he wanted, and his talent in all kinds of utility and creative work gave him an advantage that few could even imagine.

Whenever he practiced butchering, his strength increased. When he carved, his dexterity improved, which in turn enhanced his stamina. By reading, strategizing, or solving problems, his intelligence continued to grow. There were many more examples, but these were the ones that occurred most often in his daily life, and together they created a frightening growth that most people would never notice at a glance.

Right now, though, he was waiting patiently. Calm, alert, and ready for the slightest mistake from either opponent, because the moment one of them faltered, the fight would end.

Sigh... I wanted to just get defeated after some clashes, but... but...

His eyes suddenly met Zane's, and in that instant his heartbeat grew faster, as if something within him had been stirred. He had learned that she belonged to Class 1C, and he knew that to reach her he needed to be evaluated highly enough to move into the same class. That was the only reason he was pushing himself like this. He thought to himself... if he defeated two people from Class 1C here, would that not be enough proof to place him in 1C as well?

So he waited... and it turned out to be the right decision.

In the very next moment, Aric's footing slipped. Luthan did not hesitate for even a breath. He rushed forward, catching Zane's fist with his free hand as it closed in on him, and at the same time his leg lashed out sharply, kicking the blade out of Aric's grip. His own sword followed in a swift motion, flashing toward Aric's neck.

Aric's body shimmered before vanishing into light. He was eliminated.

Now only Zane remained.

Luthan suddenly realized he was still holding her hand. His chest tightened as his heartbeat quickened so violently that it almost hurt, and his face grew hot. Slowly, almost unwillingly, he lifted his eyes toward her. For a fleeting second he expected to see her beautiful face, but instead what filled his vision was the sharp point of her rapier.

-Clash!!

He raised his sword in time, steel grinding against steel as sparks scattered between them.

Damn... why is she so angry?

The answer came to him almost immediately. He had just eliminated her brother. No wonder her eyes burned with fury.

They exchanged strike after strike, each faster than the last. Luthan defended steadily, but his lips began to move, words spilling out that he had no control over, as if his heart itself was speaking.

"Are you free after the exams are over?"

-Clash!!

"I mean... I know a beautiful place. We could go there together, maybe explore it if you want."

-Clash!!

-Clash!!

"Of course, it is not as beautiful as you... but I feel like I could..."

-Clash!!

****

Meanwhile, in the control room, Elva was watching the fight unfold, her lips twitching in disbelief.

Who the hell is that kid..?

She pulled up his data and skimmed through it. Everything about him was laid out clearly, though there was no mention of a fallen family. It only stated that he came from a normal household and had been an orphan for a few years.

"What a weirdo...."

She murmured under her breath. She could see how talented he was, yet it baffled her how someone with his ability ended up in Class 1E. Not to mention the ridiculous stunt he was pulling—flirting with a girl in the middle of a fight.

Sigh, boys these days....

Still, she was far more interested in something else. Rather than the messy love matters of Luthan, her eyes were fixed on Melissia's power.

If I am not wrong, she is fighting almost the same way Ash did when he sparred with Ray...

The thought lingered as she continued to watch. Her focus deepened when Melissia suddenly pulled a big move.

---

Elysia dashed toward Melissia, her blade flashing like a silent predator, moving to unleash her sword art.

Melissia quickly retreated, dodging while deflecting her strikes. Every wound that opened on her body sealed within seconds, her flames knitting her injuries back together.

But then Elysia did something unexpected.

She threw her blade away.

Is she an idiot...?

Melissia's brow furrowed as she rushed in with blazing fists, striking at Elysia's acupoints. Yet before her strikes could land properly, Elysia moved even swifter. Her hands lit with water mana, abandoning her usual moon affinity, and she directly clashed with Melissia's flames.

For a moment, their strikes overlapped at terrifying speed. Dozens of blows were exchanged within seconds, water and fire colliding in bursts of steam. Yet Melissia's flames grew hotter and more violent, devouring the water until Elysia's hands began to burn.

A vicious blow landed on Elysia's face, searing her skin before spreading fire across her body. Blood sprayed like a fountain as her figure was flung backward, sliding along the ground until she came to a halt.

Her body lay still for a moment before a faint stir came. Trembling, she pushed herself onto her knees, her arms shaking as she struggled to stand. Her legs nearly gave out, but she leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree and managed to hold herself upright.

Her half-closed eyes lifted toward Melissia, who was slowly walking closer.

Why is she like this..?

Elysia's thoughts spun in confusion. It was supposed to be an exam, yet Melissia's actions carried the weight of something personal, as if there was an old rivalry or some deep-rooted grudge between them.

Melissia's steps were steady, and with each one, a strange satisfaction welled inside her. It was as though she was pushing past some hidden insecurity she had never known existed. At the same time, guilt stirred faintly in her chest for hurting Elysia so badly.

I will heal her with my flames once the exam is over... but this should end here. I do not want Ash to hate me for hurting Elysia too much..... Let's finish this....

Her flames flickered as she prepared to end the fight. But then, something unusual caught her eye.

At some point, without her noticing, a small white snake had appeared on Elysia's shoulder. Its slender body was flawless, its scales shining like polished ivory.

With two tiny horns above its eyes, its pupils shimmered faintly with an azure glow. It looked delicate and beautiful, even adorable at a glance, yet its gaze carried no hint of innocence. The baby snake was staring at Melissia with a hunger that pierced straight through her.

What is ——

Melissia's thought broke off as her body froze. A sudden urge to kneel crushed her pride and burned through her veins.

The world around her melted away, and she found herself drifting in a void of endless darkness. She floated without sense of direction, until a pair of eyes, colossal and ancient, opened before her. They glowed in the abyss like stars of death, watching her with suffocating killing intent.

W-w-w-w-what...?

Her body trembled violently, her bones shivering as primal terror took root deep inside her. She could not move, her limbs locked as though shackled by fear itself.

GO AWAY!!

She screamed with every shred of will she had left. The sound tore her throat raw, and in that moment, the darkness shattered.

Her consciousness snapped back into reality, but the presence of that entity still lingered inside her mind, crawling over her heart like a shadow she could not shake off. She looked at the baby snake again, and for the first time in her life, her eyes reflected raw fear.

Then something else stirred. The blood in her veins boiled violently, screaming at her to stop. It commanded her to kneel before the creature, to acknowledge its dominance.

I won't....

Her will blazed, refusing the command. Flames surged violently around her, roaring like a wild dragon desperate to devour the world. They spread out in all directions, consuming everything—Elysia, the baby snake, the trees, the air, even her own teammates.

Corin, Veyric, and Gwen were caught in the inferno, their bodies consumed before they could react.

In a single instant, everyone was eliminated. Only Melissia remained, standing amidst a sea of roaring fire that swallowed the forest whole.

Her strength drained away, her body faltered, and her consciousness slipped into darkness.

It was only because Snow, the baby snake, was still too young, its will undeveloped, that things ended this way. Otherwise, the outcome would have been very different.

It had been a clash of bloodlines, a battle between the ancient will of a Primordial Beast and the inherited might of a half Divine Beast.

And the winner was already clear...

****