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The fight had ended. The crowd that once buzzed with energy quickly scattered, leaving behind the fallen examinee on the ground—ignored, forgotten. No one bothered to help him. Here, sympathy wasn't a currency people traded in. Everyone had their eyes set on their own path.
Sam, too, didn't look back. He wasn't being cold—it was just that his attention was captured by something else.
Zeke.
That sword, that movement, the clean efficiency—it wasn't just strength. It was control. Precision. Like a blade honed through pain.
Sam took a few steps in Zeke's direction, wanting to say something, anything—but before he could get closer, a massive magic circle began forming under his feet. It expanded across the entire academy grounds. Some students flinched. Others were unbothered, as if they had seen it all before. Sam, though… he barely noticed. His eyes were still on Zeke.
In a second, the world twisted.
With a rush of light and pressure, everyone was teleported to a large open courtyard—stone tiles beneath their feet, seven figures standing before them on an elevated podium. Seven teachers. All of them radiating authority, strength, and something else Sam couldn't put into words.
Then one of them stepped forward.
"Welcome, prospective students. I am Eldren McHoster, Headmaster of Nova Sanctum Academy," the man said, his voice clear, deep, and commanding.
Sam's eyes sharpened. He scanned the man—blonde hair, sleek suit, and pale gray eyes that didn't blink more than necessary. Handsome, definitely. But his eyes—they were cold. Distant. Like he wasn't looking at students, but objects. Assets. Weapons in the making.
A group of girls next to Sam giggled.
"He's so dreamy…"
"He's also the ranked fourth in the Golden Rankings."
Sam's eyebrows twitched. Fourth? That wasn't a small deal. Even if he didn't fully understand how the Golden Rankings worked yet, being top five had to mean the man was inhumanly powerful.
Their eyes met for the briefest second. Eldren's smile barely shifted, but enough to send a chill down Sam's spine. That wasn't a greeting. That was an evaluation.
A lot of thoughts ran through Sam's mind.
Sam quickly looked away.
"Now then," the headmaster continued, "the entrance test will begin immediately."
Sam blinked. Huh? He had been too caught up in his thoughts. Before he could even turn to ask the student next to him for clarification, another teacher stepped forward, chanted a quick incantation, and a circle formed above the entire area.
Students started vanishing.
Sam barely had time to register it before the spell took him too.
The next moment, Sam landed in a white stone corridor. Cold air. Familiar architecture.
No…
His breath caught.
This wasn't just any place—it was the dungeon. The same one where he nearly died. Where the Titan had broken him.
His heartbeat spiked.
Not again.
His knees wobbled. His breath turned shallow. His skin crawled, memories stabbing at his nerves like needles. Ken… Anna… I was nothing but dead weight then. He was facing down when a shadow crept below.
He looked up slowly—too slowly—and saw it.
The Titan.
Standing tall. Just like before.
Its presence was as suffocating as ever. Sam couldn't move. He couldn't breathe.
His body tilted, his vision blurred—he was close to fainting.
Then he felt a subtle warmth. Somthing embracing him. He looked below at his hands.
A subtle glow came from the ring on his finger. The same mysterious ring Edward had said might hold more secrets than he could understand.
The glow wrapped around him like a blanket of calm. His breathing steadied. His mind cleared.
Was this the ring's doing?
Whatever it was, it worked. His fear dulled. He clenched his fist and steadied his stance.
I've grown since last time. I won't be the helpless child I was before.
The Titan roared and charged.
I'm not the same anymore.
He raised his arm, aether flowing into his muscles. The Titan's strike landed, but Sam blocked it, skidding back across the ground but still standing.
His lips curved into a determined smile—not one of arrogance, but of resolve.
He rushed in, fist glowing, and landed a direct hit to the Titan's face. The sound echoed—but the Titan didn't move. Its face shimmered, then regenerated instantly.
Of course it wouldn't be that easy.
The Titan struck back—again and again. Each hit cracked bones. Broke skin. Yet Sam kept standing, bloodied but focused. As he still kept on attacking the Titan relentlessly.
He realized there was only one way.
One blow. All-in. No second chances.
He had seen Anna defeat this thing. He wasn't her. But he didn't have to be.
He could be himself.
He drew in all the aether he had, pulled from his core until his veins screamed, until even the ring began to flicker.
Then he saw it—just barely. A mark. A glowing mark on the Titan's chest.
A weak point?
No time to think.
He yelled, launching his arm like a bullet. He closed his eyes. It was an all or nothing.
Suddenly he felt an familiar power rushing into his body all the way to his fists. It was the same from when he fought in the dungeon before.
"BOOM!"
An explosion of light and force erupted from the impact point. The shockwave tore across the dungeon, throwing dust and debris in every direction.
Sam's vision went white.
But he didn't let go.
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***Preview***
Whats next???
Zeke. What kind of life did he have? Stay tuned to find out.