Ashvale Dorms – Room 117
Lucian appeared in a shimmer of light, collapsing onto the floor as the Trial's portal sealed behind him. His back hit the wooden floor of his temporary dorm, sweat soaking through his shirt, breath ragged. The lights hummed quietly above him—normal, plain, safe.
He lay there for a while. No movement. Just breathing. Alive.
Then—
[System Notice: Trial of Ascension – Floor 3 Cleared]
[Rank Advancement Complete: You have Ascended to Rank E]
[New Title Acquired: Riftwalker]
[Reward Module Available]
Lucian sat up slowly. His limbs ached like they were forged from stone, but he managed to lean against the bed frame, eyes dull with exhaustion but steady.
"Cael," he whispered.
[Yes, Lucian?]
"…Bring up my reward screen."
The air shimmered in front of him, and a transparent blue panel snapped into place.
[Trial Completion Rewards – Floor 3]
• Skill Unlocked: Dimensional Rift Drive
• Starlight Core (Boss Drop)
• Bonus Title: Riftwalker — Spatial affinity increased by 15%, +10% resistance to dimensional interference.
• Passive Unlocked: Void Pulse — Chance to ignore cooldown of Spatial skills on successful critical hit.
Lucian's brows lifted slightly at the last one. That was a solid pickup.
He dismissed the window, then opened the [System Shop].
"Cael. Healing potion. Tier E, fast regen, instant burn-out cleanse."
[Processing…]
[Purchase Confirmed: High-Grade Healing Draught (x1) – Cost: 250 SP]
A small glass vial materialized before him, glowing faint green, steam rising from its neck.
Lucian took it, popped the cork, and drank.
Warmth. Not the heat of battle—but comfort. Healing. His ribs reset with a sharp crack. Bruises faded. Blood flow slowed, sealed.
[HP: 100%]
[System Sync: Stable]
He leaned back with a sigh. "That's better."
Then, he brought up his [Status Window].
[Lucian Black – Updated Status]
Level: 2
Title: Returned One, Riftwalker
Race: Human
System Type: Infinite
Mana: ∞
Stat Points Available: ∞
System Points Available: ∞
[Stats]
Strength: 100
Agility: 100
Intelligence: 100
Endurance: 100
Perception: 100
Luck: 100
Lucian tapped his finger on the edge of the display.
"Cael… max me out."
[Confirmation Required: Distribute all available stat points to hit Rank E cap of 300 per attribute?]
"…Yeah. Do it."
[Processing…]
[Stat Upgrade Complete]
[Lucian Black – Finalized E-Rank Stats]
• Strength: 300
• Agility: 300
• Endurance: 300
• Intelligence: 300
• Perception: 300
• Mana: 300
• Control: 300
[Stat Cap Reached – Trial of Ascension required for Rank D Ascension]
Lucian stared at the numbers for a moment. Then shut the panel.
That was it. The ceiling of Rank E. But with these stats…
He stood, rolled his neck, and clenched his fists.
The room vibrated faintly. Not from magic. From pressure.
Even the mana lights flickered.
"Feels good," he muttered.
His eyes drifted to the nightstand where Evelyn's invitation still sat. Untouched. He didn't pick it up. Just stared at it a second.
Then turned away.
He wasn't ready for that part of the world. Not yet.
For now…
He walked toward the bed, peeled off his shirt, and dropped onto the mattress face first. The cool fabric welcomed him.
"Cael."
[Yes?]
"Goodnight."
[Acknowledged.]
The system interface faded. Lights dimmed.
Lucian lay in silence. Not peaceful. Not restless.
Just aware.
He had made it through. And tomorrow?
The world would still be there.
But he wouldn't be the same Lucian it used to know.
Just before his eyes closed, Cael spoke one last time.
[Rest well, Lucian. You earned it.]
He didn't answer.
He was already asleep.
The next day
The shrill sound of the academy's alarm echoed through the room like a dagger to the eardrum.
Lucian groaned as he stirred, his face buried in the sheets, hair tangled from restless sleep. The sound wasn't just loud—it was layered with mana, designed to hit the nerves directly. No snoozing. No second chances.
He sat up, rubbing the side of his head.
"That's the most violent alarm I've ever heard," he muttered, voice still rough from sleep.
The dorm room looked the same as when he'd collapsed—neat, clean, with no trace of the battles he'd gone through in the Hollow Dungeon. But Lucian felt it. In his bones. In his breathing. His body had changed. Stronger. Tighter. Sharper.
He swung his legs off the bed, stood, and walked to the small sink beside the shelf. Cold water rushed into his palms. He splashed it over his face, again and again, until the last of the fog burned away. Then he stared into the mirror.
His eyes looked clearer. Not just awake—but aware.
The kind of eyes that had seen something.
And survived it.
He brushed his hair back, grabbed his uniform jacket, and left the room with his boots echoing quietly in the hallway.
Ashvale Central Hall
By the time Lucian reached the central building, the sun had just risen above the spire towers of the academy. Its rays filtered through massive stained-glass windows, casting long swirls of gold, blue, and violet across the marble floors.
The Central Hall was massive.
Three stories tall. Circular. Pillars of crystal-infused stone lined the walls like guardians, each engraved with the academy's crest. High above, a wide dome allowed sunlight to pour in, revealing hundreds of students gathering below.
Fresh faces.
Some nervous. Some excited. Most pretending to be confident.
Lucian stood near the edge of the hall, hands in his pockets, scanning the room. Dozens of students in matching black-and-azure uniforms moved about, chatting in small clusters. The entrance ceremony wasn't supposed to start for another ten minutes, but the buzz was already building.
He spotted a few familiar figures—some from the Awakening Test. A couple of the elite families' children, already acting like the place belonged to them. Some eyed him briefly, recognizing his face.
None approached.
He preferred it that way.
Lucian leaned back against one of the pillars, arms crossed, eyes half-closed. The energy of the room was thick. Students fidgeted. Some whispered rumors about rankings. About which families had the highest aptitude this year. About who awakened what.