"Is everyone born equal?"That was the question he used to ask himself when he was younger. And the answer had always been obvious to him: "No."
At birth, one could be weak, sickly, strong, fast, born with absurd magic, or be a limitless prodigy. Even the place where someone was born could make a difference.
The only thing one could say is born equally is that babies are fragile—but even that has exceptions in this world. He'd once heard a story about a baby born with so much mana that it destroyed its own house upon being born. If everyone there hadn't been mages, they would have died. That's why his father always said:
"The world is unfair, son, and it always will be."
This phrase wasn't meant to make him give up, but to warn him—if he wanted to follow the same path.
His father had always wanted to become a great mage, even without the required mana. He pursued that dream with determination until one day, while trying to save his mother, he lost all of his mana to a Nartheis a mana-devouring entity.
From that day on, he retired—not because he gave up, but because he simply couldn't continue. Since then, he became an ordinary person and worked every day. His mother, forever grateful for being saved, stayed by his side until they eventually married.
He was born to parents who, despite being commoners, did everything to live comfortably. He grew up in a happy family. He had a younger sister who clung to him every day.
His father was—and always would be—his greatest inspiration. He trained every day, his mother watching from afar with a smile, his sister by his side trying to copy him.
Sometimes, that same question would return to his mind: "Is everyone the same?"
And he always gave the same answer. To him, the world wasn't meant to be equal. The world belongs to those with merit. That's how even those with little could surpass those born with potential.
Because if he trained more than a prodigy who didn't train, he would win. Of course, he also believed that if a prodigy trained as much as you, they would surpass you—so you'd have to train even harder.
To him, you couldn't beat a prodigy without being prepared. And then, he was accepted into Astrong Academy—something his father had never achieved, having only made it into a lower-tier academy. His father couldn't stop talking about how proud he was. His mother and sister celebrated behind him.
He entered the academy full of dreams and managed to get into Class D with a good ranking. He studied every day and tried not to become a target of those four—until one day, Enrico appeared in front of him.
He seemed a bit strange at first. Tolen even thought he might be a demon in disguise. And when Enrico defeated Kai, Tolen thought
"Another prodigy…"
But over time, he noticed how hard Enrico trained. He even saw him training at dawn, before the guards made their rounds in the dorms.
Maybe Enrico was a prodigy or a genius—or maybe just like him. The only thing he believed for sure was:
Enrico deserved to be strong.
That's what Tolen thought. And still thinks.
"I can't fall behind."
---
Tolen opened his eyes and saw Caelan shielding them both inside a dome, protecting them from an attack that nearly pierced it. When he looked at the zombie, it had changed—its arms were longer, and its body was covered in plates resembling earth, like armor.
Terroclast stopped its attack and turned to defend itself from something.
"What happened?"
Tolen stood up, remembering only that he had helped Serenya chase after Enrico—then everything went black.
Caelan was breathing heavily.
"You got hit after that monster transformed."
Now he remembered—the zombie had trapped him in a dome, and when he emerged, it struck him. Tolen spotted Silviae and Valença unconscious, and Elian breathing heavily behind a nearby wall.
"That guy's the only one managing to go toe-to-toe with it. If not for him, we'd all be dead by now."
Tolen was stunned to see Cris dodging an attack and retaliating with a punch to Terroclast's face, snapping its head backward.
"You're a bit weaker than the red one"
Cris muttered. The ground lifted him, and a punch followed. Cris used the back of his hand to deflect and began dodging.
"I get that you're angry, but could you calm down a little?"
One of Terroclast's earth-covered arms shifted into what looked like a cannon, firing a ray that Cris dodged. A small hole formed in the wall behind him.
"Guys, he's using an earth cannon that absorbs magic from the air to fire. Be careful"
Cris dodged another punch and created distance.
"Why isn't he using his own magic?"
Tolen stood up, gathering mana. He noticed it was regenerating faster than usual.
"A water dome doesn't heal, but it helps recover mana," he realized.
Water magic, after all, was excellent for support roles.
"As for his magic, he said it's a combat type."
Tolen had only spoken to Cris once—when Enrico had sent him to fetch him. At most, he'd seen him from afar. He didn't know him well.
Vanessa appeared from behind a wall and changed the ground under Terroclast into mud. Cris used the chance to kick Terroclast into the air.
Elian, holding two daggers, charged in.
"Double Wind Slash!"
Using a new spell, Elian moved in two directions at once, slashing both sides of the armor.
Caelan dispelled the dome—his and Tolen's mana already restored—and ran back to prepare an attack.
With his mana recovered, Caelan unleashed a blast that destroyed the cannon-formed hand.
Everyone attacked at once, landing five consecutive hits that devastated the area. But before the smoke cleared, Terroclast punched Vanessa into the wall, pinning her. He then raised an arm, pulling up a chunk of earth from beneath Caelan, trapping him on the ceiling.
Tolen rushed to rescue Caelan—he was vital to the group. But Terroclast used the earth under Tolen to drag him forward and landed a punch to his face, launching him with a thunderous crash.
Cris sighed in disappointment and dashed in, kicking Terroclast in the neck and pushing him aside. Elian jumped on Terroclast and tried to pierce the armor—but the daggers bounced off.
"Damn it! What's this thing made of?!"
Elian braced for a punch, but Cris intercepted, slamming into the armor with his shoulder and cracking it.
On the ground, Tolen's left side was shattered. He had lost an eye.
Enrico… can I really reach you? Tolen stood, staggering forward, barely able to see.
"I want to."
He watched the two fight—barely avoiding blows. They were clearly the fastest ones here.
Tolen's eyes were fading, but he ran toward Terroclast.
"I want to be strong."
The three surrounded Terroclast, each with a plan.
Elian concentrated half of his remaining mana into a dagger and hurled it at high speed. It pierced the crack Cris had made.
Terroclast raised a hand, used the ground under Elian—who stood near the hole—and made him fall in.
"Damn it!"
As Elian fell, Cris used the opening to elbow the embedded dagger, driving it in deeper. Terroclast punched him, but Cris only smiled.
Right below him, Tolen pointed his hand at the dagger.
"Magical Fire Explosion!"
The blast drove the dagger in further, slicing Terroclast in half. His core popped out.
Cris fell back with a neutral burst. Tolen, dizzy and weak, walked toward the core.
"We did it. Now we just wait for the others to return."
He picked up the core, relieved.
"We did it… What will my father say when he finds out?"
He looked at the core—and then, a blade pierced his chest from behind.
"Why…?"
---
Elian had fallen into the hole. Just as he was about to drive his dagger into the wall, someone caught him—Enrico and Serenya, dashing through the air.
"You guys?!"
Elian was shocked.
"A new ability of mine"
Serenya said, forming a platform under Elian's feet as they continued running. Elian quickly explained the situation.
"Cris is really strong. Without him, we'd be dead."
They leapt across platforms even faster.
"Well, he's Rank 91, so I expected no less."
Serenya was relieved to know Cris was so capable.
"Yeah, he has really powerful combat magic."
"What?"
Enrico looked at Elian and began running faster.
"What is it, Enrico?"
"Cris doesn't have combat magic. He uses lava magic."
Enrico's words made them accelerate.
---
"Why…?"
"Sorry, but I need that core."
Cris held Elian's dagger, now embedded in Tolen's chest, blood pouring from his mouth.
"Good thing only that Enrico really knew the kid"
Cris said with a grin as Tolen looked on in disbelief.
"What? You didn't realize there are six floors here?"
Tolen's eyes widened, Each floor had five guardians and a boss. That meant one was still missing.
"So, Cris…"
Tolen collapsed on his back.
"Yeah. I'm the last one. Already dead,"
Cris said, taking the core.
"Why help us…?"
"Because I had a plan—and needed someone. Thanks for helping me so much."
Cris began swallowing the core. His eyes flashed orange for a moment.
"Just need a few seconds to evolve to Level Two Zara—"
Suddenly, he raised his arm to block a fire kick that sent him flying.
"TOLEN!!"
Enrico arrived with Serenya and Elian, rushing to the front. Enrico tried to stop the bleeding, conjuring fire to cauterize the wound. Serenya lifted her hand, using control magic to help. Enrico placed his hand on Tolen's chest—his eyes were closing.
"Stay with me, you hear?"
Tolen tried to speak.
"Enrico… I want to ask something…"
"Ask anything. Just stay awake!" Enrico's face was filled with fear—fear of losing a friend.
Tolen saw his life flash before his eyes. I don't know if he's a prodigy, a genius, or something else… His evolution is impressive. But if I had to wish someone would reach the top in my place…
Smiling with tears in his eyes, Tolen closed his eyes.
"Tell my dad I'm sorry I left… and… become stronger—stronger for me…"
The wound was closed—but Tolen didn't open his eyes. Enrico shook him.
"TOLEN!!"