Other than Luphar, the remaining S-rankers arrived together, moving in quiet unison. The moment they stepped into view, the surrounding area seemed to tighten.
Students froze.
Mouths fell open, boys and girls alike.
Their physiques existed on a completely different plane compared to even the A-rankers. Muscles were refined, shaped through years of brutal combat and relentless training. Every movement caused muscle fibers to shift beneath the skin with controlled power. Their bodies didn't just look strong, they radiated dominance.
This wasn't beauty born from aesthetics.
This was strength carved by determination.
Abdomens were sharply etched, backs broad and dense, limbs proportioned so perfectly it was almost unsettling. They looked less like students and more like living statues forged for war.
Absolute models, if models were meant to destroy battlefields.
Female students instinctively lowered their voices, but their reactions were no less intense. Some discreetly lifted their devices, snapping photos with trembling hands, careful not to draw attention.
"My god…" one whispered, barely breathing. "They're unreal. Those abs… I didn't even know bodies could look like that outside murals or paintings."
"Look at Magnar," another hissed urgently. "That back, it's like a wall. No, worse. A fortress."
"He doesn't just look strong," a third muttered. "He looks unstoppable. Tanker doesn't even begin to describe him."
"Wait.. Morevan too?" someone added in disbelief. "He always looked lean in uniform."
"That's a sleeper build," another replied quietly. "Skinny outside, reinforced inside. Deadliest kind."
Even the male students, usually less vocal about such things, were visibly shaken.
"They're cheating," one said bitterly. "That kind of presence shouldn't be allowed."
"I don't know whether to admire them or fear them," another admitted. "Those bodies… they don't feel human."
"Look at Roswayn," someone added, lowering his voice. "She's beautiful, sure, but her muscles? That's not just decoration. She's terrifying."
"And the elf girl," another murmured. "How does she look that muscular and still… elegant? More womanly than anyone else here."
"Is that an elf thing? Because she's on a whole different level."
Then a confused voice rose from the crowd.
"Hey… where's that beast guy? The one named Luphar. Isn't he supposed to be here?"
As if answering the question, Luphar strode forward from the far side of the area.
The moment he appeared, a ripple of awe swept through the crowd.
He was massive, easily the largest among the S-rankers. His body was a mountain of muscle layered upon muscle, each movement heavy with restrained violence. Old scars crossed his skin: claw marks, sword cuts, proof of battles survived rather than avoided.
It felt as though his muscles might tear through his skin at any moment.
On both his chest and back, identical tattoos were etched, complex symbols forged in an unknown script, faintly pulsing with something ancient.
"That guy…" someone swallowed. "He's a giant."
"A walking mountain."
"I swear," a male student muttered, "I'd train twice as hard if it meant I could gain even half those muscles."
But what truly made everyone gasp wasn't Luphar.
It was the figure who appeared behind him.
Luphar himself paused mid-step and turned.
A genuine amazement filled his eyes.
Ashan walked forward calmly.
Under the subtle influence of Movemastery, his body had reached a state of absolute balance. Not exaggerated. Not bulky. Perfectly refined. His abdomen was sharply defined, yet smooth. The symmetry between his left and right sides was flawless, as if his body had been measured and sculpted down to the millimeter.
His V-shaped frame emphasized insane flexibility rather than brute mass, hinting at speed, control, and lethality. His messy long hair fell loosely down his back, framing calm, unreadable eyes.
He didn't look like a brute, but like a warrior who had mastered himself.
"Hoho… it's Ashan," Luphar laughed, stepping closer. "Look at you. That's a warrior's body."
He placed a heavy hand on Ashan's shoulder and gave a light punch to his abdomen.
The sound was dull, solid.
"No joke," Luphar said seriously. "Your muscles feel like iron. Same as mine. You keep surprising me."
He grinned sharply.
"Are you sure you're not an S-ranker?"
Ashan smiled, rubbing the back of his neck casually.
"Thanks for the compliments," he said. "But honestly? Just simple home exercises."
Luphar stared at him.
"…You can't be serious. What kind of monstrous generation did you crawl out of?"
Ashan only smiled again, tying his hair back neatly.
Nearby, Morevan narrowed his eyes, studying Ashan carefully.
'That structure… It's unnatural.'
'Human bodies always have asymmetry. Training, habits, dominant sides, it always creates imbalance.'
'But his… Perfect symmetry. Left and right are identical.'
'That shouldn't be possible.'
'Did he undergo surgery? No… even that wouldn't achieve this.'
'Then how…?'
Roswayn's gaze lingered openly now. Her lips parted slightly before she caught herself and bit them, eyes sharp with interest.
'Now that… That's a body worth my attention. I genuinely want to feel those muscles.'
…
Weighted bands were distributed.
All students fastened them around their limbs before lining up along the pool's edge.
At Aren's signal, they jumped in and positioned themselves underwater, waiting.
Aren stood at the edge, arms folded.
"Hold your breath to your maximum," he instructed calmly. "Don't overdo it. The band you're wearing will monitor your condition, breath duration, and vital signs."
He paused.
"Prepare yourselves."
Beep…
The signal rang.
Everyone dove in simultaneously.
Ashan sank calmly, letting his body descend until he reached the pool's bottom. He sat cross-legged beneath the surface, water pressing evenly against his skin.
'Let's see my limit,' he thought. 'I'm confident I'll last longer.'
A system window appeared.
—--------------------------------------
New Mission..
Remain the last one underwater.
Rewards:
- Horizon of the Captivating Skandha (Dagon's Domain Expansion)
- 40 System Points
—--------------------------------------
Ashan pinched his temples.
'The reward is tempting… but why does it feel like this system is actively trying to expose me?'
He sighed internally.
'Whatever. Let's test my physical limits.'
He closed his eyes, entering a meditative posture.
'Movemastery reduces energy consumption and maximizes efficiency across continuous movement and bodily functions.'
'In theory… it should extend my breath-holding time significantly.'
Ashan went completely still.
Every unnecessary motion shut down.
Nearby, Luphar watched him closely before mimicking the posture.
'I see what he's doing,' Luphar thought. 'Eliminating excess movement. Genius.'
'I'll do the same.'
Morevan, Rowan, and Magnar remained nearby, observing silently.
Four minutes passed.
One by one, bubbles rose as weaker students surfaced, gasping. Soon, only high-rankers remained beneath the water.
Even among them, strain became visible.
Muscles trembled.
Lungs burned.
Limits were approaching.
Luphar's eyes opened slowly.
'Damn it… I'm close.'
He glanced at Ashan.
No movement. No reaction.
'This guy… does he have gills?'
Luphar gritted his teeth.
'I won't lose. Not to him.'
Eirena, observing from afar, frowned slightly.
'As expected… he's still down there. Almost all B-rankers are already out.'
Thirty more seconds passed.
Ashan's eyes opened.
A faint tension finally crept into his chest.
'…I'm reaching my limit.'