"1,999."
The academy grounds were still wrapped in darkness. Morning dew hadn't fully evaporated when Reinhard swung his greatsword. The steel blade cut through the air with a heavy sound, every swing followed by the tense recoil of strained muscles.
His breathing was ragged.His chest rose and fell.Sweat streamed down his forehead, dripping onto the ground.
"2,000."
The sword stopped.
Reinhard lowered his head for a moment, then wiped the sweat away with his sleeve. Every morning, he went through this ritual—two thousand swings without pause. It wasn't just a warm-up, but a way to force his body to adapt to the weight of a greatsword that wasn't meant for ordinary people.
He lifted his gaze to the still-gray sky.
"Goddess… what am I supposed to do?"
He asked, even though there was no one else on the grounds but him.
Suddenly, a sheet of paper drifted down in front of him, moving slowly as if guided by an unseen force.
Words appeared on its surface.
(I can no longer sense that aura from the girl. So you don't need to approach her anymore.)
Reinhard frowned. The light in his eyes dimmed, a trace of sadness passing over his face without him realizing it.
"You said she was paralyzed… is there really no way to cure her?"
The paper trembled softly.
(There isn't. Your task now is only to spread my influence and search for the remaining traces. Nothing more.)
"Understood."
Reinhard nodded obediently, without resistance.
He finished his training, sheathed his sword, and prepared himself. Today was exam day.Even though he had entered Class S, his rank was only 30—the very bottom. He was often the target of mockery, both openly and behind his back.
"In this exam," he muttered quietly, his eyes gleaming sharply,"I'll take first place… and show who the real trash is."
The field was filled with students. Tension hung thick in the air.
A teacher stood at the front, his voice echoing clearly.
"You will be teleported to a small world," he said firmly."You will be using a virtual body. If you die, you will be immediately expelled from that world."
Several students swallowed nervously.
"Your task is to hunt animals and living creatures within that world to earn points."
The teacher paused briefly.
"However, be careful. If someone kills you, half of your points will be transferred to the killer, and they will receive them."
Pale faces began to appear.
"And if your points reach zero, then you will not receive your monthly resources."
Reinhard looked around. Many students wore anxious expressions. That was natural—Class B and above received regular resources, while the lower classes depended entirely on exams. On top of that, they were being tested together with second-year students, who were clearly much stronger.
"Alright," the teacher concluded."Good luck to all of you."
The ground beneath their feet glowed brightly. A massive magic circle activated.
In an instant—
Heat assaulted Reinhard's body.
He stood on cracked black ground, rivers of glowing red lava flowing around him. The air rippled from the extreme heat.
Sweat immediately soaked his skin.
Without hesitation, Reinhard coated his body in magic. The heat was held back, unable to penetrate further.
He looked ahead—dark land, slowly flowing lava, reflecting a crimson glow.
Then he noticed something different.
In the upper right corner of his vision, a floating display appeared.
Points: 0Rank: ###
Reinhard let out a slow breath.
He spread his magical power outward. Subtle vibrations were quickly caught.
Living creatures.
Reinhard ran.
From behind black rocks, the silhouette of a Lava Salamander appeared—its body like a giant lizard, dark red scales glowing like living magma. Hot steam poured from its mouth.
Reinhard didn't slow down.
One slash.
His sword cleanly split the monster's head. The salamander's body collapsed and turned into particles of light.
The display in his vision changed.
Points: 10Rank: 174
"Fast," he muttered.
A voice suddenly rang out.
"Aren't you a first-year? How about we work together?"
A young man appeared in front of him.
Reinhard immediately raised his sword, on guard."Who are you? And how do you know I'm a first-year?"
The young man chuckled softly."Relax. Focus your magic on your left eye. You'll be able to see other people's profiles."
The young man's left eye turned blue.
After hesitating for a moment, Reinhard copied him.
Information appeared.
Name: Edgar MontclairClass: 2Sequence: 8Combat Ability: B
That surname kept Reinhard wary.
"Why do you want to work with me? Aren't you a noble?"
Edgar laughed lightly."In the academy, status doesn't mean anything. I just saw your ability."
"I don't care about status," he continued."I see potential, and I want to build a connection."
Reinhard slowly lowered his guard. Over the past few days, the nobles' mockery had become more blatant—even from students in lower classes.
"Sorry," he finally said."I'm used to doing everything alone."
Edgar narrowed his eyes."This exam lasts one week. Most people will form groups."
Reinhard was startled. That information had never been explained before.
"I still don't need a team," he replied, his tone slightly arrogant.
Edgar snorted in annoyance."Fine. If you change your mind, meet me in the grasslands."
He flew away, leaving Reinhard alone.
Reinhard ignored his words and moved deeper into the volcanic region.
The farther he went, the less natural light remained. Thin smoke hung in the air, blurring his vision. The ground beneath his feet was no longer just hot—some areas pulsed, as if magma lay just beneath a thin layer of rock.
He stopped.
His magic spread slowly, touching rock walls, lava cracks, and the heated air around him.
There are many.
Not one or two.
Reinhard raised his sword and lowered his center of gravity.
From within the heat haze, three creatures emerged at once.
The first was an Ember Wolf, its body wreathed in flames, red eyes blazing with hunger.The second, a Magma Lizard, moving low with scales hardened like heated iron.And the third—larger than the rest—a Volcanic Ash Bird, flapping its wings and raining down hot ash.
"Three directions…"
Reinhard took a deep breath.
He stepped forward.
The Ember Wolf leapt first, fire-coated fangs aimed at his neck. Reinhard swung his greatsword sideways—not to cut, but to strike.
CLANG!
The wolf's body was sent flying, smashing into a rock.
But before he could finish it, the Magma Lizard spat molten liquid from its mouth. Reinhard jumped back, heat sweeping across his face.
The Ash Bird dove from above.
For the first time—Reinhard activated something different.
The flow of his magic changed.
A gentle light appeared along the blade of his sword—not dazzling, but pure, like morning sunlight breaking through mist.
The sword shone.
The Ash Bird screamed as Reinhard swung upward.
One slash.
The light extended, forming a crescent arc, slicing through the bird's wings without resistance. Its body fell and dissolved into pale particles of light—different from the usual red vapor of lava monsters.
The Ember Wolf stood back up, but its steps faltered.
The light on Reinhard's sword suppressed the monster's heat aura.
Reinhard stepped forward.
He slashed.
The wolf was split apart, the flames on its body extinguished instantly, leaving behind light that faded into the air.
The Magma Lizard tried to flee, but Reinhard slammed his sword into the ground.
LIGHT EXPLODED.
A ring of radiance spread from the impact point, solidified for an instant, then shattered the lizard's body from the inside.
It all ended in seconds.
The interface in his vision updated rapidly.
Points: 410 → 480 → 560Rank: 19 → 14
Reinhard stared at his sword.
The light slowly faded.
"…I can still control it."
He continued hunting.
In a narrow mountain pass, he faced a Lava Golem—a monster with a magma core in its chest. Ordinary slashes weren't enough. So Reinhard thrust his sword straight into the core, letting the light seep inside. The golem cracked—then collapsed from within.
In an open field, a group of Ember Serpents tried to swarm him. Reinhard moved his sword rapidly, each swing leaving thin trails of light in the air. The serpents were cut down before they could get close.
But every time he killed—Reinhard could feel it.Something was watching him.
Note: I want to write a xianxia novel
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