We advanced to the second phase, where the instructor stepped forward once again.
"For this phase," he announced, "you will be teleported to an open battlefield."
"Each team will be assigned a wooden dummy. Your objective is simple: protect your own dummy while destroying the dummies of other teams."
A pause.
"You may attack other teams directly, but killing is prohibited. A team is eliminated the moment their dummy is destroyed."
"This phase will test your coordination, strategy, and restraint," the instructor continued. "Only teams that can balance offense and defense will advance."
We were teleported onto the open battlefield, and the moment our feet touched the ground—
Chaos erupted.
Teams scattered in every direction as spells flashed and steel clashed. Shouts echoed across the field, blending into a storm of noise.
Kim Hyun turned to us immediately.
"Jihoon. Ha-rin. Stay back and defend the dummy," he said. "I'll go on the offensive."
Before I could respond, he was already sprinting into the distance, disappearing into the chaos.
"…He didn't hesitate at all," I muttered.
I tightened my grip on my sword and took position in front of our dummy. Any team that got too close, I drove back without mercy. Ha-rin stayed close behind me, calmly healing wounds the moment they appeared.
Minutes passed.
Ten of them.
The battlefield thinned slightly, but Hyun still hadn't returned.
Where is he?
As I scanned the field, a sudden movement caught my eye. Off to the side, a nearby team's dummy was on the verge of being destroyed. Two attackers were seconds away from finishing it off.
I hesitated.
Helping them wouldn't benefit us.
…But I couldn't ignore it.
With a sharp breath, I rushed in, intercepting the attackers and forcing them back. They retreated after realizing the fight wasn't worth it.
The three teammates stared at me in shock.
Kim Min-jae: "Thank you for saving us. I'm truly grateful. I swear I'll find a way to repay you someday."
Park Soo-ah: "Why are you thanking him? We didn't ask for his help."
Yoon Ah-ra: "Soo-ah, stop it. He saved us. The least you can do is be polite."
I gave a brief nod, already backing away.
"That's enough. Protect your dummy."
Then it hit me.
Our dummy.
My heart skipped.
I turned and sprinted back as fast as I could.
Just in time.
I resumed my position, cutting down anyone who dared approach while Ha-rin kept me standing. The minutes crawled by. Teams were eliminated one after another, their dummies shattering into fragments of light.
Still—no sign of Hyun.
Just as worry began to creep in, a loud horn echoed across the field.
—Phase Two Complete—
I finally let out the breath I'd been holding.
As we regrouped, I turned sharply toward Kim Hyun when he finally appeared.
"Where were you?" I demanded. "I thought something happened to you."
He scoffed, brushing dust off his shoulder.
"Lay off me, will you?" he said. "I was busy destroying other teams' dummies."
A grin spread across his face.
"That's how we won."
my mind already drifting toward what awaited us next.
The third phase…
Before I could dwell on it any longer, the air shifted. The instructor appeared once more, his presence instantly silencing the remaining candidates.
"The third and final phase," he announced, "will be a one-on-one tournament."
A ripple of tension spread through the crowd.
"This tournament will determine your individual rankings as knights. Strength, technique, and adaptability will all be judged. There will be no team to rely on this time."
In the days leading up to the final test, I trained relentlessly.
I sharpened my sword techniques, refining every swing until my movements felt natural—almost instinctive. I pushed my speed to its limit, running until my lungs burned and my vision blurred.
The effort paid off.
Level 35.
Still not enough—but closer.
One evening, I went out for a jog to clear my head.
That was when I ran into Ha-rin.
"Oh—Jihoon," she said, surprised. "I was just finishing my training too."
"Still working on healing?" I asked.
She shook her head, a small smile forming. "Not just healing anymore."
She raised her staff, and mana rippled through the air.
A stream of water spiraled around her hand, cool and precise. A moment later, the water evaporated as flames ignited in its place, controlled and sharp.
"I've been expanding my mana control," she said. "I can use water and fire magic now."
I stared for a moment, then smiled. "You've gotten stronger."
Suddenly I hear a voice from behind me
Kim hyun: you guys have been working hard I see
I turned around—and froze.
Kim Hyun was sitting off to the side, casually eating, completely relaxed.
"…Have you been training?" I asked, still catching my breath.
He looked up at me mid-bite. "No."
I blinked. "Then do you at least have a strategy for the tournament?"
He swallowed and shook his head. "Nope."
My mind went blank. "What do you mean no?"
He stood up, brushing his hands together. "Exactly that. I haven't done anything. And I don't plan to."
I stared at him, genuinely speechless.
"You're kidding," I said.
He shrugged. "Worrying won't make me stronger."
Then, without another word, he walked off—completely unfazed.
I watched him go, still in shock.
Beside me, Ha-rin let out a quiet sigh. "He's… different."
"That's one way to put it," I muttered.
After a moment of silence, we exchanged a glance.
"Good luck tomorrow," she said softly.
"Yeah. You too."
We turned and headed in opposite directions, each of us preparing in our own way for the final phase.