Three days later, the first-year combat assessment arrived.
Every student would face a combat instructor in a spar. Their performance would determine their initial combat ranking—separate from their overall academy ranking but equally important.
Ethan had been studying the grimoire relentlessly. His mana core, previously dormant, had finally stirred. He was no longer completely talentless.
[STATUS UPDATE]
Name: Ethan Blackwood
Age: 18
Class: Apprentice Mage
Rank: F (Unchanged)
ATTRIBUTES:
Strength: 12 → 14 Agility: 14 → 16 Intelligence: 45 → 52 Mana Capacity: 8 → 24 Charm: 32 → 32
SKILLS:
Parallel Thinking (Rare) Basic Mana Manipulation (Common) - NEW Mana Sense (Common) - NEW
His mana capacity had tripled—still low by academy standards but no longer worthless. He could feel the energy flowing through his body, waiting to be shaped.
But was it enough?
The assessment arena was a massive coliseum within the academy grounds. Students sat in the stands while their peers were called down one by one to face Professor Marcus Ironheart.
The rules were simple: survive for one minute, or land a single meaningful hit on the professor. Those who achieved either would pass.
Most F-Rank students failed within seconds.
Lucien, of course, performed magnificently. His light magic blazed like a small sun as he exchanged blows with the professor for three full minutes before Marcus called the match.
"Exceptional," the professor announced. "S-Rank combat potential."
The crowd erupted in cheers. Lucien smiled humbly, running a hand through his golden hair.
Ethan watched from the stands, analyzing every move.
His footwork comes from the Ashford family style, he noted. But there's an opening when he transitions from offense to defense. The professor noticed it too but didn't exploit it—he's testing potential, not trying to win.
"Ethan Blackwood," the announcer called. "Report to the arena."
Ethan stood.
Around him, other F-Rank students snickered.
"The professor's nephew?"
"He'll last five seconds, tops."
"I heard he hasn't even awakened his mana core."
Ethan ignored them and descended to the arena floor.
Professor Marcus stood at the center, his metal arm gleaming. Up close, he was even more imposing—a wall of muscle and experience.
"Blackwood," Marcus said. "Your uncle asked me to go easy on you."
"Please don't."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"If you go easy on me, I won't learn anything."
For a moment, the professor studied him. Then he nodded slowly.
"Very well. Show me what you have."
The bell rang.
Marcus moved.
He was fast—impossibly fast for someone his size. In the original novel, he was described as "a boulder that moved like water."
Ethan didn't try to block or dodge. He simply dropped.
His body hit the ground as Marcus's fist passed through the space where his head had been. The crowd gasped.
I can't match him physically, Ethan thought. But I've read every fight scene in the novel. I know his patterns.
Marcus attacked again. A sweeping kick that could shatter stone.
Ethan rolled, feeling the wind of the kick pass over him. He came up with his hand extended, mana gathering at his fingertip.
It wasn't much. Just a flicker of energy, barely visible.
But it was aimed at Marcus's prosthetic arm—specifically, at the joint where metal met flesh.
The professor's eyes widened. He pulled back, aborting his next attack.
"You aimed for my weak point," he said. "How did you know?"
"Prosthetic arms have limited sensory feedback," Ethan replied, breathing hard. "You can't feel attacks aimed there until they land. It's your only vulnerability."
Marcus stared at him.
The crowd was silent.
"That information isn't public knowledge," the professor said slowly.
"No," Ethan agreed. "It isn't."
Marcus threw back his head and laughed—a deep, booming sound that echoed through the arena.
"Fifty-seven seconds," he announced. "And you identified a weakness no student has ever noticed. Passed."
The crowd erupted—not in cheers this time, but confused murmurs.
"How did an F-Rank—"
"He must have cheated—"
"Did you see that? He didn't fight at all, just ran—"
But some eyes watched with different emotions.
Seraphina, in the A-Rank section, leaned forward with interest.
Elena, in the B-Rank section, was scribbling notes furiously.
Luna, hidden in the shadows of the highest row, narrowed her violet eyes.
And Lucien Ashford, the protagonist himself, looked at Ethan with something like curiosity.
[QUEST COMPLETE: Combat Assessment]
Bonus: Impressed a professor
Reward: 200 Points, Reputation Increase
[HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED]
"The Professor's Interest"
Professor Marcus Ironheart has taken notice of you.
Reward: Opportunity to request personal training
Ethan climbed out of the arena, ignoring the whispers.
His plan was working.
He was no longer invisible.