"Th-there's someone walking through the fire!"
The flames clung to him like obedient pets. He strode through them with his outfit slightly scorched but intact. His hair fluttered. Lines of blood trailed from his eyes and ears, yet his expression was as calm and cold as steel.
One of the instructors whispered in disbelief. "Is that…?"
The system screens zoomed in.
[Identity Confirmed: Victor Revenant]
Gasps, cheers and shock rang out.
The flames died entirely, as if bowing in respect. Victor walked across the arena with slow steps.
"Impossible…" murmured an older student.
"That fire came from inside the waiting room… and he just… walked out of it?"
Elyra who had been praised for her high compatibility score moments ago, looked stunned. Even she had no words for what she was witnessing.
Victor stopped at the center of the Warrior section. "Sorry. I'm here now."
The instructor was too stunned to speak for a moment.
Derek, seated in his row, clenched his fists tightly. "How did he...?"
Danny laughed from the stands. "That's my boy!!"
Rylan fist-pumped. "I knew it! I told you he was gonna make it!"
Amara, sitting near Derek, had her lips slightly parted. Her expression unreadable.
The arena was still recovering from the shock of the inferno that had erupted moments ago.
Whispers and gasps floated in the air like sparks from the fire, all centered around one name: Victor Revenant.
The flames had vanished, leaving nothing but charred stone near the passageway to the competitor rooms.
Victor stood amidst the cooling embers with a sharp expression despite the faint streaks of dried blood trailing from his eyes and ears.
Instructors rushed over, casting defensive spells while others prepared for healing. An instructor in a forest-green robe who was a healer, reached out and touched Victor's ches.
A soft golden glow spread from her hand to his body.
"Are you alright, Victor Revenant?" she questioned with a tone of concern.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
His voice was hoarse due to the chemical mist.
Another instructor in crimson armor, stepped forward with his brows furrowed. "Tell us what happened. Why were you late, and what caused the fire?"
Victor exhaled slowly and raised his eyes to meet theirs. "My room was locked. I tried to open it multiple times but it wouldn't budge. Then gas started pouring out of the vents. It messed me up... I couldn't even stand properly. I had to set the place on fire to weaken the lock. I used a lighter I had in my possession."
The Vice Principal walked forward with an intimidating aura.
Her long braid swung behind her like a whip as she narrowed her eyes at Victor. "Gas in the waiting room? Locked doors? That should be impossible. All doors are regulated through the Academy's internal security protocols."
Victor shrugged while wincing slightly. "Well, it happened."
Her frown deepened. "We will launch an immediate investigation. Whoever orchestrated this will be punished to the full extent of our laws." She turned to the healer. "Is he in any shape to continue?"
The healer nodded. "Give me a second."
She placed both hands on Victor's back, casting another tiered spell. A soothing wave of warm energy surged through him, realigning his nerves, restoring his energy circulation, and erasing the residual effects of the gas.
[ System Notification: Target Has Been Healed ]
[ Status: Optimal Condition ]
Victor straightened his back and cracked his knuckles. "Good as new."
The Vice Principal gave a brief nod. "You may proceed."
Victor stepped forward with a frown. He would focus on the competition for now but he swore internally that he would get whoever was responsible when all of this was over.
The instructor in charge of the Warrior division stepped forward and raised a sound-amplifying spell.
"Students, apologies for the disruption. The issue has been addressed and the competition will now resume."
Whispers erupted among the students. Spectators seated across the various sections were murmuring with amazement.
"Did you see how he walked through fire?"
"He wasn't even burned..."
"Is he immune to flames or something?!"
Victor walked toward the Warrior's section podium where the Legacy Weapon floated—
A few competitors had already touched it, and only one had broken the 90% mark: Elyra Vorn.
As Victor stepped up, the whispers grew louder.
Selene and Danny stood up from their section, waving frantically. "Victor! You good?!"
Victor gave a lazy half-salute without turning.
Meanwhile, across the arena, Derek clenched his fist.
"Tch... what really happened in there? It wasn't supposed to be ..." he muttered.
Amara beside him turned slightly. "What did you say?"
Derek immediately smiled. "Nothing. Just surprised."
Amara's gaze lingered a second longer.
Back at the Warrior podium, Victor stretched out his hand.
[ Legacy Weapon Compatibility Test Initiated ]
His palm touched the weapon, and the ancient runes on its surface began to glow, cycling rapidly through hues of red, then blue, then settling on a blinding gold.
The floating screen above the arena crackled to life:
[ Compatibility: 93% ]
A beat of silence followed.
Then the arena exploded in noise.
"He matched Elyra Vorn?!"
"Two 93s?! Who is this guy?!"
Elyra who was standing off to the side in her crisp academy combat uniform with her emerald-etched greatsword strapped to her back, arched an eyebrow. She met Victor's gaze for a brief second and then turned away.
Victor responded with the faintest smirk.
The instructor raised his hands once again. "Phase One: Concluded! All who passed with over 50% compatibility may proceed to the next stage. We begin preparations immediately."
Minutes later, the crowd was cheering loudly as the giant projections above the arena dimmed and then lit up again.
A video began to play, accompanied by the bold lettering: General Darius Stormrend - The Blade Within.
The footage displayed an armored man with windswept white hair and a battle-worn face, standing atop a cliff beside a squad of elite awakeners. He turned toward the camera with a faint smirk and the legendary legacy sword resting in his hand like a feather.
"Ignore the size of the blade... In the hands of a good warrior, anything can be a sword," he voiced with calm confidence.