The academy's second trial was a true test of subtlety and patience. Each student was required to infiltrate the Academy's research lab undetected and retrieve a sealed scroll placed at the center. Guarding the lab was none other than the sharp-eyed Kazuki Sensei, known for his unmatched detection skills and a cold, unrelenting judgment.
The first to go was Arthur.
Arthur, known for brute strength and charging headfirst into battle, clearly wasn't built for stealth. He tiptoed toward the lab, but in his confusion—or perhaps his stubbornness—he marched through the main entrance instead of the side window like instructed.
Before he could even react—
> "Arthur, you're visible, loud, and now... disqualified."
Kazuki's voice rang from the shadows like a ghost.
Arthur scratched his head awkwardly.
> "...Damn it."
He was awarded a flat zero. The other students chuckled but soon found themselves in similar situations. Kazuki Sensei caught nearly everyone, one after another, with hawk-like precision.
Only two managed to succeed:
Rose – using a blend of minor illusion kido and agile movement.
Shinji – sneaky as ever, using misdirection and decoys to slip past undetected.
When it was Mohit's turn, all eyes were on him.
> "Can a blind man really be stealthy?"
"He's good... but this is Kazuki we're talking about."
Mohit, thanks to his relentless spiritual awareness training, could sense the layout of the building and the presence of others like vibrations in the air. He moved slowly, deliberately, avoiding creaking steps and sudden motions.
But Kazuki was sharper.
As Mohit reached near the scroll chamber, Kazuki's calm voice echoed behind him—
> "You've improved... but not enough to fool me yet."
Another zero.
The second test ended. Many failed. A few passed. But the trial was far from over
Third Task – One-on-One Combat
The courtyard was filled with anticipation as the dueling brackets were announced.
Mohit was to face Arthur.
Their friendship aside, this fight was serious. And Arthur, despite his friendly nature, was known for relentless aggression and unmatched physical strength.
The match began.
Arthur charged in with explosive speed, swinging his blade with sheer force. Mohit, calm and collected, responded like flowing water—deflecting, sidestepping, conserving energy. His form was elegant, built around precision and patience.
> "Tch, you're not attacking back?" Arthur growled
> "I'm waiting," Mohit said quietly. "You'll give me an opening."
Minutes passed. The crowd watched as the fight turned more intense. Arthur's swings were becoming predictable—strong but wide.
Suddenly, Mohit vanished for a moment, and before Arthur could adjust—a sharp strike hit his side.
Arthur winced.
But at the last second, he'd managed to tilt his body just enough to avoid a direct hit to his ribcage. Blood trickled, but he was still standing.
The fight escalated.
Arthur now fought with greater caution, combining power with agility. Mohit, while graceful and clever, struggled to maintain control. His blindness meant even the smallest misstep could cost him the fight.
And eventually—it did.
Arthur feinted high and spun low, sweeping Mohit's footing. Mohit faltered for a split second, and Arthur pressed the advantage, landing a clean hit that knocked him back.
> "Match over!" the proctor declared.
Arthur rushed to help Mohit up, panting.
> "That was insane, man. You almost had me."
Mohit smiled faintly.
> "Almost isn't enough... not yet."Second Duel – Rose vs. Shinji
The next duel was between two of the academy's top-tier students: Rose and Shinji. The courtyard was buzzing with excitement. Both were admired for their unique styles—Rose, for his graceful and composed combat, and Shinji, for his unpredictable and confusing swordplay.
The whistle blew.
Rose stood tall and still, his katana raised with purpose. Shinji, as usual, smirked lazily.
> "Don't hold back, Rose. I hate boring fights," Shinji teased.
> "Likewise," Rose replied, his voice calm but sharp.
The clash began with a flurry of steel—blades met, sparks flew. Shinji used his signature style, feinting, reversing grips, and twisting his stance to throw off Rose's rhythm. For a moment, it looked like Shinji had the edge.
But Rose didn't fall for it.
He adapted quickly, countering Shinji's tricks with unshakable focus and footwork. Every time Shinji tried to bait a move, Rose redirected or punished the misdirection with a sharp counter.
As the minutes dragged on, Shinji's movements started to show slight fatigue.
In a sudden exchange, Rose spun behind him, dragging the flat of his blade against Shinji's ribs and locking his movement. Shinji froze.
> "Damn… Guess I lost," he muttered with a wry smile.
The crowd clapped. The match ended with Rose's victory.
Love's Duel – Over Before It Began
Love's opponent was a lesser-known student. From the start, the result was clear. Love's explosive power and brute strength overwhelmed the boy within seconds.
The duel barely lasted a minute.
> "That was just sad," Shinji sighed from the sidelines.
Love shrugged.
> "I didn't come here to babysit."
Fourth Task – Hollow Hunt
The final task was held in a controlled section of the forest, where low-level hollows were captured for evaluation. Each student had to take on two hollows, one after the other, in solo combat.
Arthur's Turn
Arthur stepped into the field, shoulders square, eyes focused.
As soon as the hollows appeared—two lanky, white-masked creatures—he charged in with wild speed. With a mix of raw power and relentless pressure, he slammed the first hollow to the ground in seconds.
The second hollow tried to strike from behind.
But Arthur turned and shattered its mask with a crushing overhead blow.
> Time: 5 minutes.
Shinji's Turn
Shinji walked in with his blade dragging, acting unimpressed.
The hollows attacked together, trying to swarm him, but Shinji played them like a game. He used terrain, dodged smoothly, and landed precise cuts. His final strike spun one hollow into the other before ending both with clean thrusts.
> Time: 7 minutes.
Rose and Love
Rose's elegance was on full display. He defended calmly and used kido to disable one hollow before finishing the other with graceful strikes.
> Time: 9 minutes.
Love was more forceful—he charged like a wrecking ball, blasting through trees if needed. One hollow was destroyed with a downward slam; the other tried to escape but didn't get far.
> Time: 7:59 minutes.
Mohit's Turn
Last to enter was Mohit.
A hush fell over the area. Everyone wanted to see how a blind man would face hollows.
He stepped onto the field slowly, hands relaxed, sword sheathed. His breathing was steady—focused.
The hollows emerged, snarling and circling him.
He didn't move.
Then—he vanished.
In a flash-step so precise it was almost invisible, Mohit appeared behind the first hollow and struck. One clean slash—mask shattered.
The second hollow leapt from above.
Mohit tilted his head.
He felt it—its presence, its killing intent. He pivoted mid-air and drew his blade upward. A shriek, a spray of dark mist—the second hollow fell.
Everyone stood in silence.
> Time: 3 minutes.
Even Kazuki raised an eyebrow.
> "Impressive…"
Sakazuki simply smirked, arms folded.
With all four tests concluded, the evaluation phase began. But rumors and whispers had already started spreading—
> "Did Mohit just set the fastest time?"
"He beat two hollows without seeing them?"
"What is that guy?"