———————


    Beginner Mage: Lv 3


    EXP: 1666/4000


    HP: 74


    Energy: 92


    MP: -


    Agility: 51


    Strength: 55


    Vitality: 37


    Stamina: 46


    Intelligence: 41


    SP: 0


    [Elements]


    [Skills]


    [Lightning Bolt(Lv 1)]


    [Lightning Dash(Lv 2)]


    [Inspect(Lv 2)]


    ———————


    "It is with great pleasure tomence the opening of the Electives Battle!"


    Kyle looked up, directing his gaze to Instructor Dan once more.


    A ripple of excitement passed through the gathered Year 1 students.


    Forty-five days had gone by in a blur since they''d begun preparing for this very moment.


    Kyle, like the others, was eager, but for him, the excitement was more than just a rush of adrenaline. It was about something tangible. The rewards.


    The Electives Battle wasn''t just a spectacle; it was an opportunity. The top performers weren''t just going to get pats on the back or fleeting praise—they were going to walk away with significant benefits.


    Kyle couldn''t help but drool when his eyes locked onto the ss cases lined up on the podium. Each one held something that could elevate a student to the next level, a rare and valuable item that most of them could only dream of getting their hands on.


    Four items gleamed under the spotlight: a space pouch, a cauldron, a sword, and a Runic Textbook. These weren''t just any items. They were the kind of things that made the Electives Battle worth fighting for.


    The first item, a small leather pouch, almost seemed out of ce among therger, more obvious rewards.


    But any beast tamer worth their salt knew its true value. A space pouch wasn''t just a simple bag—it was a container that could hold a something without any weight.


    Like Kyle''s inventory... Its interior was a separate dimension, capable of storing anything from weapons to potions, and it could shrink or expand based on the user''s need.


    For the morebat-focused disciplines, like Beast Taming, a space pouch was a must-have.


    Being able to carry your beasts was a huge advantage. The pouch Kyle was staring at wasn''t an ordinary one either.


    He didn''t feel so desperate to have it though, as he had ess to something way better. His inventory.


    He couldn''t retrieve items out of his inventory in public for reasons best known to him.


    That was why the Space Pouch would be crucial in hiding that. But that wasn''t enough to convince him to go for it.


    Next to the pouch was a gleaming, intricately designed cauldron. It was a bitrger, with runes etched into the metal that glowed faintly under the arena lights.


    The cauldron wasn''t just for show—it was a top-tier alchemical tool designed for brewing potions at an elerated rate.


    For the alchemists, this cauldron was the holy grail. Its rune-enhanced structure allowed for greater control over temperatures and the speed of brewing, reducing the margin of error forplex concoctions.


    With it, a novice could brew advanced potions that might otherwise take years to master.


    Kyle could see why every Alchemy student was probably eyeing it like a hawk. The academy''s standard equipment was good, but this? This cauldron would make them the envy of every potion-maker in the academy, giving them an edge in both sswork and any future battles where potions were crucial.


    |em|p,yr


    The third item was a textbook with an exaggerated size. It had an estimated height of 15 inches, a length of 28 inches and a width 21 inches.


    Kyle could observe the gleaming  eyes of his fellow course mates, especially Lora''s as theyid their sight on it.


    Instructor La had exined the splendor of this textbook countless time to them.


    She said it contained an expansive list of various rare andmon Runic symbols, instructions on how to draw them along with a guide on their usage.


    He could feel the book''s aura from where he stood. It truly was magnificent, but it failed to capture Kyle''s whole attention.


    Kyle''s gaze locked onto the katana, his heart skipping a beat. The de, with its faint blue aura, seemed to hum withtent energy, as though waiting for a master to wield it.


    The craftsmanship was impable—sleek, razor-sharp, and perfectly bnced. The hilt, wrapped in ck silk with silver threads forming intricate patterns.


    This wasn''t just a sword; it was a masterpiece, a weapon worthy of a true swordsman.


    He could already imagine the feel of the katana in his hands, the weight perfectly aligned with his movements, the de slicing through the air with effortless grace. Every part of him wanted it, needed it.


    Kyle clenched his fists, a quiet determination settling in. This katana wasn''t just a reward—it was the key to unlocking his full potential. Whatever it took, he was going to make it his.


    Kyle sighed as he observed the whole items at once. They were all useful and excellent rewards.


    But it''ll not be easy to get his hands on them.


    Kyle knew from experience that power didn''t only onlye from natural talent or hard work.


    All these items could potentially boost someone''s power level to another level. That was why he coveted them.


    But it wasn''t just the rewards that had him buzzing with anticipation. Thest 45 days had been intense.


    The days of preparation.


    Each day was a bnce of cultivation, training, and lessons. Instructor


    Linda had been especially tough when it came to spellcasting.


    Mastering [Lightning Bolt] and improving [Lightning Dash] were no easy feats, but she demanded nothing less than perfection.


    Kyle had spent hours perfecting his form, ensuring that his casting was sharp, quick, and deadly.


    Every mistake was met with either a stern rebuke or an exhaustive drill to correct it.


    On some days he wasn''t working on his magic, Kyle trained with his weapon.


    The expansive hall in his house along with his new sword were being put to use.


    It was paying off as the katana felt like an extension of his arm now. Every swing, every parry—it all became muscle memory after countless sparring sessions.


    There were moments when he pushed himself to the brink of copse, but that was the point.


    The battle wasn''t just about raw skill—it was about stamina, endurance, and how long you couldst in a real fight.


    Between those, he dedicated time to cultivating his mana.


    Mana cultivation was painstakingly slow, Kyle had to admit but it was worth it.


    Kyle could feel the slow but steady buildup inside him, like a me that was stoked day by day, growing hotter and stronger.


    It was slow but worth it, and he eventually managed to break through to the third level. Milo beating him to it.


    He didn''t mind as the feeling of his revenge always made him look at Milo with a proud smile.


    Unfortunately for him, there had been no new spell to learn after breaking through.


    Instructor Victoria had said he''ll have to wait till the 7th Level to do so. That was still a very long way to go and Kyle could do nothing but wait.


    The instructors had done their best to prepare the Year 1''s for the Electives Battle.


    Every day, there had been something new to learn in their Electives, some new way to push their limits.


    Instructor Dan,  had put extra emphasis on strategy with their personal training, drilling him on the importance of reading their opponents.


    It wasn''t enough to be strong—you had to be smart.


    "Pay attention to their movements, their habits," Dan had said their sessions. "The smartest fighter in the room isn''t always the fastest or strongest. It''s the one who can outthink the others."


    Kyle had taken his advice to heart, learning and improving always.... And he could feel he was almost there.


    [Sword Intent Mastery: 41.71%]


    He wasn''t the only one preparing, though. Everyone was on edge, training harder than ever before.


    Even Riya  had began to show6up in the Arena, slowly creating a name for herself.


    She couldn''t measure up to him though, as he was already No. 13 in the Arena rankings.


    The name Abyss was on everybody''s lips due to the nature of his fights— the way he continued overwhelming everyone by using only two Tier-1 skills!


    "Abyss... He''s amazing!"


    "Yes... He had only used Tier-1 skills. What stage do you see him at?"


    "Haha! He''s definitely an Advanced mage or higher. Didn''t you see his mana pool? I''ve never seen it get exhausted in a match."


    "An advanced Mage? Hell, no! He''s definitely higher than that."


    Kyle who stood at the midst of all these was loving it and even managed to get some rewards from defeating strong opponents.


    Back to the present…


    And now, all of that preparation was about to pay off. The atmosphere was buzzing as Instructor Dan continued.


    "For the next few days, you will be divided into groups based on your electives.


    The battles will be in a round-robin format, with each student facing off against others who have chosen different disciplines."


    Kyle looked around, catching glimpses of his peers. Some looked nervous, others focused.


    He could feel the same energy inside him—the kind that made his muscles twitch with anticipation.


    "The first round will be singlebat," Dan exined. "Victory is earned by knocking your opponent out of the ring or rendering them unable to continue.


    Remember: the goal is to demonstrate your skill and growth, not to causesting harm. Any vition of the academy''s safety rules will lead to immediate disqualification."


    Kyle smirked. He was ready. His cultivation, his weapon training, his spells—everything was on point. He wasn''t here to hurt anyone, but he wasn''t going to hold back either.


    "In addition to thebat trials, there will be specialized tests for your elective skills," Dan continued.


    "These will sum up to your points gotten from the group matches and determine your advancement to the Knockout stages.


    For example, the Rune Makers will be tasked with creating functional runes under pressure, and the Alchemists will need to brew an advanced potion in a timed challenge."


    Kyle''s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Rune Making.


    He had spent weeks learning the intricacies of rune formation, memorizing theplex symbols, and perfecting his technique.


    It wasn''t easy work, but it was fascinating. He was confident to im to be the best Rune maker after Lora.


    Dan paused, letting the weight of the words sink in. "Remember, this is your first test as students of this academy. You''ve worked hard to get here—now show us what you''ve got."


    The cheers that followed were deafening, the crowd of students hyping each other up, pping and hollering as they psyched themselves for what was toe.


    Kyle couldn''t help but grin. This was what he had been waiting for.


    "Good luck," Dan said with a grin of his own. "You''re going to need it."


    With that, the battle was officially on.


    Kyle cracked his knuckles, feeling the surge of energy course through his veins as he got ready for the first event.