"Three. That's all I managed last night."
Jin muttered, his tone low and annoyed.
He drew his katana from its sheath, sliced through the air with a clean vertical slash, then slid it back into place. Over and over, the motion repeated, precise and deliberate, as the hours dragged on.
Sitting nearby with his legs crossed, Jay watched him, his head tilted in confusion. Eventually, he couldn't hold it in anymore.
"So, why do you keep pulling out your sword and putting it back the exact same way?"
Jin shot him a sideways glance, clearly unimpressed by the interruption.
"Muscle memory," he said flatly, drawing the blade again without missing a beat. "When I'm in a fight, I don't want to waste time thinking about it. It's need be a subconscious movement."
Jay raised an eyebrow, still trying to wrap his head around it. He had started out shy and hesitant around Jin, but by now, that awkwardness had all but disappeared. He leaned back a bit, watching Jin's repetitive motions.
"Okay, but why?" Jay asked.
Jin smirked faintly, not stopping for a second.
"When you're in combat, you don't have the luxury to overthink every move. By practicing my sword movements, they'll eventually become instinctive, giving me those precious moments to strategize instead."
"I see!"
The steady shhhk of the blade leaving and returning to its sheath echoed through the air. Jay leaned back, arms crossed, silently watching Jin's precise, repetitive movements.
"You were with an active party of Awakened for a year, right? Didn't you at least pick up the basics?"
Jay's watchful gaze darkened, his expression clouding over as he lowered his eyes to the ground, a deep frown settling on his face.
"I was," he said quietly. "They were amazing people... but I didn't learn much. I was in a... uh, really bad place. I stopped eating, stopped sleeping... Honestly, I'm still shocked I didn't just end it all."
He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the memory.
"But I'm grateful to them," he added softly. "They supported me, even though I was just a stranger to them. And when I was finally ready to start learning... they were gone. They died."
Jin stopped, his sword sheathed. He searched his mind for the right words people used in situations like this but came up empty. So, he simply stayed silent.
"When you're in a battle," he finally said, "don't just focus on the enemy. Pay attention to your surroundings too."
With that, he began to walk away. However, he paused when Jay called out to him again.
"What did you decide about the request I made yesterday?"
Jin's mind flicked back to the conversation from the night before. After revealing his potential ranking of SSS+, he had also mentioned that the ORDER wanted him to take the next test. Lacking combat experience and unsure of his suitability for the test, Jay had asked Jin to join him.
Recalling the request, Jin replied bluntly.
"Why? What do I get out of it?"
Jay blinked, momentarily thrown off by the question.
"You... want something in return?"
He wracked his brain, trying to think of what he could offer, but everything seemed insignificant.
"I don't really have anything…"
Jin's expression remained firm.
"I want to see your Skill in return."
"Ah… my Skill?" Jay asked, surprised.
"Yes. That's the price," Jin said flatly.
Jay stood, then stepped forward.
"I have two Skills. Let me show you the first one."
He activated it.
[Skill: Mana Detection (I)]
Jay's senses sharpened, allowing him to perceive the spiritual energy around him. He looked at Jin.
"So? What do you think?"
Jin's lips curved into a faint, almost mocking smile.
'Fool, showing someone else your Skill without hesitation.'
He observed the activated ability.
[Trait: Copy]
With just a glance, the Skill's information seeped into his mind, integrating seamlessly into his soul.
Congratulations, Master. You have copied the Skill: [Mana Detection Lv.1].
Jin's faint smile lingered.
'Not bad, but my [Seer of the Unseen] is far superior for detecting spiritual energy. Still, it's fine.'
He looked at Jay and said.
"Very well. I'll help you."
Just as he turned to leave, Jay stopped him again.
"Wait! I have another Skill to show you."
Jin froze mid-step, quickly regaining his composure before turning back.
"Y-you have two Skills?"
"Um… yeah," Jay replied, deactivating his first ability and preparing to demonstrate the next.
Jin's eyes narrowed.
'I knew he was exceptional, but I didn't expect him to possess two Skills at just Level 2.'
Jay took a deep breath and activated his second ability.
[Skill: Presence Detection (I)]
Jin studied it carefully.
'Another detection Skill. It's decent, but not particularly useful to me.'
[Trait: Copy]
Still, Jin copied it without hesitation. The Cube's voice echoed in his mind once more.
Congratulations, Master. You have copied the Skill: [Presence Detection Lv.1].
Jin smirked inwardly.
'Not much of a gain, but I'll take it.'
Looking back at Jay, he nodded.
"Alright. I'll join you for the test."
This time, he turned to leave without interruption.
He was heading back to his hotel room when Mira appeared out of nowhere.
"Come with me," she said.
"And where exactly are we going?"
"Don't you want to see Luke's test?"
The idea intrigued him. Watching the most promising rankers—someone who could very well become his enemy in the future—was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. More than that, the chance to observe and possibly copy some of their Skills and Arts made it even more appealing.
"If you insist. But why aren't you there already?" he asked.
"I had other matters to handle," she replied.
Leaving Jay behind at the hotel, they hailed a taxi and headed to the exam center. The ride wasn't long—just about four kilometers. They had booked nearby hotels to minimize travel time and costs.
"Why aren't we bringing him along?" Jin asked.
"He's not ready to face them yet. It would only demotivate him."
She wasn't wrong. The candidates taking the test were the brightest talents of their generation—geniuses, alongside nobles who wielded immense power and wealth. Arrogant and proud, they carried themselves as if the world revolved around their abilities. For someone like Jay, who already saw himself as inadequate, witnessing them might crush his fragile confidence. He needed time to prepare for the harsh environment of the world.
"So, what kind of test is it?" Jin inquired.
"It's a combat test against monsters. The candidates have five minutes to either kill the monster or survive its attacks."
'That's... a pretty straightforward test.'
Reflecting on it, he realized most tests they took were designed without much complexity or thrill. Curious, he pressed Mira further.
"Why are the tests so basic? Wouldn't it make sense to challenge the participants more?"
"It's because of the influence of powerful, wealthy families."
Mira replied with a hint of disdain.
"They push for simpler tests to ensure their children have better chances of passing. A more complicated test might expose their weaknesses."
"So, not all nobles are as powerful as they claim."
"No, they're not. Most are trash—sloppy in battle and full of cowardice. They're only stronger than commoners because of the resources they hoard."
She paused briefly, her expression growing more serious.
"But there are exceptions. Some are monsters—true geniuses who have inherited their family's bloodlines. If you ever encounter one of them, my advice is simple: run."
Jin's crimson eyes glowed.
'Run? Who Me? Now that is absurd.'
The exam center was located outside the city, far from traffic and surrounded by dense forest. This isolation made the journey quick and seamless.
Upon arriving, Mira led the way to the testing hall. Guards were stationed at the entrance, carefully monitoring entry. Mira handed them a letter, and without hesitation, they allowed them through.
The test was already halfway done. Two large boards displayed the results—one showing the names of those who had killed their assigned monsters, and the other listing those who had simply survived.
Jin's eyes scanned the waiting area where the test-takers rested after their trials. In another corner, caged monsters, clearly restrained by magic, snarled and growled.
[Unique Skill: Seer of the Unseen]
Activating his unique skill, Jin analyzed the test-takers. Most were Level 2, with a few higher-level exceptions. Almost all of them carried artifacts, enhancing their combat abilities. Turning his attention to the monsters, he noted their immense strength and terrifying presence. Jin recalled that monsters were ranked by threat levels, and these were at least threat Level 2, as strong as a level 6 Awakened. It was clear the nobles relied heavily on their artifacts to succeed.
"Interesting. I thought only those above Level 2 were allowed to take this test."
"That rule only applies to commoners. Noble children take the test regardless of their level."
"That's the price of being weak," Jin muttered.
Mira glanced at him with a faint smile.
"So, we see things the same way. I'm glad you're not a self-righteous bastard."
'I'm not a bastard by any stretch.'
Jin thought, though he kept the comment to himself.
He shifted his gaze to the results on the screen. Fifty-two Awakened had passed so far, and none had failed. Eleven participants had killed their monsters in under ten seconds. But one record stood out—a kill time of 0.0034 seconds.
'How the hell does someone kill in zero seconds?'
His eyes narrowed as he read the name beside the record: Gaya Raphael.
Activating his skill again, Jin's crimson eyes glowed as he scanned the area, searching for her. Yet, no matter where he looked, she was nowhere to be seen. He considered asking Mira about her but dismissed the idea, wary of giving the wrong impression.
'She might think I'm interested in her... romanticly. After all, she's of royal blood.'
Disappointed, his gaze turned back to the boards, this time searching for Luke's name. It wasn't listed on the monster-killing scoreboard.
"So, he hasn't entered yet?"
"Check the survival board."
Following her advice, Jin found Luke's name at the top of the survival board, with the maximum time of 5 minutes.
"Of course," Jin said dryly. "That contract of his."
"Yes," Mira agreed, a hint of regret in her voice. "It's a shame. Without it, he might have ranked in the top ten for monster killing."