Kenta stood at the gates of the massive kingdom, the towering walls looming above him like silent guardians. The sight was awe-inspiring—a city of stone and steel, bustling with life. Merchants shouted in the streets, knights patrolled in gleaming armor, and noble carriages clattered down cobbled roads. But Kenta's eyes were set on a single goal.
Through the whispers of the villagers and travelers he had met, Kenta had heard of an academy within this kingdom—an elite institution where only the best of the best trained in the arts of magic and swordsmanship. It was a place where future heroes were born, and Kenta knew that if he were to reach his full potential, this academy was the next step.
As he walked deeper into the kingdom, people began to stare. His worn clothes, covered in dirt from months of travel, made him stand out among the well-dressed citizens and nobles. He could feel their eyes on him, judgmental and cold. But Kenta didn't care. He had faced far worse than disdainful glances.
"I need to find the academy," Kenta muttered to himself, scanning the streets for any signs.
After a while, he spotted a group of young men and women, all dressed in finely embroidered robes, each of them holding ornate staffs or wearing swords at their waists. They were heading toward a grand structure in the distance—a tall building surrounded by towers and magical barriers that shimmered in the sunlight.
"That must be it," Kenta thought, quickening his pace.
The entrance to the academy was flanked by stone statues of warriors, their eyes glowing with magic. A large plaque above the door read "Arcane Sword Academy." Kenta walked toward the gate, excitement bubbling inside him. But before he could step through, a voice called out.
"Hey! You there!"
Kenta turned to see a group of young nobles standing by the entrance. Their clothes were rich, adorned with jewels and family crests, and their expressions were full of disdain.
"What do you think you're doing here, commoner?" one of them sneered. He was tall and thin, with slick blonde hair and sharp blue eyes. His sword gleamed at his side, and he wore a haughty smirk.
"I'm here to join the academy," Kenta said, his tone even.
The nobles burst out laughing. "Join the academy? You? Look at you, you're filthy! The academy is for nobles and those of high standing, not for someone like you," another one said, stepping forward. He was shorter but more muscular, with a sword strapped to his back.
Kenta's eyes narrowed. He had encountered people like this before—arrogant, thinking that birthright made them better than others. But he wasn't here to prove anything to them. He turned away, heading toward the main gate, but the tall noble blocked his path.
"Where do you think you're going?" the noble asked, a dangerous edge to his voice.
Kenta met his gaze without flinching. "Out of my way. I don't have time for this."
The noble's smirk disappeared, replaced by a scowl. "You think you can just walk into our academy? We'll see about that. How about a duel? If you win, we'll let you through. But if you lose, you leave and never come back."
Kenta raised an eyebrow. "A duel?"
"Yes," the noble replied, drawing his sword. "Unless you're too scared."
The other nobles snickered, already convinced of their friend's victory. But Kenta wasn't intimidated. In fact, he welcomed the challenge.
"Fine," Kenta said, his voice calm. "Let's get this over with."
A crowd began to gather as word of the duel spread. Students, instructors, and other onlookers formed a circle around the academy courtyard, murmuring excitedly. It wasn't every day that a commoner challenged a noble, especially in such a prestigious setting.
The noble, whose name was Raiden, took his stance, his sword gleaming in the sunlight. He pointed the blade at Kenta, arrogance dripping from his every movement.
"Are you sure you're ready for this, peasant?" Raiden taunted, twirling his sword. "I wouldn't want to hurt you too badly."
Kenta didn't reply. He simply raised his hand and said, "Build: Sword."
A magic circle appeared beneath Kenta's feet, and from the ground, a sword rose into his hand—its blade gleaming with a sharp, otherworldly light. The crowd gasped in surprise. It was clear that Kenta wasn't just any commoner.
Raiden's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Let's see how long you last."
The duel began in a flash. Raiden lunged forward, his sword slashing through the air with speed and precision. But Kenta was faster. With his enhanced reflexes from the Strongest Warrior skill, he sidestepped the attack effortlessly and parried with a quick strike of his own.
Clang!
The sound of metal against metal rang out as their swords clashed. Raiden gritted his teeth, trying to push Kenta back, but Kenta held firm, his strength overpowering the noble's.
"Impossible!" Raiden hissed, stepping back and charging again, this time with more force.
Kenta dodged each attack with ease, moving like a shadow. The crowd watched in awe as the commoner outmaneuvered the noble, each of Raiden's strikes missing their mark.
Finally, Kenta saw an opening. He ducked under one of Raiden's wild swings and, with a swift motion, knocked the sword from his hand. The blade clattered to the ground, and Raiden stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock.
Kenta pointed his sword at Raiden's chest. "It's over."
The courtyard fell silent. Raiden's face turned red with humiliation as he realized he had been bested by a commoner in front of everyone. He fell to his knees, defeated.
The crowd erupted in whispers, but Kenta ignored them. He turned his back on Raiden and walked toward the academy gates, his head held high. No one dared to stop him this time.
Inside the academy, Kenta was met by an instructor—an older man with a long beard and a robe embroidered with magical runes.
"You must be the one who defeated Raiden," the instructor said, his tone neutral. "Impressive. But if you wish to join the academy, you must pass the entrance exam."
Kenta nodded. "What do I need to do?"
The instructor led him to a large hall where other applicants were gathered. In the center of the room stood a glowing crystal ball, hovering above a pedestal. The ball was designed to measure magic capacity—only those with sufficient magical potential could enter the academy.
"Place your hand on the orb," the instructor said. "It will measure your magic capacity. Only those with the minimum required amount of magic will be admitted."
Kenta approached the orb, feeling the eyes of the other applicants on him. He could hear some of them whispering.
"He's just a commoner. No way he has the magic to pass."
"This will be over quickly."
But Kenta wasn't concerned. He placed his hand on the orb, and immediately, the ball began to glow brighter. The light intensified, growing stronger with each passing second.
Suddenly, the orb cracked.
Gasps filled the room as the cracks spread across the surface of the ball. Then, with a deafening boom, the orb exploded, sending shards of glass and magic energy flying through the hall.
Everyone stood in stunned silence. No one had ever seen anything like this before.
The instructor stared at the remains of the orb, his mouth agape. "I… I don't believe it."
"Only one person in history has ever caused the orb to explode," one of the students whispered. "The Hero."
"That means… this commoner has even more magic capacity than the Hero?"
Kenta stepped back, looking at his hand in surprise. He hadn't expected such a reaction, but it was clear now that his magic was far beyond what anyone could have imagined.
The instructor regained his composure and cleared his throat. "It seems we have a special candidate among us. You have passed the magic test… with flying colors."
But the exam wasn't over yet. Next was the sword test.
Kenta was led to a large training ground where several knights stood waiting. The test was simple: defeat as many knights as possible within a set time limit. Most applicants struggled to take down even one knight, as the academy's knights were highly trained warriors.
"Are you ready?" the instructor asked.
Kenta nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Begin!"
The first knight charged at Kenta, his sword raised high. But Kenta was quicker. He sidestepped the attack and delivered a swift strike to the knight's armor, sending him tumbling to the ground.
The crowd watching from the sidelines gasped in shock. No one had ever defeated a knight so easily.
But Kenta wasn't finished. More knights rushed at him, their swords flashing in the sunlight. Kenta met them head-on, his movements fluid and precise. He blocked their attacks, parried their blows, and struck with such speed that the knights couldn't keep up.
One by one, the knights fell before him, their weapons clattering to the ground. The time limit passed, and not a single knight remained standing.
The crowd was silent, stunned by Kenta's incredible display of skill. Even the instructor was speechless.
"You… you've passed," the instructor finally said, his voice filled with awe.
Kenta sheathed his sword, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He had proven himself, not just to the nobles who doubted him, but to everyone. He had earned his place in the Academy of Magic and Sword.
But this was only the beginning.