The night was silent, and Lian's dormitory felt even emptier than usual. He sat on his bed, Oblivion resting at his side. The black blade glimmered faintly, and the purple gem embedded in the hilt pulsed as if it were alive. Lian gazed at it, lost in thought.
"Three days," he murmured to himself, recalling Vida's words. "It was close... If I had gone any further, I might not even be here now."
His mind drifted to Ark's warning: "There's always something stronger waiting for you." Lian knew the vice-director was right. He had talent, sure, but talent without preparation was a recipe for disaster.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" A familiar voice echoed inside his head. It was Oblivion, slicing through the silence of his thoughts.
Lian, a bit surprised, said, "So now you're going to talk to me without taking me to that strange place?"
"When you started using my abilities, our connection grew stronger, so I no longer need to do that to communicate with you," Oblivion replied.
Lian ignored this and answered Oblivion's question.
Lian sighed. "Do I even have a choice?"
The purple gem glowed faintly, as if amused. "You always have a choice, boy. The question is, are you willing to pay the price for it?"
Lian furrowed his brow, ignoring the sword's provocation. He knew Oblivion loved to test his patience, but it only fueled his determination. Rising to his feet, he picked up the blade, staring at its sharp, gleaming edge.
"If strength is what I need, then that's what I'll seek."
The following morning, Lian arrived at the academy's arena early. The place was massive, a structure that blended steel and concrete seamlessly. Rows of seating surrounded the combat field, and the ground bore the scars of countless battles.
Ark Zenith was already there, standing in the center like a predator waiting for its prey. Other instructors and a handful of students were scattered around, watching from a distance. Lian could feel their gazes on him, but he refused to let them intimidate him.
"Right on time, kid," Ark said, his tone flat. "Today, we'll see if you're truly worthy of Class A or if I made a mistake putting you there."
Lian stepped forward, his posture straight and confident. "I'm ready."
Ark chuckled dryly, crossing his arms. "We'll see. Your challenge today is simple: survive." He pressed a button on a remote in his hand, and a section of the arena floor began to open.
From within, a massive robot emerged. Standing nearly three meters tall, it was constructed from reinforced silver metal. Its arms ended in sharp, blade-like extensions, and its glowing red eyes radiated intelligence and menace.
"What is that?" Lian asked, adjusting his combat stance.
"A Rank D combat unit. Smarter and deadlier than anything you faced in the portal," Ark replied. "I'll be monitoring your movements. Show me what you're capable of."
The robot didn't wait. Without warning, it lunged forward, its right blade cutting through the air toward Lian. He leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the machine was fast. It spun around, swinging its other blade in a wide arc, forcing Lian to block with Oblivion.
The impact was deafening, like a thunderclap. Lian's arms shook from the force, but he held his ground.
"You're fast," he muttered, locking eyes with the machine.
The robot charged again, delivering a series of rapid, precise strikes. Lian dodged and deflected as best he could, but it was clear the machine was testing his limits. He couldn't keep up this pace for long.
"Use my powers," Oblivion's voice echoed in his mind.
"Not yet," Lian responded mentally. He wanted to win without relying on the sword's full power, at least this once.
Gaining some distance, Lian darted forward and aimed a precise slash at the robot's leg. Oblivion's blade cut through the metal with ease, but the machine reacted quickly, swinging its arm and striking Lian with the flat of its blade.
The blow sent him sprawling to the ground. He rolled several times before coming to a stop, gasping for breath. His shoulder throbbed with pain, but he forced himself to stand.
"You'll die at this rate," Oblivion taunted.
Lian gritted his teeth. He knew he needed something more. Closing his eyes briefly, he focused on the shadows around him. He felt them pulse, alive, like na extension of himself.
When he opened his eyes, the shadows began to move, snaking along the ground like living tendrils. The robot charged again, but the shadows rose up, wrapping around its legs like chains. It struggled, trying to break free, but Lian tightened his grip, locking it in place.
"Now!" Lian shouted to himself, charging forward with Oblivion.
He delivered a slash to the robot's joint, then another to its neck. Sparks flew as the metal hissed and cracked. The machine fell to its knees, but before Lian could finish it off, the robot unleashed a shockwave of energy.
The blast shattered the shadows and sent Lian flying once more. He hit the ground hard, tasting blood in his mouth.
"Get up!" Oblivion roared.
Lian took a deep breath, forcing himself to rise. "I won't lose."
He summoned the shadows again, this time enveloping the robot's entire body. The tendrils constricted, crushing its joints and preventing it from moving.
With one final push, Lian leaped forward and drove Oblivion into the robot's core. The blade pierced through, and the machine shuddered before collapsing into a heap of metal and sparks.
The arena fell silent. Lian knelt on the ground, panting heavily but alive. Ark approached slowly, his expression unreadable as he examined the destroyed robot.
"It wasn't pretty, but you won," he said. "Maybe you do have a future after all."
Lian lifted his head, meeting Ark's gaze. "I told you I'd prove that I deserve to be here."
A rare smirk crossed Ark's face. "You showed potential. But remember this, kid: potential without control is worthless."
Turning to leave, Ark added over his shoulder, "Rest up. You're going to need it."
Later that night, Lian was back in his dormitory. He sat on his bed, Oblivion resting in his lap. The purple gem glowed faintly, its light reflecting in his eyes.
"You still have much to learn, boy," Oblivion said, its voice softer but no less intense.
"I know," Lian replied, gripping the sword tightly. "But I'll get there. I have to."
He closed his eyes, the weight of his promises settling on his shoulders. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, but he was ready to face them.
This was only the beginning.