Caleb and Kayla emerged from the shimmering gate, the energy around them settling as the competition drew to a close. Caleb leaned heavily on Kayla, his body still weak from the intense duel against the Gatekeeper. Sweat dripped down his face, and his breaths were ragged, but the determination in his eyes hadn't faded.
Kayla glanced at Caleb, concern evident in her expression. "You sure you're okay? You look like you're about to collapse."
"I'm fine," Caleb muttered, though his legs threatened to give out beneath him.
Once outside the gate, both of them instinctively checked their wristbands. A glowing leaderboard appeared before their eyes, revealing the final rankings:
Competition Leaderboard:
1. Caleb – 28,500 Points
2. Kayla – 26,900 Points
3. Mira – 23,000 Points
4. Damien – 21,500 Points
5. Zane – 20,000 Points
"You did it," Kayla said with a small smile, pointing at Caleb's name at the top. "First place. I guess saving me and defeating an S-rank boss paid off."
Caleb managed a weak chuckle. "Yeah, but I couldn't have done it without you watching my back."
Kayla playfully elbowed him. "Don't sell yourself short. You earned it."
Before they could continue, a bright light enveloped the forest, signaling the end of the competition. Moments later, all participants were teleported back to the starting point.
The area was filled with students from all participating schools, their faces showing a mix of exhaustion and excitement. The founders and heads of each school stood on a raised platform, watching their students with proud yet discerning eyes.
Caleb's legs wobbled as he stood in the teleportation zone. Kayla noticed and immediately wrapped her arm around his waist to support him. "Come on, let's get you to the mana jet before you collapse."
"Thanks," Caleb mumbled, leaning on her.
As they made their way toward the mana jet, Mira, who had been watching from a distance, stormed over. Her eyes darted between Caleb and Kayla, her lips pressing into a tight line.
"Kayla, I've got him from here," Mira said firmly, stepping in front of them.
Kayla raised an eyebrow. "He's fine with me. Why don't you go check on someone else?"
Mira ignored her and reached for Caleb's other arm. "Come on, Caleb, let me help."
Caleb groaned inwardly, caught in the awkward tension. "I appreciate it, Mira, but I'm fine with just Kayla's help."
Mira's face darkened, but she stepped back reluctantly. "Fine. But don't overexert yourself, alright?"
"Got it," Caleb said, giving her a weak smile.
Kayla smirked as Mira walked away, muttering something under her breath. "Jealous much?"
Caleb sighed. "Don't start."
Once seated in the mana jet, Kayla guided Caleb to his seat. She placed him down gently before settling next to him. As soon as he relaxed, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[System Alert: First Core Devouring Process Complete.]
[New Skills Acquired:]
God Gaze: Reveals the overall stats of any individual. When used, it induces fear and intimidation in the target.
Shadow Step: Grants the ability to walk on air and perform mid-air attacks.
Shadow Claw: A powerful fighting technique that channels dark energy into claw-like slashes.
[You have also received a special gift in your inventory.]
Caleb's curiosity peaked. "A gift?" he whispered, opening his inventory.
A new pair of daggers appeared in the interface, glowing faintly with a dark aura.
[Item: Voidfang Daggers]
Stats:
Attack Power: +200
Agility: +100
Critical Rate: +50%
Passive Skill: Phantom Slice – Each attack has a chance to deal double damage while creating a shadowy afterimage to confuse enemies.
Caleb's eyes widened as he read the details. These daggers were far superior to his current weapons. He couldn't wait to test them in action.
"Impressive," he muttered, closing the interface.
Beside him, Kayla had dozed off, her head resting on his shoulder. Caleb smiled softly, grateful for her support. Exhaustion soon caught up with him, and he leaned his head against hers, the gentle hum of the mana jet lulling him to sleep.
Mira glanced over from across the aisle and froze when she saw Caleb and Kayla asleep together. Her jaw clenched, and her fists tightened around the edge of her seat.
"Of course," she muttered bitterly. "He barely lets me help, but she gets to cuddle with him?"
She looked away, trying to push the jealousy out of her mind, but the image lingered, gnawing at her thoughts.
Two hours later, the mana jet landed at the competition's starting point, where the award ceremony was set to take place. The top five students from each school were called to the stage, their achievements announced to a cheering crowd.
Caleb, still recovering, stood with Kayla's help. Mira trailed behind them, her expression unreadable.
The head of the Awakeners Academy, a stern man with piercing blue eyes, stepped forward to address the crowd.
"Today, we celebrate the incredible achievements of these young awakeners," he said, his voice echoing through the arena. "They have proven their strength, skill, and determination in the face of immense challenges. Let us honor them with the rewards they have earned."
The rewards were distributed one by one: essence gems, skill scrolls, and rare items that left the crowd in awe.
When it was Caleb's turn, the headmaster handed him a shimmering crystal. "This is the SSS-rank essence gem you and Kayla were ment to be disqualified but the S rank beast attacked first and you managed to kill It," the man said, his tone reverent. "It is a treasure few have ever laid hands on. Use it wisely."
Caleb nodded, clutching the gem tightly. He could feel the immense power radiating from it.
After the ceremony, Caleb and Kayla sat together near the edge of the arena, watching the other students celebrate.
"First place," Kayla said, nudging him with a smile. "How does it feel?"
"Exhausting," Caleb admitted, chuckling.
Kayla laughed. "Well, you earned it. And now, you've got some fancy new daggers and skills to show for it."
Caleb glanced at her, his expression softening. "Thanks for sticking by me, Kayla. I couldn't have done it without you."
Kayla blushed slightly but shrugged. "Don't get all sentimental on me now. We're a team, right?"
"Right," Caleb said, smiling.
As the sun set on the competition, Caleb couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The journey to reclaim the cores was far from over, but with allies like Kayla by his side, he felt ready to face whatever came next.