The moment Jae-Hyun stepped out of the sparring ring, he felt the weight of dozens of eyes on him.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Did he really just beat a Level 10 Combat Puppet?""That's impossible! He was a weakling just yesterday!""Did he hide his strength all this time?"
Even Instructor Garan was silent, his expression unreadable.
[ Mission Complete: Defeat the Combat Puppet ][ Reward: +2 Strength, +2 Agility ]
Jae-Hyun clenched his fists, feeling the subtle change in his body. His muscles felt tighter, his balance more refined—it wasn't a huge transformation, but he could tell.
The system is real.
Elaine Frost approached, her sharp blue eyes scanning him like a puzzle she couldn't solve. "What the hell was that?"
Jae-Hyun shrugged. "I won."
She scoffed. "Yesterday, you couldn't even hold a sword properly. And now… you fight like someone who's been training for years."
"Maybe I was just holding back before."
Elaine narrowed her eyes. "Hmph. Don't get cocky. One fight means nothing."
Before he could respond, Instructor Garan's voice boomed across the field.
"Evaluation over." He turned to Jae-Hyun, his gaze unreadable. "You pass."
Jae-Hyun exhaled. He did it.
But then—
"However," Garan continued, "this academy has no place for anomalies. Your skills are beyond what you should be capable of. From tomorrow, you will undergo an individual evaluation under my supervision."
The crowd gasped.
Jae-Hyun froze. What?
"I don't know what trick you're using," Garan said, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion. "But if you want to stay here, you'll prove it's real."
Jae-Hyun met his gaze. This was a challenge.
And for the first time, he wasn't afraid.
[ New Mission: Survive Garan's Training ][ Reward: ??? ]
A small smirk tugged at his lips.
Bring it on.