The lecture chamber resembled a royal courtroom more than a classroom. Enchanted marble, levitating display tomes, and twenty elite students seated in perfect arcs—noble heirs, magic prodigies, and sword-saints in training.
When Eron Valemere entered, all heads turned.
Some curious.Some arrogant.Some cautious.
He wore no crest, no robe of legacy—only his custom training gear and the Requiem Edge slung behind his back. At his side, Neha stood in a black flame-trimmed coat. Her presence was like a controlled inferno—contained, but never passive.
"Isn't that the first-year who beat Kaien?"
"I heard he summoned a custom blade hound."
"No retinue, no title… what even is he?"
The instructor appeared on a floating platform—Professor Vayra, silver-haired and sharp-eyed. She wasted no time.
"Welcome to the Combat Synergy class. Here, you don't just learn to fight—you learn how to fight with others. If you wish to survive the Grand Academy Tournament, you'll need it."
That caught Eron's attention.
He raised his hand. "What tournament?"
Vayra arched a brow. "Ah, right. Transfer. Every four months, the Academy hosts a sanctioned tournament between years, Houses, and party-registered students. This one's special—the 200th Year Anniversary Tournament. Three months from today."
"And the reward?"
She paused. "1st place gets access to a sealed imperial vault. You'll be allowed to choose one treasure from inside. The rest… get prestige. And scars."
Eron's system flickered.
[Quest Triggered: "The Crownless Claim"]Win the Grand Academy TournamentReward: Access to [Sealed Item: ???]Bonus: Skill Evolution Token (x2), EXP Boost
He smirked faintly.
"Sounds like something worth winning."
Later that afternoon, Eron and Neha stood in front of the towering guildhall. Built from reinforced stone and mana-infused wood, it was a hub of activity: swordsmen, mages, beast tamers, and bounty boards that stretched to the ceiling.
"Sure about this?" Neha asked.
"If we rely only on the academy or House Valemere, we're predictable," Eron said. "Adventuring gives us freedom. Resources. And an income that's not controlled by anyone else."
They approached the main counter. A guild official looked up—clearly unimpressed at first.
"You two don't look like freelancers."
Eron tapped the desk.
"Registration."
They submitted their names, basic stats, and underwent a mana scan.
[Adventurer Registration Complete]
Eron Valemere – Rank F (Provisionary)Neha Vales – Rank F (Provisionary)
Bonded Pair Status Detected: Linked Combat Efficiency Boost Active
Guild Benefits: Access to basic quests, monster bounties, and vault requests.
First Quest Available: "Shadow Fang Nest (Low Threat)" – Suburban sewer disturbance
"Take it," Eron said. "We'll clear it tonight."
The clerk blinked. "Alone? This is your first day."
He turned, already walking. "Won't be my last."
Back in his dormitory tower, Eron sat with his notebook—an actual hand-written one—mapping out what he needed before the tournament.
Mana problem: Solve before high-tier fights
Slime growth: Continue experimenting with its limits
Reality Smithing: Begin creating defensive gear and contingency tools
Independent funding: Guild, artifacts, and bounty claims
Class synergy: Explore link between Warlord abilities and party-based combat
He flipped the page and wrote one final line:
"If I win, I choose something they can't take back. Something no noble can steal."
Behind him, Neha polished the edge of his Requiem weapon while the slime jiggled on the table, trying to lift a pebble like a sword.
He smiled faintly.
For someone reborn from betrayal and death, he had never felt more alive.