CHAPTER 71: PRIVATE TRAINING (3)

He looked at Varik’s coat as it came off, dark, reinforced. Faint scorch marks on one sleeve. Not from today. From older things. Harder fights.

Underneath, a simple grey shirt. Fitted armor weave. No flare.

His arms were scarred. Forearms layered with old burn marks, blade trails, one that looked like it had come from acid.

Lucen’s thoughts flashed.

’Each one of those lines is a reminder. A stat check. A tax receipt for surviving.’

He exhaled, slow. "You better not hold back."

Varik smiled. First time.

It wasn’t nice.

"I’m not the one who needs to worry."

Lucen stepped back, just slightly. His hand flicked low.

[Shockweave Bolt]

[Mana: 112 / 112]

Varik’s eyes flicked to it. He didn’t flinch.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t even shift his stance.

Just said, "You’ll only get better if you try to kill me."

Lucen’s system buzzed again.

[EXP Boost: +320% — Confirmed]

[Class Benefit Triggered: Combat Enhancement Adaptation Active]

Lucen stared.

’Four times the growth rate if I survive this.’

He licked his teeth once.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let’s see what a real S-Rank thinks of spell tracing."

Then he moved.

—

Lucen launched.

[Shockweave Bolt]

[Mana: 105]

The air cracked. Arc lightning spiraled mid-spin and shot forward, targeting center mass.

It reached Varik in less than a second.

It never touched him.

Varik sidestepped. Not with effort. Not even reflex. Just a half-step like he was bored of standing still.

Lucen’s bolt slammed into the wall behind him, scorched steel screaming against high-voltage residue.

Lucen didn’t pause.

Flicked left. [Ignition Burst].

[Mana: 99]

The firebolt arced wide, meant to catch Varik on the dodge path.

He didn’t dodge.

He reached out and caught it.

The bolt hissed in his hand like a mad wasp. Then died. Snuffed.

Lucen blinked.

’Okay. Cool. Normal. I’ll just retire early.’

Varik tilted his head slightly. "Again."

Lucen gritted his teeth.

[Frost Spire]

It jutted up fast, angled spike aimed for Varik’s ankle.

He stomped it before it cleared the floor. Shattered the top third like it was made of sugar glass.

Then moved.

Lucen barely saw it.

A blur, Varik was in front of him, hand already extended.

Lucen raised both arms to brace, too slow.

The impact didn’t come.

Varik’s palm stopped half an inch from Lucen’s chest.

Enough force behind it that the mana in Lucen’s body recoiled on instinct.

The pressure set every nerve in his arms buzzing.

He froze. Breathing sharp. Eyes locked.

Varik stared down at him. Not angry. Not mocking.

Just curious.

"Your class."

Lucen didn’t answer.

Varik narrowed his eyes. "That wasn’t spell tracing."

Lucen hesitated.

’No point. He already knows. He just doesn’t want to guess wrong.’

He exhaled once, then said it. Quietly. Like he wasn’t sure the room would let him.

"Spellcraft Sovereign."

Varik didn’t blink.

Didn’t react.

For three seconds.

Then he took a single step back.

"You’re joking."

Lucen shook his head.

"S-Rank?" Varik asked.

Lucen looked up at him.

"No."

The silence snapped like glass.

Varik’s jaw locked. His eyes tracked Lucen like he was suddenly dangerous. Not suspicious. Not odd.

Dangerous.

"What rank."

Lucen didn’t answer right away.

Just reached up and flicked the sweat off his eyebrow.

Then said it.

"Triple S."

Varik stared.

Nothing moved on his face. No shock. No curse. Just... frozen thought.

Then—

He laughed.

Short. Quiet. Uncomfortable.

"You shouldn’t exist."

Lucen shrugged. "That makes two of us."

Varik’s smile faded.

He looked at the floor.

Then back at Lucen.

"You just became the most dangerous thing in this building."

Lucen gave a tired half-smirk.

"Good. I was getting bored."

—

Varik didn’t speak for a few seconds.

Didn’t move either.

Just stared at Lucen like he was something written in the wrong language.

Then he said, quieter this time, "Prove it."

Lucen raised both brows. "I thought I just did."

Varik moved.

Fast.

Lucen backstepped on reflex, hands up, mana already pulsing.

Too slow.

Varik appeared in front of him again. This time, close. Closer than comfortable. No warning.

Lucen fired.

[Soundlash]

[Mana: 91]

The shock pulse cracked point-blank between them.

The floor rippled. Air folded. The walls screamed under the pressure wave.

Varik didn’t flinch.

He let the sound hit him.

Let it pass through him.

Then placed a hand on Lucen’s shoulder.

Lucen didn’t feel fingers. He felt gravity.

His legs almost buckled. Pressure slammed through his frame like weight had tripled.

He gritted his teeth and pushed back.

Mana surged from the base of his spine.

[Crater Bloom]

[Mana: 80]

The explosion launched him up, straight vertical, heat flash coating the floor.

Varik let go.

Lucen spun mid-air. Landed with both feet skidding across reinforced tile.

He lifted his arm again.

[Cataclysm Vector]

[Mana: 20]

Varik’s eyes finally widened. Just a little.

"Wait—"

Too late.

The blast initiated.

The spell didn’t explode outward.

It inverted.

Air collapsed into a single point. Pressure lock. Gravity fracture.

Then it burst.

Flame. Lightning. Ice. All at once.

The entire corner of the chamber lit up like a riot.

The alarms didn’t trigger. This wasn’t a real facility. No one outside would know.

Varik disappeared behind the blast.

Lucen landed on one knee. Breathing sharp. Skin flushed with spellburn.

[Mana: 25 / 112]

[Recovery: 2.3/sec]

’Overkill. But dramatic. I should bill him.’

The smoke cleared.

Varik stood in the center.

Coat smoldering. One sleeve missing. Hair slightly tousled.

Still smiling.

Not amused.

Impressed.

"You just burned through four sigils in thirty seconds."

Lucen nodded once. "You said prove it."

Varik walked forward again. Not fast.

But every step cracked the floor.

"You’re not supposed to be this good at level seven."

Lucen shrugged. "Guess I missed the memo."

Varik stopped two paces away.

Then laughed. Quiet. But real.

"This system... it’s broken."

Lucen tilted his head.

"You mean yours, or mine?"

Varik pointed.

"You shouldn’t even have spell capacity like that."

Lucen smiled slightly. "I know."

Varik folded his arms.

"You don’t need a guild."

Lucen blinked. "That’s a new one."

"You need control. If you lose that for one second—just one—someone dies."

Lucen didn’t answer right away.

His hands still crackled faint with residual mana. His coat had scorch lines now. His breath was just barely back to normal.

He looked up.

Eyes sharp.

Voice calm.

"Then I’ll make sure it’s the right someone."

Varik stared.

And nodded.