CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 124 - THE TEST CONTINUES ?

The moment environment around Luca changed, something felt wrong.

The floor was different—engraved with complex geometric runes. The ceiling, higher than before, pulsed with ominous light. At the far end stood not a trial device, but a massive creature of stone, towering twice as tall as any golem he’d seen before. Thick arms like siege pillars, legs like tree trunks, and a jagged chestplate that pulsed—once, twice—like a beating heart.

This... this isn’t a first-year trial.

His eyes narrowed.

This is a second-year final trial. Why the hell am I—?

BOOM.

The golem moved before he could finish the thought, slamming both fists down with earth-shattering force. Luca leapt back, narrowly avoiding the shockwave that split the ground into fractured veins.

No time to think. Focus!

He unsheathed his sabers.

The first few exchanges were frantic—he barely dodged a sweeping arm that could crush boulders, and his initial slashes bounced off the creature’s thick armor. The air vibrated with each blow. Dust rose. Cracks spread. The golem fought with coordinated brutality, combining relentless strength, rapid counter-attacks, and devastating area defense.

It’s designed to test all three parameters simultaneously.

He gritted his teeth, parrying a downward hammer fist that sent sparks flying as his saber screeched against stone.

Then I will have to take it seriously.

And then—something shifted.

Luca’s footwork tightened. His body loosened. The fear in his heart dimmed, replaced by clarity. He slid beneath the golem’s leg, slicing its calf joint. Spun behind, dodged a backhand swing, and landed a double slash across its waist.

BOOM. BOOM.

Each of his attacks now found purpose. Every move flowed—agility refined, strength precise, defense reactive.

Outside the chamber, crowd began to gather, the students from 2nd and 3rd year started arriving.

The first years looked around in astonishment.

"Look, it’s senior Vincent and senior Elowen," a first year student said, as they arrived with a small crowd of upperclassmen.

Kyle’s eyes widened. "He’s really pushing himself. I thought I had caught up, but....He is a monster."

As Aurelia arrived beside him as she smirked. "Think he’ll surpass me?"

Aiden stood silent. His fists clenched. He muttered beneath his breath, "I have to get even stronger..."

Elowen smiled softly. "I guess now I understand a little as to why the mother tree is looking for him ."

Vincent stood beside ,"With a rare smile on his face."

A murmur swept through the upperclassmen.

"He’s matching a second-year boss..."

"What stage is he in again?"

"He is surely a first year student, right?"

A familiar loud voice rang through. "That’s my boy!" It was John, the Hero Research Club Vice President, beaming. "Knew it the moment I saw that spark. He’s born for this."

Lilliane’s gaze drifted from the screen to Aiden, uncertain.

Should she be happy for Luca? Or... was it wrong to feel that flutter of awe?

Selena stood still—expressionless—but her fists trembled, nails digging into her palm.

Back inside—

Luca’s chest heaved. His hair was soaked. Every muscle screamed.

The golem roared, its body glowing, preparing a finishing blow—a pulse of mana erupting from its core.

Luca squinted. There...

A faint, flickering light beneath the chestplate.

The core.

"Time to end this."

He bolted forward, feet skating across the cracked floor. The golem slammed a fist—Luca deflected with both sabers, using the force to launch himself upward. He ran up its arm, sliding and leaping as debris crumbled beneath his feet.

Then—

He flipped in midair.

Time slowed.

With a final roar, he drove both sabers straight into the core—black lightning and silver light piercing through.

CRACK—!

The core split in two.

The golem froze, arms still raised... then collapsed with a thunderous groan, crumbling into dust.

Luca fell to one knee, breathless. His sabers clattered beside him. Mana drained. Muscles numb.

He looked up—

And golden light spiraled around him once again.

Brighter than before.

No applause. No cheers.

Just awe.

Silence.

As Eric muttered in the corner, "He seems stronger this time, do we.... finally have a chance?"

And the echo of a new name being etched into Arcadia’s legacy.

Luca Von Valentine.

The gates opened.

Luca stepped out, face calm and unreadable despite the sweat still clinging to his brow and collar. His eyes remained fixed forward, not sparing a glance at the dozens—no, hundreds—gathered in shocked awe.

Seraphina’s voice rang out, clear and unwavering.

"Strength: 100. Agility: 100. Defense: 100."

"Grade: A+ in all three."

"Joint Top Ranker among all first years in Arcadia Academy’s history."

A wave of gasps spread like wildfire.

"He maxed all three?!"

"That was to be expected after such performance"

"Even Vincent and Elowen didn’t get all A+ back then!"

"—However," Seraphina continued, and the murmurs fell silent again, "Among second years... he ranks third highest in Arcadia Academy’s recorded history."

That was enough to silence everything completely.

A second-year girl blinked, stunned. "W-Wait... does that mean...?"

Another boy finished in a breathless whisper, "He’s only behind Aurelia..."

No one dared speak further. Even some third-years looked uneasy.

Seraphina’s voice echoed again, final and absolute:

"Total of 7000 credits awarded. Testing concluded."

If it were anyone else, the announcement alone would have sent them jumping in celebration. But Luca didn’t smile. He didn’t even flinch.

Instead, there was a small frown carved across his face. Barely visible. But enough for Vice Dean Caleum to notice. He tilted his head slightly, a knowing, amused smile twitching at his lips.

"Everyone disperse."

Even then, most students hesitated, lingering longer than necessary. Eventually, one by one, they filtered out—still murmuring, still glancing back toward the boy who had shattered every standard they thought was unbreakable.

And finally, he was alone.

Luca walked slowly down the corridor, the sound of his footsteps echoing faintly. His hands were loose at his sides, but his thoughts—

I could’ve done better...

His brows furrowed.

"A lot better."

If only... I could use Moonslayer.

I should’ve focused more on it. Trained harder so I could control its power properly—damn it."

His mind whirled with regret, despite the accolades. Despite the glory.

He opened the door to his dorm room and stepped inside. The warmth of the room contrasted the coldness pressing into his chest. He let the sabers rest gently beside the desk before dragging himself to the bathroom.

The moment the water hit his skin, icy cold and unforgiving, Luca closed his eyes.

He let it wash over him—every thought, every doubt, every second of the test replaying in his mind. The boulders. The golems. The rain of arrows. The spiraling golden glow. The golem fight that should have crushed him... but didn’t.

And still, all he could think was—

"It’s not enough."

Luca exited the shower, steam still rising from his body as droplets trailed down his skin. A simple towel hung low around his waist, clinging to his hips. His hair was damp, dark strands plastered against his forehead. Without another thought, he stumbled forward and collapsed onto the bed.

"Tomorrow..." he murmured to himself, eyes half-lidded, "I need to focus more on it... the Moonslayer..."

A sigh escaped his lips as he rested his arm across his forehead. The room was dim, the only source of light the moonlight spilling in from the window, casting faint silver lines on the wooden floor.

"But how?" his thoughts spiraled, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "How do I even begin to control it? Master could’ve helped me in an instant. Maybe I should just call her..."

He paused.

"...No. She’s probably busy. She always is."

The room fell into silence, save for the faint ticking of a clock. Time passed, and night blanketed Arcadia in full. The fatigue from the test, from the battle, and from the overwhelming attention began to ebb away, replaced with the lingering frustration of unfulfilled potential.

Luca sat up at last, rubbing the back of his neck, then got to his feet with a grunt. He walked over to the wardrobe and opened it, glancing over the neatly folded academy uniform shirts, pants, and the spare black hoodie he liked to wear at night.

Click.

The sound was faint. Like a footstep. A whisper of movement behind him.

Luca’s brows furrowed.

Presence.

It was subtle, but unmistakable. A sensation he’d honed over countless battles. His instincts flared.

"Huh...?" he muttered. "Did Master actually show up—?"

He turned around casually with a soft, expectant smile—

And froze.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

The scream ripped through the dormitory hallway.

Eyes wide in sheer disbelief, Luca stumbled backward, bumping into the open wardrobe door, nearly losing his towel.

"Y-You’re not Master!" he shrieked, pointing a shaking hand at the figure standing silently in the middle of his room.