The trio arrived at the Reaction Test Hall.

This hall was different.

Instead of targets or defensive formations, there were large transparent chambers shaped like cubes, each spanning ten meters in every direction. Inside them, faint grids of light flickered across the space.

"This test will measure your reaction speed," Wuzai said. "You will enter the chamber, and attacks will be launched at random intervals and from random directions."

"Your job is simple. Avoid everything."

"Dodging, blocking, deflecting, or destroying the incoming attacks are all acceptable, but getting hit will reduce your score significantly."

A student nearby stepped into one of the chambers first.

The moment the door sealed—

FLASH!

A thin beam shot toward his shoulder.

He barely moved in time, dodging it.

Then—

Five more attacks came from different directions.

He panicked.

One grazed his leg.

Another struck his back.

Within seconds, he was overwhelmed.

[Reaction Score: 8,912]

[Rank: 9,873rd]

"Too slow," Wuzai said flatly. "Next."

A few more participants went. Some lasted longer, some performed decently, but none stood out.

"Rudrean."

Rudrean stepped forward and entered the chamber.

The door sealed behind him.

Silence.

Then—

FLASH!

A beam shot toward his neck.

Rudrean tilted his head slightly.

Missed.

Another beam came from behind.

He stepped forward half a step.

Missed.

Three more appeared simultaneously.

Rudrean’s eyes flickered.

Time... slowed.

No.

It didn’t slow.

He was simply processing everything faster.

’So this is what +100% action speed really means...’

His body moved before conscious thought.

Twist.

Lean.

Shift.

Every motion was minimal, precise, and efficient.

More attacks came.

Ten.

Twenty.

Fifty.

They accelerated.

From beams...

To projectiles...

To curved trajectories.

Some even appeared mid-air without warning.

But Rudrean moved like flowing water.

Every dodge was perfect.

Every reaction was instant.

Not a single wasted movement.

Not a single hit.

Outside, Wuzai’s eyes narrowed.

’This... is not normal.’

’This isn’t just reaction speed... this is predictive instinct... nah, it can’t be that. Predictive instincts require the ability to sense the intent of motion within everything itself. Not even top guild masters have acquired that talent. He must simply be too fast for these levels of attacks.’

Inside, Rudrean didn’t even feel pressured.

’Too easy.’

The attacks grew faster.

Denser.

Harder to track.

But his eyes tracked everything.

His mind calculated everything.

His body executed everything.

Perfectly.

Until—

The chamber stopped.

Silence returned.

Rudrean stood there, completely untouched.

[Reaction Score: 150,000]

[Rank 1st in the Foundation Stage Reaction-Speed category]

The entire hall fell silent.

"W-What?!"

"First place?!"

"He didn’t even get hit once?!"

The leaderboard shifted violently.

A new name appeared at the very top.

RUDREAN.

Wuzai stared at him for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Outstanding."

Rudrean stepped out calmly.

Aelira cracked her knuckles. "My turn."

Aelira wasn’t as fast as Rudrean, but she was still faster than most Foundation Stage experts, all thanks to the 100% parameter boost.

And this wasn’t even their full power.

Because Rudrean’s Path Talent, Ardor Ad Vinculum, was simply too terrifying.

Its effect was as follows: All physical and magical parameters +100% when you are within 1 kilometer of a person who has your undying love. This boost applies to both you and that person.

And this was +100% per head.

If Isalyn was outside instead of in the pocket dimension, they would be even more powerful.

[Reaction Score: 144,193]

[Rank 2nd in the Foundation Stage Reaction-Speed category]

’Too powerful. The boost they have from their Arcane Path is insane.’

Wuzai’s eyes glinted. ’If they had used even more powerful spells and techniques, at least 3-star and 4-star ones like the other top 10 on the leaderboard, they would have taken first and second place in the offense leaderboard as well.’

"Alright, let’s head for the last test. It will give you your starting bread and butter, so clear as many waves as you can."

...

The last test was about fighting monster waves, but not actual monster waves.

Instead, it was some kind of advanced magic system within several life-like craters constructed in a large hall.

Students were supposed to stay at the center of the crater, and the monsters would come in from different directions in waves.

Not real monsters, but augmented constructs created using magic based on real monsters.

Rudrean started his test.

The crater was quiet before the runes lit.

[Isalyn: I have a task for you, darling. Don’t use spells you’ve learned for this test. Spells are good, but the most important thing is to create your own fighting style that consists of the knowledge from the spells you’ve learned.]

’Alright. I also want to get better at fighting, so I won’t use spells I already know.’ Rudrean’s eyes ignited with determination.

The first wave consisted of five Foundation Stage monsters appearing to be Silvergale Wolves, all having SSS-rank stats.

Rudrean moved as the wolves launched themselves into a formation.

He stepped left, let the first wolf’s momentum carry it past him, and drove his elbow into its skull on the way through.

A flare of deep orange heat burst from the point of impact and melted the construct’s head clean off its shoulders.

The wolf’s body ran two more steps before collapsing.

The second wolf was already on him. He threw up a hand, Heavenfall Wind discharging from his palm, and made it heavy. Not directed outward. Just weight, concentrated at his palm, like catching something with a wall instead of a hand.

The wolf’s face hit it.

The crunch was immediate and total. Its snout compressed. Its lattice structure buckled inward at the point of contact, and the rest of its body flipped over its own collapsed head.

It didn’t get up.

Three remained.

They spread out, flanking instinct built into their magical architecture.

Rudrean exhaled slowly.

His feet shifted, not into any formal stance, just a slight forward weighting, the way water shifts before it moves downhill, and he walked toward the three wolves rather than waiting.

The left one lunged first.

He leaned just enough, and its claws found nothing. As it passed his shoulder, he pressed two fingers against its ribcage, a light touch, almost gentle.

Phoenix Flame bloomed inward from those two fingertips like a coal suddenly fed oxygen.

The construct ignited from the inside. It made it four steps before it came apart mid-stride.

The remaining two hit him from both sides simultaneously.

Or tried to.

Heavenfall Wind, light this time, as light as he could make it, almost weightless, discharged from both feet at once. His body lifted a half-step off the platform, just enough for a moment, and the two wolves collided with each other in the space he had been standing in.

He came back down on top of them.

Both palms. Phoenix Flame. Full.

The heat was brief and absolute.

[Wave 1 — Cleared]

Rudrean straightened up slowly.

He looked at his hands.

’I’ll make specialized spells that utilize Heavenfall Wind and Phoenix Flame in combination for maximum combat power.’

[Isalyn: Yep. That’s what people do. They adjust and create spells based on the talents they have, because spells you learn from others or scrolls are general. They have to be modified and improved to match your arsenal. You use what you’ve learned from spells or arts and apply it in your own way to create your specialized spells or Arcane Martial Arts. Otherwise, you would remain a second-rate adventurer.]

Rudrean nodded.

[Wave 2]

Runes flickered, and this time, ten monsters appeared.

Raging bulls with flaming horns and tails.

Foundation Stage with with SS-rank stats.