ALL NOVEL Chapter 26
Chapter 26
“Hero King Kysir’s secret swordsmanship manual and an administrator authority upgrade…”
The rewards from a single quest were overwhelming.
Zeke pondered as he studied the location of Kysir’s ruins marked on the map.
Although the presence of barbarians was concerning, it wasn’t an impassable obstacle. If it involved Hero King Kysir’s secrets, it was more than worth the risk.
Before the era of the Dragonslayer Terakan Draker, the first name that came to anyone’s mind when discussing the most famous hero was Hero King Kysir.
However, despite this fame, his deeds leaned more toward legend than historical fact. This led to debates about whether he was a real person.
So little was known about the Hero King that his existence was questioned, and no one had ever discovered the location of his ruins. If these ruins truly belonged to the Hero King, they would undoubtedly contain not just the secret swordsmanship manual but also countless invaluable artifacts.
Zeke committed the location of Kysir’s ruins to memory and closed the map.
He then glanced at the 730 remaining points in his possession and spent 50 points to unlock the second stage of the Draconian Skills.
― Draconian Skills, Stage 2 ―
Dragon Scale Armor (Locked) / Dragon’s Claw (Locked)
Unlocking the third stage required 300 Karma Points.
Zeke reviewed the descriptions of the newly unlocked skills.
― Introduction to Draconian Skills, Stage 2 ―
Dragon Scale Armor: Scales of a dragon form on your skin, greatly increasing its toughness. Offers excellent magic resistance. (80 points required to unlock)
Dragon’s Claw: Summons the formidable claws of a dragon to strike down enemies in a single blow. (80 points required to unlock)
Like the first stage, the second stage skills also offered highly practical abilities.
Zeke decided to unlock Dragon Scale Armor and Dragon’s Claw first, prioritizing their utility in battle.
Draconian Skills (Stage 2 Unlocked):
Dragon’s Eye (Skilled) / Dragon’s Majesty (Skilled) / Gluttony (Beginner) / Incantation (Locked) / Dragon Scale Armor (Beginner) / Dragon’s Claw (Beginner)
The Incantation skill, which he had obtained after absorbing Bahamut’s Heart, was still in a locked state. It seemed it would require a higher skill stage to activate.
Zeke purchased enhancement potions worth 120 points and reserved the remaining 400 points for future needs, especially in case system upgrades required unlocking.
He immediately began training with the unlocked skills, Dragon Scale Armor and Dragon’s Claw, to master them for practical use in combat.
Through continuous effort, Zeke was steadily becoming an unparalleled force among his peers.
* * *
“From this moment, we will commence the practical evaluation for aura techniques!”
The entire Special Class gathered at the central training arena.
The instructor in charge raised his voice again, addressing the cadets.
“As you all know, the most important part of the semester evaluation is the Aura Practical Assessment! If you fail this evaluation, you won’t advance to the next rank, so give it your all!”
The instructor’s stern tone made the cadets tense up.
The test proceeded with the instructor calling out cadets one by one to perform their practical evaluations. To gauge their level of aura awakening, the cadets first underwent a physical activation test. Then, they had to infuse their aura into their swords to see how long they could sustain it, which was meticulously timed and recorded.
The first cadet called up followed the instructor’s orders, starting with reflex tests like vertical and broad jumps, followed by various strength-measurement exercises.
The instructor scrutinized the cadet’s performance and jotted down their records with sharp focus.
“Hold your sword and concentrate your aura,” the instructor commanded.
The cadet, breathing heavily, grasped their sword and drew up as much aura as possible from their Lower Dantian.
Brrrr!
The sword wavered slightly before the strength in the cadet’s hands gave out, and the sword drooped.
The instructor noted the duration of the cadet’s aura sustainment.
Watching the other cadets undergo their evaluations, Zeke recalled his past experiences.
‘It’s clear the Special Class is on a completely different level compared to the General Class.’
When Zeke was in the General Class, few cadets had even opened their Lower Dantian, and it was rare for anyone to focus their aura properly into their sword.
However, in the Special Class, even if their sustainment time wasn’t long, every cadet had successfully opened their Lower Dantian and infused their aura into their sword.
This alone highlighted a clear gap in skill level.
But even among the highly talented cadets of the Special Class, there was still a hierarchy.
A cadet who failed to draw out their aura due to nerves received a low score, their face turning pale as if the world had ended.
“Next! Owen Zimmens.”
From among the cadets, Owen Zimmens stepped forward.
As the second son of the influential Zimmens Household, his appearance drew everyone’s attention, and the arena fell silent.
Owen Zimmens enveloped his entire body in aura.
Swish!
With fluid, natural movements, he leapt into the air effortlessly.
Following that, his performance in the long jump and strength tests surpassed all previous records.
“Hah…”
Owen looked at his results with a satisfied expression.
The Zimmens Household was one of the Draker family’s most prominent allies, renowned for their mastery over aura control.
In fact, the aura training curriculum taught to the Academy’s upperclassmen had been developed by the Zimmens Household.
All members of the Zimmens bloodline were inherently gifted in precise aura manipulation.
Owen concentrated his aura into his sword.
The sword, infused with aura, began to tremble.
Compared to the other cadets, Owen could maintain his focus on the sword significantly longer.
Then, suddenly, his sword emitted a vibration unlike anything seen before.
Wooooong!
A distinct sword resonance echoed through the arena, leaving the surrounding cadets stunned.
“My goodness, he’s already at the stage where the sword resonates?”
“That’s just one step below the Purple Knight.”
Even the instructors couldn’t hide their astonishment.
For someone to exhibit this level of aura control at thirteen—an achievement that would label an adult from an ordinary household a prodigy—was remarkable.
With a satisfied expression, Owen Zimmens returned to his seat.
Perhaps due to Owen’s astounding performance, the subsequent cadets appeared intimidated and couldn’t demonstrate their full abilities.
After several more cadets were tested, it was Reina Draker’s turn.
Reina approached the instructor and asked, “May I be evaluated using the Dragonslaying Art?”
Her words caused the instructor to falter slightly, his tone betraying his surprise.
“That’s a technique evaluated using upperclassmen standards. If you fail to perform it properly, it could severely lower your score.”
“That’s fine with me.”
The instructor hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.
With his approval, Reina grasped her sword and summoned her aura.
Wooooong!
Right from the start, her sword produced a clear sword resonance.
“What…?”
The instructor watching Reina couldn’t help but exclaim in disbelief.
To handle aura so naturally at her age was nearly inconceivable.
Reina raised her sword and began performing the forms of the Dragonslaying Art.
Whoosh!
Not only did she channel aura into her sword, but her movements seamlessly infused aura into various parts of her body, enhancing every action.
Her precise and elegant execution outclassed even the upperclassmen. The instructor’s jaw dropped.
Reina wasn’t merely using aura to enhance her jumps or physical strength—she had reached a level where it was integrated into her swordsmanship itself.
Hwoong!
As Reina completed the basic forms of the Dragonslaying Art, her movements were so flawless they could have been taken directly from a textbook.
Unconsciously, the instructor began clapping.
“Unbelievable.”
Even among the upperclassmen, few could execute the basic forms of the Dragonslaying Art with such perfection.
Reina calmed her breathing and returned to her seat.
The expressions of the cadets who watched her were filled with awe, as though they were in the presence of someone they could never hope to surpass.
Only one person, Owen Zimmens, clenched his teeth and glared at her.
“Damn it.”
He believed that, at least in terms of aura control, he could surpass Reina, despite her being a Pureblood Awakener.
However, the result only served to confirm the gap in skill between Owen and Reina.
Owen glared at the gloves on Reina’s hands with a resentful expression.
‘If I were a Pureblood Awakener, I’d be far superior to you.’
Reina, however, paid no attention to Owen’s gaze. The only person she was concerned with was someone else entirely.
“Zeke Draker. Step forward.”
At the instructor’s call, Zeke slowly rose from his seat.
He addressed the instructor directly.
“I’ll also be evaluated using the forms of the Dragonslaying Art.”
At Zeke’s statement, the instructor frowned deeply.
“Do you think the semester evaluation is a joke?”
“You didn’t say that to Reina Draker,” Zeke replied calmly.
The instructor’s expression grew even more displeased.
It was understandable for Reina, a diligent and well-known prodigy from the Turunn Household, to request such an evaluation. But Zeke? His lack of discipline, such as skipping aura practice classes entirely, made him seem arrogant in the instructor’s eyes.
With a voice filled with irritation, the instructor warned, “If you fail to perform it properly, you’ll receive an immediate failing grade. Be prepared for that.”
Zeke nodded, unsheathing Bahamut from the scabbard slung on his back.
Bahamut was undoubtedly a legendary sword, but its appearance was deceptive, resembling nothing more than an old, unfinished blade.
The other cadets sneered as they watched Zeke handle Bahamut.
“Hah, just because he’s also a Pureblood Awakener, he thinks he can match Reina Draker?”
“Let’s see if he can even execute the Dragonslaying Art properly.”
Zeke ignored the mocking voices around him.
“Hoo…”
He slowly drew Ether into Bahamut, carefully infusing it.
Then, he began converting the Ether into aura.
Tstststst!
The aura almost manifested naturally, but Zeke deliberately disrupted the flow of Ether to suppress it.
‘Holding back is harder than I thought.’
Zeke proceeded to perform the Dragonslaying Art.
Whoosh!
Before his regression, he had spent two years at the Academy endlessly repeating the basic forms of the Dragonslaying Art. His body and hands moved instinctively, without conscious effort.
Hwoong!
Leaping into the air, he slashed through the empty space with his sword.
The movements were so deeply ingrained in him that Zeke executed them effortlessly, his mind hardly engaged.
Swish!
Concealing his true abilities, Zeke carefully limited his performance, ensuring his execution was adequate but not overly impressive.
After completing the basic forms, he returned to his original position and stood still, gazing at the instructor.
The instructor stared back at Zeke with an expression of disbelief.
“A… Purple Knight?”
Zeke glanced at the area where he had just performed.
Despite his efforts to hold back, it seemed his aura had unconsciously been released more than intended.
The training arena floor was cracked along the patterns of the forms he had executed.
‘I was trying to match it to Reina’s level… Well, nothing I can do about it now.’
Zeke glanced at the shocked cadets, the dumbfounded expression on Owen’s face, and Reina, who was staring at him with a burning sense of rivalry. A small smirk played on his lips.
Unlike in his past life, it seemed he wouldn’t have to struggle with aura practice exams this time around.
* * *
The problem arose the following day.
Out of the blue, Howard Draker, the Academy’s principal, summoned Zeke to his office.
Zeke, who held no fond feelings for Howard, ascended to the principal’s office with a hardened expression.
“Come in, Zeke.”
Howard Draker greeted him with the kindest expression imaginable.
“Please, have a seat.”
Zeke, wary of the principal’s excessive politeness, sat down on the sofa.
Howard personally poured tea and placed it in front of him.
“Thank you.”
Although Zeke didn’t feel the slightest bit grateful, he offered a polite word of thanks. He didn’t touch the tea, letting it sit where it was.
To be honest, he wanted nothing more than to splash the hot tea on Howard’s sly face.
Howard looked at Zeke and finally spoke.
“I received a report about your performance during yesterday’s evaluation. The results were extraordinary.”
“It was just luck,” Zeke replied curtly.
“No, no, don’t dismiss it as luck. Awakening aura at the level of a Purple Knight at the age of thirteen is not something mere luck can achieve.”
The atmosphere was amicable, but Zeke couldn’t help but superimpose the Howard in front of him with the Howard from his past life—the man who had expelled him from the Academy.
‘The mere fact that someone like you, an unawakened student, exists in this Academy is a disgrace. As of today, you are no longer a cadet here. Leave immediately, along with your cadet badge and anything else connected to this place.’
‘P-Principal! Please… Please give me one more chance! I swear I’ll awaken my aura by next semester!’
In his past life, Zeke had pleaded with Howard, crying and begging.
But Howard had coldly cast him out, unmoved by his desperation.
Zeke was left with nothing, wandering aimlessly across the continent.
He had to abandon the name Draker and live a life where survival was the only priority.
Suppressing the surge of murderous intent that rose within him, Zeke kept his composure.
It was at that moment that Howard finally got to the point.
“So, here’s the thing, Zeke. What would you say to taking the grade-skip exam?”