I looked at the terrified young man in front of me, recognizing him from the meditation chamber. He was the one who had tried to speak to me multiple times before one of the senior disciples had silenced him.

His face was still bruised, though there seemed to be some fresh marks I hadn't noticed earlier. The expression on his face made me feel a bit guilty - clearly, Elder Molric's forceful summoning technique had left quite an impression.

When the elder had mentioned combat training, I'd expected practice dummies or maybe some kind of automated training system. Using another initiate as a living target hadn't crossed my mind.

Though in retrospect, that had been rather naive of me.

This was the Order of the Last Light after all - an academy that kept failed students' crystallized remains as decoration. Of course they wouldn't bother with training dummies when they had perfectly good initiates to use instead, it was probably considered inefficient to practice on anything that couldn't scream.

"Master," Azure said, "at least it's not the elder himself offering to spar. That would likely end with you decorating the walls."

I had to agree. Given Elder Molric's... enthusiastic approach to everything, a spar with him would probably result in me becoming a permanent part of the academy's architecture.

Looking at the still-shaken initiate, I decided to try and salvage the situation. No point in making enemies through the elder's... unique approach to teaching.

"I'm Tomas," I said, keeping my voice friendly. "Sorry about..." I gestured vaguely at the space where Elder Molric's technique had activated.

"K-Kiran," he managed, his voice still a bit unsteady. "Kiran T-Tovel."

"Enough pleasantries!" Elder Molric cut in before I could respond. He was already walking down the corridor, clearly expecting us to follow. "Time is precious, and we have much to accomplish!"

I gave Kiran an apologetic look as we hurried after the elder. "Sorry about my master. He's a bit..."

"Intense?" Kiran offered with a weak smile. "Don't worry, everyone's heard stories about Elder Molric." He glanced ahead to make sure the elder was out of earshot before adding, "Though I'm starting to think the stories might have understated things."

"The old man definitely heard that,” Azure chimed in.

"Of course he did," I thought back. "He's an elder after all."

But I decided not to mention this to Kiran. The poor boy looked nervous enough already without me reminding him of the Skybound’s supernatural hearing.

Kiran seemed to have composed himself. "Listen, there's something you should know," he leaned in to whisper. "Zoren's been looking for you."

Ah, that must be the young master that Elder Molric had mentioned.

"Zoren?"

"Fifth son of House Zoren," Kiran explained quietly. "He's... well, he’s not happy about all the attention you've been getting. Especially since you're..." he trailed off awkwardly.

"A commoner?" I finished for him.

He nodded. "He’s at the peak of Rank 1 and recently there’s been rumors going around that you're afraid of him, that you've been hiding in your room." Kiran grimaced. "Probably started by Zoren's friends, but still..."

I frowned at the mention of Zoren being at the peak of Rank 1.

With my current capabilities, I wasn't confident about facing someone at that level, the gap between early and peak stages was significant in any cultivation system. The three basic runes gave me decent combat potential, but against someone who'd had months or years to master their techniques?

"Master," Azure chimed in, "perhaps we should consider this a tactical retreat until we're better prepared."

He had a point. I hadn't intentionally been hiding – unconsciousness tends to limit one's social calendar – but now that I knew which arrogant young master was coming after me, it would be smart to avoid him until I was ready. There was no sense in rushing into a fight I wasn't prepared for.

And if he actually believed spreading rumors about me hiding would draw me out due to pride or face, he clearly didn't understand me at all. I'd died enough times to know that pride was worthless compared to survival.

If I needed to hide, then that's exactly what I would do. Let them call me a coward - I'd rather be a living coward than a dead hero. It wasn't like being heroic fit the image of any Skybound anyway. From what I'd seen so far, they seemed to pride themselves more on efficiently killing their opponents rather than any noble ideals about fair fights or honor.

"Master," Azure commented, "you only need to avoid Zoren until you learn a few elemental runes. By then, dealing with a Rank 1 practitioner will be trivial, no matter how 'peaked' they claim to be."

"We're here!" Elder Molric's voice interrupted my response.

We stood before a massive crystalline structure that seemed to grow straight out of the mountain. Multiple spires reached toward the red sun, each one released waves of energy that formed intricate patterns across their surfaces.

"The Crucible," Kiran explained, noticing my interest. "Each room is specially designed for combat training. The walls are reinforced with defensive formations, and there are healing runes built into the floor in case of... accidents."

"Is it free to use?" I asked, studying the intricate patterns that covered every surface.

"Oh right, you wouldn't know about credits yet." Kiran brightened, seemingly more comfortable now that he was explaining something. "The academy has a merit system. You earn credits for things like training, completing tasks, or showing improvement. They can be exchanged for resources – better accommodation, blank canvas lilies for rune practice, access to restricted texts, weapons, even private lessons with senior disciples. Some initiates from poorer backgrounds practically live in here, trying to earn enough credits to survive."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

I nodded, not particularly surprised by the use of a credit system, the Azure Peak Sect also implemented one. But back there, I'd never had the chance to use a private training ground - they charged fees that were astronomical to an outer disciple.

The contrast was striking.

Here was an academy known for producing unstable killers, yet they actively paid their students to train. It was almost funny how a place dedicated to channeling the red sun's madness seemed more invested in proper education than a righteous sect that lectured their disciples about becoming one with the Dao.

Elder Molric approached one of the doors, triggering a series of defensive formations. Light blazed from the geometric patterns around the entrance, forming a barrier - but the elder simply waved his hand, his wood-aspect runes flaring as they neutralized the defenses.

As we entered, I got my first real look at Rank 1 combat in this world. Two initiates were locked in what looked less like a spar and more like attempted murder.

"You're getting slower, Vale," taunted the initiate with beast-runes, his elongated claws gleaming as he slashed through the air. His face had taken on an almost feral quality, with sharpened teeth visible when he grinned. "Still relying on those basic enhancement runes? How... common."

"At least I didn't have to mutate myself to gain power, Kai," Vale shot back, his body blurring with speed as he unleashed a barrage of punches. "Though I suppose looking like a half-breed beast suits someone of your... standing."

Their clash in the center of the room sent shockwaves through the reinforced floor. Kai's claws left deep gouges in the stone as Vale narrowly evaded, the beast-rune user's attacks becoming increasingly savage.

"Stand still and let me gut you!" Kai snarled, his eyes taking on an unnatural amber glow. "I'll hang your entrails from the practice room ceiling!"

Vale's enhancement runes pulsed with crimson light as he launched a devastating combo that would have pulverized ordinary stone. "Your father must be so proud - his only son, reduced to acting like a rabid dog!"

But Kai had already activated some kind of movement technique, vanishing from the point of impact only to reappear behind Vale, claws aimed at his spine. "When I'm done with you, they won't even be able to identify your corpse!"

"Is this supposed to be a spar?" I asked Kiran quietly, disturbed by both the level of violence and the casual death threats. "Or a death match?"

The way they fought and spoke, it seemed more like they were genuinely trying to kill each other rather than practice.

Even Zhou, who had a reputation for crippling junior disciples during "friendly spars," maintained at least a thin veneer of civility.

These initiates weren't even pretending - they were openly declaring their murderous intentions.

Kiran shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "There's technically a waiver you sign before sparring, in case of... accidents."

"Let me guess - these accidents happen a lot?"

"Mostly to commoners," he admitted. "Or anyone without powerful backing. No one really cares if they die."

The two combatants finally noticed our presence, stopping mid-fight to stare at the unexpected interruption. Their expressions shifted from confusion to wariness as they recognized Elder Molric.

"Ah, transformation runes," Elder Molric sighed, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Always so crude, turning people into beasts. Now plants, that would be far more sophisticated! Just imagine - regenerative properties of certain species, the defensive capabilities of ironwood..." He continued enthusiastically, clearly warming to his topic.

I had to hold back a smile. "I'm sure he'd love the World Tree Sutra," I thought to Azure as the elder continued enthusiastically listing the benefits of plant-based transformations.

"Indeed," Azure replied, clearly amused. "Though perhaps we should avoid mentioning it. He might try to dissect you to study the effects."

"My disciple needs this room," Elder Molric announced cheerfully, finally ending his impromptu lecture on the superiority of plant-based transformations. "Do make space."

“Of course, Elder,” they bowed quickly and headed for the exit, but not before giving me measuring looks. I could practically see them cataloging everything about my appearance.

"The one with the beast runes is Kai Sen," Kiran whispered. "Only son of a minor noble house. The other is Ren Hale, from one of the merchant families that supply the academy. Both are at the later stage of Rank 1."

I sighed internally. Was the elder intentionally trying to make enemies for me? The political landscape here was complicated enough without antagonizing everyone we met.

Elder Molric must have noticed my expression because he smiled broadly. "You should be grateful your master is finding you future training dummies!" He clapped his hands together. "Now then, let's begin!"

He turned to Kiran, his smile taking on that slightly manic quality again. "No holding back, boy." Then he looked at me and added, almost as an afterthought, "Try not to kill him - his grandfather is a good friend of mine."

"Master," Azure observed dryly, "I notice he seems more concerned about Kiran's safety than yours."

"Let's hope that means he's confident in my abilities," I thought back, though I wasn't entirely convinced.

We took our positions on opposite sides of the room. Kiran looked like he was expecting me to transform into some kind of berserker at any moment, his eyes constantly darting between me and the elder as though wondering if there were any way he could get out of this.

The defensive formations activated around us, creating a containment field that would prevent any stray energy from escaping…or in this case, prevent us from escaping.

Elder Molric raised his hand, his expression filled with entirely too much enthusiasm for someone about to watch two people try to beat each other senseless.

"Begin!"