ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝟙𝟙𝟝: 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢 𝔸𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔰𝔰𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔰【𝟐/𝟑】 ⓇⒺⓋⒶⓂⓅⒺⒹ

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Nearly an hour had passed since the first assessment began, and now it was nearing its conclusion. Of the nine Earth’s Alpha Chosen, only one remained: Kensei.

As the last to take his turn, he stepped calmly into the portal, his face as unreadable as ever. The portal shimmered in response, transporting him to a part of the virtual space crafted specifically to challenge his Sword Innate Talent.

The group’s attention was fixed on the hovering screen, their interest heightened after the surprising performances of others.

Min-soo’s feat was still fresh in their minds—he had shocked everyone by reaching an impressive 920 meters, Stage-9 of the first assessment. Not even Olivia, who had been the front-runner until then, had managed to accomplish that, falling just short at 895 meters. Now, all eyes turned to Kensei, the quiet swordsman, to see if he would deliver a surprise.

The screen displaying Kensei's assessment location revealed no wind storms like those Gabriel faced, no violent lightning fields like Brandon's, nor the deadly waves of darkness Sergei had encountered.

Rather, what he faced was a barren field where the ground was studded with a hundred swords of varying shapes and sizes. Their blades gleamed menacingly in the pale light, silent but brimming with latent hostility. As Kensei stepped into the space, the swords began to tremble with an almost imperceptible hum.

He moved forward, crossing the first 10 meters and the moment he did, one of the swords ripped itself free from the ground and shot toward him, its sharp edge aiming straight for his chest.

With a swift motion, Kensei deflected it using his own sword, sending it spinning away—but only for a moment. The sword immediately corrected its course and lunged at him again, relentless in its pursuit.

Kensei’s movements were fluid and precise, his blade flashing as he struck again and again, keeping the attacking sword at bay. With each 10-meter mark he crossed, another sword joined the fray, turning the challenge into an increasingly chaotic dance of metals.

By the time he reached 100 meters, a total of ten swords were harrying him, their strikes relentless and coordinated. Yet, despite their intensity, Kensei seemed unbothered, parrying each attack with an almost mechanical efficiency.

As he passed the 200-meter mark, the swords became larger and heavier, their strikes slower but far more forceful. The challenge escalated with every step, the relentless barrage pushing his skills to their limits.

By the time he reached 600 meters, Kensei found himself encircled by a swirling tempest of sixty swords, each delivering strikes with deadly accuracy. He moved with focus, his blade forming a nearly impenetrable defense, but the unyielding assault began to take its toll, and even his movements started to falter under the mounting pressure.

Out on the square platform, the Earth’s Alpha Chosen watched the screen intently as they assessed Kensei’s struggle. Some exchanged skeptical glances, murmuring predictions. The sheer number of attacking swords and the increasing weight of their blows made it seem almost impossible for him to advance much farther.

Henry stood at the edge of the group, his arms crossed as his eyes remained glued to the screen. He murmured to himself, “Come on, Kensei, weren’t you supposed to be my rival? How could you be stuck in Stage-6 when I almost reached Stage-8?”

His voice was low, but Brandon, standing nearby, caught the words. Without looking away from the screen, Brandon replied, “You don’t need to worry about him. Haven’t you noticed? He hasn’t even used his Sword Aura yet. If I had to guess, Kensei’s using this as a chance to test his limits.”

Brandon’s calm observation rippled through the group. The others, who had been watching quietly, exchanged looks as realization dawned. Their gazes returned to the screen, their anticipation building.

And then it happened. The moment Kensei unleashed his Sword Aura, the change was immediate. The energy around him surged, a radiant aura enveloping him and his blade. The once relentless barrage of swords now seemed manageable, their strikes deflected with ease as Kensei advanced swiftly.

In mere minutes, he crossed the 900-meter mark, where over 90 swords now attacked him with coordinated ferocity. The group watched in stunned silence, their disbelief clearly apparent. Only Min-soo had reached this point before, and now Kensei joined him as the second to step into Stage-9 of the first assessment.

Inside the virtual sword grave, Kensei's progress slowed as he faced the 91st sword. This blade, larger and more menacing than the rest, exuded a presence far stronger than its predecessors. Its strikes were heavier, sharper, and faster, each blow testing the limits of Kensei’s skill.

The intensity after the 900-meter mark was leagues beyond anything before it, and it seemed as though Kensei had reached the very edge of his endurance.

But then, something shifted. Out on the platform, the group noticed a subtle change in Kensei’s movements. He no longer seemed to struggle; his body moved with a calm, almost instinctively.

His pace slowed, but his strikes were flawless, deflecting the swords with effortless grace. His eyes, half-closed, gave the impression of someone in a trance-like state. He walked forward as though the barrage of swords no longer existed.

Andrea, intrigued by the transformation, turned to MJ and asked, “Great Venerable, what’s happening to Kensei?”

The others looked to MJ as well, eager for an explanation. MJ, still floating lazily, raised an eyebrow and smirked knowingly. “Kensei has entered a Pseudo-state of enlightenment,” he began, his tone laced with admiration. “It’s rare, but not unheard of. He’s initiating the process of merging three minor weapon masteries into one.”

The group’s expressions revealed their confusion, prompting MJ to elaborate. “Let me explain. You may have noticed that maxing out a Minor Weapon Mastery is about three times easier than doing the same with a Minor Elemental Mastery of an equivalent-grade Innate Talent. That’s because, unlike elemental users who can directly evolve their element into a higher form, weapon talent users must merge three minor masteries of the same weapon category to achieve Major Weapon Mastery.”

MJ then elaborated on the two types of enlightenment, explaining that upgrading Minor Mastery into a Major one required entering a state of enlightenment. These were categorized into two distinct types.

The first, known as Immersive Enlightenment, involved entering a deep, reclusive meditative state where the individual became entirely unaware of their surroundings. The second, Pseudo Enlightenment, occurred under extreme pressure, pushing an individual to their limits. While effective, Pseudo Enlightenment was considered less potent compared to Immersive Enlightenment.

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As the explanation sank in, all eyes on the platform shifted to Kensei, who continued advancing steadily, clearly immersed in a state of Pseudo Enlightenment.

Kensei's progress in the first assessment had been extraordinary, and his mastery of the sword was on full display. His three Minor Sword Masteries—║Minor RecurveSword Mastery║,║Minor Shortsword Mastery║, and║Minor Longsword Mastery║—had brought him this far.

In the midst of the relentless barrage, he successfully merged two of the three masteries, propelling himself forward with newfound strength. With this breakthrough, he managed to cross the 960-meter mark, a feat no one else achieved.

However, as he reached 960 meters, the challenge intensified dramatically. The 96th sword joined the fray, its power adding to the overwhelming might of the previous 95 swords. Their combined strikes bore down on him with crushing force, pushing Kensei to his limits.

Determined to advance further, he attempted to merge his third minor mastery while still in the Pseudo-state of enlightenment. If he had succeeded, he would have created a Major Sword Mastery, breaking through the 1st Universe Limit, a milestone only a rare few like Akor had achieved.

But the leap to Major Mastery proved elusive. Despite his valiant efforts, Kensei fell just short, the enlightenment slipping through his grasp by the smallest margin. Even so, his accomplishment was remarkable. Reaching such a level in just nine days since the Trial Program began was nothing short of extraordinary.

Summoning every ounce of his strength, Kensei pushed himself forward to the 970-meter mark, where the might of 97 swords bore down on him relentlessly. The combined assault finally proved too much. The numerous blades pierced his virtual avatar in a flurry of devastating strikes, ending his run. Moments later, Kensei respawned on the platform, standing silently amidst the group.

The others turned to him, their gazes filled with a mixture of astonishment and newfound respect. Kensei, as calm and composed as ever, betrayed no emotion on his face.

Yet beneath his stoic exterior, he was quietly overwhelmed by the attention. Having spent most of his life training in seclusion, he had little experience interacting with others his age.

His childhood had been defined by the way of the sword, with private tutors imparting only the basic knowledge required to navigate the modern world. Now, among his peers, his quiet and unassuming demeanor only added to his intrigue.

Henry, meanwhile, stood frozen, his jaw hanging open in disbelief. A moment ago, he had been silently rooting for Kensei to make it to Stage-7, so they could remain rivals on an even playing field.

Instead, Kensei had surpassed not just him but everyone else, leaving Henry in the dust. For once, the normally brash and self-absorbed Henry had no words.

Andrea and Kasim, sensing an opportunity, couldn’t resist teasing him. They approached Henry with smug grins, Kasim leading with, “If Kensei keeps this up in the next two assessments, you might need to find a new rival.”

Andrea chimed in, “Yeah, Henry. Looks like you’ll need to step it up if you want to stay in the game.”

Henry’s mouth twitched in frustration. Normally quick with a retort, he found himself utterly speechless. His silence only made their teasing more satisfying.

Just then, MJ floated forward and raised a hand, projecting another screen into the air. It displayed the results of the first assessment, listing each participant’s distance and stage.

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

First Assessment Results

1. Kensei: 970 meters ⧼Stage-9⧽

2. Min-soo: 920 meters ⧼Stage-9⧽

3. Olivia: 895 meters ⧼Stage-8⧽

4. Andrea: 855 meters ⧼Stage-8⧽

5. Brandon: 820 meters ⧼Stage-8⧽

6. Sergei: 810 meters ⧼Stage-8⧽

7. Henry: 760 meters ⧼Stage-7⧽

8. Kasim: 715 meters ⧼Stage-7⧽

9. Gabriel: 690 meters ⧼Stage-6⧽

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

As the group settled after the first assessment, MJ announced the details of the second challenge. “In the second assessment, your close combat prowess will be put to the test. To level the playing field, I will restrict all of you to level 25, Tier-2 peak, with identical overall stats. Additionally, you won’t be able to use your Innate Talents, skills, or even Spirit Energy. This will be purely about hand-to-hand combat.”

The announcement drew mixed reactions, but none were as animated as Henry. His face lit up with excitement, his usual arrogance blooming as he turned to Kasim and Andrea with a smug expression.

Tilting his chin upward, he smirked. “This second assessment might as well have been tailor-made for me. When it comes to hand-to-hand combat, I’m pretty confident I’ll reach Stage-9—or maybe even Stage-10.”

While some shook their heads at Henry’s overconfidence, Gabriel chuckled quietly. Watching Henry’s antics brought a strong sense of déjà vu—he was reminded of his own earlier enthusiasm during the first assessment. “Let’s see how this goes,” Gabriel murmured to himself, amused.

Henry, wasting no time, stepped forward eagerly. “Great Venerable, let me start this second assessment!” he declared, his voice brimming with determination.

MJ arched a brow at Henry’s boldness but chose not to comment directly. Instead, he addressed the group. “In this assessment, none of you will be fighting each other. Each of you will face a virtual simulation of a specific individual as your opponent.”

With a wave of his hand, several seats materialized near the square platform, and MJ teleported everyone except Henry to those seats. The group watched intently as the next part unfolded.

Opposite Henry, a figure emerged, their crimson hair striking against the empty backdrop. The opponent’s eyes remained closed, their stance relaxed yet exuding an aura of latent power.

Before MJ could elaborate further, Henry’s impatience got the better of him. “Great Venerable,” he asked, his tone bordering on cocky, “how does this work? Is it about how quickly I can defeat this guy? Does the stage I reach depend on that?”

MJ’s expression soured, and he scoffed audibly. “You are gravely mistaken,” he said, fixing Henry with a pointed look. “This assessment isn’t about victory—it’s about survival. The duration you can endure against your opponent determines how far you advance.”

Pausing for dramatic effect, MJ’s smirk deepened. “And for the record, I will be impressed if any of you can even manage to enter Stage-6. This second assessment is far more challenging than the first.”

The group murmured among themselves as Henry’s cocky grin faltered slightly. The crimson-haired figure opposite him remained still, like a coiled spring waiting to strike.

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