Chapter 22: The Taste of Victory

Kael knelt on the grass, the relic still clutched tightly in his hand, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. The sun had dipped low on the horizon, casting an orange glow over the forest, and the sounds of battle behind him had faded into the distance. For a moment, everything was still.

He had done it.

Kael’s hands trembled as he looked at the glowing relic in his palm, its blue light pulsing gently, as if responding to the victory it symbolized. His heart raced with a mixture of exhaustion and disbelief. After everything—every battle, every close call—they had made it. He had crossed the finish line with the relic.

Slowly, Kael rose to his feet, his legs shaky but determined. He glanced back at the forest, expecting to see more enemies charging out of the trees, but the clearing was eerily quiet. The other teams, exhausted from their own battles or wounded from previous encounters, hadn’t followed him.

His team was safe.

The viscount’s scouts stood nearby, watching Kael with unreadable expressions. The gray-haired scout, the one who had led the trials from the beginning, stepped forward, his eyes scanning Kael from head to toe. He nodded slowly, as if confirming something he had suspected all along.

“Well done,” the scout said, his voice low and steady. “You’ve proven yourself worthy.”

Kael’s heart swelled with a mixture of pride and relief. After all the trials, all the obstacles they had faced, he and his team had earned their place in the Academy. But even as the adrenaline of the moment began to fade, Kael couldn’t shake the lingering tension in his body. Victory hadn’t come easily, and the path ahead would only get harder.

“You crossed the finish line with the relic,” the scout continued, his voice carrying an air of finality. “By doing so, you’ve secured one of the ten places in the Academy. You’ve proven your strength, your strategy, and your will to survive.”

Kael nodded, still catching his breath. His mind was racing, filled with images of the battles they had fought, the competitors they had faced. Dalen’s sneer, the flash of magic from the mage, the desperate fight for survival—all of it felt like a blur now, as if it had happened in another life.

But there was one more thing Kael needed to know.

“What about my team?” Kael asked, his voice steady but urgent. “They fought with me, risked their lives for this relic. Are they—?”

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The scout’s expression softened slightly. “Your team’s efforts are recognized. The ten places go to those who prove themselves, whether by claiming the relic or by their contributions during the trials. Your companions will be evaluated based on their performance.”

Kael’s breath caught in his throat. He had fought for the relic, but he hadn’t done it alone. Sera, Alec, Tarin, Mira—they had all been essential. Without them, he wouldn’t have made it this far. The thought of them being left behind gnawed at him.

Before Kael could say more, movement from the edge of the forest caught his eye. His team emerged, bruised and battered, but alive. Sera limped slightly, her hammer resting heavily on her shoulder, but she wore a triumphant grin. Alec and Tarin followed close behind, both sporting cuts and scrapes, but their eyes gleamed with the same fire they’d had during the trials. Mira trailed behind them, her face pale with exhaustion, but she gave Kael a reassuring nod.

“They made it,” Kael breathed, relief washing over him.

The group approached, their expressions a mix of relief and pride. Sera was the first to speak, her grin widening as she looked at the relic in Kael’s hand.

“Of course you got the relic,” she said, laughing despite the weariness in her voice. “We knew you would.”

Alec smirked, though his gaze was sharp as ever. “Nice work, Kael. But we’re not out of the woods yet.”

Kael smiled, though he knew Alec was right. They had won this trial, but the road to the Academy was just beginning.

The scout cleared his throat, drawing the group’s attention. “You’ve all fought well,” he said, his voice carrying an air of authority. “The trials are over, but your journey is far from complete. Those of you who proved yourselves today will move on to the capital, where your real training will begin.”

He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. “Only ten of you will be chosen, but all of you will be evaluated based on your performance. The Academy seeks more than just strength—it seeks potential, skill, and the will to rise above your peers. We’ll be watching closely.”

Kael felt a surge of determination as the scout’s words sank in. He had come this far, but he knew the challenges ahead would be even greater. The Academy wasn’t just a place to learn—it was a crucible where only the strongest, smartest, and most determined survived.

The scout motioned for the group to follow. “Return to the village for now. We’ll announce the final results in the morning.”

Kael and his team exchanged glances, the weight of the moment settling over them. They had made it through the trials, but their fates weren’t sealed yet. There was still a chance that not all of them would make it into the Academy.

As they walked back toward the village, the tension between them began to ease. Sera fell into step beside Kael, her usual boisterous energy dimmed slightly by the exhaustion of the day.

“Think we’ll all make it?” she asked quietly, her voice filled with hope but tinged with uncertainty.

Kael glanced at her, then at the others. Alec, ever the strategist, was silent, his mind likely already working through the possibilities. Tarin seemed more relaxed, his bow slung casually over his shoulder, but his eyes darted around as if still expecting an ambush. Mira, though pale and drained, walked with quiet confidence, her healing magic having kept them alive more than once.

“We’ve done everything we could,” Kael said after a moment. “Whatever happens next, we face it together.”

Sera nodded, satisfied with his answer.

As they reached the outskirts of the village, Kael couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease settle over him. The trials had been brutal, pushing them all to their limits, but the Academy would be something else entirely. It would be a place of ruthless competition, where only the best survived and where power was everything.

He thought of his unique abilities—his God Eye and Copy & Evolve skills. They had given him an edge in the trials, but they would only carry him so far. At the Academy, there would be people far more powerful than he was. He would have to grow stronger, faster.

And the threat of Dalen still lingered in his mind. The assassin had been relentless, and though Kael had defeated him, he knew Dalen wasn’t finished. He had seen the hatred in Dalen’s eyes, and he knew their paths would cross again—likely under even more dangerous circumstances.

As they reached the village, the sky darkened, and the promise of the Academy loomed larger in Kael’s mind.

Tomorrow, the real journey would begin.