In a dimly lit alley, he found three disciples of Devota. They were of varying ranks, their eyes gleaming with malice as they surrounded a young woman cowering on the ground. Her clothes were tattered. Only one of the three seemed uninterested in the situation, his gaze distant and unconcerned.

Master had told him that she would always be with him, but at that moment, he felt utterly alone. He closed his eyes and focused, trying to feel her presence. But she was silent, her warmth nowhere to be found. Panic began to set in. "Master!" he called out, his voice echoing through the alleyway.

Shin's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his mind racing with thoughts of his sister's sacrifice. "I can't let them do this," he murmured to himself, the shadows around him seeming to pulse with the power of the slain knights.

But as the two disciples turned towards the sound, the third, the one who had been watching with detached amusement, suddenly stepped forward. "What is it?" he sneered, his eyes flicking towards the trembling woman before returning to Shin.

Shin took a step forward, his gaze never leaving the central figure with the golden trim on his robe. The two flanking disciples were dressed in white with blue accents, the lower in rank at a mere grade 5. The one with the golden trim was at least a grade 3, his power radiating from his eyes. The woman on the ground cowered, her eyes wide with terror as she stared up at the trio of attackers.

"Let her go," Shin said, his voice cold and unwavering. The two grade 5 disciples exchanged nervous glances, their eyes flickering to the sword in his hand.

The grade 3 disciple with the golden trim chuckled. "Or what, street rat? You think you can take us on?"

Without another word, the two grade 5 disciples rushed at him, their swords glinting with the stolen light of Devota's wave. Shin activated Trace, his eyes narrowing as he studied their movements, each step and swing a dance of deadly intent. His own sword, once rusted and forgotten, now pulsed with a soft light as the power of the constellation flowed through it. He raised it in defense, and the air around him crackled.

The first attacker's blade clashed against his, the sound ringing through the alley like a tolling bell. The disciple's eyes widened in surprise as Shin's sword absorbed the blow without a hint of resistance, the light dimming as if swallowed by a black hole. With a swift pivot, Shin's sword arced through the air, slicing through the disciple's sword and sending him staggering backward. The second attacker approached with more caution, his eyes flicking to his companion before he lunged.

Shin's blade danced in a pattern that was both mesmerizing and deadly, a symphony of steel that reflected the chaotic wave of energy within him. His movements were a blur of shadow and light, each strike a perfect counter to the disciples' advances. He could feel the power of the 50 undead knights he had defeated, their essences merging with his own, amplifying his strength and speed. The woman on the ground watched with a mix of hope and horror as the tide of the battle began to turn in favor of this mysterious rescuer.

The grade 5 disciples, once so confident, now found themselves struggling to land a hit. The one with the broken sword was on his knees, his eyes glazed over with fear as he stared at the unrelenting force before him. The other, though not injured, was equally overwhelmed, his strikes growing more erratic and desperate with each passing second. The grade 3 disciple, however, merely watched with a smug smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Shin felt as if he were reading a book written in an ancient language, understanding each motion and intention as clearly as if they were spelled out before him. His mind raced, cataloging every move, every subtle shift in balance.

The second disciple swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for Shin's midsection. Instead of meeting the blade with steel, Shin stepped aside, his eyes never leaving the attacker. With a swift and precise motion, he brought the hilt of his sword down on the man's neck. The disciple's eyes rolled back, and he crumpled to the ground like a ragdoll, the sound of his skull meeting the cobblestone echoing through the alley. The woman's screams had turned to shocked gasps.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The grade 5 disciple with the broken sword tried to crawl away, but Shin was merciless. He stepped on the man's back, pressing him face-first into the cold, hard ground. "You're no match for me," he growled, his voice filled with a power that seemed to resonate from somewhere deep within. The man's struggles weakened until he lay still, unconscious.

The grade 3 disciple with the golden trim took a step back, his smugness replaced with a hint of apprehension. "Who are you?" he demanded, his grip tightening on his sword.

Shin stepped forward, his eyes burning with a newfound resolve. "Shin," he said, his voice a low growl.

The grade 3 disciple's smirk faltered for a moment. "Shin?" he spat. "What grade do you hold, street rat?"

Shin's gaze remained unwavering. "I've failed the test three times," he said, his voice laced with a hint of pride. "so I’m not a disciple yet"

The grade 3 disciple's eyes narrowed; his curiosity piqued. "Yet you fight like one who's used to the power of the constellation" he murmured, his grip on his sword tightening and so his curiosity.

"My name is Kale Buster, third child of the Buster family, remember it rat."

Shin's eyes widened in recognition. The Buster family was one of the most noble and influential in Devota's sector, known for their unwavering loyalty to the constellation. Their disciples were often favored by the gods. He had heard whispers of them in the streets, of their wealth and power, and now he had stumbled upon one of them in such a dire situation.

"I will show how my wave is superior to a mere rat" the grade 3 disciple snarled; his voice filled with the promise of retribution.

Shin's grip on the sword tightened, the light within pulsing in response to his resolve. He felt the energy of the slain knights coalesce around him, their power swirling like a tempest in his soul. The woman on the ground had gone silent, her eyes glued to the confrontation unfolding before her.

Kale took a step back, his hand raising in a dramatic gesture. The light of Devota's wave surged from his sword, coalescing into two shimmering rings that hovered ominously above his shoulders. The air grew tense, crackling with the anticipation of a battle that would determine not just the fate of this alley, but perhaps the balance of power in the sector itself.

Shin, however, was not intimidated. He stared at the disciple with a mix of curiosity. "Such a skill?" he questioned, his voice echoing through the narrow space. "How deep does your connection to her go?"

Kale taken aback by the question, sneered. "30%" Then he launched his attack, the rings of light spiraling around his sword in a complex pattern. Shin, however, remained unfazed, his eyes locked on the disciple's every movement.

Master's words echoed in his mind. "Your connection to me is only 1.5%. Imagine the power you will hold once we reach the perfect synchrony" she had said. And here he was, facing a disciple with a 30% connection with Devota, a talent that can aim to became a master in the Academy.

“After absorbing the remnants of faith of the knights for a week fight after fight I know I’m not weaker than him, the power we emit is similar, and with my master fables I trust that my skills are already on par with him”

With a swift and powerful kick, Kay sent Shin's sword flying out of his hand, the blade spinning through the air before clattering against the alley wall. The disciple's arrogant laughter filled the space, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

Shin, however, remained unfazed, his gaze never leaving the golden-trimmed disciple. He knew he had to end this quickly, to show them that he wasn't just some random thug.

He had to prove that he was the one chosen by the Strongest One, that he was a force to be reckoned with.

Kale laughter grew louder, echoing through the alley, but Shin was no longer listening. Instead, he focused on the pulsating rings of light that circled his opponent's sword swing. He knew that he have to move his center of gravity backwards to let the sword pass through him to use his mirror fable, but something was holding him back.

If he had activated it, he would have surely killed the grade 3 disciple, but at what cost? It would have blown his cover before he even had the chance to infiltrate the academy. His mission was to get close to the constellation, to learn her secrets and find a way to bring her down from the inside. Recklessness would serve no purpose.

Shin grunted as the sword sliced through the air, and he barely managed to dodge the blow, his side now stinging with pain. A line of red appeared on his shirt, the light armor torn from the near miss. The disciple's eyes widened in surprise at Shin's speed and agility, and for a brief moment, the smugness on his face faltered. Shin felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead, the cold metal of the sword grazing his skin, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

Kale took a step back, his confidence visibly shaken.

In that moment he launched the two spheres of light from his shoulders towards Shin, his face contorted with anger. The orbs shot through the air, a dazzling display of power that made the shadows in the alley quiver. The light grew brighter, the air thicker, as the spheres approached their target.

Just as the deadly orbs were about to collide with Shin, a bolt of lightning, unseen and unanticipated, streaked down from the heavens. It pierced the darkness like a divine spear, striking the ground between the two combatants with a deafening crack that echoed off the alley walls. The cobblestones shattered and flew in every direction, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.