Once the cheers from the crowd died down, I quietly joined the remaining participants, waiting for instructions for the next trial. After conquering the obstacle course, my confidence was soaring. Despite the sabotage attempt, I had managed to come out on top. Now, I knew I could rely on my physical abilities to surpass my opponents.

As we gathered, the announcer stepped forward onto the platform, signaling for silence with a wave of his hand.

“My dear friends, congratulations to all of you for completing the first trial!” he proclaimed loudly. “You’ve shown remarkable courage and excellent performances. However, only the top six will advance to the next round of the tournament.”

A murmur rippled through the group, with some participants exchanging worried looks. I nodded firmly, certain that I was among the chosen few.

“Now, if you’re among the top six, please step forward, champions!” the announcer continued. “As for the rest, thank you for participating. You’re welcome to join the audience to watch the remainder of the competition.”

At his words, about twenty contestants stepped away from the group, walking off with resigned expressions. As for the six of us who had advanced, we gathered near the platform, awaiting further instructions.

To my surprise, King Gaspar himself descended from his royal box and approached us, his dark, piercing gaze fixed directly on me. Instinctively, I straightened up, bracing myself under the weight of his scrutiny.

“Congratulations, young champions,” he said in a deep, commanding voice. “You’ve displayed remarkable qualities in this first trial.”

His gaze lingered on me briefly, and I caught a flicker of suspicion in his eyes.

“However, there is something that concerns me,” he continued, his tone sharp. “I couldn’t help but notice that one of you may have used magic to secure their victory.”

All eyes turned to me, and I swallowed hard. So, the king had noticed my enhanced speed during the race. I had expected suspicion, but I refused to back down or avert my gaze.

“Your Majesty, if you’re referring to me, I assure you that I used no magic,” I replied calmly. “I simply relied on my physical abilities to make up for the damage done to my mount.”

The king studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable.

“Your physical abilities, you say?” he repeated, doubt lacing his tone. “Forgive me, but I find it hard to believe that an ordinary human could move at such a speed without the aid of magic.”

Anger bubbled beneath the surface, but I kept my composure. I knew better than to lose my temper in front of the king.

“Your Majesty, I understand your skepticism, but I assure you, I have nothing to hide,” I replied firmly. “Unlike most, I don’t use mana to cast spells. Instead, I channel it to enhance my physical capabilities.”

Gaspar’s eyebrows furrowed, curiosity flickering across his face.

“What exactly do you mean by that?” he asked sharply.

“What I mean, Your Majesty, is that mana isn’t just a source of magical energy,” I explained calmly. “It can also be used to amplify physical attributes—strength, speed, endurance… essentially, all physical capabilities.”

The king seemed to ponder my words for a moment, weighing their validity. Then, with a curt gesture, he motioned to one of his guards, who quickly stepped forward holding a radiant crystal.

“Very well, prove it,” Gaspar commanded coldly. “Place your hand on this crystal. If it doesn’t react, it will confirm that you did not use magic during the race. If it does…”

He let the sentence hang, but I didn’t need him to finish. I knew exactly what would happen if the crystal detected even a trace of magical tampering.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward confidently and pressed my hand against the smooth surface of the crystal. For a few tense moments, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, the crystal began to emit a soft blue glow.

A murmur of surprise swept through the crowd, and I saw King Gaspar’s lips curl into a satisfied smirk.

“Well, well… it seems you were telling the truth, young man,” he said, his tone tinged with mockery. “You didn’t use magic during the race.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I stifled a sigh of relief, though my body remained tense. The king’s sharp gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, a glint of interest in his eyes.

“However, I must admit, your ability to channel mana in this manner is… intriguing,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ve never encountered anyone who could manipulate mana for physical enhancement without relying on magic.”

I inclined my head slightly, knowing this revelation wouldn’t work in my favor. King Gaspar wasn’t the type to look kindly upon extraordinary abilities.

“Very well, since you haven’t cheated, you may proceed in the tournament,” he concluded. “But be warned—I’ll be watching you closely, young man. The slightest infraction will result in your immediate expulsion.”

With that, he turned on his heel and strode back to his royal box. I watched him go, a knot of apprehension forming in my stomach. It was clear that I had drawn the king’s attention—and not in a good way.

Refocusing on the announcer, I steeled myself for whatever lay ahead. Regardless of the king’s suspicions, I had to stay focused on my goals and avoid being drawn into his schemes.

“Now that this little… incident has been resolved, let’s move on to the second trial!” the announcer declared, once again commanding the crowd’s attention. “This time, it will be a test of willpower and mental endurance.”

A ripple of tension passed through the six of us. Each finalist cast wary glances at one another, sizing up the competition. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. While I was confident in my physical abilities, my mental resilience was less tested.

“You’ll face off in pairs for a duel of endurance,” the announcer explained. “Each of you will bear a weight of ten kilograms, and every ten minutes, that weight will triple.”

He paused, letting his words sink in.

“The one who lasts the longest without collapsing wins the trial. Do you understand the rules?”

We all nodded solemnly, our fists clenching instinctively. This trial promised to be far more grueling than the last.

“Excellent! Now, let’s draw the matchups!” the announcer said, unrolling a scroll.

Moments later, the pairings were announced. I was matched against two burly men who eyed me with disdain.

“All right, duelists, step forward!” the announcer called. “The first match is about to begin!”

I stepped forward confidently, ignoring the hostile glares of my opponents. Moments later, I was handed a heavy harness fitted with metal plates, which I quickly strapped on.

“Ready?” one of the men asked in a gruff voice.

“Ready,” I replied simply, tightening the straps.

At the signal to start, the duel began. My two opponents grunted with effort, struggling to keep their balance under the weight.

Meanwhile, I stood perfectly still, breathing calmly. As the tension mounted, I decided to activate my ability.

Interface :

[Skill Activated: Mana Amplification]

A warm sensation spread through my body, filling me with a surprising sense of lightness. My muscles tensed as my endurance skyrocketed.

Around me, my opponents were already faltering, their knees buckling under the strain. In contrast, I felt no difficulty bearing the weight.

When the first ten minutes elapsed, the announcer announced the weight increase. The metal plates grew heavier, and my opponents’ struggles became even more apparent.

Sweat poured down their faces, and their trembling arms threatened to give out at any moment. Meanwhile, I remained calm and composed, showing no sign of strain.

Finally, one of the men collapsed, unable to bear the weight any longer. His companion followed shortly after, conceding defeat.

The announcer raised my arm triumphantly, his voice booming. “And there you have it! Young Griffith wins this test of willpower with flying colors!”

The crowd erupted into applause, impressed by my display of strength.

“His opponents were no match for his exceptional mana control!” the announcer added.

I nodded modestly, though I couldn’t hide a small smile of satisfaction. This trial had been effortless for me, thanks to my enhanced physical capabilities.

Returning the heavy harness to the announcer, I made sure to conceal just how much power I truly possessed. I couldn’t risk drawing more suspicion, especially after King Gaspar’s earlier doubts.

“Well done, young man. You’ve shown extraordinary resilience,” the announcer praised, shaking my hand warmly.

“Thank you, but it was nothing,” I replied calmly. “I simply did my best to succeed in the trial.”

With a nod, the announcer turned his attention to the next pair of duelists.

As for me, I stepped away, letting my gaze wander over the gathered crowd. My eyes landed on the royal box, where King Gaspar was watching me with an expression I couldn’t decipher.

A shiver ran down my spine, and I quickly looked away. The king remained an enigma to me, but one thing was certain: he wouldn’t make things easy.

Sighing inwardly, I refocused on the upcoming trials. Whatever lay ahead, I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Too much was at stake for me to falter now.

The test of will had proven to be an easy victory, but the unease lingering in the air reminded me that this tournament wasn’t just about skill or strength—it was also about navigating the unknown dangers that came with being in King Gaspar’s sights.