A dull throbbing pain ran through Ren’s body as he stirred awake. His limbs felt like lead, his muscles aching from the brutal fight with Ramiel. His vision was blurry at first, but as his eyes adjusted to the soft glow of healing crystals embedded in the walls, he realized he was lying in a recovery chamber.

A warm, calming voice pulled him from his daze.

"I see you’ve woken up," a man said, his tone gentle yet filled with amusement.

Ren blinked, turning his head toward the source of the voice. A tall man with golden hair and radiant eyes sat beside him, exuding an aura of kindness.

"Who... are you?" Ren asked, his voice still hoarse from exhaustion.

The man chuckled softly. "I am Raphael, the kingdom’s High Healer. I restored you and your teammates after your match with Ramiel."

Ren sat up slightly, wincing as his body protested.

"You healed us?"

"Yes," Raphael confirmed, his warm smile unwavering. "I must say, I’m impressed. You and your team managed to push Ramiel to 10% of his strength. Even the noble families and the Four Great Houses barely reach 8% against him."

Ren’s eyes widened. "Wait... seriously?" He turned his head, scanning the room.

Across from him, Adasha, Adira, Morgana, and Elwin were also recovering—but instead of resting, they were bickering.

"You kept getting in my way, magma guy!" Adira snapped, glaring at Adasha.

"Oh yeah? Maybe try NOT throwing out random wind slashes like an idiot!" Adasha shot back.

Elwin groaned, rubbing his temples. "You two are the reason we lost. You distracted me!"

Meanwhile, Morgana remained silent, staring at the ceiling with a bitter expression. She clenched her fists, replaying the fight in her head. I was the only one actually fighting Ramiel, and because of that, he targeted me first…

Raphael sighed, shaking his head. "Geez, stop fighting, you guys. Besides, you placed second in the exam. You should relax for now."

Ren’s ears perked up. "Wait… if we got second, who placed first?"

Raphael leaned back, crossing his arms. "That would be Claude. Even though his blessing is still weak, he knew how to use it efficiently. Instead of brute force, he tried to outsmart Ramiel, using a mix of different magic attacks from a distance and coordinating with his teammates. His plan was to annoy Ramiel and wear him down."

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Ren raised an eyebrow. "That… actually worked?"

Raphael chuckled. "Not exactly. It just made Ramiel angry. Instinctively, he released 15% of his power, which was so overwhelming that Commander Michael had to stop the match."

Ren leaned back, exhaling sharply. He remembered Ramiel’s wild, almost crazed expression during their fight.

"Yeah," Ren muttered, his voice low. "That guy really loves fighting."

After a few more minutes, Ren gathered his gear and relayed what had happened to Rex and Alys. Once they were ready, they headed for the main hall, where the exam results would be announced.

As they walked, Rex sighed. "Damn… second place. I really thought after that punch, we’d secure first."

Ren smirked. "Yeah, yeah"

But just as they were joking, something strange happened.

A man wearing a hooded cloak brushed past them.

In that split second, their bodies froze. A deep chill ran down their spines, their instincts screaming danger.

Ren's breath hitched as he turned around to look at the stranger.

But—he was gone.

Rex’s face was pale. "What the hell was that?" He was sweating, his fists clenched.

Ren swallowed hard. "I… don’t know. But I don’t want to find out. Let’s just keep moving."

The eerie feeling lingered in the back of his mind as they reached the main hall.

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THE QUEEN’S DECLARATION

The hall was filled with warriors and magicians who had passed the trial. Murmurs spread through the crowd as they waited for the results.

Then—she appeared.

The young Queen Archfedd stepped onto the royal platform.

Her golden-blond hair shimmered under the grand chandeliers, and her ocean-blue eyes radiated both warmth and strength. She carried herself with the poise of a ruler, her beauty so mesmerizing that the warriors in the room fell into stunned silence.

Even Ren found himself in awe.

Then, she spoke.

"Brave champions. I am pleased to see so many strong warriors passing my trials."

She paused, her expression darkening slightly. "But from this moment on, you are no longer just warriors—you are the Elite. The best of the best. The kingdom needs strong champions, for I bring grave news."

The crowd shifted uneasily.

The Queen’s next words sent a chill through the room.

"A message has arrived… from the Goddess Frya herself."

Silence.

Then—whispers. Murmurs. Tension.

Ren’s heartbeat quickened.

"Three years from now…" the Queen continued, her voice steady yet heavy with sorrow, "my ancestor, King Arthur’s barrier will fall. And when it does… the Demon Army will be unleashed upon this land."

A wave of shock and dread rippled through the room.

Gasps. Panic.

The demon army—the monsters from legends, the nightmare that once threatened to consume the world.

"I need warriors—strong warriors—to defend the land of Frya." Her eyes burned with determination. "Together, we must stop them before they bring destruction upon us once more."

The room fell into uneasy silence.

The weight of her words pressed down on every warrior present.

This wasn’t just an exam anymore.

This was war.

Ren clenched his fists, determination surging through him.

We need to get stronger.