The training arena fell silent as Hiroshi and Kaito stepped forward. The examiners stood tall, their expressions unreadable, watching the two newcomers closely.

  One of the examiners, the scar-faced warrior, crossed his arms and spoke in a firm tone.

  “Pick a weapon of your choice. Let’s see what you can do.”

  Choosing Their Weapons

  Kaito didn’t hesitate. He immediately grabbed two short swords from the weapon rack. Dual-wielding had always been his preferred fighting style—fast, aggressive, and relentless.

  Hiroshi took his time, scanning the weapons carefully. Then, his eyes landed on a katana. Something about it felt familiar. As he held the hilt, memories of his past life surfaced for a brief moment.

  "This feels... right."

  He gave the blade a few practice swings. It wasn’t just a weapon—it was an extension of himself.

  Kaito’s Test Begins

  The examiner stepped forward, a tall warrior with sharp eyes. He pointed at Kaito.

  “You go first. Show me what you’ve got.”

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  Kaito grinned. “I was waiting for this!”

  As soon as the examiner said “Start,” Kaito vanished from his spot.

  In a flash, he reappeared behind the examiner, his swords striking lightning-fast. Sparks of electricity crackled from his feet as he used his Lightning Magic to boost his speed.

  But the examiner barely moved.

  With a single step to the side, he dodged Kaito’s attack effortlessly.

  Kaito gritted his teeth and attacked again—one sword from the left, the other from the right. A perfectly synchronized dual strike.

  The examiner lifted his arm and blocked both swords with one hand.

  Kaito’s eyes widened. “What the—?!”

  The examiner smirked. “Your speed is decent. But your power is lacking.”

  Before Kaito could react, the examiner sent a light push to Kaito’s chest.

  It felt like getting hit by a boulder.

  Kaito was sent flying backward, crashing into the ground.

  Hiroshi’s Turn

  Kaito groaned as he got up, rubbing his ribs. “Damn… that guy barely even tried.”

  The examiner turned to Hiroshi. “Your turn.”

  Hiroshi exhaled slowly, gripping his katana.

  He wasn’t as fast as Kaito. But he had something else—strategy.

  As soon as the battle started, Hiroshi didn’t charge in recklessly. Instead, he waited.

  The examiner raised an eyebrow. “Not attacking?”

  Hiroshi smirked. “Not yet.”

  The moment the examiner took a step forward—Hiroshi vanished.

  With a burst of wind magic, he appeared behind the examiner, slashing downward with his katana.

  The examiner turned just in time, barely dodging. A strand of his hair was cut.

  A flicker of surprise crossed the examiner’s face.

  “Interesting.”

  Hiroshi didn’t stop. He kicked off the ground, his wind magic boosting his speed. With precise strikes, he slashed from multiple angles.

  The examiner dodged most of them, but Hiroshi’s control over his wind magic allowed him to maneuver unpredictably.

  Finally, Hiroshi created a burst of wind pressure, knocking the examiner a step backward.

  The other examiners watching from the sidelines nodded in approval.

  The Results

  After the match, the scar-faced examiner announced their grades.

  “Kaito Kasama, you receive a grade of C-Minus. Your speed is excellent, but you rely too much on it. Work on your power and control.”

  Kaito sighed. “C-Minus, huh… I’ll take it.”

  Then the examiner turned to Hiroshi.

  “Hiroshi, you receive a grade of C.”

  Kaito’s head snapped toward Hiroshi. “Wait, he’s half a step ahead of me?!”

  The examiner nodded. “Your wind magic enhances your movement, but what makes you stand out is your timing. You wait for the right moment to attack, which is a rare trait among young warriors.”

  Hiroshi smiled. It wasn’t much, but it was progress.