As the magical shimmer of the Origin Temple faded behind them, Eron received a burst of notifications.
[EXP Threshold Reached]➤ Eron ➤ Lv. 11 → Lv. 12 → Lv. 13
Stat Choice Triggered – Levels 11 & 13
Option 1: +2 to All StatsOption 2: +4 to a Single Stat
Choices Made:• Lv. 11 ➤ +2 to All• Lv. 13 ➤ +4 to INT
[Updated Stats]• STR: 22• AGI: 21• VIT: 21• INT: 35• WIS: 26• CHA: 23• Mana: 96
Eron closed the panel. One level away from breaking 100 mana—and triggering the temple's death pressure. Lucky.
Beside him, the Primordial Slime gleamed faintly, its threads pulsing calmly.
Flags unfurled in gold and white. The central crystal screen glowed above the courtyard, listing names, divisions, and tier ranks.
A silver-haired professor raised his hand. "Behold—the Tournament of Ten Trials. This year's prize: a wish-bound Tier-S Skill Core... and one custom-crafted legacy weapon."
Murmurs broke out instantly.
Eron's name appeared in Division A, bracketed against elite noble houses and two famed second-year prodigies.
"Team Registration Deadline: 3 days. Format: 3-person core. Solo duels permitted within bracket. Team battle at semifinals."
Neha paced in front of the window.
"So who's the third?" she asked. "Not like you socialize."
Eron smirked. "I've got someone in mind."
Right then, a knock echoed.
And she entered.
Long jet-black hair, streaked with violet. Eyes that shifted between gray and silver. Her aura shimmered strangely, as though it couldn't decide between light and shadow.
Name: Seryn CaelisYear: FirstSpecialty: Spirit-Sword ChannelingStatus: UnalignedAffinity: Dual – ShadowlightTrait: Bloodline ConcealedSystem Sync Detected: Unstable Legacy Tier
She curtsied smoothly. "So, you're the one who caused the Arcane Rift to blink."
Eron narrowed his eyes. "You could feel that?"
"I breathe that."
Neha stepped forward, frowning. "Why're you here?"
Seryn tilted her head. "Because the Academy asked me to join a team worthy of the tournament's deeper rites."
She walked right up to Eron.
"And your summon hums like mine. You're the only one with a pulse close to my wavelength."
[System Prompt: Potential Bond Detected – Seryn Caelis]➤ Sync Rate: 34%➤ Romance Route Unlocked – Status: Unspoken Interest➤ Harem System Activated (Optional: Toggle Romance Dynamics)
Eron didn't answer immediately.
Then: "You're in."
Later that night, Seryn sat by the moonlit fountain, petting the slime that had somehow started orbiting her like a floating water lantern.
"It likes you," Eron noted.
She smiled faintly. "It trusts me. That's harder."
Neha arrived with tea, handing it a little more forcefully than needed.
The atmosphere between the three shimmered—unspoken tension, mixed admiration, and unclaimed ground.
Team [Unnamed] Registered
• Eron Valemere – Warlord (Summon/Spell/Sword) – Lv. 13• Neha Veyra – Flame Adept – Lv. 7• Seryn Caelis – Spirit-Walker – Lv. 10
Tournament Countdown: 83 Days
Bracket Match 1: Vs House DarvellReward: D-Rank Artifact and 500 Guild Tokens
Eron stood before the mirror.
Two girls. One Primordial Slime. A sword that sang in mana.
And a bracket meant to crush dreams.
He smirked.
"Let's break it."