Around afternoon, William arrived at the gymnasium, hands tucked into his pockets as he stepped inside. The wide doors closed behind him with a dull thud, sealing off the outside world.

The space felt heavier than usual.

His eyes immediately caught several figures gathered near the center of the hall. Every one of them was an elder—professors and instructors whose presence alone carried authority. Their gazes were calm, sharp, and judging him already.

There were no students.

Officially, the academy had announced an inspection. Entry had been prohibited under the excuse of safety and protocol. But William knew better. So did Emma.

She had wanted to come along. The rule, however, was absolute. In the end, she had only smiled and told him she would wait—unwavewringly confident, as if the outcome had already been decided.

Thinking back to the certainty in her voice, William let out a faint chuckle.

"Student William Delimore," Edward called out, his tone sharp enough to cut through the air. "Is there any condition you would like to add to this battle?"

William tilted his head slightly. "What do you mean?"

The answer came from Xavier, the man standing opposite him. "There's a clear gap between our strength and experience," he said evenly. "And you still don't know what my ability is."

That much was true. Xavier was a new instructor, recently appointed and assigned to the first-year students. His reputation was still forming, but his confidence wasn't lacking.

The left edge of his lips lifted faintly as he continued, "If you wish, you may impose a rule that puts me at a disadvantage. To balance things."

"No, I'm good," William replied without even pausing to think.

Xavier's eyes narrowed. "Arrogant bastard," he muttered under his breath before turning slightly. "I suggest everyone keeps their distance. This might get violent."

Edward gave a short nod. One by one, the instructors stepped back, spreading out along the edges of the gymnasium and leaving the center open.

Xavier was shorter than William by a few inches. He had dark green hair cut short and fox-like eyes that missed very little. His body was compact and dense, arms thick with muscle, legs grounded and stable. He looked like someone who relied on direct combat rather than flourish.

William could feel his suppressed aether. It was there—controlled, restrained—but reaching into it wasn't simple. That was fine. William had no intention of revealing everything from the start.

"Ready?" Xavier asked, shifting his stance. One leg slid slightly back, weight balanced, posture clean and practiced.

William released a slow breath and nodded. "Yes."

Xavier moved.

The speed caught several instructors off guard. He crossed the distance in moments, his fist driving straight toward William's chest.

William didn't move his feet.

DHAK

The punch stopped inches from his body, caught by an invisible force. The impact rang out sharply, the air rippling where the blow had been halted.

William's focus sharpened. Something was wrong.

Behind him.

DHAK

Another punch struck, blocked just as cleanly. Same force. Same control.

William didn't have time to turn before something descended from above.

SWISS

His arm shot up.

DHAK

The kick slammed into his forearm. Pain surged down his arm, the impact forcing a grunt from his throat. His stance held, but the tremor traveled through his bones.

Pressure remained on both sides.

"So that's it," William muttered. "Clones."

Xavier grinned. The one above him twisted midair and landed another kick against William's face before retreating. The others pulled back at the same time, their forms collapsing inward until they merged back into one body.

William clenched his jaw, feeling heat bloom where he had been struck.

"That's your challenge," Xavier said calmly. "The same kind you'd face in a dungeon."

His body split again.

Two.

Four.

Eight.

Sixteen.

The number kept rising until it stopped at thirty-two.

More than thirty Xaviers stood before William, all facing him, all radiating intent. The gymnasium felt smaller with each added body.

Xavier's voice echoed from all sides. "Now show me how you'll deal with something you can't trace with your power—"

The sentence cut off.

William vanished.

He reappeared directly in front of the original Xavier, fingers closing around the man's face like a claw.

"Shouldn't have aimed for my face," William growled. "I have a date, goddamnit."

DHAK

CRACK

The ground shattered as Xavier was slammed into it. The impact sent fractures racing outward, stone buckling under the force.

Every clone jerked violently. Several collapsed instantly, dissolving into nothing. The rest staggered, clutching at themselves as if struck by the same blow.

Gasps rippled through the instructors. More than a few took involuntary steps forward, disbelief plain on their faces. William hadn't hesitated, nor did he pause to search. He had gone straight for the original body with killing intent.

Xavier reacted on instinct.

His legs snapped up, locking around William's neck. His grip tightened, calves digging in as he tried to choke him.

William snarled, telekinetic pressure pushing against Xavier's legs—but then, from his blind spot, movement.

Two fingers jabbed forward.

"Gah!"

Pain exploded as his eyes were struck. William staggered back, hands flying up to his face. Darkness swallowed his vision instantly, tears spilling despite his attempt to suppress them.

A low murmur spread among the instructors.

Xavier straightened, breathing hard. "I'm sorry, William," he said. "But in a real battle, nothing is fair."

William remained hunched, palms pressed against his eyes, jaw tight. The sting burned, sharp and disorienting.

Russel frowned, lips thinning.

Xavier clenched his fist. His calves tensed, body coiling as he launched forward for the finishing blow.

As the distance closed, Russel clicked her tongue and took a step—

Edward raised his hand.

She froze, confusion flashing across her face. Then she felt it.

So did everyone else.

William straightened.

Still blind, he raised his left hand.

"Die," he said calmly. "You asshole."

Silence followed.

One second passed.

A small orb formed in the air—dense, unstable, vibrating with compressed force.

Xavier's eyes widened. Every sense screamed at him to move.

The orb dropped.

It landed just short of his foot.

BOOOOOOOOM

The explosion tore through the gymnasium. Pressure slammed into the instructors, several of them thrown back as the shockwave ripped across the floor. The walls groaned, cracks spidering outward as debris flew.

When the dust finally settled, a deep crater marked the impact point.

Embedded in the far wall was a familiar figure.

Xavier hung there, body slack, eyes blank, head drooping. Consciousness had long since fled.

Edward exhaled slowly, disappointment clear on his face.

Then he raised his voice.

"William Delimore will take his first Dungeon Trial tomorrow."

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