[Back in the Dorm – Michael's POV]

I finally made it back to the quiet sanctuary of my room in the Supreme Hall. The moment the door clicked shut behind me, the last of my strength seemed to evaporate.

I dropped my jacket on the floor and collapsed onto the sofa, my head falling back against the cushions with a weary thud.

The infirmary report had been a success. My secrets were safe, for now. But the cost had been immense.

My mind felt like a battlefield, littered with the psychic scars of the encounter.

I closed my eyes, but the image of Derisu's glitching phantom was burned onto the back of my eyelids. That thing wasn't just a simple AI. It had a consciousness, a will. And it had recognized me as a threat.

My hand instinctively went to my chest, where the Title of 'Mindbreaker' now sat in my status, a silent testament to the battle I had won. The +20% resistance to psychic attacks was a welcome prize, but the memory of earning it was a cold weight.

After a few minutes of just breathing, I finally sat up, the exhaustion giving way to a familiar, restless energy.

There was work to be done. I had rewards to claim, power to consolidate. The tournament was next, and after today, my performance would be scrutinized under a microscope. I couldn't afford to show any weakness.

"System," I murmured, my voice raspy. "Show me the Skill Evolution Stone."

[Item: Skill Evolution Stone]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Description: A crystallized fragment of pure potential. Can be used to evolve one skill of Gold rank or lower to its next tier, unlocking new functions and enhancing its core attributes.]

[Usable on: [Aura Holder (Purple)], [Ice Domain (Gold)] ]

My eyes narrowed. The choice was obvious. Ice Domain was already a Gold-rank skill, a powerful area-of-effect ability that had already saved my skin once. Evolving it would be a significant power-up.

But Aura Holder… that was the core of my identity as a Magic Swordsman. It was the skill that allowed me to manifest aura, the power that separated me from every other first-year. It was currently Purple-rank. Evolving it to Gold… what would that unlock?

My gamer instincts, honed over a lifetime, told me that strengthening a core, foundational skill was always the better long-term investment than simply upgrading a flashy ultimate.

"Use the Skill Evolution Stone on Aura Holder," I commanded, my voice firm.

[Confirm Evolution of skill: Aura Holder (Purple)? This action is irreversible.]

"Confirm."

The stone materialized in my hand, a shimmering, multi-faceted gem that pulsed with a warm, internal light.

It floated from my palm and hovered in front of my chest, its light intensifying. Then, it shattered into a million motes of golden light that flowed into me, a river of pure potential that set my very soul alight.

My mana circuits burned, not with the chaotic agony of awakening Lightning, but with a refined, controlled fire.

The passive aura that always hummed beneath my skin surged, condensing, purifying.

[Evolution Complete!]

[Skill Acquired: Aura Dominion (Gold)]

Rank: Gold (Legendary)

Type: Passive/Active

"Steel contains the body, but Aura contains the soul. Your will is now a tangible force, a domain you command as a king commands his realm."

Core Effects:

Mana-to-Aura Conversion (Enhanced): Convert mana into combat aura at a 1:1.2 ratio. Aura now persists for 60 seconds and regenerates slowly when not in active combat

.

Aura Infusion: Actively infuse aura into any weapon or object, granting it a +25% increase in durability and cutting power. Infused objects can now damage intangible or spiritual entities.

Aura Manifestation (New Active Function): Project your aura outwards to create a 5-meter radius 'Dominion' around you for 30 seconds. Within this field, your physical stats (STR, AGI) are increased by 15%, and all hostile entities suffer from 'Will Suppression,' a psychic pressure that reduces their reaction speed by 10%.

Cost: 20% of maximum mana to activate.

Cooldown: 10 minutes.

Locked Evolutions:

4. Aura Overdrive (LOCKED – requires 40,000 SP)

5. Aura Resonance (LOCKED – requires 100,000 SP)

I stared at the screen, my breath catching in my throat. This wasn't just an upgrade. This was a complete transformation. An active, area-of-effect field that boosted my stats and debuffed my enemies.

The ability to damage ghosts and spirits. My power hadn't just taken a step forward; it had taken a quantum leap.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across my face. The exhaustion, the mental scars, the political maneuvering—it was all worth it.

Let them watch. Let them whisper. The tournament was next.

And I was more than ready.

________________

The forty-eight hours of mandated rest in my bed felt less like recovery and more like imprisonment.

While my body had mostly healed from the physical echoes of the psychic battle in the Labyrinth, my mind remained a restless sea.

The 'Mindbreaker' title felt less like an achievement and more like a brand, a constant reminder of the alien consciousness I had fought and the scars it left behind.

The Skill Evolution Stone had transformed [Aura Holder] into the formidable [Aura Dominion], a power that hummed beneath my skin like a caged storm, but the mental cost of the purge lingered—a heightened sensitivity, a rawness that made the quiet infirmary feel unnervingly loud.

When the healer finally cleared me, stepping back into the vibrant chaos of the Academy felt like surfacing from a deep dive.

The air buzzed with an electric energy that hadn't been there before.

The Mid-Term results, particularly the Labyrinth rankings and the revelation of the "System Anomaly," had sent shockwaves through the student body.

Whispers followed me like shadows, a discordant mix of awe, suspicion, and outright hostility.

"That's him… the one who purged the AI?"

"They say he faced the core alone."

"First place again… but was it skill or just a system glitch?"

"He's dangerous. That commoner… he's disrupting everything."

I ignored them, my face a carefully constructed mask of indifference. Let them whisper. Let them doubt.

Their opinions were irrelevant noise. The only thing that mattered was the final trial: The Tournament of Champions.

The announcement had ignited the Academy.

The promise of an Epic-grade weapon for the champion, broadcasted duels, and the chance to reset the rankings had turned the campus into a pressure cooker of ambition and anxiety.

Training grounds were packed from dawn till dusk. The library overflowed with students cramming combat theory.

Even the usually lax common areas crackled with competitive tension.

My own preparations had been internal. During the forced rest, I'd spent hours meditating, not just to heal my psychic core, but to explore the nuances of [Aura Dominion].

It was more than just a power boost; it was a fundamental shift in how I interacted with mana and space. The ability to project my will, to suppress opponents passively within my field, opened up strategic possibilities I hadn't dared consider before.

Combined with my growing mastery of Siekie Ryoku Arts and the unpredictable potential of my Ice, Space, and now Lightning affinities, I felt… different. Stronger, yes, but also more isolated.

My path was diverging sharply from the expected trajectory of a first-year student.

The morning of the tournament arrived crisp and clear. A palpable buzz filled the air as students streamed towards the Grand Colosseum, the massive arena dominating the Academy's northern district. Its white marble walls gleamed in the early sun, banners of the eight Great Houses and the Academy crest snapping proudly in the wind.

Today, this wasn't just a building; it was a stage for the entire continent to watch.

Holographic broadcast drones, sleek silver discs humming with mana, already dotted the sky, relaying the feed to countless screens in noble manors, guild halls, and public squares across Denmard and beyond.

The pressure wasn't just internal anymore; it was external, global.

I walked with my friends—or perhaps, allies and rivals would be more accurate. Leon strode beside me, his usual humility overlaid with a quiet, burning intensity.

The Labyrinth had shaken him, forced him to confront the limits of his structured training. He hadn't spoken much about it, but the new fire in his eyes told me he saw this tournament as his chance to reclaim the top spot, to prove his worth beyond doubt.

Aiden, predictably, was practically vibrating with excitement. "Finally! No more puzzles, no more teamwork nonsense! Just pure, glorious smashing!" He cracked his knuckles, lightning sparking faintly between them.

His gaze kept flicking towards Lyra, who walked on my other side, a competitive glint in her own fiery eyes.

Lyra Braveheart was equally restless. Her fourth-place finish in the Labyrinth had clearly stoked her inferiority complex. "Smashing won't get you far against real opponents, Storm-brain," she retorted, tossing her crimson ponytail.

"This is about skill, not just raw power." Her eyes met mine briefly, a silent challenge passing between us. She wanted to prove herself, perhaps more than anyone.

Selena and Elara walked together slightly behind us, their usual serene composure tinged with anticipation.

Selena's gentle nature seemed at odds with the brutal nature of a tournament, yet there was a quiet determination in her gaze.

Elara, as she was....ever the observer, scanned the crowds, her elven senses likely picking up details the rest of us missed.

( To be continued)

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