"Who wouldn't be?! She's like the dream queen of the whole academy!" Billy said.

"You mean boys," Mia muttered with a pout.

"Dream queen, huh?" Derek chuckled. "Isn't she a bit older for you guys?"

"So what if we're juniors? There's nothing wrong with admiring her!" Paul protested.

"Fine, fine," Derek said. "But yeah, she's going to join my team. And no, I didn't have to do anything special to convince her."

"For real?" Paul was stunned. Billy too.

"Yes. Why would I lie?" Derek said.

"Yeah… that makes sense."

Suddenly Billy stepped forward, grabbed Derek's hands, and pleaded desperately.

"Derek, please… can you ask her to meet us? She's like an idol to us."

"I… I'll try," Derek said helplessly.

"No! Not just try — you have to make it happen," Billy demanded with burning determination.

"Okay. I don't think she would reject," Derek said helplessly. He didn't like making promises on someone else's behalf, but he doubted Emma would refuse such a harmless request.

As they continued talking, Wilson returned.

"How's your training going, everyone?" he asked as he stepped inside — only to find them gathered around Derek, chatting.

"We were just taking a short break, sir," Billy said quickly.

"No problem," Wilson said. "Let's go to the training chamber we used yesterday."

"Okay!" everyone nodded.

Wilson walked out again, and the students followed behind him.

After a short walk, they reached the training chamber.

Once inside, Wilson turned to Derek. "Let's see your performance today. With your cultivation increased, your senses should have improved as well."

Derek nodded.

Wilson handed him the bells. Derek tied them around his waist and ankles, then took the blindfold Wilson offered and tied it over his eyes.

Finally, he stood on the starting line.

The moment Wilson said "Go," Derek dashed forward.

Except for Wilson, the other students could barely follow his movement with their eyes.

The instant Derek stepped into the testing area, the traps activated.

A heavy log swung from the left. Derek leaned just enough for it to pass by him.

Kunai shot toward him in clusters. Derek slipped between them like water.

To Derek, it felt as if the world had slowed down.

He could hear every tiny click, every shift, every tremble of the mechanisms around him — sounds that would be impossible for a normal person to catch.

And beyond that, he could feel the changes in the air brushing against his skin. Every ripple, every disturbance, every compression of wind carried information.

It was like the air itself whispered warnings:

"Something is coming."

"Move now."

And Derek moved, smoothly, perfectly, without hesitation.

His steps were light. His body flowed with precision. And not once did the bells tied to him make a sound.

Not a single ring.

To the watching students, it almost looked unreal, as if the bells themselves were malfunctioning.

Within moments, Derek reached the finish line.

No bells ringing. No traps stopping him. No injuries. Not even a graze.

He had cleared the entire course blindfolded, with traps fully active, without making a single detectable sound.

Derek pulled off the blindfold and looked around.

But no one spoke. Not a single sound came from his classmates. Not from his instructor either.

Billy's mouth hung open. Paul looked like his soul had left his body. Mia's eyes were trembling. Even Harold, who rarely reacted, visibly flinched.

They all stared at Derek as if he were some mythical creature.

"D-Derek…" Mia whispered, her voice barely audible. "You… you didn't make a single sound… not even once…"

Billy rubbed his eyes hard. "No way. This has to be a dream. Right? RIGHT?!"

Paul grabbed Billy's shoulder, shaking him. "If this is a dream, then I'm dreaming the same damn thing!"

Only Wilson remained silent, standing stiffly.

His eyes, wide with disbelief, were fixed on Derek.

He had trained countless students over the years — top geniuses, prodigies born from powerful families, even nobles with awakened bloodlines, but he had never seen anything like this.

Not within the academy. Not outside the academy as well.

Finally, Wilson took a slow breath, trying to steady his voice.

"…Derek."

"Yes, sir?"

"Do it again."

The whole class snapped out of their shock.

"Eh?! Again?" Billy blurted out.

"Sir, he just did the impossible!" Mia said.

Wilson ignored them all, his gaze never leaving Derek.

"I need to confirm if that wasn't a fluke. Do it again."

Derek didn't hesitate.

"Okay."

He fixed his blindfold again, tightened the bells, and walked calmly to the starting line.

The room fell silent. Everyone held their breath.

"Ready... GO." Wilson shouted.

Derek moved. This time, his speed was even faster.

His dash was so quick the air itself split around him. The traps activated almost instantly — logs swung, kunai burst from the walls, pressure plates triggered hidden spears, but Derek didn't dodge like before.

He glided through them.

Flawless. Effortless. Limitless.

He threaded through the kunai as if he already knew their path. He stepped between the swinging logs like someone dancing through drifting leaves. The bells remained silent.... completely.... utterly silent.

Billy fell on his knees. Paul slapped his own face in disbelief.

Mia covered her mouth.

Harold..... even Harold whispered under his breath, "…freak."

And then....

In one smooth motion, Derek touched the finish line.

This time far faster than the last time.

The bells still hadn't made a single sound. And no injury either.

Silence crushed the room again. Wilson didn't move.

He just stared.... frozen, breath shallow, mind racing.

This wasn't normal. This wasn't talent. This wasn't genius.

This was something far beyond anything the academy had seen.

Derek removed his blindfold once more and turned toward Wilson.

"…Sir?"

Wilson didn't answer.

He just stood there, trembling slightly, as if reality itself had betrayed him.

'He did it. He really mastered it in less than six months…' Wilson's thoughts were in chaos.

After several long seconds, he finally exhaled and spoke. "Well done, Derek. Actually, 'well done' doesn't even begin to describe it. I don't know how to properly evaluate what you've just achieved."

Derek walked back toward them. "Thank you, sir."

Wilson looked at him again, still feeling a strange mix of disbelief and admiration.

"Do you want to give it a try?" Wilson asked.

Derek blinked. "Hmm? Try what?"

"You've mastered Lightning Pace," Wilson said. "Now you need to apply it in real combat."

He took a step forward, eyes sharp.

"Let's have a spar."

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