Inside each spach rift, the battlefield continued to rumble with explosions, roars, and the clash of magic. One by one, the remaining teams finished the first wave of monsters. It didn't take long and the second wave was also dealt with — though at varying speeds.

Some elite teams tore through the E-class creatures with practiced ease. Others struggled but ultimately managed to clear the wave with teamwork, grit, and desperation.

But among the twenty teams… one stood out for a very strange reason:

Derek's team had already finished fighting. And yet, they hadn't moved forward.

They remained standing there in the same rocky plain, positioned protectively around Derek, who still sat in lotus position, his eyes closed, completely unmoving.

In the gallery, murmurs rippled through the crowd like the rustling of dry leaves carried by the wind.

"Why aren't they advancing? And why is that boy still sitting like that?"

"Did something happen to him?"

"What kind of strategy is this? Everyone else has already moved deeper!"

Even instructors exchanged puzzled glances. Some frowned. Some whispered. Some simply stared at Derek as if he had lost his mind.

But no matter how impatient they grew…

No one dared to interrupt him.

Not even his own team.

Henry swallowed deeply. "How long is he going to sit like that…?"

Emma exhaled slowly, her eyes fixed on Derek. "He's doing it on purpose. If he started this in the middle of a fight, there has to be a reason."

Eva frowned. "But the test won't wait for us. If we fall too far behind..."

"We wait," Emma said firmly.

Art nodded instantly. "Yeah. If Derek says he needs time, then we give him time."

They were anxious — yes.

But disturb Derek? Not a chance.

Especially not when the faint glow around his body began to intensify.

At first, only a few instructors noticed it. A soft shimmer, barely visible against the dull gray sky.

But the more time passed, the more this subtle shimmer deepened. Time continued to flow in its own pace. Though Emma had decided they will wait, she too was getting impatient.

But then suddenly....

A Radiance That Froze the Arena

A bright, blinding light burst from Derek's seated form — a white-gold aura that enveloped his entire body like a cocoon of pure energy. The light pulsed, surged, and rippled in waves.

The coliseum gasped as one.

"What is that?!"

"Is he… glowing?!"

"Don't tell me...."

"Impossible…! He's receiving enlightenment?!"

Many students stood up from their seats, hands gripping the railing. Several instructors rose to their feet as well, their expressions shifting from confusion… to shock… to something close to disbelief.

Even Nicholas, who had been grinding his teeth since the test began, froze mid-breath.

"You've got to be kidding me…" he muttered, face paling.

Meanwhile, the instructors exchanged increasingly alarmed glances.

"…Enlightenment? Inside a trial?"

"That boy…! Was there anyone in history who ever received enlightenment before reaching S-class level?"

"And don't forget he's still inside a trial… yet, he's able to slip into enlightenment?"

Yami leaned back in her seat, a slow smile spreading across her face. "This is unheard of."

Derek's team members stood completely stunned, not moving a muscle.

"Holy…" Henry whispered. "This whole time… he was—"

Eva placed a hand on her chest, steadying her breath. "This pressure… I can feel it from here."

Emma didn't speak at all. She had already known Derek was different.

But this…?

This was monstrous.

Minutes passed.

The entire arena watched in total silence as Derek remained motionless inside the glowing cocoon of light. His heartbeat was steady. His breathing was faint. His entire presence felt detached from reality, as if he were drifting between worlds.

Then...

The light slowly began to fade.

Dimmer.

Softer.

And finally…

It vanished completely.

When the last flickers of radiance dissolved into the air, Derek opened his eyes.

They were sharper than before. Clearer. Depths of calm intelligence swirled inside them, along with something new…

He slowly reached into his storage ring.

Twin daggers emerged.

A hush fell across the arena.

"What's he doing now…?"

"Is he going to continue fighting?"

Derek placed both daggers on the ground before him.

And then..... he focused.

At first, nothing happened.

But after sometime...

A faint vibration.

The blades trembled. Rattled. Shivered lightly against the rock beneath them.

Students leaned forward, mouths open.

The instructors were wide-eyed.

His teammates stood frozen.

The daggers quivered again.

One side of a blade lifted off the ground.

Then fell.

Lifted again.

Fell again.

It was like watching a toddler attempt to stand.

But Derek's expression didn't waver. He remained calm, steady, focused.

The daggers rose again…

Higher this time.

Then...

Both blades slowly lifted off the ground.

They hovered.

Shakily at first. Barely stable. Floating just a few inches above the stone surface.

But they were unmistakably suspended in mid-air.

The coliseum exploded.

"HOLY—"

"He's controlling them without touching them?!"

"Is that… telekinetic control?!"

"No way! That's a Dagger Mastery secret technique!"

"How is a cultivator.... a cultivator doing that?!"

Nicholas shot to his feet, face twisted in rage and disbelief.

"WHAT THE HELL IS HE?!"

Murmurs erupted like wildfire.

"That level of mastery…"

"That's… dangerous."

And among the instructors...

Utter shock.

"That's impossible!"

"No beginner should be able to do this!"

"How old is he again?!"

Yami grinned like a madwoman from his seat. "Fantastic."

Meanwhile, Derek exhaled softly. He wasn't done yet. He raised one finger.

The floating daggers jerked. Moved. And slowly began to orbit him in a smooth circular motion.

The faint whistle of metal cutting through air grew louder.

Faster.

Sharper.

The blades whirled around him in a spiraling pattern, slicing through the air like ghostly serpents. What began as slow rotations soon transformed into blistering speed.

The daggers became blurs. Whistling lines of silver light. A storm of controlled death.

A technique far beyond what a first-year should ever possess.

Derek finally allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.

"Good… it really works."

That single sentence made the arena fall silent again.

His team stared at him like he had grown a second head.

Henry's mouth hung open. "D-Derek… you… what… how… WHAT ARE YOU?!"

Art was trembling. "H-holy shit…"

Eva swallowed. "You weren't kidding when you said you needed to try something…"

Emma simply exhaled deeply, eyes shining with awe.

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