The next morning, Aura stepped into the classroom just as the first bell rang. Gorrak, the homeroom teacher, raised an eyebrow but said nothing—he only gave a sharp nod toward the back.
Aura slid into his seat, only for Gorrak to turn and speak loudly, "Aura, report to the underground colosseum. Now."
A few students murmured in confusion. Aura stood up without a word and left the room, heart beating a little faster. As he made his way through the open-air hallway toward the colosseum gates, the wind tugged at his uniform. The building ahead stood like a giant stone dome, partially sunken into the earth, marked with the worn insignia of the Beast Department.
Waiting at the entrance was Vice President Lyon, dressed sharply in a dark navy robe embroidered with silver. The Royal Academy crest glinted on his chest. His demeanor was calm, yet there was a spark of anticipation in his eyes.
"Good morning," Lyon greeted, his voice smooth. "I hope you slept well."
"I did," Aura replied politely, bowing slightly.
"You're here because you've awakened a powerful class at an early age. The Monster Challenge Arena will be held in one month," Lyon said. "Participants from all across the Southern Region will attend—high-bloodline demons, elite beasts, nobles, and prodigies. The top ten will receive great rewards, even personal training under academy mentors. But only the strong will survive that stage."
Aura's eyes narrowed. "What level do I need to reach to qualify?"
"At least Level 5," Lyon said. "But that's just the start. The stronger you are, the better your chances." He gestured for Aura to follow. "Today, I want you to start pushing your limits."
Aura nodded. "I'll do it."
Lyon gave a rare smile. "That's what I wanted to hear. I've never seen a human awaken as a Mystic Combatant before—not at four years old."
Aura swallowed and looked away. He was starting to realize just how much weight the system's lie carried.
["Entering Challenge Chamber. No time restrictions. Defeat as many monsters as possible to gain experience."]
The steel doors to the chamber groaned open. Inside, a wide space of grey stone stretched ahead, with magic cages lining the far wall. A faint glow lit up the space, flickering with the pulse of the formation etched into the ground.
From the first cage, a snarl echoed—and a Level 1 Rets monster burst forth, leaping toward Aura.
Aura's body moved instinctively.
"Dragonpunch Sutra," he whispered.
His fist cracked against the monster's jaw, sending it flying into the wall. A moment later, a faint voice echoed in his head.
[+1 XP.]
Then another monster came.
[+1 XP.]
Then another.
[+1 XP.]
Aura frowned. "Wait. Why only one XP per kill? Yesterday I got two per monster."
["Yesterday, you accepted the quest that granted 2× XP for two hours. That bonus has expired."]
"Tch. Then turn off these XP alerts—they're distracting."
["Understood."]
The notifications disappeared, and Aura focused entirely on the flow of battle. He ducked low, spun, and drove his elbow into the side of the next monster. His form grew smoother with each movement. Punch. Dodge. Strike. The room filled with the sounds of growling beasts and sharp thuds as they fell, one after another.
Two hours passed.
A golden glow enveloped him.
[Level Up. Current Level: 3.]
Aura stepped back, breathing heavily. "Show me my stats."
[Level: 3 | XP: 1/500
HP: 160 (+20)
Attack: 33 (+6)
Defense: 40 (+10)
Mana: 56 (+10)
AP: +8 | SP: 5
Skills: Primordial Aura (Upgradeable - 20 SP), Imaginary World (Upgradeable - 20 SP), Humanization
Martial Arts: Dragonpunch Sutra
Extra Skill: Supernova Flame (Not upgradable, Mana Cost: 6/sec)]
Aura stared at the Supernova Flame entry. "Six mana per second…" he muttered.
["It's a powerful skill, but not sustainable in long battles. Suggestion: Obtain a skill scroll for mana recovery as soon as possible."]
"Noted," he muttered.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he exited the chamber. When he returned to the principal's office, he found Lyon, the Dean, and the Principal sitting at a long polished table.
He knocked softly.
"Come in," Lyon said.
Aura entered.
"You look exhausted," the Principal observed.
"You should go rest," said the Dean.
Aura shook his head. "I've reached Level 3. I want to move to the next challenge."
Lyon stood up so fast his chair scraped the stone floor. "What?"
Aura repeated, "I'm already Level 3."
The Dean blinked. "That's not possible. Not in two days."
The Principal sat up straighter. "Are you sure?"
Aura nodded. "You can check."
Lyon's face cracked into a grin. "Incredible."
Without wasting time, Lyon led him back to the monster control room. "This time, you'll face Level 2 and 3 monsters. Don't overdo it."
Aura entered the chamber again. This time, two monsters came out together—a Level 2 and Level 3. He dodged their pincer attack and struck with precise blows. The Dragonpunch Sutra landed cleanly, sending one crashing into the wall. His stamina burned, but his instincts sharpened with every breath.
[+2 XP.]
[+3 XP.]
[+2 XP.]
Time blurred.
Aura didn't know how long he had been in the room. He just kept going. Focused. Burning. Moving.
Then it happened again.
Golden light surged around him.
[Level Up. Current Level: 4.]
Aura stumbled back, panting. "Enough…"
He walked out, legs heavy.
Lyon was waiting just outside. His eyes widened as he saw the glow. "Don't tell me…"
"I'm already Level 4," Aura said.
For a moment, the Vice President said nothing. Then he laughed—not mockingly, but in pure disbelief.
"You're a monster," he said. "Even beasts with Rare Bloodlines can't level this fast in two days. Go home. Rest."
Aura didn't argue this time. He was too tired.
When he reached the Foxy village, the sun was dipping low. The village felt tense, the usual light laughter and conversation replaced by low murmurs and guards patrolling in formation.
At home, he found the house dim and quiet. Lily and Kael weren't back yet. Riku was asleep on his side of the room, a gentle rise and fall in his chest.
Aura ate dinner alone.
Afterward, he climbed onto the new bed beside Riku and stretched out with a soft sigh.
"System," he whispered. "Show me my stats again."
[Level: 4
HP: 200
Attack: 46
Defense: 62
Mana: 78
AP: 16
SP: 9
Skills: Primordial Aura (Upgradeable - 20 SP), Imaginary World (Upgradeable - 20 SP), Humanization
Martial Arts: Dragonpunch Sutra
Extra Skill: Supernova Flame (Not upgradable, Mana Cost: 6/sec)]
["Note: At Level 4, your current stats are equivalent to Level 10 of a standard race."]
Aura blinked.
"So I can fight higher-level monsters and gain XP faster?"
["Correct. Your growth potential is far beyond the norm. But be cautious. The stronger the enemy, the greater the risk."]
Aura smiled faintly. "That's fine by me."
He closed his eyes, letting exhaustion wash over him. For now, sleep. But tomorrow, he would rise again—and fight.