Shattered Blade

Morning arrived too soon, the alarm buzzing insistently while Hwak struggled against the weight of exhaustion. His late-night adventure with Soniya had left him with precious little sleep. Bleary-eyed, he glared at the bodysuit's timer displaying a three-minute countdown. With a groan, he dragged himself from his sleeping mat.

His father had already left for an early shift, sparing Hwak the need for explanations about his new acquisitions. He pulled on the bodysuit, carefully concealing Soniya's sword beneath it, and slipped into the black shoes that appeared ordinary but held extraordinary potential.

The countdown reached zero, and the familiar computerized voice announced: "*Task One: Complete five-kilometer run in thirty minutes.*"

The holographic track materialized before him. Unlike yesterday, Hwak faced it with determination rather than dread. Today, he would complete Level 1 no matter what.

"Let's see what these shoes can do," he muttered, mentally activating their enhancement capability.

The effect was immediate and astonishing. His legs suddenly felt weightless, each step propelling him further with minimal effort. One jump carried him to the first-floor rooftop of a nearby building. Another leap took him to the second floor, then the third.

The track changed directions unpredictably, just as it had yesterday, but Hwak anticipated the shifts, learning from his previous mistakes. When faced with a lengthy gap between buildings—a distance no ordinary human could clear—he didn't hesitate. He leapt into the air, momentarily feeling as though he were flying.

For a heart-stopping second, he realized he might not make it across. His fingertips grasped the ledge of the far building, and with newfound strength, he pulled himself up and continued running.

"*Level 1, Task One complete: Twenty-four minutes, forty seconds,*" the suit announced.

Breathing heavily but still energized, Hwak positioned himself for push-ups. The first fifty came relatively easily, his breathing controlled and his muscles responsive. After the halfway mark, familiar resistance began to build, as though invisible weights were being added to his back.

At push-up ninety-five, his elbow buckled, nearly sending him crashing to the ground. Gritting his teeth, he forced his arm straight again, completing the repetition. Only three more to go.

He inhaled deeply for number ninety-eight, exhaled forcefully for ninety-nine. The final push-up loomed like an insurmountable mountain. His arms trembled, threatening to give out entirely. In a desperate move, he lowered himself completely, then used both his arms and legs to thrust upward with everything he had left.

"*Level 1, Task Two complete. Five-minute break before Task Three.*"

Hwak collapsed onto his back, chest heaving. When the break ended, he faced the holographic martial arts tutorial with renewed focus. His enhanced shoes helped maintain the proper speed and balance for each movement. He followed the forms precisely, his body adapting to the routine with growing familiarity.

"*Task Three complete. Level 1 cleared. Would you like to proceed to Level 2?*"

Despite his success, Hwak declined. Better to celebrate this victory than risk immediate failure at a higher level.

"*Level 1, one hundred percent completion. Training concluded.*"

After showering and changing into his academy uniform, Hwak strapped the sword's leather sheath to his waist, concealing it beneath his jacket. With his new black shoes—unremarkable in appearance but extraordinary in function—he set off for Neonspire, a subtle confidence in his stride that hadn't been there before.

---

Hwak arrived at the academy slightly late. The Beast Theory class had already begun, with students settled at their desks. As he entered, he noticed several glances at his new shoes and the leather sheath visible beneath his partially open jacket.

Leena's gaze locked onto him with particular intensity. Her expression darkened as he passed, but Hwak, preoccupied with his morning's achievement, failed to notice. This apparent disregard only fueled her anger. She clenched her fist tight enough for her nails to leave marks on her palm, then abruptly left the classroom while Hwak was still finding his seat.

Looking around, Hwak noted that Ramon was absent again. Before he could contemplate this further, the door opened to admit Professor Riya, the Beast Theory instructor.

The classroom atmosphere shifted immediately. Professor Riya possessed the kind of beauty that commanded attention—a model's figure with curves accentuated by her deliberately provocative attire. Today she wore a semi-transparent white shirt with several buttons undone, paired with shorts that left little to the imagination. Every male student's gaze followed her as she moved to the front of the room.

"Good morning, children," she said, her voice carrying a seductive undertone that seemed entirely deliberate. "Today we're continuing our study of beast classification and their crystals."

The screen behind her displayed an oversized mouse, easily as large as a dog.

"Common beasts, classified H through F, provide crystals primarily used for basic energy generation and common trade goods." She gestured to the image. "These are abundant and relatively easy to harvest."

The image changed to a sleek, predatory cat with gleaming eyes.

"Lesser beasts, F through E class, demonstrate significant power. Their crystals fuel weapons and high-tech buildings. These creatures possess remarkable reflexes and speed comparable to supersonic vehicles. Weapons crafted from their crystals can enhance your speed and, if you're particularly fortunate, your endurance as well."

Professor Riya's next slide showed a bipedal lizard with an almost human-like posture.

"Advanced beasts display intelligence and have been observed coordinating lower-class beasts. They function as squad leaders in the wild. Their crystals are highly prized for specialized applications."

Whispers spread through the classroom as the next image appeared—a humanoid figure with bestial features.

"Elite beasts are the most dangerous commonly encountered specimens. They've undergone evolution processes similar to our own Evolan adaptations, and some can even communicate in rudimentary ways. Their crystals power high-level weapons and armor, often with elemental properties. Some elite specimens contain dual crystals—one standard, one elemental."

From behind Hwak, a student whispered, "They have their own island, you know. An entire colony of wolf-types."

"Haven't you heard of werewolves?" another student responded. "They're shape-shifters."

Professor Riya continued, either not hearing or choosing to ignore the comments. "Beyond these categories are King Beasts, Legendary Beasts, and Apex Beasts—creatures of such power they could potentially destroy entire planets. These remain largely theoretical, documented only in ancient texts."

The bell rang, signaling the end of the lesson and the beginning of weapons training with Thomas.

---

The weapons hall buzzed with anticipation as students donned protective gear and retrieved their personal armaments. Some carried traditional weapons—swords, spears, axes—while others displayed more exotic choices reflecting their family wealth or personal style.

Mr. Thomas surveyed the group, his eyes lingering on Hwak. "It seems you've completed Level 1. Perhaps you'll last at this academy after all. If you survive, you might even reach Level 5 someday."

Scattered laughter followed this backhanded compliment. Thomas's gaze dropped to the leather sheath at Hwak's side.

"So you found a weapon after all. Let's see what you've got."

From the back of the group, a boy called out, "Probably borrowed his mother's kitchen knife to cut vegetables!"

Hwak's expression darkened. The casual cruelty struck deep—his mother had died years ago, and memories of her cooking for him flashed painfully through his mind.

Thomas silenced the laughter with a raised hand. "First match: Hwak versus Riyo."

Riyo stepped forward—a well-built student with black hair styled in an undercut, the longer top slicked back. His brown eyes held contempt as he took his position opposite Hwak. On his hands were specialized gloves with retractable blades resembling claws.

"Begin!" Thomas commanded.

Riyo activated his Evolan ability immediately. His skin transformed before everyone's eyes, hardening into a chitinous armor that covered his exposed flesh. The audience murmured appreciatively at this display. Next, he channeled energy into his weapon, causing the claws to extend and glow with yellow light.

Meanwhile, Hwak stood motionless, his hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword, waiting.

Riyo attacked first, lunging forward with both hands extended, energy claws slashing toward Hwak's torso. Hwak activated his shoes' enhancement and sidestepped with unexpected speed, surprising both Riyo and the onlookers. He followed with a jumping axe kick aimed at Riyo's shoulder.

Riyo dodged sideways and countered with a swipe of his energized claws. Hwak finally drew his short sword, blocking the attack. As the weapons connected, the sword's innate skill activated, causing it to glow with an icy blue light. Hwak felt his strength increase by roughly ten percent, making the block seem effortless.

A collective gasp rose from the audience at the sword's unusual appearance.

Hwak pressed his advantage, striking Riyo's thigh with a quick kick before jumping backward. He attempted a kick to Riyo's face, but his opponent raised both arms in a cross-block, pushing Hwak away. Hwak recovered with an aerial flip, landing gracefully on his feet.

The fight continued with Hwak attempting to use moves he'd seen in action films—side-stepping before attacking in an upward arc with his sword. Riyo, recognizing the predictable pattern, swept Hwak's legs from under him and followed with a spinning kick to the chest that sent him sprawling.

"I thought you might do something impressive," Riyo taunted. "But you're just copying movie patterns. Pathetic."

Hwak lay stunned, not from the physical impact but from the realization that his strategy—relying on choreographed moves from entertainment—was fundamentally flawed in a real fight.

As Riyo charged in for the finishing blow, Hwak planted one foot firmly on the ground and pushed himself upright. He executed a back jump to avoid Riyo's attack, leaving his opponent striking at empty air.

Then inspiration struck. Instead of mimicking what he'd seen, Hwak did something unexpected—he threw his sword directly at Riyo, then sprinted faster than the projectile itself. While Riyo focused on dodging the blade, Hwak circled behind him, caught the sword in mid-air, and brought it to rest against Riyo's neck.

The moment the blade touched flesh, its secondary skill activated—a paralysis effect that froze Riyo in place. Hwak followed with a back kick that sent his immobilized opponent crashing to the floor. Despite Riyo's attempts to rise, the paralysis effect held him firmly in place.

"Count!" Thomas called, barely concealing his surprise. "Hwak wins the match."

Silence fell over the training hall. A settlement boy with no Evolan abilities had just defeated a student with both natural abilities and an energy weapon. Some students whispered that it was merely luck or the sword's special skill. But others looked at Hwak differently now—perhaps there was more to him than they had assumed.

As for Hwak himself, he stood breathing heavily in the center of the training floor, as surprised by his victory as anyone else. The sword in his hand still glowed faintly, as if satisfied with its first taste of combat.