Tave stepped out of the house, locking the door behind him as Fang bounded beside him with excitement.
Out front, as expected, stood Lily. Her short blond hair shimmered slightly under the early sunlight as she stood with her arms crossed, clearly waiting for him.
Tave offered a small, crooked smile and fell into step beside her as they began walking away from the house.
Today was the day. The Selection Test.
It would determine which of the new candidates would earn the right to become a Squire Knight, the first major step in the knightly hierarchy. But more importantly, it would also decide who among them would be granted access to the Tier 3 Rift Expeditions.
In theory, Tier 3 Rifts were meant for Gaia Guardians or higher. That was the general recommendation, based on risk, monster density, and energy instability. But in reality? The world didn't work on ideal conditions. Too many Knights were already burdened with responsibilities, and the ever-growing number of Rifts demanded more manpower than the system could provide.
So exceptions were made.
If a Gaia Apprentice could demonstrate they had the combat ability, monster knowledge, and survival instinct of someone far beyond their stage, then they could earn a spot. No shortcuts. Just raw capability.
And that's exactly where Tave stood.
Knowledge about monsters? He had plenty.
Combat experience? He'd survived near-death encounters that would've killed most.
Tactical judgment? Sharpened by the week-long, brutal grind through the forest.
And on top of that, he had Fang. A bonded, Tier 2 Elite-grade shadow wolf.
Which meant, in reality, Tave wasn't entering as a single Gaia Apprentice. He was walking into that test as a force equivalent to two.
He wasn't going to let them measure him by stage alone. He was going to prove he was far beyond it.
***
The Knight Academy grounds were already buzzing with activity. The Selection Test wasn't just an evaluation, it was practically a public spectacle. Dozens had gathered to watch, not only spectators but also pre-formed teams and squads scouting for promising recruits among the candidates. It was a battlefield, yes, but also a marketplace for talent.
Tave and Lily made their way toward the spectator stands, walking side by side along the edge of the arena grounds. They headed for their usual spot near the front, close enough to see everything.
Lily, naturally, drew attention like a magnet. Her reputation, her skill, her presence, it all demanded eyes. But now, with Fang padding calmly beside them, even more heads turned. A tamed beast was a rare enough sight, but a Tier 2 shadow wolf walking obediently at someone's side? That practically shouted Beast Tamer.
Let them assume whatever they wanted.
They took their seats, Fang settling right in front of them, tail wagging steadily. His sharp eyes stayed locked on the arena ahead, sensing that something important was about to begin.
Soon, the Selection Test would be underway.
As standard, each candidate would face off against one monster, chosen at random. There would be no prior briefing, no hints, nothing but the sudden reality of the fight ahead. Each test was unique, unpredictable. And that was the point.
This wasn't just about power.
It was a test of instinct, reaction, and understanding. A true measure of whether someone could survive out there, in the chaos of a Rift, surrounded by creatures bred to kill.
Strength alone wouldn't carry them through. They needed knowledge of monster behavior, of elemental traits, of weaknesses and patterns. They needed the ability to adapt, to analyze, to stay calm when death stared them in the eye.
And that's where many would fail.
Most of the participants had never actually encountered half the creatures on the list. Theory was one thing. But a real battle? Reading a monster's movements, predicting its instincts, reacting in the split second between life and death?
That was a whole different game.
Granted, for the sake of fairness, the pool had been narrowed; only twelve possible monster types were in rotation for the test. In theory, every candidate should've studied them all.
But theory wasn't survival. And survival was an entirely different skill.
Lily passed him a folded document without a word, her expression serious. Tave took it, unfolded the parchment, and scanned through the list of upcoming Tier 3 Rift expeditions. There were five scheduled in the near future, each rapidly approaching their expiration window, the point after which the Rift would destabilize or collapse completely.
He skimmed each entry, focusing immediately on the elemental composition data provided for every Rift.
Each Gaia Rift was categorized not only by Tier level, but also by its elemental saturation. This was crucial. The energy signature within a Rift influenced everything, the monsters that appeared, the environment, even the kind of artifacts or relics one might find within. Properly aligning a team's elemental strengths with the Rift's makeup could mean the difference between success and a swift death.
And then, he saw it. Two Rifts, both with high concentrations of Fire Element.
One of them, in particular, showed massive fire elemental readings, along with traces of Earth Element. His eyes narrowed. That combination usually pointed to only one kind of environment, a volcanic zone.
Exactly what he needed.
A volcanic region wasn't just a natural hazard zone, it was the ideal hunting ground for him to find and bind a Fire Spirit, the very core he needed for the creation of his new Relic.
The other Rift with moderate fire saturation and mixed elemental presence could also work, but it was less promising. The first one, though, was perfect.
That was his target.
With a slow, steady breath, Tave folded the document and tucked it away. Decision made.
The sharp wail of the siren echoed across the entire training field, silencing the last murmurs of conversation. All attention snapped toward the wide circular arena, ringed by high walls and lined with thick gates along its perimeter. The first candidate had entered, their level hidden, only their Gaia Stage revealed. It was a Gaia Apprentice.
Tave leaned forward slightly in his seat as the countdown began, numbers flashing on a screen above the field. 3… 2… 1.
CLANK!
One of the massive iron doors creaked open.
From the darkness behind it, a hulking figure emerged. A beast, snorting steam and stomping the ground with bone-rattling weight.
It had the form of a monstrous bull. Its body was coated in dense, earthen-brown fur, its shoulders broad as a house's foundation. Two thick, spiraling horns curved forward with deadly intent, and its crimson eyes gleamed beneath a tangled mane of wild hair.
Tave's breath caught. Tier 3. This was honestly insane.
The creature's hooves thundered against the ground, and with a savage snort, it charged forward. Dust spraying, ground shaking, the roar of pure fury echoing off the walls.
The candidate, already holding his sword, tried to brace. But it was clear in his posture: he wasn't ready!
And then, just seconds before the bull would have gored him.
"I FORFEIT! I FORFEIT! I'M OUT!" the candidate shouted, voice cracking with panic as he dropped to his knees and threw both arms into the air.
BOOM!
A shimmering shield of energy erupted around him just in time. The monster slammed into it full force, creating an explosion of kinetic force that sent shockwaves across the arena. Even from the front row, Tave felt the tremor hit his boots.
He swallowed hard. That monster… it wasn't just strong, it created explosive shockwaves with every charge. They called it a "Seismhorn." A territorial beast that used its mass and elemental force to cause controlled tremors with each impact. Perfectly engineered chaos.
And then the laughter started.
Mocking. Cruel. Loud.
"Hah! Didn't even last five seconds!"
"Pathetic! That guy should've stayed home!"
"Why even show up if you're gonna fold like paper?"
"Did you see his knees? I thought they'd give out before the monster even charged!"
A few people even started mimicking his surrender cry, raising their hands and squealing in mock terror.
Well, what could anyone expect? A Gaia Apprentice signing up for the Selection Test was already a borderline insane idea. So, this kind of result, the panic, the surrender, the total mismatch, it wasn't just expected. It was predicted. Most people in the crowd probably came just to watch it happen.
Tave exhaled slowly and stood up, brushing off the front of his jacket. It was his turn to wait in line now, and he wasn't going to pretend he didn't feel the shift in the air as he rose.
He turned slightly toward Lily, who sat watching with her arms folded.
"Good luck," she said, sighing softly.
He gave her a small, lopsided smile in return.
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the waiting area, Fang following close behind with silent steps. And as he moved, he could feel it. Dozens of eyes locking onto him.
Of course they were watching.
He wasn't just some random candidate. He was a brand-new Gaia Apprentice who had the audacity to sign up for a test most wouldn't dare approach without a few years of solid combat experience under their belts.
To them, he was already the next punchline.
Another warm-up act.
A walking failure waiting to happen.
And that was perfectly fine by him.
Let them laugh. He'd shut them up soon enough.