CHAPTER 1029: THE DAY

Adrien stepped forward to the front of the chamber once again. His boots striking against the reinforced floor with steady authority.

The buzz of hushed whispers among the candidates faded instantly.

He scanned the room with his sharp and unyielding gaze.

"I don’t need to say anything anymore," Adrien began, his voice carrying easily through the hall. "I already said it yesterday. You know what this is, and you know what’s at stake."

He swept his eyes across the assembled faces, then turned slightly toward the observation deck above.

"Are we ready?" His voice rang out, directed to everyone responsible for the operation.

Through his earpiece and from nods exchanged behind the glass, confirmations came one after another.

Medical teams were on standby, stabilizers were primed, the reinforced walls were ready, and the monitoring systems were calibrated.

Adrien gave a single sharp nod. "Good. Then we start now. Candidate number one, step forward."

There was no ceremony or stirring words of encouragement. This was not a parade but the beginning of what could be the most dangerous part of their program.

Unfortunately for something like this, General Lennard himself was absent, still tied up with matters elsewhere.

The line of candidates shifted to the far wall, boots scuffing against the floor as they formed a straight row.

One man broke away from the line. He was a candidate in his early twenties.

His expression was stern and his jaw tight, determination burning in his eyes as he strode to the center of the chamber.

He, like the others, wore a simple black tight-fit shirt and military trousers, the outfit highlighting the thick cords of muscle running across his arms and chest. His build radiated strength that was meant to intimidate.

Across from him stood Erend.

He wore the same uniform but his frame was leaner and narrower, almost unimpressive compared to the bulk of the young candidate.

To anyone seeing them for the first time the difference seemed absurd. By appearances alone, the fight was already decided.

But everyone in the room—candidates, staff, engineers, officers—knew the truth. Looks were meaningless here.

Erend smiled slightly as he regarded the young man.

"Your Magic is enhancing your body, right?" His voice was calm, almost quiet, but it carried an edge that demanded focus.

"Yes, sir," Candidate Number One answered, his voice firm even though his hands trembled faintly at his sides.

"All right," Erend said, clasping his hands loosely behind his back. His tone shifted and became sharper. "Use it right now. As best as you can. Do not hold back."

The man inhaled deeply, planting his feet apart.

In an instant, a faint reddish aura began to radiate from his body. Heat shimmering in the air around him.

His muscles swelled slightly, cords tightening and bulging, veins rising beneath his skin.

His eyes sharpened. His pupils were narrowing.

Then he moved.

With terrifying speed his boots struck the floor in rapid succession. His body was blurring into a rush.

To most of the candidates watching from the sidelines, it was almost too fast to follow.

But Erend saw everything.

His eyes tracked the man without effort, reading every twitch of muscle and every line of motion as though it were unfolding in slow motion before him.

The first attack came straight and clean, aimed for Erend’s head. The fist cut through the air with blistering force.

But Erend’s head tilted a fraction to the side, the punch grazing nothing but empty space.

The follow-up came immediately. He sent a left hook that cracked like a whip but Erend’s body flowed backward with ease. His feet barely shifted across the floor.

Each attack landed where Erend had just been. He dodges it all so effortlessly it looked as if he were simply strolling through the chamber rather than evading a man unleashing everything he had.

The candidate began to snarl. His aura flaring brighter and his muscles straining with every blow.

He threw kicks, jabs, elbows which each one was sharp and backed with the burning power of Magic.

But Erend’s calm expression never wavered. His movements were fluid and precise as always. Each of his dodge requiring only the smallest adjustment as though he had read the man’s attacks before they even began.

"You’re pouring too much into strength right now," Erend’s voice slipped between the heavy thuds of fists striking the reinforced floor and the faint hum of Magic. His tone was sharp and instructional. "Focus on your speed first."

The candidate gritted his teeth, inhaling sharply, and shifted his focus at once.

His aura flickered, redirecting, streamlining, and condensing.

At once his body lightened and the next moment his speed surged in double.

His figure blurred faster than before, doubling the pace of his charge.

To the watching candidates and staffer, it was a blur of motion almost impossible to follow.

Then came the fast and clean strike that aimed with deadly intent at Erend’s chest.

Finally, the candidate felt the solid resistance of contact. He thought that he finally had hit him.

But when his eyes focused, his entire body froze.

Erend stood there with a calm, easy face. One of his hands was casually raised, fingers wrapped around the candidate’s fist. He had caught the blow in midair with a grip that seemed almost lazy.

Candidate Number One’s eyes widened, shock breaking through his concentration.

His entire body trembled a little as he pushed against Erend’s hand but it was like striking against a mountain that refused to budge.

"You’re doing good," Erend said with a faint smile, his voice calm and even. His hand released the fist without force, letting it drop back to the man’s side. "But it’s still not enough. You need to keep enhancing both your speed and your strength at the same time."

He stepped back lightly, spreading his arms slightly in invitation. His eyes glinted with quiet challenge.

"Now... try again."

The candidate grit his teeth when he realized that what he faced right now was on a different level than him.

But he wanted to try again.

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