CHAPTER 72: RANK S

The moon had shifted slightly by the time Lucian stood up again.

His body was still sore. Not injured—but sore. That kind of ache that came from real fighting, from survival. His shirt clung to his back with dried sweat, and faint wisps of mana still leaked off his fingertips, even though the Advancement Trial was long over.

He should’ve rested.

He didn’t.

Lucian stepped toward the edge of his dorm, looking out the tall window that overlooked Aethra’s west wing. Lights shimmered across the city beyond. Distant towers blinked like signals. His reflection hovered faintly in the glass—tired eyes, loose hair, bloodstains on his collar.

A-Rank.

He finally hit it.

And yet—he didn’t feel like celebrating. Not even close.

"...Cael."

[System Online.]

Lucian didn’t move. He just kept staring out the window.

"I want to break through again."

A brief pause.

Then the system’s voice came through, a little slower this time.

[Request Registered.]

[Rank Advancement Attempt – S-Rank.]

[Warning: Confirm intent.]

Lucian narrowed his eyes.

"Confirm it."

Another pause.

This one felt heavier. Like the system itself was... thinking.

[Lucian.]

[This isn’t like before.]

[Advancing from Rank A to S isn’t just another level.]

[It is a shift.]

[You are about to step into a different phase of existence.]

Lucian blinked once. "You’re being weirdly dramatic today."

[The difference between Rank A and S isn’t numerical.]

[It is conceptual.]

[It is the boundary where mortals stop being seen as prey—and start becoming anomalies.]

Lucian exhaled once.

"And?"

[You will not face beasts.]

[You will not face trials.]

[You will face Ascension.]

Lucian’s grip on the window frame tightened slightly. "Still going."

[Lucian.]

[This path is not reversible.]

[You may die.]

Lucian tilted his head. "Kinda figured."

[Then one final confirmation is required.]

[Lucian Black.]

[Do you still choose to challenge the Ascension Trial to break into S-Rank?]

He didn’t hesitate.

"I do."

The system paused again.

Then—strangely—

[...You’ve changed.]

Lucian blinked.

"Did you just—comment?"

[Observation.]

[Processing tone variation in host: measurable shifts in mental wavelength detected.]

[Conclusion: You’ve become—]

"Cael."

[Yes?]

"You’re getting chatty."

[...Noted.]

Lucian smirked, just a little.

"Start the trial."

[Confirmed.]

[Initiating Ascension Trial.]

[ADVANCEMENT TRIAL – RANK A ➝ RANK S]

[Trial Tier: TRANSCENDENT]

[Restrictions: Full Lockout Mode]

[No system interface]

[No manual triggers]

[All passive abilities sealed]

[All time-space magic sealed]

[Only core essence remains]

Lucian’s eyes narrowed. "...Damn."

[Commencing.]

The world split again.

But this time—there was no transition.

It didn’t shatter like glass.

It tore.

Reality unzipped itself like someone peeling flesh off the sky, and Lucian was yanked forward—not falling, not moving—just gone.

Everything around him was light. Raw, unfiltered, primordial light. Not warmth. Not energy. Just presence. It pressed on his mind like a screaming sun.

Then—

Nothing.

Silence.

He floated.

Alone.

No ground. No air. No system. No HUD.

He couldn’t even feel his mana.

His heart still beat. But barely.

"...So this is it?"

His voice didn’t echo. It vanished.

Then came the pulse.

Boom.

A single shockwave hit him like a planet slamming into his chest. He spun through the void, crashing into an unseen wall—bones cracking, skin tearing. He gritted his teeth, righted himself, and—

Boom.

Another one.

From above.

Something was approaching.

No.

Someone.

A humanoid silhouette formed from the light. Black lines ran across its chest like fractures. A halo of broken energy circled its head—glitching and flickering.

Lucian instinctively tried to summon energy—

Nothing.

No Fold Step.

No Rift Drive.

Not even Spatial Edge.

"...Shit."

The figure raised one hand.

No chant. No aura.

It simply flicked two fingers forward.

Lucian was launched back, smashing into something unseen—again.

This wasn’t a battle.

This was a beatdown.

He coughed, staggered to his feet—only to realize he wasn’t bleeding.

He wasn’t even sure if he was still in his body.

The trial wasn’t physical anymore.

It was something deeper.

The being floated toward him—faster now, light spiraling off its limbs like gravity spirals. Its presence flooded the void.

Lucian lowered his stance, breathing slow.

"...Guess I’m doing this the hard way."

He dashed forward—not with skills, but with instinct.

Every step was like pushing against a collapsing star. But he forced his body to move. Pushed past the pressure. He ducked under the first swing, grabbed the being’s wrist, and—

Crack.

His arm shattered.

Pain exploded.

The entity didn’t even flinch.

Lucian dropped, rolling backward.

Sweat poured down his face—though his body still felt weightless.

This wasn’t a creature.

This was a concept.

The system was forcing him to fight himself.

Not his fears.

Not his guilt.

But the idea of himself before ascension.

Before power.

Before control.

"...I get it now," he muttered. "You’re not trying to kill me."

The being hovered higher.

"You’re trying to burn off everything that still ties me down."

The moment he said it—

A shift.

His body lit up.

Just slightly.

Not mana.

Not magic.

But will.

Lucian stood again.

Cracked neck. One good arm.

Still smiling.

"...Good."

He stepped forward again. No power. Just fists.

The figure struck.

Lucian weaved around it—barely—then threw a jab. It landed.

The figure twitched.

First contact.

Lucian’s smile widened.

"Alright."

He went again—swinging, ducking, rolling.

Every hit he landed burned.

Every hit he took felt like his skin was being torn open.

But the more he pushed—

The brighter he glowed.

Not gold. Not blue. Not crimson.

Just light.

His light.

The being faltered once—then shifted.

Its body cracked open, revealing an identical version of him.

Same face.

Same stance.

Same blood.

But colder.

Darker.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed.

"...You’re me."

The being said nothing.

Then moved.

The fight became brutal.

No flashy spells.

No dimensional warping.

Just raw, close-range combat.

The kind you fought when your back was against a wall and you were the last one standing.

It went on forever.

Punches. Kicks. Slams.

Bodies flying across the void. Crashing into nothing. Screaming into silence.

Until finally—

Lucian grabbed the darker version of himself by the collar.

Pulled him close.

And whispered:

"You’re done."

He slammed his forehead forward.

CRACK.

The light shattered.

And everything stopped.

Stillness.

Silence.

Then—

[Trial Complete.]

[Ascension Achieved.]

[New Rank Acquired: S]

[Unlocking Pathway...]

[Sub-System Expansion Unlocked: Constellation Tier Interface]

[World Anchor Detected.]

[Stabilizing.]

Lucian opened his eyes.

Back in his room.

No wounds.

No blood.

But everything felt different.

Not just stronger.

Clearer.

He could see the flow of mana around his desk. The tiny micro-threads between objects. The faint echoes of intent in the air.

"...I made it."

His status panel blinked.

[RANK: S]

Lucian exhaled slowly.

Not in relief.

But because now he knew—

This wasn’t even the ceiling.

It was the first step into something far beyond power.

He turned to the window again.

Outside, the stars had started to shift position.

He could feel them.

And one of them—

Was calling to him.

"...Cael?"

[Yes, Lucian?]

"...We’re not done."

[Not even close.]