CHAPTER 42: POWER PROVES WORTH

Zane stood in the grand, ornate chamber of the Vice Chairman’s office, still wrapped in the glowing yellow magic chains. The badge pinned to his chest gleamed faintly—a blue and white emblem that shimmered with anti-magic runes. Supposedly, it suppressed all magical activity.

And yet, despite being bound and magic-inhibited, Zane smiled.

No fear. No concern. Just that same relaxed grin that made even the bravest knight feel a bit... unsettled.

The Vice Chairman had just turned to face him—his sharp black eyes meeting Zane’s unblinking ones.

"Welcome," the man said coolly, the weight of his presence pressing down like gravity.

Zane simply tilted his head and replied, calm and amused,

"Hello there."

The magic chains pulsed lightly, reacting to the dense energy in the room—but Zane didn’t so much as flinch.

He was still smiling.

Zane’s eyes glimmered faintly—only visible if someone looked closely. Within his eye lens, the HUD flickered to life as his internal system scanned the room.

Beep... Beep...

Name: Lucen Merrith

Battle Power: 2562 (Suppressed)

Full Battle Power: 15,670

Zane’s smile widened just a bit.

"This is probably the highest battle power I’ve seen since I got here... even much stronger than that Linnea girl in the library."

The HUD didn’t stop there. It silently swept over the others present—those who had brought him here.

Knight Squad: Battle Power Range – 980 to 1458

Mage Unit: Battle Power Range – 990 to 1650

Zane tilted his head slightly, chains still glowing around him, the badge pulsing faintly at his chest.

"Strong people here... as expected of Astralis Arcanum," he mused, amused. "Things are finally getting interesting."

Despite being bound and supposedly powerless, he looked more like a tourist taking in the sights... than a prisoner facing judgment.

Lucen Merrith stood with a calm air, hands behind his back as his sharp gaze landed on the smiling young man still bound in golden magic chains.

"So... who are you?" he asked plainly. "And why did you enter this academy?"

Zane’s grin never wavered. "I’m Zane Creed. A traveller," he replied, as if this was the most casual introduction in the world. "And I’m here to apply... as a teacher."

Lucen’s eyebrow twitched slightly. A short silence passed before he responded, "Astralis Arcanum does not accept applications. We only invite individuals—those who are powerful, exceptional, and trusted. Outsiders have no place among the faculty."

"And yet," Zane said, still wearing that unfazed expression, "you wouldn’t want to miss the chance to recruit a teacher as strong as me... would you?"

The room stiffened. Lucen let out a soft chuckle. "Are you?" he asked.

That single line set off muffled laughter from the knights and mages in the room. The chained man—claiming to be a teacher, no less—was still being treated like a joke.

But then, Zane smirked.

A sharp crack echoed through the air.

With the simplest of motions, Zane raised his arms and pushed outward. The radiant yellow magic chains, designed to hold even high-circle mages, shattered like brittle glass.

The knights froze. The mages’ eyes widened. That wasn’t magic—there had been no mana fluctuation.

"He shattered it...?" the mage leader whispered.

"He’s wearing the inhibitor badge," another muttered. "He shouldn’t be able to use any magic at all..."

"Not unless he’s a 5th Circle Mage or above," said another, his voice tight with disbelief.

Lucen’s eyes sharpened, his earlier calm giving way to deeper analysis.

"No. That wasn’t magic... he used raw physical force. But to break that chain... not even a 6th Circle magician could do that easily. I need to read his strength properly next time..."

In the corner, the two knights who had mysteriously tripped earlier exchanged looks of horror.

"It really was him..."

Zane stretched his shoulders slightly, brushing away the glittering remnants of the chains. Then, eyes glinting with mischief and confidence, he looked straight at Lucen.

"Well then," he said smoothly, "how about we settle this with a proposal?"

He smiled.

"If I can prove I’m qualified, you make me a teacher here. Fair deal?"

Lucen’s eyes narrowed slightly, still analyzing the situation. "And how exactly do you intend to prove your worth?" he asked calmly.

Zane stepped forward, cracking his neck lazily. "Well, didn’t you just say Astralis Arcanum only invites powerful people to teach here?"

Lucen gave a nod. "That’s what I said."

"Then," Zane continued, "can you call one of those so-called powerful individuals over here?"

Lucen raised a brow. "Why?"

But even as he asked, something ticked in his mind—Wait... no... he can’t possibly be thinking...

"I mean," Zane said with a casual smile, "to prove I’m strong, I should just beat one of them, right?"

A brief silence.

Lucen’s thoughts buzzed—He really was thinking that.

The air shifted as Zane crossed his arms, waiting for an answer.

Lucen exhaled slowly, then nodded. "Very well. But if you lose... you will receive the death punishment, by academy law."

The atmosphere dropped instantly.

"And if I win?" Zane asked, smile deepening.

Lucen’s face remained unreadable, though his mind wasn’t. If this outsider wins... we’ll be forced to deny the entry of that noble’s son... what a mess this will become.

"...Then you’ll get the professor’s position," Lucen finally declared.

Gasps rippled through the mages and knights behind him.

"What?!"

"Vice Chairman agreed... that easily?!"

Why would he accept such reckless terms? their eyes seemed to ask.

But Lucen didn’t flinch. He gave Zane a small nod. "Let’s go to the fighting hall."

Zane’s grin widened. "Finally."

And with that, the group moved, Zane’s smirk deepened as the faint golden glow of the dissolved energy bindings faded completely from around him. Not a trace remained—marking the moment things in Astralis Arcanum began to change.

.

.

.

Zane and Lucen walked side by side, followed closely by a group of knights and mages. The corridor echoed with their steps until they reached an expansive hall with towering ceilings and gleaming marble floors—the academy’s elite combat training hall.

The students had already been cleared out.

Zane glanced around, observing the room filled with magical dummies, dynamic combat simulators, floating magic targets, and various spell-reflecting surfaces.

He let out a small chuckle. Fancy, as always.

Lucen raised a brow. "Well, what do you think of our training hall?"

Zane nodded slightly, arms behind his back. "Hmm. Quite good."

Lucen motioned to a knight. "Bring Professor Cedric."

The knight gave a short bow and left at once.

Moments later—

"Who dares to pull this kind of stunt?!"

All heads turned toward the booming voice.

A man walked in confidently—chestnut brown hair, piercing blue eyes, a noble face holding a permanent hint of arrogance. He looked to be in his mid-thirties and carried himself like a man used to power.

Zane sighed inwardly. Ugh, another arrogant asshole.

Still smiling, he said, "I dare."

Beep... Beep...

Name: Cedric Valeson

Battle Power: 1450 (Suppressed)

Full Battle Power: 4565

Zane’s eyes flicked across the HUD overlay. Well... at least he has some power.

Cedric scoffed slightly as he sized Zane up. "So, you’re the one causing all the ruckus? You look quite young. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

Zane smiled. Hmm... Proud, but at least not brainless.

He replied, "Yes. Let’s get started already."

Cedric gave a small shrug. "Very well."

As they walked toward the central dueling platform, Zane’s gaze casually shifted. Hmm... some people are secretly watching... trying to, at least. His eyes briefly met Lucen’s—clearly, he’d noticed them too.

Lucen, watching quietly, noticed movement from the gallery windows—faint magical presence masked in illusion.

He snorted inwardly. "Hmph... cheeky professor brats. They want to watch this fight too."

Meanwhile, the knights and mages chatted amongst themselves.

"Who do you think will win?"

"What do you mean who? Professor Cedric is a 6th Circle Mage. Of course he’s going to win!"

Both fighters now stood on the combat platform.

Cedric raised a hand proudly. "Magic Department Professor, Cedric Valeson."

Zane said nothing—only stared, still smiling.

Cedric narrowed his eyes. Cocky brat... Let’s test him first.

A magic circle rapidly formed in front of him—condensed and precise.

5 seconds.

Then—

"Fourth Circle: Arcstorm Spear!"

A spear-shaped bolt of crackling lightning tore through the air toward Zane.

Zane stood unbothered.

"Tch... I have to make this fight a little longer. Can’t just crush him instantly—someone’s bound to whine about cheating. That’d be another headache."

Snap.

A red magic circle appeared instantly in front of him—smooth, foreign in design.

Lucen’s eyes narrowed. These formations... they’re not conventional at all.

"Wall of Flames."

A vertical wave of blazing fire surged upward, swallowing the Arcstorm Spear in an instant. The lightning fizzled out within the flames, vanishing like a whisper in the storm.

Gasps filled the room.

Cedric blinked. "...You’re not weak at all. You even stopped Arcstorm Spear that easily?"

He stepped forward, eyes glinting with intent.

"Alright then—let me give you a taste of my full power!!"

Zane’s smile widened. "Come on," he said softly, "give me everything you’ve got."