Chapter 12 — The Tests of Fate
The arena was enormous—far larger than anything Vee remembered from the novel's early chapters. The air shimmered with residual mana, the entire atmosphere humming lightly like it was keeping itself in check. High stone walls curved around the stadium, and hovering mana-boards displayed names and numbers.
Students gathered in clusters, boasting, whispering, trembling—each reacting differently to the pressure of the moment.
The headmaster stepped forward, his voice slicing through the noise.
"Test One — Agility and Endurance. One lap around the entire arena. Use mana reinforcement if you must. Sabotage another student, and you will be expelled before you take your next breath."
A collective swallow went through the crowd.
"Begin!"
Mana burst from the legs of dozens of students, and they shot forward like arrows. The ground cracked beneath the force of the explosive starts.
Vee didn't rush.
He inhaled, gaze calm.
I should be middle high-tier in physical stats. But Kai… he should be just below me at this stage.
He took a step and pushed off.
The stone beneath his foot fractured subtly—too small for most to notice—yet enough to launch him like a released spring trap.
Wind blasted against his ears.
He landed light, feet barely touching the ground before launching again. The sensation of cutting through the air felt natural, instinctive.
Gasps rippled through the stands.
"W-Wait—how is he that fast? Isn't he supposed to be a scum of humanity?"
"No way… he's keeping up with the transfer kid."
"That's impossible! Vee failed last year!"
Vee shot forward, and simultaneously—
Kai matched him.
The boy's expression was relaxed, almost playful. His dark hair whipped behind him like a banner, his smile widening when his eyes flicked toward Vee.
"Didn't think you'd be this fast," Kai said casually as they ran side by side. "You were supposed to be weak, weren't you?"
"That information seems wrong," Vee replied flatly.
Kai laughed. "Well, this place is more interesting than I thought."
They shot past the next group of students, leaving startled screams in their wake.
Behind them, another figure was rapidly catching up.
Her.
The princess.
Silver hair streamed behind her, her eyes glowing faintly with royal mana. She didn't run—she glided, as though the air itself supported her steps.
"What—she's overtaking them?"
"No way… she's faster than Vee and Kai? That's not human!"
"She's the princess, what did you expect?"
She passed them smoothly, her expression serene, her breathing unbroken.
Kai whistled. "Well damn."
Vee narrowed his eyes. In the novel, she wasn't supposed to reveal this much strength this early.
It didn't matter.
He wasn't trying to be number one.
He was trying not to stand out too much.
The three continued—princess in the lead, Vee and Kai pushing each other, their speeds near identical. The rest of the students trailed far behind, some collapsing, others gasping desperately.
When the princess crossed the finish line, a golden flare erupted from the main platform, signifying first place.
Vee and Kai crossed a heartbeat later.
A stunned silence fell over the arena.
"…Vee just tied with Kai?"
"Isn't he a scum?"
"I thought he had no talent—was everything a lie?"
"That guy is terrifying…"
The murmurs swelled, a mixture of awe, confusion, and fear.
Headmaster Draivos stepped forward, his gaze lingering on Vee with a heavy, unreadable weight.
"Test One results recorded. Prepare for Test Two."
The students stumbled back, breathing hard, some vomiting, others slumping on the ground like lifeless dolls.
Vee simply exhaled gently.
His endurance hardly strained.
After Test One — Divine Interference
As the students rested, Vee caught sight of Kai walking toward the edge of the arena, isolating himself for a moment.
Then—
A blinding light descended, visible only to a few, though most simply flinched from the sudden pressure of holy mana.
Vee felt it like a prickling on the back of his neck.
The goddess of light… she's actually showing up early?
Through the veil of light, a silhouette formed—tall, serene, divine.
Kai stiffened.
A voice, soft yet echoing, resonated directly into his soul.
"Child of chosen fate… why do you diverge from the path I prepared?"
Kai swallowed. "I'm not diverging. I just don't like following instructions."
"The novel's timeline is in danger," the goddess warned. "Be cautious of the anomaly."
Her gaze drifted—
Toward Vee.
Vee's eyes widened slightly.
She sees me?
But the goddess's expression was unreadable, cryptic.
Before Kai could reply, she faded, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.
Kai sighed. "Great. Even the goddess is nagging me."
Vee kept his distance.
Whatever Kai was… he was trouble.
Test Two — Strength and Skill
Weapons racks materialized at the center of the arena, shimmering with magical energy.
Headmaster Draivos raised his hand.
"Test Two will pit you against sparring instructors. You will show your physical strength, combat skill, and use of mana. Losing does not disqualify you."
Students murmured.
"Who do we fight?"
"I hope I get an easy one…"
"Please not one of the Grandmasters—"
Draivos cleared his throat.
"For exceptional cases, you will face a special examiner."
Vee felt a chill run down his spine.
He knew what was coming.
Kai stepped forward first, rolling his shoulders.
"So, who am I fighting?"
"In the novel timeline," Vee murmured under his breath, "Kai fights the legendary Morrison South, a Grandmaster who tests his potential…"
The crowd quieted as a towering man walked out—Morrison South, the man whose strength shook borders, whose presence made even elites tremble.
But to Vee's shock—
Morrison walked right past Kai.
"…Huh?"
"What? Isn't he supposed to test the transfer kid?"
"Did the headmaster change the list?"
Morrison stopped.
Right.
In front.
Of Vee.
"You. Step forward."
Vee stiffened.
Kai burst out laughing.
"Oh that is beautiful. They're giving the famous Grandmaster to test the 'scum of humanity.' What a twist!"
Vee ignored him.
He walked calmly toward Morrison, who regarded him with quiet curiosity.
"You failed last year, didn't you?" Morrison said. "And yet today, you show strength enough to rival prodigies."
"It seems so."
"Hmm." Morrison's lips twitched. "Then I wish to confirm something."
He gestured to the weapons rack.
"Pick one. Any."
Vee grabbed a basic practice sword. Lightweight, balanced, harmless.
Morrison chuckled.
"You don't want a spear? Or a hammer? Something to give you more power?"
"No," Vee replied. "This is fine."
The Grandmaster lifted a massive greatsword that looked more like a slab of metal than a weapon.
"Begin."
The moment the word left his lips, Morrison moved.
Fast.
Vee barely crossed his blades in time, the impact sending a shockwave through the arena. Students screamed as the shock knocked them backward.
Dust spiraled upward.
Vee slid back two meters, boots carving thin lines in the floor.
Morrison narrowed his eyes.
"You blocked that. Impressive."
He swung again.
Vee dodged, ducked under the sweeping blade, and countered with a light strike to Morrison's wrist—not enough to harm, only enough to signal precision.
Morrison's smile widened.
"Interesting."
The clash escalated—sparks flying, mana rippling, the sound of metal ringing like chimes. Vee focused entirely, reading each movement, exploiting openings, keeping defensive.
This fight wasn't meant to win.
It was meant to measure.
Morrison suddenly stepped back.
"Enough."
The arena fell silent.
"His combat sense is genuine. His precision, impressive. I detect no fraud," Morrison said.
Murmurs exploded around them.
"No way…"
"Vee passed Morrison South's test?"
"Is he really the same guy?!"
"What kind of monster did we misunderstand…?"
Kai clapped dramatically.
"Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful."
Vee exhaled, lowering his sword.
Morrison nodded once. "I look forward to seeing your growth."
He turned and departed, leaving the crowd buzzing like a disturbed hive.
Headmaster Draivos stepped forward again.
"Prepare for Test Three."
Test Three — The Portal of Trials
A swirling vortex formed, glowing with violet and silver magic. Its surface rippled like liquid starlight.
"This portal," Draivos said, "contains illusions, monsters, puzzles, and obstacles. Your objective is simple: return."
Students shivered.
One girl raised her hand timidly. "R-Return from what, exactly?"
"Whatever the portal decides," Draivos said with a faint smirk.
"Wonderful," someone muttered miserably.
Students entered in waves.
Kai stepped in first without hesitation. "Let's see what fate has prepared."
The princess followed with a composed nod.
Vee walked toward the portal last, inhaling slowly.
In the novel, the protagonist finds a treasure here… in arc three. Something that increases destiny affinity.
He stepped through.
Darkness swallowed him instantly.
Inside the Portal
Light burst open around him, revealing a vast forest of crystalline trees. The air shimmered with fragments of floating mana, and the ground glowed with faint runic symbols.
Vee immediately oriented himself.
I read this novel. I know the path.
To the left—wolves made of mana. To the right—a cliff disguised as stable terrain. Ahead—a hidden route behind an illusionary waterfall.
He picked forward.
First obstacle: the running beasts.
The ground shook as translucent wolves charged at him. Their bodies flickered like glitching projections.
He braced himself—
Then remembered something.
Status.
His stats appeared again.
Luck: S (Upgradeable)
Luck.
He smiled faintly.
Let's gamble a bit.
A wolf lunged.
Vee tilted his head slightly.
The beast passed him, slammed into another wolf, and both dissolved.
The next two collided midair.
The fifth tripped over a root that definitely wasn't there a moment ago.
The path cleared itself.
Vee walked calmly through the chaos.
He reached the waterfall, passing through the illusion and entering a cavern filled with faint blue motes.
Now this part… The protagonist almost died here.
Ahead lay an altar, carved with ancient runes.
In the novel, the treasure called the Mirrored Fate Crystal rested here, capable of amplifying luck and destiny. A cheat item in the hero's arsenal.
But to claim it—
He had to undergo a test.
A dangerous one.
Vee stepped forward.
The altar glowed.
A voice echoed through the chamber.
"One who seeks the Crystal of Mirrored Fate… prove your worth."
The cavern sealed shut behind him.
The motes of light rose—
Forming a humanoid shape with blazing eyes.
Another voice—deeper, older—spoke.
"The Trial of Fate begins."
Vee smirked.
Perfect.
The chapter would end here.
End of Chapter Cliffhanger
The light intensified, the figure solidifying into a guardian of pure fate energy, its form radiating danger and power. The cavern trembled, runes igniting one by one like stars awakening.
Vee tightened his grip on his weapon, eyes focused, heartbeat steady.
He whispered:
"So this is it… the treasure that changed everything in the original story."
The guardian raised its hand, energy swirling.
"Face your fate, anomaly."
The final rune ignited.
The chamber roared.
And the trial began—