The dust from the landslide hadn't even settled when they arrived.

  Five students blocked the exit of the canyon. Leading them was Kaelen, his crimson armor glowing in the twilight. Behind him were his lackeys, looking nervous but eager to please the top-ranked fire mage.

  Julian stood atop the pile of rubble, dusting off his sleeves. He looked down at them.

  [Threat Detected: Kaelen (Level 9 Mage)]

  [Hostility: 100%]

  "You," Kaelen spat, pointing a finger clad in a gold-ringed gauntlet. "Explain yourself, trash."

  Julian tilted his head. "I cleared the obstruction. Efficiency optimized."

  "Don't play dumb!" Kaelen stepped forward, heat radiating from his body. "You're an F-Grade. There is no way you killed 200 spiders in ten seconds. You used an exploit. You cheated."

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  The other students whispered. It made sense. An F-Grade outperforming an S-Grade talent? Impossible.

  "Physics isn't cheating, Kaelen," Julian said calmly. "It's just a rule set you haven't bothered to read."

  "I'll show you rules!" Kaelen’s hand erupted in flames. "Hand over your Spirit Tokens. Now. Or I'll turn you into ash and take them from your corpse."

  Julian glanced up at the sky. He knew the Academy professors were watching via scrying spells. This was the perfect stage.

  "Are you robbing a fellow student in the middle of an exam?" Julian asked, his voice projecting clearly. "That seems... desperate. Are you afraid you can't beat me fairly?"

  "Afraid?!" Kaelen roared. The bait was taken. "I could crush you with one finger!"

  "Then prove it," Julian cut in sharply.

  He hopped down from the rubble, landing face-to-face with the fire mage.

  "A duel. Right here. Right now." Julian adjusted his glasses, the light reflecting off the lenses hiding his eyes. "But I don't fight for free. My time is valuable."

  Kaelen sneered. "You think you're in a position to negotiate?"

  "I'm Rank 1," Julian stated simply. "You are Rank 2. If you want my spot, you have to pay the entry fee."

  Julian pointed at Kaelen’s right hand. Specifically, at a ring set with a burning ruby.

  [Item Analysis: Ember-Heart Ring]

  [Effect: Increases Fire Mana Efficiency by 20%]

  [Value: High]

  "If you win, you get all my points," Julian said. "If I win, I get that ring."

  The crowd gasped. That ring was a family heirloom.

  Kaelen laughed. It was a harsh, barking sound. "You want the Ember-Heart? You greedy little rat. Fine! I accept! I'll roast you alive and take your points anyway!"

  "Verbal contract confirmed," Julian said. He turned to the floating scrying eye in the sky. "Witnessed."

  Kaelen didn't wait. He launched a massive fireball straight at Julian's face.

  "Die!"

  Julian didn't move. He didn't even raise his sword.

  He simply reached into his pocket and pulled out the **Sonic Lancet**.

  "Phase One," Julian whispered. "Disruption."

  Author's Note: