Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

''No headmistress!'' Professor Velrath answered, chuckling. ''But I have our first test subject for the Combat Crucible, we can give the class an early viewing of one of the strongest first years.''

Raegar looked confused, just as the other students gathered around listening intently, making the blue-haired woman sigh before speaking to the class. ''Students, this wasn't going to be announced until Fire Day's Assembly. Now follow me and don't fall behind.''

Following that, everyone trailed behind the headmistress as she led them toward the southern part of the school, which was more garden, along with more workshops or greenhouses.

Moments later, Raegar's sharp eyes caught sight of a sprawling, warehouse-like structure standing apart from the surrounding buildings, its silhouette stark against the stormy sky. A dozen academy guards patrolled its perimeter.

The air carried the crisp scent of fresh timber and mortar, betraying the building's recent construction. Its clean lines and sturdy frame stood in contrast to the weathered architecture of the nearby village.

'Looks like an indoor arena straight out of Earth,' he mused, his gaze sweeping the area with curiosity and caution.

Headmistress Von Hohenstein stopped at the entrance, turning to them all with a serious expression. ''If anyone outside the school finds out about this before Fire Day, you'll be banned from using it during Combat Magic Class.''

Raegar chuckled when seeing the students nervously nod in agreement as she looked at him and continued. ''Come here, Blackwood, we have to go through some things.''

Following that, he approached the two adults as Professor Velrath apologized. ''Sorry about that, boy. I sensed you were holding your aura in, which shocked me as first-year students aren't able to do it until year two.''

''That's fine,'' Raegar replied with a smile. ''I like fighting stronger warriors, coming to Drakenwood was the right choice compared to Dawnfire or stuck up Starfall.''

The headmistress's eyes widened in shock, but a delighted smile spread across her face, softening her stern features. ''Ready, Raegar?'' she said, her voice tinged with surprise and pride.

''The Combat Crucible represents decades of tireless research and a million gold coins' worth of craftsmanship. It's a marvel designed to revolutionize our training and future tournaments,'' she revealed. ''With it, we can simulate countless scenarios, battlefields, ambushes, even Aether Storms.''

When Raegar heard this, his eyes widened in surprise as he spoke. ''Aether Technology?''

''That's correct, it's a new field of study in Dawnfire, but in the five years since it started, the researchers have designed many things,'' she said, pointing at the building. ''In there, is something that the empress herself came up with as a princess.''

''Oh wow,'' he muttered in amazement as the two entered.

Professor Velrath waited outside to stay with the other students as the hall wasn't prepared. They'd be able to watch from an Aether screen outside. Once inside, he looked at the blue-haired woman and questioned her. ''What do I get for testing this thing?''

''Twenty points and your name at the top of the board,'' she answered.

Raegar accepted with a nod while being led inside, as there were four groups of six all over the place, causing him to question. ''A six-man party? Is that the total allowed in the Drakenwood Dungeons?''

''Well, that is any Gates or Dungeons Rank D or above because it would be too easy with any more students,'' the headmistress revealed as she led him to the closest machine.

This scene spooked him out. 'Virtual reality? How is such a thing possible here?' he thought with wide eyes.

The headmistress gestured toward the nearest machine, its sleek metallic surface humming faintly with arcane energy. ''Take a seat, Blackwood.''

Moments later, she continued with a curious expression. ''The Combat Crucible offers three scenarios: a forest, a city, or a desert. Which one will you test your skill against?''

''Let's go for the forest,'' he replied. ''It's something I'm used to, maybe I'll take the city on my next go.''

The older woman nodded with a pleased look on her face. ''Good choice. Just some things to remember. One hundred points for Tier One monster, two hundred for Tier Two, and three hundred for the next tier.''

Raegar's eyes widened as he agreed. ''That's perfect. I'll give it a go now, headmistress.''

Following that, he climbed inside the VR machine and felt his Aether connect with it, forcing a peaceful feeling to wash over his body and put him at peace. Seconds later, he appeared in a weird clearing.

'This feels real,' he thought, glancing around.

Raegar quickly summoned his daggers and armor just in time as the first monster appeared. A Tier One Forest Wolf lunged from the nearby underbrush with a vicious growl as it tried to bite down on him, but he moved to the side.

A sharp gust of wind grazed Raegar's face as he struck with lethal precision, his blade cleaving the lunging wolf into gory chunks. Blood sprayed across the clearing, painting the grass crimson.

He tried to catch his breath just as a pack of snarling beasts burst from the shadows, their eyes glinting with hunger. He grinned while springing into motion, darting and leaping around the clearing with the agility of a rabbit, his daggers a flashing arc of death.

Sometime later, the air was thick with the coppery tang of blood, remnants of the first wolf he'd carved into chunks still scattered around him. A chilling howl split the night, and a pack of six more wolves appeared, their eyes glowing like embers, fangs bared in fury.

''These monsters seem so real,'' he muttered.

Raegar's lips curled into a smirk, his grip tightening on the hilt, its edge still dripping crimson. The largest lunged first, its massive paws tearing at the earth. He sidestepped, his weapons flashing in a diagonal arc that split the beast from shoulder to flank.

It collapsed in a heap, blood pooling beneath it, but there was no time to savor the kill. Two more wolves attacked in tandem, one snapping at his legs as the other leapt for his throat. He spun, his blade a blur, slicing through the wolf's muzzle and sending it yelping back.

The second met his boot as he viciously kicked it mid-air, the crack of its ribs echoing as it tumbled into the dirt. A quick thrust finished it, the daggers piercing its heart. The remaining three circled, their growls vibrating through the clearing.

Raegar's heart pounded, not with fear but with the excitement from the fight. He darted forward, feinting left before pivoting right, catching another wolf off guard. His daggers drove through its skull, the beast dropping with a lifeless thud.

Just then, the other two monsters seized their chance, charging together. Without waiting, he leapt, twisting mid-air like a storm-wrought specter, and landed behind them. His blade sang twice, once to sever a spine, twice to open a throat.

Blood sprayed, painting his armor in streaks of red as the wolves crumpled, their whimpers fading into silence. Only one remained, a scarred alpha, its fur matted with old wounds and its eyes burning with desperate rage.

It didn't rush like the others but stalked forward, each step deliberate, its growl a low promise of death. Raegar met its gaze, his own red eyes alight with resolve. ''Come on, then,'' he muttered, twirling his weapons.

The wolf sprang, jaws wide, as he vanished thanks to being faster. He ducked under its leap, thrusting upward, his blade punching through its chest and out of its back. The alpha's body crashed to the ground, twitching.

Raegar straightened, his chest heaving as he surveyed the carnage. Seven wolves lay dead, their blood soaking the earth, the clearing now a silent graveyard. He wiped his blade on a patch of clean grass, the steel gleaming once more under the moonlight.

With a final glance at the fallen pack, he flicked his weapons free of blood and stepped back into the shadows, the thrill of survival coursing through his veins. As that happened, several things popped up which confused him.

[+ 100 Points x 20 - Tier One Forest Wolves]

[+200 Points - Tier Two Alpha Forest Wolf]

''It's like a game!'' he said in excitement.

Following that, Raegar rested for a minute before continuing through the forest, fighting more wolves. He killed dozens until something changed, and a woman's voice echoed out. ''Round One complete. Prepare for wave two!''

When hearing that, he whispered in an amazed voice. ''Its a fucking game! Maybe I can add something to improve students' learning?''

Raegar gave a nonchalant shrug, his stance relaxed despite the eerie stillness of the forest around him. Without warning, a suffocating wave of raw, primal aura slammed into him, rattling his bones and setting his senses ablaze.

From the undergrowth, a horde of orcs burst forth, their pig-like snarls echoing through the trees. The hulking humanoids, their muscled frames covered in crude hides, brandished jagged weapons, axes, clubs, and rusted swords that gleamed as they charged.

''Tier Two Orcs,'' he grinned while casting Enhancement over him.