The sun shone brightly over the military training grounds, where soldiers and officers alike were abuzz with excitement. Today marked the beginning of the long-awaited special examination, where the elite among them would compete for promotions and potentially ascend to the rank of general. The grandstands surrounding the arena were filled with onlookers—soldiers, nobles, and even a few high-ranking officials, all eager to witness the spectacle.Evan Drake lounged confidently in his seat at the front row, flanked by his ever-loyal friends, Roderic and Cedric. The three of them had been reveling in Calen’s absence for the past two days, using every opportunity to weave whispers of his supposed dark magic into the ears of those around them. Their laughter carried a smug undertone as they watched the preparations for the first round of the examination.“Well, today will be an interesting one,” Evan said, swirling the wine in his goblet. “Calen Storm, the so-called miracle soldier, nowher

The examiner stood at the front of the arena, his voice booming across the gathered participants and onlookers. “The first test requires you to obliterate the target set before you using your elemental strength. Copper basins containing the primal elements—fire, water, earth, and air—have been provided. Choose the one that aligns with your power. The target must be completely destroyed. There will be no partial passes.”The participants murmured among themselves, their eyes darting toward the basins and the distant targets.Among the audience, Roderic, Cedric, and General Evan Drake sat in a raised pavilion, their presence imposing. They were not participants, having already ascended to positions of power, but their interest in the proceedings was palpable.Roderic leaned forward, his arms crossed. “Let’s see if any of them are even worth the effort we’ve put into this event.”Cedric chuckled. “Most won’t be. But it’s entertaining to watch them fail.”Evan, reclining in his seat, smir

Lila approached Calen cautiously, her steps hesitant but determined, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. She stopped just a few feet away, her voice trembling slightly as she finally broke the silence. “Calen… were you hiding your strength all this time? When we were still married, why didn’t you show any of this?” Her eyes searched his face, desperate for an answer, but his expression was cold, unreadable. “Why did you only bring it all out after we divorced?”Calen tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a mocking smirk that made Lila’s stomach twist. He took a slow step closer, his voice calm but dripping with sarcasm. “Why?” He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. “Are you regretting it now, Lila?”The question struck her like a slap. Her face flushed, a mix of anger and humiliation spreading through her, but she fought to keep her composure. Taking a shaky breath, she lowered her gaze for a moment before lifting it again. “I’m not h

Helena leaned in closer to Reginald as the noise of the crowd buzzed around them. "I have an idea to ensure Calen Storm won’t pass this time," she whispered, her voice laced with venom.Reginald raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what’s your plan this time?"Helena smirked. "The next test will undoubtedly be about strength. They will use weighted harnesses strapped to the participants’ bodies. Each participant must sprint a set distance within a specific time while carrying the weights. All we have to do is switch Calen’s weights with something ten times heavier. He won’t even be able to move, let alone finish in time."Reginald paused for a moment before nodding approvingly. "That’s a brilliant plan. Make it happen, but ensure there’s no trace leading back to us."Helena’s smile widened. She turned slightly and gestured to one of their attendants, a man with a wiry build and shifty eyes. He stepped forward and bowed slightly, awaiting orders. Helena leaned in and whispered in his ear

The man stammered, beads of sweat rolling down his temples. “M-My Lady, I swear on my life I did exactly as you instructed. I oversaw the replacement myself! The weights were swapped—I swear it!”Helena’s eyes burned with fury, and her nails dug into the soft fabric of her gown. “Then how do you explain this?” she hissed, gesturing toward the arena, where Calen was now standing tall and victorious.The man flinched. “I... I don’t know, my Lady. It doesn’t make sense! No human should be able to move under that kind of weight, let alone run! Please, you must believe me—I did what you asked!”Helena’s lips curled into a cruel sneer as she straightened, looking down at the trembling man. “You’ve embarrassed me in front of the entire arena. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”“Lady Helena, please—”“Silence!” Helena snapped, her voice cold and cutting. “I don’t tolerate failure. You’ll be punished for this humiliation.”The man’s face turned ashen, and he opened his mouth to plead, but