Frost crept across the arena floor as the Cat masked man raised their power. The temperature dropped so low that water vapor in the air began crystallizing, creating a glittering mist around them."Twenty percent," the Cat said softly. "Let's see how well you've grown."Their first attack came without warning. Ice erupted in a wave that would have frozen a lesser mage solid. Miko's circle flared as he accelerated away, but the cold still bit at his heels."Better reaction time," the Cat noted. "But still too slow."They appeared behind Miko, ice forming mid-strike. He barely managed to throw up a barrier of ash and fire, but the force still sent him skidding back."That circle of yours..." The Cat gestured, creating spears of ice. "It adapts well. But can it keep up?"The ice spears shot forward. Miko's circle pulsed, its patterns shifting as he wove between them. Each dodge was precise, calculated - just as Sara had taught him about efficient movement."Good." Another wave of attacks

The next day, the training ground erupted in flames as another body swap attempt went wrong. Miko hit the ground rolling, patting out the fire on his sleeve."Damn it," he muttered. Creating the rain of fireballs was easy enough. Swapping places with one of them? That was proving more difficult. Each attempt left him singed and frustrated.He tried again. Fire rained from above, dozens of burning projectiles. He picked one, tried to merge his consciousness with it—And promptly crashed into a wall."Interesting approach to redecorating."Miko looked up to see the Principal standing there, hands clasped behind his back. A sleek car was parked nearby – he must have just arrived."Sir, I was just—""Trying to master that body swap thing?" The Principal smiled. "An advanced technique. Most mages don't attempt it until 5th circle at least."Miko stood, brushing ash off his clothes. "I can do it. I just... can't figure out what I'm missing.""Hmm." The Principal walked closer. "Tell me, wh

"This is definitely illegal," Anna said, watching Akiya bite into a glowing blue dumpling that made her float six inches off the ground."Only in Lunaris," Akiya grinned, drifting higher. "Capital rules are different. Right, vendor guy?"The old man running the food stall nodded. "Enhancement magic is legal here, long as you got a permit. Try the red ones – they make your voice echo!"They'd been exploring for hours. The capital was a maze of districts, each one specializing in different magical arts. Street performers used combat magic openly, knights patrolled on vehicles that seemed to defy physics, and every shop window displayed items that would have been instantly confiscated back home."Look at this," Liam called from a nearby store. "Training weapons with built-in mana circulation. No wonder capital students are stronger.""Everything's stronger here," Miko noted, watching a knight casually use fourth-circle magic to help a lost child find their parents."Speaking of stronger.

The next day was the D-day, the massive stadium trembled with anticipation. Twelve teams stood in perfect formation, their uniforms a vibrant display of colors representing magical academies from across the nation. Miko, positioned at the tenth spot, felt the weight of expectation pressing against his shoulders like an invisible cloak."Team Ten, forward!" The official's clipboard rattled with each movement.Drake from Team Three leaned towards Rin, his voice a low, mocking whisper. "Look at that kid. He looks like he wandered into the wRing competition."Rin's muscular frame shook with quiet laughter. "Definitely seems out of his league."Miko remained perfectly still, his eyes locked on the intricate track ahead. Mechanical dummies shifted into position, creating a labyrinth of potential magical destruction. This wasn't just a race—it was a crucible that would forge legends or break spirits.The head referee's magical amplification system crackled to life. "Contestants! You will na

A small rest period descended upon the National Games arena. The magical tension that had defined Miko's earlier performance still lingered, like a persistent echo of raw potential.Aria's teammate approached her, a digital tablet clutched in her hand. The screen flickered with various documents and data streams. Around them, the massive arena hummed with speculation and barely contained excitement."I've found something," she said, her voice low and urgent, cutting through the background noise of competing teams and magical analysts.Aria turned, her ice-blue eyes sharp with anticipation. "About Miko?"The teammate nodded, her fingers swiping through digital files with practiced precision. "His name is Miko. He's from a city called Lunaris." She paused, zooming in on a nearly blank digital profile. "That's all that shows up in the team information.""That's it?" Aria's frustration erupted, her voice a controlled whisper that nonetheless carried an edge of ice-cold anger. "Just a name