The corridor outside the classroom buzzed with noise as students moved between lessons.
Will stood quietly beside one of the large academy windows staring outside at the distant Tower visible beyond Valcairn City.
The laughter from class still echoed faintly in his mind.
He sighed softly.
"Utility magic too, huh…"
Even he had to admit it was embarrassing.
Most children learned Clean before entering the academy.
Yet he still couldn't cast it properly.
"Look who survived another humiliation."
A mocking voice echoed through the corridor.
Will didn't even need to turn around.
Sion Valcrest walked toward him with two noble students beside him, all wearing arrogant smiles. Small flames danced lazily above Sion's fingers as if he constantly needed to remind people about his talent.
"I heard you've been going into the Tower lately," Sion said mockingly.
"One of the lower floors?" another noble laughed. "Fighting goblins and rats?"
The group burst into laughter.
Sion crossed his arms smugly.
"The future Mage Lord of Aetherion everyone."
Will stared at them calmly.
"At least I actually enter the Tower."
The smiles on the nobles stiffened slightly.
Before Sion could respond—
"Stop bullying Will!"
A familiar voice suddenly echoed through the corridor.
Elena Hart came running toward them before stopping directly beside Will.
Sion frowned immediately.
"Elena… why are you always defending him?"
His eyes narrowed.
"You're actually talented."
"Why waste your time around someone like him?"
Elena glared at him angrily.
"Because Will works harder than all of you combined."
The corridor became slightly quieter.
"He trains every day."
"He studies more than everyone."
"He risks his life inside the Tower while you nobles sit around bragging about talent you were born with."
Sion scoffed.
"And?"
His flames intensified slightly.
"Hard work means nothing without talent."
One of the nobles smirked mockingly.
"His dream itself is stupid."
Another laughed.
"Professor Edward was right."
"He has no right being in Aetherion Arcane Academy."
The group walked away laughing loudly.
As they disappeared around the corridor corner, Elena angrily stuck her tongue out behind them.
"Idiots."
Then she turned toward Will worriedly.
"Are you okay?"
Will stared at her for several seconds silently.
Then suddenly—
"I'm really happy."
Elena blinked.
"…What?"
Will smiled lazily.
"A beautiful girl worrying about me every day."
Elena froze instantly.
"You're also my only friend."
Her face started turning red immediately.
"A-And?"
Will grinned mischievously.
"You're cute too."
Elena's entire face became bright red.
"S-Shut up!"
She immediately started pushing him repeatedly while panicking.
"I-I'm the daughter of the Hart family! I can't act unladylike in public!"
Will laughed softly while allowing himself to be pushed around.
For a brief moment…
The heaviness from earlier disappeared completely.
Eventually Elena stopped and crossed her arms while pouting.
Then suddenly she noticed Will staring quietly toward the sky outside the academy window.
The playful smile slowly faded from his face.
"…Will?"
He didn't answer immediately.
"What are you thinking about?"
Will quietly looked toward the distant clouds.
The sky was unusually beautiful today.
Golden sunlight spread across the massive floating mana rails crossing Valcairn City while airships slowly drifted through the clouds far away.
"It's beautiful today."
Elena smiled softly.
"Yeah."
But Will wasn't really thinking about the sky.
His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
The Great Catastrophe.
The Mage Lords.
The Floating City.
The legendary heroes worshipped across the world.
The people who stood above everyone else.
His gaze slowly lowered.
"…Mage Lords."
Elena tilted her head slightly.
"Do you think the Ice Maiden is watching us right now?"
Will's eyes softened slightly.
Luna White.
The youngest Mage Lord.
The girl who once ran around with him as a child.
Will smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
He looked toward the sky again.
"She's probably somewhere above the clouds right now… inside Central Tower."
For a brief moment—
His memories drifted backward.
A younger Will and Luna running across grassy hills beneath a sunset.
The two children laughing while sitting side by side on an old stone cliff.
"What's your dream, Will?"
"To become a Mage Lord."
"And yours?"
Luna smiled brightly before pointing toward the distant mountains far beyond civilization.
"Someday…"
"I want us to watch the sunset together from the highest place in the world."
The Dead Zone.
The forbidden peak where almost nobody returned alive.
"You think we can make it there?"
Young Will laughed confidently.
"Obviously."
The memory faded slowly.
Reality returned once again.
"WILL GREY!"
A loud voice suddenly echoed across the academy office.
Will immediately stood straight.
"I'm sorry Professor!"
Professor Gareth sighed deeply while rubbing his forehead tiredly.
A tall man specializing in Wind Element magic, Gareth was one of the few professors who genuinely worried about Will instead of simply mocking him.
"You exceeded the student permission limit again."
Will awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"…Only once."
"THE SEVENTH FLOOR IS NOT 'ONCE!'"
Gareth slammed monster materials onto the desk.
Large monster claws.
Mana stones.
A broken armored shell.
"These are all from monsters beyond normal student clearance!"
Will coughed awkwardly.
"…But I beat them."
Gareth stared at him silently for several seconds.
That was the frustrating part.
He actually did.
Despite being unable to cast magic properly…
Will somehow survived things normal students couldn't.
The professor sighed heavily before tossing a small academy card toward him.
"Two points."
Will instantly brightened.
"Really?!"
"You nearly died again."
"But I didn't."
"…That somehow makes it worse."
Gareth leaned back in his chair tiredly.
Then his expression softened slightly.
"Will."
His voice became quieter.
"Are you still determined to become a Mage Lord?"
Will answered instantly.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Gareth stared at him for several moments before sighing once more.
"…Stubborn kid."
Then suddenly—
The professor spoke louder than necessary while pretending to organize paperwork.
"Hm."
"I heard there's a dangerous Basilisk on the sixth floor."
Will blinked.
"A Basilisk?"
"Worth around four Academy Points if defeated."
Silence.
Then suddenly—
"PROFESSOR I LOVE YOU!"
Will immediately hugged Gareth excitedly.
"Get off me you idiot!"
Outside the slightly opened office door—
Sion Valcrest stood frozen.
Four points.
His eyes narrowed greedily.
Without permission…
He quietly walked away.
Will left Professor Kael's office with the permission slip still clutched in his hand.
The conversation replayed in his mind as he walked through the academy halls.
A chance.
A dangerous one.
But a chance nonetheless.
For someone like him, that was enough.
Without wasting any time, Will headed straight toward the student dormitory.
The room he shared with Adrian wasn't particularly large.
Two beds.
Two wardrobes.
Two study desks.
A small bathroom.
Just enough space for two students.
As soon as he entered, Will glanced toward the other side of the room.
Adrian's bed was empty.
"Wonder where he went."
His roommate was usually either training, eating, or somehow getting involved in things that didn't concern him.
Shrugging, Will dropped his bag onto his bed and began packing supplies for the Tower.
A spare set of clothes.
A water flask.
Basic healing supplies.
A few mana stones.
Nothing fancy.
Just enough to survive.
As he reached for his bag—
A furry blur launched itself directly at his face.
"AH!"
Will nearly fell backwards.
The creature landed on his shoulder and stared at him innocently.
"...You almost gave me a heart attack."
His familiar tilted her head.
Then rubbed against his cheek as if nothing had happened.
Will sighed.
"Do you want to come too?"
The familiar immediately perked up.
Her tail began swishing.
The mental connection between them carried a clear answer.
Yes.
"Thought so."
He scratched behind her ears.
The familiar practically melted.
A few minutes later, Will finished packing.
"That should be everything."
He grabbed his bag and headed toward the door.
Then stopped.
"...Wait."
A moment later he rushed back inside.
Opening a drawer, he grabbed a handheld gaming device.
Unlike the newest models, this one looked slightly outdated.
Most academy students already owned modern mana-powered handhelds.
Will couldn't afford one.
Instead, he'd bought an older model and modified it himself over time.
It wasn't impressive.
But it worked.
And more importantly—
It was cheap.
"Almost forgot."
Slipping it into his bag, he finally left.
The academy gates opened onto one of Aetherion's bustling districts.
Even after years of living here, Will still found himself fascinated by the city.
Mana-powered streetlights lined the roads.
Floating advertisements drifted through the air.
Wand bikes occasionally streaked overhead.
Magic and technology existed side by side.
A world that once would've sounded impossible.
As he walked through the crowded streets, a giant magical signboard caught his attention.
The newest handheld gaming device.
Better performance.
Higher mana efficiency.
Several exclusive games.
Will slowed down.
"...Looks nice."
Then he checked the amount of money he had left.
"...Never mind."
With a sigh, he continued walking.
Being poor had a way of ending dreams very quickly.
By the time he reached the public transport station, several vehicles were already arriving and departing.
To outsiders they looked similar to buses.
At least at first glance.
The strange thing was their size.
From the outside they seemed capable of holding twenty people at most.
Yet somehow fifty or sixty passengers could comfortably ride inside.
The result of spatial expansion artifacts.
A common magical invention throughout Aetherion.
Will still found it amazing.
No matter how many times he saw it.
Because he couldn't ride a wand bike, public transport had become a normal part of his life.
Which was why he already possessed a monthly transportation pass.
After presenting it, he boarded.
"Morning, kid."
Will smiled.
"Morning."
The driver was someone he saw frequently.
An older man with graying hair and a relaxed personality.
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Tower today?"
Will nodded.
"Yeah."
The driver whistled.
"Try not to come back missing an arm."
Will laughed.
"I'll do my best."
"Good."
The driver grinned.
"Paperwork is annoying."
Will found an empty seat near a window.
His familiar immediately jumped into his lap.
A few moments later she was already asleep.
Lucky.
Will wished he could fall asleep that quickly.
Pulling out his handheld device, he started a game while the city rolled past outside.
Busy streets.
Shops.
Students.
Workers.
Merchants.
Ordinary people living ordinary lives.
For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.
Thirty minutes later, the bus arrived at its destination.
The Tower.
The gigantic structure rose into the sky like a black spear piercing the heavens.
Even after seeing it countless times, the sight remained overwhelming.
The bus doors opened.
Will stood.
His familiar stretched lazily.
"See you next time, kid."
The driver waved.
Will smiled.
"See you."
Then he stepped off the bus.
The area surrounding the Tower was heavily monitored.
Guards.
Officials.
Adventurers.
Academy students.
Everyone entering needed permission.
Will joined the line.
When his turn arrived, he presented his documents.
The official scanned them carefully.
"Aetherion Academy."
Will nodded.
The man continued checking the information.
After a few moments, he stamped the entry permit.
"Approved."
Will accepted the document.
"Thank you."
"Good luck in there."
Will smiled weakly.
"I'll need it."
With permission secured, he turned toward the massive entrance.
The familiar climbed onto his shoulder.
The Tower gates slowly opened.
Taking a deep breath, Will stepped inside.
Unaware that his life was about to change forever.
The lower floors of Eclipse Tower echoed with distant monster cries.
Will walked carefully through the dark stone corridors fully equipped for battle.
A sword rested at his waist.
Both magical gloves glowed faintly.
Several handmade artifacts hung across his belt.
Beside him walked a black cat with silver eyes and two tails swaying lazily behind it.
His familiar.
Zwel.
The cat yawned lazily inside his head through their mental connection.
"You're unusually motivated today."
Will smirked slightly.
"Four points."
"Ah. Greed."
"It's called ambition."
Several goblin-like monsters suddenly rushed from the darkness.
Will instantly moved.
His sword flashed.
One monster lost its head instantly.
Another lunged toward him—
BOOM.
Will's reinforced glove smashed directly into its skull.
The remaining creatures collapsed moments later.
Will cleaned blood from his sword while continuing deeper.
"I'm definitely getting those points."
After several more battles, Will eventually reached the sixth floor.
Then he froze.
Not far ahead—
Sion and his group were fighting desperately against a gigantic reptilian monster.
The Basilisk.
Massive scales covered its body while glowing yellow eyes radiated murderous intent.
One noble student slammed into a wall violently coughing blood.
"SION!"
The Basilisk roared.
Its tail smashed through stone pillars effortlessly.
Sion's fire magic exploded wildly against the creature—
But barely damaged it.
The monster moved too fast.
Too strong.
Will narrowed his eyes.
"…Idiots."
Meanwhile—
Inside the academy—
Professor Edward entered Gareth's office calmly.
"Sion Valcrest and his group illegally entered the Tower."
Gareth instantly stood up.
"…What floor?"
"Sixth."
Several nearby professors immediately panicked.
"The Basilisk floor?!"
"They'll die!"
Edward remained calm.
"…Will is there."
The room became silent.
Edward frowned slightly.
"You trust him that much?"
Another professor sighed.
"That boy may not use magic properly…"
"But physically?"
"He's a monster."
"He also carries enough self-made artifacts to arm an entire squad."
Back inside the Tower—
Will stood silently watching the battle.
"They mocked you all day," Zwel said lazily.
Will slowly tightened his grip around his sword.
"…Yeah."
"You could just leave."
For a brief moment—
Will actually considered it.
Then suddenly—
A memory surfaced again.
Luna smiling brightly beneath the sunset.
"You know what I like most about you, Will?"
"You're kinder than anyone else."
Will sighed softly.
"…Damn it."
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
He stepped forward.
The Basilisk suddenly roared as it prepared to crush Sion completely—
Then—
BOOM.
A powerful impact exploded across the battlefield.
The monster staggered violently.
Everyone froze.
Will stood before the Basilisk calmly with one glowing gauntlet pressed against its massive jaw.
Sion stared blankly.
"…Will?"
Will slowly rolled his shoulder while keeping his glowing gauntlet pressed against the Basilisk's massive jaw.
The monster's yellow eyes narrowed instantly.
A deep growl echoed across the chamber.
Behind Will, Sion stared blankly.
"…What are you doing here?"
Will didn't even look back.
"Saving idiots apparently."
The Basilisk suddenly exploded forward.
BOOM.
Its gigantic tail smashed toward Will like a battering ram.
Will instantly ducked beneath it.
The stone wall behind him shattered violently.
Dust exploded everywhere.
Fast.
Way faster than normal sixth-floor monsters.
Will's eyes sharpened immediately.
"Tch."
The Basilisk opened its mouth—
A stream of poisonous liquid shot toward him.
Will instantly activated one of the small artifacts hanging from his belt.
A glowing blue barrier appeared briefly.
SSSSHHHH.
The poison hissed against the barrier before melting through it seconds later.
"Cheap artifact," Will muttered.
The barrier shattered.
The Basilisk lunged again.
Will stepped sideways at the last possible second before slashing across its neck.
CLANG.
Sparks exploded.
Its scales were harder than steel.
The Basilisk retaliated instantly.
Its claws tore toward his chest.
Will crossed both gauntlets.
BOOOOM.
The impact launched him backward across the chamber.
Sion's group stared in disbelief.
The monster that had completely overwhelmed them…
Will was fighting head-on.
Will slid across the stone floor before stopping himself.
Blood dripped slightly from the corner of his mouth.
"Heavy…"
Zwel sat calmly on a nearby broken pillar cleaning its paw.
"Well it is a Basilisk."
"Very helpful."
"You're welcome."
The monster roared again before charging.
Will narrowed his eyes.
Then suddenly—
His body moved.
Faster.
Cleaner.
More precise.
He stepped around the Basilisk's claws while striking repeatedly at specific joints between its scales.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
Every movement was efficient.
No wasted motion.
No panic.
Sion slowly realized something terrifying.
Will was experienced.
Not academy-training experienced.
Real combat experienced.
The kind gained only by constantly risking death.
The Basilisk suddenly twisted violently.
Its tail swept across the battlefield.
Will jumped upward—
Then kicked off the monster's own body.
BOOM.
His reinforced gauntlet smashed directly into its skull.
The Basilisk staggered backward roaring furiously.
"Professor Gareth was serious…" one noble whispered in horror.
"He's actually fighting it…"
Will landed smoothly before exhaling slowly.
His left glove sparked slightly.
Overused already.
"Tch. Need better mana circulation."
Even during battle—
He was analyzing equipment problems.
The Basilisk suddenly stopped moving.
Its eyes glowed dangerously.
Zwel's ears twitched instantly.
"Will."
"I know."
The monster's throat began swelling.
Poison mana gathered rapidly inside its mouth.
A high-density attack.
Will immediately reached into his coat and pulled out several small metallic spheres.
Sion's eyes widened.
Artifacts?
Will slammed them into the ground.
CLICK.
Rune patterns instantly spread across the battlefield.
The Basilisk fired.
BOOOOOOM.
A massive wave of poisonous energy erupted through the chamber.
The entire sixth floor shook violently.
Sion and the others screamed.
Then—
The poisonous blast suddenly split apart.
Several glowing barriers redirected the attack upward into the ceiling.
Explosions echoed everywhere.
Chunks of stone collapsed around the battlefield.
Smoke filled the air.
Will burst through the smoke instantly.
His sword glowed faintly from mana reinforcement.
The Basilisk reacted immediately—
Too late.
Will slid beneath its jaw before driving his blade upward with everything he had.
CRAAASH.
The sword pierced through the softer scales beneath its neck.
The Basilisk roared violently.
Its claws tore across Will's side.
Blood splattered across the floor.
But Will didn't stop.
His gauntlets glowed brighter.
Muscles screamed.
Then—
BOOOOOOM.
He punched upward directly into the wound.
The reinforced impact exploded inside the creature's throat.
The Basilisk's roar suddenly stopped.
Its gigantic body froze.
Silence filled the chamber.
Then slowly—
The monster collapsed.
The entire floor trembled heavily.
Will stood there breathing hard while blood dripped from his side.
For several seconds…
Nobody spoke.
Sion stared blankly at the dead Basilisk.
A monster his entire group couldn't defeat alone…
Had just been killed by the academy's so-called failure.
Will slowly pulled his sword free before looking toward them.
"…You guys alive?"
Nobody answered immediately.
Then one noble suddenly shouted angrily.
"Y-You were hiding strength like this?!"
Will blinked.
"Hm?"
Sion clenched his fists tightly.
"…Why?"
Will tilted his head.
"Why what?"
"If you're this strong…"
Sion's voice shook slightly.
"…then why can't you use magic?"
Silence.
Will looked down at his own hands briefly.
Then smiled faintly.
"Who knows."
Far above the battlefield—
Professor Gareth and several professors finally arrived on the sixth floor.
The moment they saw the Basilisk's corpse…
Everyone froze.
Professor Edward adjusted his glasses silently.
"…Impressive."
Meanwhile Gareth simply stared at the heavily injured Will standing among the ruins.
Then sighed deeply.
"…That stupid kid actually did it again."