Alden smiled faintly, crouching in the underbrush like a panther. This wasn't a test of raw strength—it was a test of adaptability.
He spent the next thirty minutes scouting the perimeter of the village, tagging each patrol route and noting their weaponry. Most carried crude iron axes, but a few shamans had fire-spears laced with volatile aether.
Then he moved to the northeastern ridge, where the jungle thickened and the wind blew strongest.
This would be the ignition point.
Alden pulled out two alchemical vials from his simulation pouch—gifts from his recent potion crafting lessons. Frostspine Dust and Mistroot Essence.
Mixed together and spread across the camp perimeter, they would create a thick mist that dampens fire affinity.
He moved like a shadow, spreading the mix in key areas. When he returned to the ridge, he drew his sword, laced it with aether—and with his inner power.
Then he struck a flint and tossed it.
The jungle exploded in a gust of cold mist, blanketing the camp.
Shouts. Panic. Confusion.
Alden moved.
He became a storm—his blade slipping between ribs and armor. He targeted lone patrols, picked off shamans with surprise strikes, used speed-enhancing inner energy to strike and vanish.
With every orc felled, he could feel the simulation react—becoming more aggressive, more intelligent.
But the mist gave him cover. His limbs surged with force. His blade danced with purpose.
He reached the final threshold—the mouth of the stone cave.
And there stood the Orc Lord.
The Orc Lord was massive—eight feet tall, scarred, with molten runes burning across his chest and arms. His weapon, a black iron greatsword, radiated with volcanic fire. His eyes locked onto Alden's.
"You dare step into my fire?" the Orc Lord growled in deep, guttural Aetherian.
Alden didn't reply.
He surged forward, channeling all of his mysterious force into his legs, blinking across the battlefield like a thunderclap. His blade met the Orc Lord's with a shockwave of fire and aether.
They clashed, over and over—blades biting, magic surging, the cave rumbling with their battle.
At one point, the Orc Lord gripped Alden and hurled him through a stone pillar. Blood spattered his vision. He coughed—wounded.
But he smiled.
He touched his chest, summoned the inner power of aether that he had been training for months—deeper, further than before.
And for the first time in battle... he let it flood his entire body.
He glowed. Not with light, but with density—his skin humming with raw force. He struck again, this time not with speed, but with controlled devastation. Every blow cracked the floor, shattered the Orc Lord's defense, chipped his blade.
Finally, with a roar, Alden drove his sword through the creature's chest—his force shattering the Orc Lord's core.
The simulation faded.
Simulation Complete: All Objectives ClearedFinal Score: 143 Orcs Eliminated | Time: 3 Hours, 12 MinutesRank: #4
There were already dozens of students who were out of the pod.
Alden couldn't understand how he was 4 after seeing so many students out here , instructor informed him that — most of them had died in the battle so they were sent back.
Alden was proud of himself , he looked around so he could find some familiar faces there he could see— Vorian ironhold , who smiled back at him , then he found Veydan who looked little frustrated.
After sometime Alden Saw lysa who came out of the pod. As both of their eyes met Alden could feel some kind of ominous feeling form Lysa.
Alden didn't mind that and was celebrating for his rank .