'Damn it…' Damien's jaw clenched as he stared down at his hands. This wasn't the result he'd expected. But did he really need to enter a Magic Knight Guild now that he had mana?
'W-wait a minute…' Something wasn't right. Damien suddenly tore what remains of his shirt with trembling hands, the fabric ripping apart to reveal his bare chest. To his utter dismay, the Black Cross Seal was still there—its dark, intricate lines etched deep into his skin like a cursed tattoo.
'I was right. This damn cursed seal is still on me. But if it wasn't my mana that was sealed, then what the hell was sealed inside me?' Damien pondered in frustration, his jaw clenching.
'To learn more about this seal and how to break it, I'll need to attend the Persia Academy renowned for their unparalleled magical knowledge in the kingdom of Persia in just five months time.' Damien's mind raced as he calculated his next moves.
But to attend, he'd need a Magic Knight Captain's signature. Which meant joining a guild, whether he wanted to or not.
"Damien, no hands. You can step aside now," Lucas announced with a cruel smirk plastered across his face, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Come on, just move out of the way already!" The student's laughter rippled through the crowd like a wave of poison, their voices sharp with contempt. But the moment Damien's cold, murderous gaze swept over them, his eyes burning with such lethal intensity that it seemed to pierce straight through their souls, their laughter died instantly. Their faces went pale, blood freezing in their veins. No one dared to provoke the monster who had bested the kingdom's greatest talent.
'Come on. Anyone, I don't really care who it is,' Damien thought desperately as he watched each captain, but still no hands were lifted in his favor. Then to his disappointment, he turned to leave and just then, students started gasping in surprise.
Damien's grimace turned into hope as he turned to see the captain who had finally raised their hand for him. But as soon as he saw who it was, his hope suddenly turned into ashes in his mouth. It was none other than his nemesis, the one he seeks vengeance upon, the one who had killed him in his previous life—the captain of the Trinity Guild, Lark Snider.
'Why this bastard of all people!' Damien's mind raced with rage surging within him, fist clenched tight as he glared at Lark, with that usual infuriating smirk of his etched across his face —the very same expression that had mocked Damien as he died.
The bitter irony tasted like poison on his tongue. He would have no other choice but to serve under him now. But just then, another hand rose into the air. It belonged to Captain Steffen Wolves of the Black Scorpion Guild.
Damien's eyes squeezed shut in frustration, his jaw clenching. He didn't want to join the Black Scorpion Guild either—for some particular reasons. But anything, absolutely anything, was better than serving under that treacherous bastard Lark.
"It would be an honour to be accepted into the Black Scorpion Guild," Damien declared, his voice steady and resolute as he walked away from the selection area.
The ceremony continued its relentless pace as countless students found their homes within various magic knight guilds. Then finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
"Now, it's time to announce the top five students with the highest scores in this year's magic knight entrance exam," Lucas announced, his voice echoing across the arena.
"First up, Anita von Britton with an incredible 2,900 points!" His words sent waves of awe through the crowd as Anita stepped forward with graceful elegance, her noble bearing evident in every measured step.
"In second place, Giovanni with a formidable 2,800 points!" Giovanni moved forward with quiet confidence, his presence commanding respect.
"In third place, Damien with an impressive 2,300 points!" Lucas announced with barely concealed surprise as Damien stepped forward, his face a mask of calm composure.
"In fourth place, Asher Williams with 2,200 points!" Asher shuffled forward with slumped shoulders, his eyes fixed on the ground, still drowning in the bitter taste of his humiliating defeat against Giovanni.
'Tsk, how pathetic.' Damien scoffed internally. 'He was lucky enough to receive 500 points after his defeat. Just because some were defeated in the last exam doesn't mean they don't get points, it depends on their power level and combat skills. Hell, even after I defeated Anita, she still managed to secure 900 points. And she and Asher must be among the lucky few who earned an automatic 1000 points in the first exam after Giovanni so graciously obliterated that obsidian boulder, giving them a pass by default.' The memory brought a cold slight sigh to his lips.
"And lastly, claiming fifth place, Ayla Silver!" Lucas announced with theatrical flair.
And immediately, a breathtaking figure glided forward like a work of art come to life. Ayla Silver was devastatingly beautiful—her silky raven-black hair cascaded down her shoulders like liquid darkness, and she wore an elegantly cut black dress so short it showcased her perfectly sculpted, pale thighs. A sleek black cross sword hung at her waist, its presence both elegant and deadly.
'Ayla Silver. The legendary blade dancer herself,' Damien's expression softened as recognition dawned in his eyes. 'Sister to Luna Silver, captain of the prestigious Moonstone Guild.' Memories from his previous life flooded back—vivid images of her graceful yet lethal swordsmanship, the countless times she had saved his worthless life on blood-soaked battlefields.
'She's the only noble I've ever met who treats commoners with genuine respect, never looking down on us like we're insects crawling beneath her feet.'
"Hey, what are you staring at?" Ayla's voice cut through his nostalgic reverie like a sharp blade, her beautiful eyes narrowing dangerously as she caught his lingering gaze focused on her exposed thighs. What she interpreted as a perverted, creepy smile was actually a fond smile of remembrance, but the misunderstanding was crystal clear.
"Oh, umm…" Damien's cheeks flushed bright red as he quickly averted his gaze, scratching his cheek awkwardly, words completely failing him.
"Now—!" Lucas began with authority, but his announcement was abruptly interrupted as one of the captains raised their hand with deliberate command. It was none other than Captain Asura Tempest of the legendary Tempest Guild.
'The Tempest Guild,' Damien's thoughts sharpened with keen interest. 'If my memory serves correctly, they're one of the most powerful guilds in the entire kingdom of Avalon—possibly even the strongest.'
"Holy shit, isn't that Captain Asura Tempest?" Students whispered in breathless awe, their voices filled with reverence.
"I heard his guild has the largest membership in all of Avalon Empire's guilds," another voice added with barely contained excitement.
Captain Asura rose to his feet with commanding presence—an imposing man draped in a magnificent green and golden coat, luxurious animal fur wrapped around his broad shoulders. His long, emerald hair flowed like silk, and a legendary green blade rested at his side. The overwhelming mana radiating from his powerful frame was so intense it sent involuntary shivers down every spine in the arena.
"Congratulations to every soul here who has triumphed in the Magic Knight Entrance Exam and earned acceptance into a Magic Knight Guild," Asura's deep voice resonated with absolute authority, each word carrying the weight of mountains.
"Fortune has smiled upon this gathering today, for the Sorcerer King himself bore witness to these trials. He has declared this year's examination to be among the most exceptional he has observed in the past fifty years, showcasing the most promising candidates he has ever laid eyes upon."
Explosive gasps erupted throughout the massive arena as students frantically whipped their heads around, desperately searching every corner and shadow, hoping to catch even a glimpse of the sorcerer king.
Damien remained perfectly still, his expression unchanged. The Sorcerer King had always been a mysterious being wrapped in legend—a ghost of immense power. Apart from the guild captains, virtually no living soul had ever seen his face. His appearance was a complete mystery, his presence felt but never witnessed. He appears and vanishes like morning mist, ruling the kingdom of Avalon from the shadows alongside the king.
"And for these exceptional top five students…" Asura's piercing gaze swept across Damien and the four other outstanding candidates standing proudly before their fellow students like monuments of achievement.
"The Sorcerer King has decreed that you shall receive a title that has remained unbestowed for half a century. This sacred honor will grant you premium access to participate in dungeon raids, doubled wages every month, unrestricted access to our most advanced weapon facilities, a private audience with the Sorcerer King himself, and above all—you will command absolute respect as the kingdom's most precious talents." Asura's words hit the crowd like lightning, sending shockwaves through every heart.
'Wait… that title, could he possibly mean…?' Damien's heart pounded as his mind raced with anticipation.
"Anita von Britton, Giovanni, Damien, Asher Williams, and Ayla Silver." Asura's voice rang out with ceremonial gravity that seemed to shake the very foundations of the arena.
"You shall be known not only throughout the kingdom of Avalon but across the entire world as… The Five Phoenix."
The sacred title hung in the air like a divine proclamation, silence stretching like a held breath before thunderous cheers exploded from every throat in the arena, the sound deafening.
In an instant, a distinguished magic knight approached with military precision, presenting each of the five champions with a gleaming silver wing badge—an intricately crafted phoenix that seemed to shimmer with its own inner light.
They raised their right hands to their chests in perfect unison, the salute both solemn and proud. All ten guild captains rose as one, their acknowledgment a testament to the absolute, unquestionable authority of the Sorcerer King's word. Even those who harbored deep resentment toward Giovanni and Damien for their lowly commoner blood would bow to this sacred decree.
'Perfect. Absolutely fucking perfect, especially the premium access to dungeon raids. This means I can actually enter any dungeon with or without an invitation. This privilege will accelerate my growth beyond my wildest imagination.' A genuine smile of pure triumph spread across his face for the first time in ages.
"Your golden coins and divine weapons will be presented to you five as the promised rewards at a later date. Right now, I hereby declare the official end of this year's magic knight entrance exams!" Asura's final proclamation echoed through the arena as he and the other captains departed in perfect synchronized formation.
Just like that, it was over—surpassing even Damien's most optimistic dreams. This was the first crucial step on his blood-soaked path to vengeance and his ultimate destiny of claiming the throne as the next Sorcerer King. Immediately, representatives from various guilds swarmed in like vultures, collecting their newly recruited members.
"Um…" Anita suddenly approached Damien with hesitant, graceful steps, her porcelain cheeks painted with the softest pink blush.
"Congratulations on being accepted into a magic knight guild and earning the legendary title of Phoenix," she said softly, her voice like silk.
"Ah, yes. My sincere congratulations to you as well. You made an excellent choice with your guild selection." Damien replied, offering her a warm, genuine smile that seemed to make her blush deepen to a beautiful rose color.
"Really? Then…" Before she could complete her words, her guild members called out impatiently from across the arena, announcing their immediate departure.
"Haha, looks like duty calls," Damien observed with gentle amusement, his eyes twinkling.
"Ah yes, coming!" she called back sweetly, then began hurrying toward her waiting guild members with quick, elegant steps. But just before reaching them, she spun around with sudden, bold determination.
"I look forward to the day when you rule the kingdom of Avalon by my side!" she shouted with a radiant, breathtaking smile, waving enthusiastically at him.
"Yes, of course… wait, what the hell?!" Damien's response started confident but ended in complete bewildered shock, his eyes wide. He had been thinking about his future conquest as Sorcerer King, but her words carried romantic implications that sent his mind into chaos. Anita simply giggled like silver bells at his adorably flustered reaction before disappearing with her guild members.
"Damn. That girl is seriously going to be the death of me," Damien sighed deeply, shaking his head with a mixture of exasperation and fondness, only to notice Giovanni approaching with purposeful, determined strides.
"Hey, Gio—" Damien began warmly, but Giovanni's raised hand cut him off with surgical precision.
"Since when did you start keeping secrets from me?" Giovanni asked with unsettling calm, his sharp eyes dissecting Damien like a master surgeon examining a fascinating specimen.
'Of course he's suspicious. He must have been shocked as hell when he witnessed my combat techniques and that mysterious magic I unleashed. Hell, I don't even fully understand what that power was myself yet,' Damien thought with growing concern, meeting his brother's intense scrutiny.
"Tsk, it doesn't matter now," Giovanni declared with characteristic bluntness, his voice steady. "I lost to you today, but mark my words carefully—next time we meet, victory will be mine."
"I'll gladly accept that challenge with open arms. After all, you're my one and only true rival, brother!" Damien's smile was genuine and fierce as they clasped hands in a firm, meaningful handshake—a bond forged in competition and brotherhood that transcended mere friendship. Until their paths crossed again in battle, the two brothers parted ways.
Damien made his way through the dispersing crowd to the glowing teleportation circle where his new guild captain and fellow members waited like dark shadows, the magical array humming with raw energy as it prepared to transport them to their guild's hidden base.
'The Black Scorpion Guild—a notorious sanctuary for rogue magic knights, outcasts, and society's forgotten warriors. A perfect guild for someone like me with blood-stained secrets to hide and a burning thirst for vengeance to quench. But still…' His contemplation was violently shattered as he approached the intimidating captain.
Suddenly, Captain Steffen's eyes blazed with menacing purple fire, waves of malevolent purple mana rolling off his muscular frame like heat from a forge of hell. The very air around him seemed to thicken and crackle with barely contained violence and murderous intent.
"You've got a lot of nerve making me wait this long, kid. Do you have a death wish?" Captain Steffen's voice was ice-cold as his scarred hand moved with practiced ease to rest on the hilt of one of his twin blades, his terrifying aura intensifying like a gathering storm of destruction.