In an instant, both of them dashed toward each other.
Milo raised his right arm.
The construct Milo mirrored him perfectly, raising its right arm as well.
Both moved in complete synchronization, as if they were looking into a mirror that could fight back.
Their fists clashed in the center of the space.
A sharp shockwave spread through the chamber.
Neither of them moved back.
For a brief moment… they were equal.
Milo narrowed his eyes.
"…So it really is me."
Milo pulled his hand back and threw a left punch immediately.
But the construct Milo shifted his arm and deflected it with perfect timing.
Milo's eyes widened slightly.
"…Even my fighting style… exactly the same."
The construct used the opening and sent a straight punch toward Milo.
Milo tilted his head just enough to avoid it, but the strike still grazed him slightly.
Milo leaned back, then lifted his leg aiming for the construct's jaw.
But the construct shifted its head and avoided the strike.
Milo placed his hand on the ground and flipped himself backward, landing on his feet in a stable stance.
At the same time, the construct Milo stepped back, retreating with short, precise jumps, maintaining distance.
Milo wiped his mouth with his sleeve and quickly analyzed the situation.
"Direct combat will be pointless… he has the exact same moves as me. So I'll have to rely on tricks… or speed. There might be at least a slight difference between us."
He narrowed his eyes, adjusting his stance as he prepared to change his approach.
Milo moved at high speed, using his energy to close the distance. The construct advanced, guarding its face carefully.
Milo made it look like he was about to raise his arm for a direct overhead punch. The construct reacted instantly, preparing to block it.
But instead, Milo jumped over him, twisting mid-air. He pulled his leg slightly forward, then snapped it back with explosive speed, aiming for the back of the construct's head.
However, the construct anticipated it and raised its arm behind its head to guard the strike.
Milo's eyes widened in surprise.
"…Even that doesn't work?"
But Milo didn't give up.
He landed on the ground, spun around quickly, and threw a fast punch toward the construct.
Without even turning, the construct dodged it and grabbed Milo's arm, attempting to twist it and throw him to the ground.
Milo planted his feet firmly, resisted the force, and used his other hand to grab the construct's neck, trying to choke it.
Then he lifted his legs, locking them onto the construct as he climbed onto its back, refusing to let go.
Milo asked calmly,
"So… what will you do about this?"
The construct kept holding Milo's arm, trying to break free from the choke. Then it suddenly jumped backward, heading straight toward the wall.
At that moment, Milo released it.
He passed by the construct, using the movement as an opening, and immediately drove his knee toward its abdomen with full force.
But the construct reacted in time and managed to block the attack, absorbing the impact.
Milo let out a slow, steady breath.
"You're still stubborn…"
He stepped back, while the construct regained its balance.
In that moment, Milo gathered his energy into his hand, forming a faint white, transparent sphere of compressed power.
"I didn't use this technique on the other constructs…"
"I don't think it can handle it."
The construct suddenly rushed toward him.
Milo reacted instantly and released the energy blast straight at it.
The construct stopped and braced itself to block the attack.
A small explosion followed, leaving behind a thin cloud of smoke.
Milo stood still for a moment.
"…Did it work?"
Then he froze.
The construct had survived the impact.
Milo's expression shifted into slight confusion.
"…It has the same defense and durability as me. Blocking it won't be that hard for me."
Milo kept thinking for a moment.
Then, a sudden idea crossed his mind.
A faint smile formed on his face as he looked at the construct.
"Since you have my fighting style… and a similar level of power… and even the same way I react to situations…"
"Defeating you normally is impossible."
"Unless I do something different… something you can't adapt to."
Milo looked at the screen as if he was speaking directly to the system.
"So… you want me to use it, right? That's the goal of this stage… or the entire test."
He stood firmly in place.
Slowly, he raised his left hand and covered part of his face, hiding half of it.
With only one eye visible, he stared at the construct Milo… and smiled.
A faint transparent energy began spreading from Milo's body. It slowly intensified, rising like pressure building in the air around him.
Gradually, the color began to change.
The part of his face hidden behind his hand darkened, as if swallowed by shadow. From that darkness, only one thing remained visible… his left eye, now glowing a deep red.
His hair shifted slightly, losing its neat form as it moved under the rising energy.
Milo's expression changed as well. More serious. Sharper. Slightly more aggressive.
He lowered his left hand from his face.
His back curved slightly as he leaned forward, looking down for a moment, both arms hanging loosely beside him.
A dark red aura began spreading around him, mixing with the fading transparent energy.
Then he slowly raised his head.
His eyes locked onto the construct
"…The only way to defeat you… is to use my special ability."
The construct remained completely still, still holding its combat stance.
Across from it, Milo stared with a calm but intense gaze.
"I'll end this quickly this time."
Both of them moved at the same time, rushing toward each other.
Milo raised his right hand.
The construct Milo raised its right hand as well.
Their hands collided in the center, but this time something was different.
The construct's arm cracked under the impact and was forced aside, unable to withstand the clash.
Milo's strike continued through the opening and landed directly on the construct's face, sending it flying backward.
It crashed into the wall with a heavy, echoing impact.
The construct was still able to move, even after its right arm stopped functioning.
It tried to keep up with Milo.
But Milo suddenly stepped forward at a speed it couldn't perceive. He placed his left hand on its head, trying to block the next attack.
It was useless.
A direct kick from Milo broke through its defense and sent it flying across the chamber.
The construct hit the ground several times before landing heavily on its back.
As it tried to stand again, Milo was already above it.
In the air, his right hand glowed with a deep red energy as he descended at full speed.
He slammed his fist down onto the construct's face, crushing it into the ground and cracking the surface beneath them.
When the smoke cleared, Milo stood there, his aura still burning.
The construct no longer moved.
It began to fade away slowly.
Then the system's voice echoed.
"Excellent. You have successfully cleared the final stage with outstanding performance."
"Congratulations."
"You will be returned to the examination room in one minute."
Milo looked at the fading screen as his energy slowly returned to normal.
He fell to one knee, breathing heavily, one hand on his chest.
"…I still can't fully handle this ability… but I cleared the first test."
A faint sense of relief appeared on his face.
After one minute, Milo was pulled out of the virtual reality.
He returned to the real examination room.
It was empty.
No one was there except him.
A screen flickered to life.
Lyra appeared on it, her expression calm as ever.
"Oh… congratulations on completing the first test."
A soft congratulatory tone echoed in the background, like a gentle piece of music.
Milo looked at her.
"Thanks… but the room is empty. Did anyone finish before me?"
Before she could respond, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching slowly behind him.
"…So, you've finished the test as well, boy."
Milo turned.
George stood there.
His presence was quiet… yet overwhelming.
Milo's expression remained calm, but in his mind, a thought crossed sharply.
"…I didn't sense him at all."
George stopped for a moment, his eyes fixed on Milo's face.
For a brief second… he seemed surprised.
Milo noticed and turned toward him immediately.
"Is there a problem?"
George then smiled lightly, placing his hand on his beard.
"…You resemble him quite a lot. For a moment, I thought you were him."
Milo frowned slightly, his confusion deepening.
"…Who?"
George stepped closer as he answered.
"You're the son of the adventurer Arthur… aren't you?"
George looked directly into Milo's eyes.
"Milo Redgrave… right?"
Milo gave a slight nod.
"Yes… that's me."
George turned toward the gate and began walking slowly.
"Your father was a great adventurer. His name was known across all of Novara."
He paused briefly.
"It is truly remarkable… that his lineage will continue."
Milo's gaze lowered slightly, a faint hint of dissatisfaction appearing on his face.
Before he could respond, George continued speaking.
"Milo… you resemble your father a great deal. Not just in appearance, but in potential as well."
Milo looked up at him, slightly surprised.
George gave him a calm smile.
"I wish you success on your journey, Milo."
Milo hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"…Do you really think so?"
"Yes…" George replied without hesitation.
"I'm certain of it."
Milo stepped forward, a faint sense of pride appearing in his expression as he prepared to head toward the gate leading out to the arena.
Then he asked,
"How many finished before me?"
George answered calmly,
"I believe around twelve… most of them from noble families."
A few moments after Milo left, another participant appeared.
It was a girl.
Her body was lean and perfectly balanced, dressed in a refined combat outfit with an elegant cloak flowing lightly behind her. A moon symbol was engraved on her back, glowing faintly under the light.
Her hair was short, dark deep midnight blue, cut in a sharp uneven style with slightly layered edges, giving it a natural but controlled look, as if it was shaped for both movement and combat. A few strands framed her face loosely.
Her eyes were icy Blue calm, sharp, and distant, giving her an unreadable expression.
A beautiful pendant rested on her wrist, and a sword hung at her waist, clearly used before but well maintained.
She stood still, slowly regaining her breath, her expression calm and composed.
Then Lyra's voice echoed as usual, appearing on the screen with her soft holographic presence.
"Congratulations on completing the test."
George stepped toward her.
"Oh… you must be from the Selunarion family, right?"
The girl gave a slow, silent nod in response, without saying a word.
Meanwhile, Milo stood in the arena, observing the participants who had already completed the test.
The number was small. Most of the others were still inside their trials.
His gaze shifted.
Kuroto Kuroka sat as usual, calm and detached, as if nothing around him mattered. Beside him, his cousin still stood firmly, refusing to leave his side.
Milo watched them for a moment.
"…That guy must be the first one who finished."
He then looked at the others.
Most of them had the appearance of nobles, refined and confident.
His eyes eventually stopped on a young man sitting alone in a corner. He wore a shirt pulled up to cover his mouth and glasses over his eyes. He looked almost like he was sleeping.
Milo finished his thought silently.
"…Everyone who finished before me…"
"…They must be better than me… or even stronger."
"Milo!"
He turned around and saw them.
Solir and Aurelian were walking toward him.
Milo's expression softened instantly, a clear sense of relief appearing when he saw Solir.
"Solir!"
Then, another participant stepped out through the gate.
It was the girl from the Selunarion family.
Her gaze immediately shifted and landed on Milo.
Milo also looked at her, studying her features carefully, trying to figure out who she was.
A silent moment passed between them… filled with quiet curiosity.