The Overlooked Hero Breaks the System

The morning bells echoed across the training grounds, signaling the start of another long day. As time passed, the divide between the strong and the weak became clearer.

Some students improved rapidly, standing out as future warriors, while others struggled to keep pace.

The strongest heroes—Leon, Elena, Alan, and Felix—had already begun separating themselves from the rest. But even within the lower squads, there were those who were quietly refining their skills.

Today's training was another step in shaping the future of the summoned heroes.

Instructor Lynelle stood before them, her sharp eyes scanning the students. "So far, we have tested your endurance. Now, we refine control."

She gestured to a set of floating crystals, glowing faintly with contained magic. "Your goal is to channel mana into these crystals at a constant, controlled rate. If your flow is unstable, the crystal will shatter."

Dante blinked. "Wait, what?"

Kai muttered, "That… sounds like it'll be expensive if we fail."

Lynelle smirked. "Don't worry. We have plenty of replacements."

The students spread out, each standing before a crystal.

Leon Crest, the Holy Hero, took position at the front. His presence was still overwhelming, his divine aura noticeable even when inactive.

He placed his palm over the crystal and channeled mana into it.

The crystal shone with golden brilliance, perfectly stable. The knights observing from the side nodded in approval.

Elena Vaughn, the Arcane Valkyrie, stood next to him. Unlike Leon's calm and controlled presence, hers was intense—like a storm ready to be unleashed.

She released her mana into the crystal, and it flared brilliant blue, her control absolute. Not a single fluctuation.

Alan Vale, the Warblade, was next. He was a fighter first and a magic user second, so his mana control wasn't as refined. His crystal flickered slightly before stabilizing.

Felix Ardane, the S-Class Spirit Mage, didn't just control mana—he commanded it. His crystal flowed like a living entity, shifting colors and adapting to his will.

It was clear why he had been placed in Squad Two.

Meanwhile, students in the lower-ranked squads were having a much harder time.

Dante gritted his teeth as his crystal cracked down the middle. "Tch. What the hell?"

Ethan's mana fluctuated wildly before his crystal shattered into fine dust.

Kai lasted a little longer, but eventually, his crystal dimmed and failed.

"Damn," Ethan muttered, shaking his head. "This is harder than it looks."

Lynelle sighed. "If your mana control is this weak, you won't last in real combat."

Rei stood nearby, silently observing. He had already completed the task—his crystal pulsed with a steady, perfect glow.

But he made sure to finish just slightly after the top students, so no one would take notice.

Still, Lynelle's gaze lingered on him for a second longer than necessary.

If the morning had been about refinement, the afternoon was about application.

Instructor Garrick stood at the center of the combat ring, his arms crossed. "The ability to fight isn't just about strength. It's about adaptability."

He gestured toward a moving battlefield—a section of the training grounds covered in shifting platforms, each rising and falling randomly.

"This exercise will test your ability to fight in unstable conditions," Garrick explained. "You will pair up and spar while maintaining your balance. Fall off, and you're out."

The students murmured in surprise.

Dante grinned. "Now this is more like it."

Leon, standing at the front, simply nodded. "Understood."

Elena's eyes flashed with excitement. "Good. Real fights don't happen on flat ground."

Felix cracked his knuckles, his floating spirit energy already adapting to the shifting terrain.

The matchups were called.

Leon vs. Alan.

Elena vs. Felix.

Ethan vs. Kai.

Dante vs. Rei.

Rei suppressed a sigh. Another match against Dante.

Sparring Begins

Leon vs. Alan was the first match.

The moment the platforms began shifting, Alan charged forward, his Warblade ability activating, strengthening his strikes.

Leon, however, didn't even move.

A divine shield flickered around him, perfectly adjusting to every movement of the platform. He had absolute control over his balance.

Alan attacked, his blade a blur—but Leon effortlessly deflected each strike.

The match ended within a minute when Leon knocked Alan off the platform with a single, calculated strike.

Alan scowled as he got up. "You really don't mess around, huh?"

Leon simply extended a hand. "You left too many openings."

Alan sighed and took his hand, shaking it.

Elena vs. Felix was next.

Unlike the previous match, neither moved immediately.

Elena floated slightly above the platform, using wind magic to keep her stable.

Felix stood his ground, his spirit energy coiling around him like sentient mist.

Elena attacked first, sending a burst of lightning toward Felix.

Felix didn't dodge. Instead, he redirected the energy into a floating spirit, which absorbed it and launched it back.

Elena's eyes widened slightly. "Interesting."

She smiled—and then released a wave of magic, forcing Felix onto the defensive.

Their fight lasted far longer than Leon's, each adapting to the battlefield in real-time.

It ended in a draw when Garrick called it off, satisfied with their control.

Rei vs. Dante was last.

Dante grinned. "Let's see if you can dodge as well as yesterday."

Rei stepped onto the shifting platform, his mind already analyzing the terrain.

The moment the fight began, Dante rushed forward, aiming for a heavy strike.

Rei dodged—but just barely.

He made sure to move slightly slower than usual, allowing Dante to push him back gradually.

But in reality, he was using this to observe the shifting patterns of the platforms.

He memorized the movements, adjusted his balance subtly, and made sure his dodges looked less refined than they actually were.

After a minute, Garrick raised a hand. "Stop."

Rei pretended to be breathing harder than he actually was as he stepped off.

Dante smirked. "You're getting better, quiet guy."

Rei gave a small nod.

After training, the students gathered at the banquet hall for dinner.

Leon and Elena were in deep discussion, likely talking about their sparring matches.

Felix sat quietly, observing the room.

Dante was excitedly recounting his match to Ethan and Kai.

And Rei?

He ate in silence, processing everything.

His squadmates were getting stronger. The elite students were progressing fast.

And eyes were starting to linger on him longer than before.

If he wanted to keep hiding his strength, he needed to find a way to divert attention soon.

Because sooner or later, someone was going to notice that he was far more capable than he appeared.