Chapter 401: Steven’s Final Lesson

Arthur arrived at Principal Steven’s private arena on Tuesday morning expecting to collect his training evaluation. Instead, he found four defensive towers, a miniature fortress, and enough hostile constructs to start a small war.

His eyes immediately brightened. "Another battle?"

Steven smiled beside the control pedestal. "One last assessment. Yesterday, you showed the Academy what you’d learned. Today, I want to see what happens when your plan stops working."

Vedas examined the battlefield, paying particular attention to the distance between the towers. "Those defensive stations are too far apart for one person to protect. Even with your speed, Arthur, you won’t be able to respond to every attack."

"Exactly," Steven replied, looking pleased that Vedas had recognized the problem before the exercise began.

Arthur glanced toward his three Beasts. "Can all of them participate?"

"Certainly, but Eden’s recovery remains a priority. I’m evaluating your judgment as a Tamer, not how much power you can force out of your partners."

Eden floated forward, her wings fluttering eagerly. "I want to help too! I’ve been resting like everyone told me, and I’m feeling much better."

Arthur smiled at her. "Then you’re our lookout. No Future Manifestation or anything strenuous. Just tell us what you notice, and we’ll handle the fighting."

Eden puffed her cheeks. "You make that sound easy."

"Sometimes noticing things is the hardest part," Arthur replied, gently patting her head. "Besides, you were pretty amazing during your timing exercise."

Her expression immediately brightened. "Then I’ll notice everything!"

Star bounced enthusiastically on Arthur’s shoulder, while Vedas shook his head with an amused smile.

From the observation gallery, Sun leaned against the railing beside Mithra and Athena. Kong was already inspecting the snacks he’d brought, while Melo watched the arena with interest.

"I thought he finished training on Friday," Sun remarked. "How many final tests does one person need?"

Athena adjusted her glasses. "This is his final evaluation. Yesterday’s exhibition was a public demonstration, so the principal probably wants to assess his performance without an audience influencing his decisions."

Mithra smiled knowingly. "Knowing my father, he saved something especially unpleasant for last. He enjoys watching people figure out problems they weren’t expecting."

Steven raised his hand toward the arena, causing twelve red lights to appear along the surrounding passages.

"Four objectives, twelve attackers, and six friendly defensive constructs. Every tower must survive, and I’ll be observing how you respond when the situation changes."

Arthur grinned as he looked over the battlefield. "Sounds fun."

Vedas sighed and adjusted his grip on his spear. "Please don’t say that before we’ve even started."

...

The signal sounded, and twelve hostile constructs emerged from the surrounding passages with their weapons glowing red. They immediately divided into several groups, each heading toward a different defensive station.

Arthur turned toward Vedas. "You’re in command of the defense. I’ll handle the strongest attackers, so let me know where you need me."

Vedas looked briefly surprised before a confident smile appeared. "Understood. I’ll hold the central position and coordinate our defenders. Star, watch the narrow passages and stop anything that slips through."

Star stretched upward in acknowledgment before bouncing toward the northern corridor.

Vedas sent four friendly constructs toward the northern and western stations, keeping the remaining two near the center as reserves. Arthur moved east, intercepting a heavily armored attacker before it could reach the first tower.

Golden Mana gathered around his arm as he stepped forward and released Guardian Strike. The impact hurled the construct into an empty section of the arena, where it shattered without damaging anything nearby.

Sun whistled from the gallery. "He’s definitely not holding back. That thing barely lasted a second."

"He’s controlling where the damage goes," Athena corrected, watching the undamaged tower behind him. "That’s different from simply attacking with less strength."

At the western station, three attackers attempted to surround the defenders. Vedas anticipated their movement and ordered the friendly constructs to withdraw around a corner, allowing the attackers to believe they had gained an opening.

They followed immediately, only to discover Vedas waiting behind them.

His spear flashed twice, disabling their weapons while the friendly constructs struck from the opposite direction. The attackers were caught between the two groups and eliminated before they could reorganize.

"That’s three," Vedas said with satisfaction as he turned toward the next passage.

Meanwhile, Star slipped into a narrow northern corridor just as another construct approached the tower. The little slime pressed against a stone support, copied its hardness through Mimic Form, and expanded across the passage.

The attacker struck Star and rebounded into the opposite wall, stumbling long enough for a friendly defender to finish it.

Star bounced triumphantly, its tiny crown shining above its head.

Melo burst into laughter. "That poor construct just lost to a wall with a crown! I almost feel sorry for it."

"A very clever wall," Mithra replied, smiling as Star proudly reshaped itself.

Above the battlefield, Eden noticed a faint movement along an elevated walkway. She leaned forward from her protected observation position, following a concealed construct preparing to leap toward the southern station.

"Arthur! There’s one hiding above the southern tower! It’s waiting for the defenders to move!"

Arthur turned immediately, catching sight of the construct just as it jumped. He raised his armored forearm, intercepted its attack, and redirected the impact away from the tower before delivering a controlled finishing strike.

"Good catch, Eden!" Arthur called as the enemy dissolved into particles of light.

Eden beamed. "I saw it! It was trying to sneak past everyone!"

For several minutes, the defense operated smoothly. Vedas issued commands without waiting for Arthur’s approval, Star sealed vulnerable passages, and Arthur eliminated the strongest threats before they could threaten the objectives.

Steven watched the entire exchange without commenting, his attention shifting between Arthur and his three partners.

Then the eastern gate exploded open.

...

An enormous armored construct emerged from the passage, its shoulders nearly as broad as the entrance itself. Heavy plates covered its body, and each step sent vibrations through the surrounding stone.

Arthur immediately recognized the greatest threat. "Now that’s a big one! I’ll take care of it before it reaches the tower."

"Wait, Arthur!" Vedas called, stopping him before he could charge.

At that exact moment, five smaller constructs appeared near the western station, surrounding its remaining defenders.

Vedas studied both groups before making his decision. "Go west. I’ll handle the large one."

Arthur hesitated briefly. "You sure? That thing looks considerably stronger than the others."

"The eastern passage is narrow, so it can’t maneuver properly. I can keep it occupied there, but those five attackers will overwhelm the western tower if you don’t reach them first."

Arthur glanced between the two threats and quickly recognized the logic. The giant construct was stronger, but Vedas had the terrain advantage. The western attackers were individually weaker, yet their numbers made them dangerous.

"Got it. Eastern defense is yours!" Arthur replied before sprinting toward the opposite side of the battlefield.

Sun leaned forward in disbelief. "He’s leaving that monster to Vedas? I thought he’d jump at the chance to fight something that big."

Athena nodded approvingly. "That’s precisely why the decision matters. Arthur knows he can defeat it, but he’s trusting Vedas to handle the situation instead."

The giant construct charged, and Vedas planted his spear before summoning a golden barrier across the passage. The impact cracked its surface, but the narrow walls prevented the enemy from moving around him.

"Star, behind its left leg!" Vedas ordered as he reinforced the barrier.

Star flattened itself and slipped through a gap along the wall. It emerged behind the construct, hardened its body, and stretched across the creature’s ankle just as it prepared another step.

The giant stumbled, allowing Vedas to sweep his spear against its exposed knee and force it onto one side. Before it could regain its balance, the friendly defenders attacked its weakened joints.

Meanwhile, Arthur reached the western station just as five attackers surrounded its defenders.

"Five against one?" Arthur asked with a grin as golden energy gathered around him. "That seems a little unfair."

He paused, then added cheerfully, "To you, I mean!"

Arthur struck the ground between two constructs, sending a controlled shockwave through the attackers without damaging the tower. Two fell immediately, while he caught another by its weapon and redirected it into the fourth.

The final enemy attempted to rush past him, but Arthur stepped into its path and disabled it with a precise strike.

[Western Station Secured.]

[Eastern Station Secured.]

The gallery erupted with cheers as both notifications appeared.

"They actually did it!" Sun exclaimed, looking between the two stations. "And Arthur didn’t even need to help Vedas with that giant!"

Mithra clapped enthusiastically. "That’s the biggest difference from his first day of training. He isn’t trying to control everything anymore."

Vedas emerged from the eastern passage as the giant construct dissolved behind him, his spear resting comfortably against his shoulder.

Arthur raised his hand toward him. "Nice work, Commander! You handled that thing beautifully!"

Vedas smiled with obvious satisfaction. "Your western defense was acceptable too. Although I suspect you enjoyed having five opponents to yourself."

Arthur burst out laughing. "I’ll take that compliment!"

Steven remained silent, but a faint smile crossed his face as he watched the two celebrate.

Then another bell rang.

...

[Final Assessment — Emergency Scenario]

[Defensive Formation Compromised.]

[Objective Priorities Updated.]

Arthur looked toward the control platform in surprise. "There’s more? I thought we’d already beaten everything!"

Steven’s voice echoed throughout the arena. "The battlefield doesn’t necessarily become safe just because you’ve defeated the enemy in front of you."

The southern tower’s supporting platform suddenly began cracking, and a simulated injured Beast appeared near its entrance, trapped beneath a fallen beam. At the same time, another group of attackers emerged from the northern passage.

"New objective," Steven continued. "Evacuate the injured Beast while preserving all four defensive stations."

Sun stared at the battlefield. "That’s cruel! He barely finished dealing with the last wave!"

Mithra studied the damaged platform. "My father wants to see whether Arthur can change his priorities. If he keeps fighting normally, that Beast might not survive."

Arthur quickly recognized the problem. He could destroy the approaching enemies with overwhelming force, but doing so would leave the injured Beast trapped while the platform continued weakening.

Rather than rushing toward the nearest threat, he turned toward Vedas.

"Which station can survive with fewer defenders?"

Vedas examined the defensive positions. "The northern station. Its walls are intact, and there’s only one approach. We can move its reserve defenders south without leaving it completely exposed."

"Then do it. Star, find another way into that platform!" Arthur ordered before heading toward the trapped Beast.

Star immediately squeezed beneath the damaged stonework, searching for an opening that Arthur couldn’t reach from above.

Eden hovered at the edge of her protected position, carefully watching the platform’s movement. "Arthur, the southern platform is sinking faster on the left! The right side looks much safer!"

Arthur changed direction and approached from the more stable side while Vedas redirected the friendly constructs.

Star emerged from a maintenance opening beneath the injured Beast, stretching around the fallen beam until it reached a small release latch. With a sharp pull, it disengaged the mechanism, allowing the weight to shift.

Arthur caught the beam before it dropped again and carefully lifted it away.

"Got you," he said, gathering the simulated Beast into his arms.

An armored attacker suddenly broke through the southern defense.

"Arthur, behind you!" Eden cried as the construct raised its weapon.

Arthur turned and formed a golden shield between them. The strike crashed against the barrier, but he held his ground, keeping the injured Beast safely against his chest.

With one powerful movement, he drove his armored shoulder into the attacker and hurled it away from the evacuation route.

"Vedas, I need the passage clear!" Arthur called as he rushed toward the protected station.

"Already done!" Vedas answered, directing the remaining defenders into position.

Star slipped beside Arthur and blocked another construct attempting to enter the passage. Arthur carried the injured Beast across the courtyard and handed it to a friendly medical construct waiting inside the station.

The final warning light turned green.

[Final Assessment Completed.]

[Defensive Objectives Protected: 4/4.]

[Emergency Evacuation: Successful.]

[Beast Coordination: Outstanding.]

The gallery erupted in applause, and Eden flew directly into Arthur’s arms when Steven lowered the protective barrier.

"We saved everyone!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly. "And I helped without using any of my dangerous abilities!"

Arthur laughed and gently patted her head. "You certainly did. Those warnings made a huge difference."

Star bounced onto his shoulder, while Vedas approached with a satisfied expression. Even Steven looked pleased as he descended from the control platform to meet them.

"Arthur, tell me why you changed your formation when the injured Beast appeared," Steven asked.

Arthur glanced toward the southern station before answering. "Because the objective changed. Defeating every attacker wouldn’t have mattered if we left someone behind who needed our help."

Steven nodded approvingly. "Exactly. And more importantly, you didn’t attempt to solve every problem yourself. You trusted Vedas to command the defense, allowed Star to find its own solution, and accepted Eden’s observations without pushing her beyond her limits."

He turned toward Vedas with a smile. "Your command decisions were excellent. You identified the correct priorities and used the terrain to overcome an opponent considerably larger than yourself."

Vedas straightened proudly. "Thank you, Principal. Arthur gave me the freedom to make those decisions."

Steven then looked toward Star. "And you proved that unusual abilities can be just as valuable as overwhelming strength."

Star swelled with pride, earning a laugh from the others.

Finally, Steven turned toward Eden. "You demonstrated excellent observation and restraint. There’s no shame in contributing without entering the battlefield yourself."

Eden looked delighted. "I didn’t even need Future Manifestation!"

"Precisely," Steven replied. "Knowing when not to use an ability can be just as important as knowing when to activate it."

Arthur received a sealed evaluation document, and a notification appeared before him.

[Principal’s Personal Training Program]

[Final Evaluation: Outstanding.]

[Training Successfully Completed.]

Steven smiled as Arthur examined the results. "Congratulations. You’ve successfully completed your week of personal training, and I believe you’ve made considerable progress."

Arthur grinned. "Thank you, Principal! I learned a lot more than I expected."

From the gallery, Sun called down, "And you didn’t destroy a single tower! That’s impressive too!"

Arthur laughed while Mithra shook her head at Sun’s enthusiasm.

Steven looked amused. "That may be the greatest achievement of all."

...

Later, Arthur followed Steven into his office with Vedas, Eden, and Star accompanying him. Several sealed expedition files were arranged across the desk, alongside the ancient dark fragment that had started the mystery.

Arthur immediately recognized it. "The other records arrived?"

Steven nodded as he opened one of the folders. "They did, and I believe you’ll find them interesting. Some of the expedition reports were incomplete, but we’ve managed to identify the region where the fragment was originally recovered."

He unfolded an old map across the desk, revealing an enormous underground network with several roads extending outward from a central junction.

"The original expedition recovered the fragment near one of these passages," Steven explained. "However, the Academy never completed a thorough survey of the surrounding network. Several tunnels were marked as inaccessible, while others were simply abandoned after the initial investigation."

Arthur leaned closer, studying the branching roads with growing excitement. "So there’s still more to investigate? Maybe even something connected to what I saw when I touched the fragment?"

"Possibly," Steven answered. "But we shouldn’t assume the vision and these ruins are directly connected until we have stronger evidence."

Vedas examined the map thoughtfully. "If the network is this extensive, exploring it could take a considerable amount of time."

"Which is why I intend to establish a properly supervised expedition," Steven replied. "Arthur, given your performance during training and your unusual interaction with the fragment, I’m willing to sponsor an investigation. However, there will be formal authorization, safety procedures, and an experienced researcher accompanying the group."

Arthur’s eyes immediately lit up. "So we’re going exploring?"

Steven chuckled. "After the paperwork."

Vedas closed his eyes and released a long sigh. "Naturally. I was beginning to think we might actually enjoy a quiet week."

Steven smiled at his reaction. "And Arthur won’t be going alone. Once the arrangements are approved, he may invite several qualified students to participate."

Arthur was already thinking about Mithra, Sun, and Athena when something unusual on the map caught his attention.

Near the central junction, five parallel markings had been drawn beside one of the oldest passages. Their arrangement looked strangely familiar, and Arthur slowly turned toward the fragment resting on Steven’s desk.

He leaned closer to the map, then examined the five grooves carved into the ancient stone.

"Steven, look at this," Arthur said, pointing toward the drawing. "Those markings look exactly like the ones on the fragment."

Steven followed his finger, studying the ancient map before turning toward the stone.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Arthur’s curiosity grew as he compared them again. He still didn’t know what the fragment was, where the strange Beast from his vision had come from, or why his Evolution Path Vision couldn’t analyze it.

But the map had given them something they hadn’t possessed before.

A place to start.

Arthur looked toward Steven, his excitement returning.

"I think we just found our next destination."