Challenging the Divine Star
Seong Hyun-jin had been heading to the training ground since the crack of dawn.
"Junior, Dean Shania asked you to come to Training Ground 5. Tomorrow at 5 a.m., right when dorm curfew lifts."
He'd heard that from Yeonhui yesterday—some story about how Shania had sweet-talked Eleonora. It was sudden, but Yeonhui's flustered expression had been so adorable that he'd readily agreed. And that's why he was trekking out here in the pre-dawn emptiness when hardly a soul stirred.
As the training ground came into view, so did a girl's silhouette.
"Senior Yeonhui."
"Ah, Junior!"
It was Yeonhui. She broke into a bright smile at the sight of him and bowed her head politely.
"I'm sorry it was so sudden. Thank you for coming."
"I said I would. No big deal."
Seong Hyun-jin glanced at the training ground—and felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down his back for some reason.
It was because of who was waiting inside.
Shania alone wouldn't have fazed him, but she wasn't the only one there.
"...But why are there others? And even my master is here?"
None other than the Sword Star Hakodate Karin and the Demon Star Eleonora stood together.
"Ah, well..."
Yeonhui looked just as caught off guard, her expression tinged with embarrassment as she explained.
"While Dean Shania was asking Dean Eleonora for permission to use the training ground, Lady Karin happened to return and overheard..."
"..."
Seong Hyun-jin pieced it together, uncharacteristically calm.
The reason he wasn't charging at his master like usual was simple.
'Why is my master watching...?'
Karin terrified him right now.
In a normal situation, sure—but this was a test in front of Shania, a chance to show his skills. And to Seong Hyun-jin, the scariest version of Karin was the one judging his swordsmanship.
'If she's here specifically for this test...'
She must want to see how her disciple had progressed. The problem? He'd only been at the academy for a month and two weeks. Showing real change in such a short time was impossible.
Especially...
'I've barely done any personal training, running around doing this and that...!'
Compared to his days at the mountain cabin, he'd slacked on practice. He'd been busy elsewhere, sure, but Karin would spot it in an instant.
"Junior, what's wrong?"
"...Scared."
"Pardon? Are you nervous?"
"...Yeah."
Yeonhui blinked in surprise at his honest reply.
'Even Junior gets nervous...?'
It wasn't really about the test, but oblivious Yeonhui found his tension endearing.
"Don't worry, Junior."
"Huh?"
"Whatever happens, I'll be right there with you."
She beamed sweetly. Seong Hyun-jin couldn't bring himself to tell her that her comfort wouldn't save him from his master's sharp critique. Yeonhui just tilted her head, clueless to his thoughts.
"Shall we go in, Junior?"
"...Sure."
As Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui entered, Shania, Eleonora, and Karin turned from their conversation.
"You've arrived."
"Welcome."
Karin and Eleonora greeted them briefly, then Shania continued.
"You didn't run away, I see."
"Didn't you summon me here?"
What kind of question was that from the one who'd called him? Seong Hyun-jin eyed her dubiously, but Shania ignored it, descending the podium with dignified poise.
"The test won't be easy, but the rules are simple."
Shania explained the rules.
"You and Yeonhui will work together to..."
She stepped into the training ground, and at once, the world's finest defense system—designed by Terastial Academy's dean, the Demon Star Eleonora—activated.
Given the academy's parade of top-tier monsters, training grounds were built tougher than sparring fields to withstand massive impacts. These were even sturdier, as real combat-like exchanges were common during exams.
Eleonora had personally overseen every system to guarantee durability, much like the sparring fields.
Impacts inside stayed contained—no leakage to the outside. Even Elena Apocalipse, the third-year who'd once wrecked Celestial Academy's sparring ground, had never caused an incident here.
So even a Palstar Hero like Shania could go all out, to a degree.
"Land a single hit on me."
She could unleash her full power.
Shania's test was brutally straightforward—and brutally hard.
It was to face the Divine Star Shania, one pillar of the Palstar Heroes, head-on.
"...Pardon?"
Yeonhui looked utterly flustered, but Seong Hyun-jin—tense moments ago—lit up at the details.
"So the test is to fight you, Dean?"
He sounded thrilled, not intimidated, like sparring Shania was a treat.
"Yes. I figured this was the surest way."
Shania replied simply.
"Only tight teamwork between you and Yeonhui can handle my power."
"...Tight teamwork?"
Seong Hyun-jin puzzled over the emphasis, but Yeonhui—too frazzled to notice—asked tensely.
"J-Junior Hyun-jin... What do we do?"
She was uncharacteristically worked up.
"I never imagined we'd face the dean...!"
"Why so nervous? Just land one hit. Easy, right?"
Winning outright? Maybe impossible. But one hit? With Yeonhui's help, he was confident.
Yet Yeonhui shook her head.
"...We might not even land that one."
"Why not?"
"She's called the Divine Star for a reason."
Yeonhui sighed deeply.
"Her spirit divine arts are beyond imagination. Her defenses are insane—breaking through might be impossible."
"Really?"
"Yes, especially..."
"Especially?"
Yeonhui hesitated apologetically.
"My powers lean toward support. Without my blessing, I might not help much offensively."
"Pfft, that's no biggie."
Seong Hyun-jin brushed it off.
"A buffer just needs to buff well."
"...!"
He used terms only he'd know from his past life—reassuring her instantly.
"Leave the damage to the DPS."
"...Junior Hyun-jin, you like games?"
"What guy doesn't?"
Grinning, he stepped forward. Her words made Shania's "tight teamwork" click—his sword arts alone couldn't pierce her spirit divine arts. But with Yeonhui's blessing boosting his physical stats?
No structural change, but explosive gains he could exploit...
"I've got a plan. Just max out those buffs, no worries."
Victory was in reach. His confidence emboldened Yeonhui—she couldn't whine now. Wouldn't.
'I'll trust my reliable junior... the man I'm so fond of...'
"Let's do this together."
Of course she'd follow her beloved.
Sun's Blessing
Seong Hyun-jin smiled faintly, feeling the power of Yeonhui's blessing, oblivious to her thoughts. He strode forward.
Shania nodded approvingly, checking their resolve.
"Good. You seem ready... Shall we begin?"
"Yes."
"...Yes, Dean."
Seong Hyun-jin drew his sword.
"One graze counts, right?"
"Naturally."
Shania's smile bordered on arrogant.
"If you can manage it."
She hadn't earned her Palstar Hero status through charity alone. Strength wasn't the sole criterion, but Shania had long been Eleonora's rival—the authority on spirit divine arts matching the spirit magic queen.
"Spirit Manifestation."
⟨ Spirit Manifestation ⟩
Towering white wings unfurled behind Shania. In one hand blazed flames, in the other a sword—held by a golden-haired angel.
Karin and Eleonora commented.
"Oh ho, she's serious."
"Hah, that girl..."
Eleonora clicked her tongue.
"Does she plan to let Yeonhui participate or not?"
It resembled Shania herself transformed: a light-aspect archspirit. The pinnacle among them—one of the Four Great Angels, Uriel.
"Eden"
⟨ Eden ⟩
A 10-meter radius around Shania bathed in golden aura. It incinerated external interference, shielding her while amplifying all her spirit divine arts.
"Come."
Before Yeonhui's arrival, her strength and selfless spirit had earned her the people's title of "saint."
"Try breaking through."
The Divine Star Shania unveiled a glimpse of her power.