Chapter 15: The Qualification Trial
The ancient guardian stood motionless.
Its massive forge hammer rested against the cracked stone, yet the weight of its presence alone made the surrounding guards hesitate. No one dared to move first.
Kael kept his eyes on the Sentinel.
It hadn’t attacked.
That alone was strange.
Most monsters struck the moment they sensed intruders. This construct simply watched him, as though waiting for an answer.
A soft chime echoed inside his mind.
Ding!
[Hidden Quest Updated]
Qualification Trial Initiated.
Objective: Demonstrate the spirit of a Builder.
Failure Condition: Unknown.
Reward: Hidden.
Kael read the notification twice.
"No combat objective..."
He muttered the words under his breath.
Vice Principal Aldren glanced at him.
"The System?"
Kael gave a slight nod.
"It started the trial."
Before Aldren could ask another question, golden lines spread across the stone staircase.
The ancient symbols carved into each step awakened one after another, illuminating the passage beneath the ruins.
The Sentinel slowly lifted its hammer.
Instead of attacking, it struck the ground once.
BOOM!
The impact sent a wave of mana through the passage.
A transparent barrier rose between Kael and the others.
Garrick immediately reached toward it.
His hand stopped against an invisible wall.
"It won’t let us through."
Master Dorian examined the glowing runes surrounding the barrier.
"This isn’t a prison."
"It’s a selection."
The Sentinel’s metallic voice echoed once again.
Although no one else understood its language, Kael heard the translation clearly.
[Translation Complete]
"Only the chosen candidate may proceed."
The blue flames inside the guardian’s helmet remained fixed on Kael.
Behind him, Aldren folded his arms.
"I don’t like sending you alone."
Kael looked toward the endless staircase.
"I don’t think we have another choice."
For a brief moment, silence filled the ruins.
Then Aldren gave a slow nod.
"Trust your judgment."
"If something feels wrong..."
"Retreat."
Kael answered with a small nod before stepping toward the barrier.
The instant he crossed it, the wall of light vanished behind him.
The others disappeared from sight.
Only the staircase remained.
Every step downward grew colder.
Dust covered the ancient stones, untouched for generations.
Broken statues lined the walls.
Unlike the heroes celebrated throughout the kingdom, these figures carried no swords.
Each statue held a different crafting tool.
A hammer.
A chisel.
A pair of tongs.
A measuring rod.
Builders.
The title echoed through Kael’s thoughts.
His footsteps slowed.
The deeper he descended, the stronger the surrounding mana became.
It wasn’t wild.
It flowed with remarkable precision, like countless invisible streams moving through the stone itself.
Another notification appeared.
[Passive Analysis Activated]
Ancient Mana Density: Increasing
Compatibility: 18% → 20%
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
"My compatibility is changing..."
The System had never increased a hidden value simply by entering a location.
Whatever existed beneath these ruins...
It was responding to him.
Several minutes later, the staircase finally ended.
A vast underground chamber unfolded before him.
Rows of abandoned workbenches stretched into the darkness.
Massive furnaces stood silent beneath towering stone arches.
Rusted gears larger than wagon wheels hung from the ceiling.
Even after nearly two centuries, the place felt strangely complete.
It was less like a ruin...
And more like a workshop waiting for its craftsmen to return.
At the center of the hall stood a single stone pedestal.
Upon it rested a broken mechanism no larger than Kael’s forearm.
Three fractured gears lay scattered beside it.
A cracked crystal core sat in the middle.
The System chimed again.
Ding!
[Trial Objective Updated]
Repair the Ancient Mechanism.
Combat is unnecessary.
Time Limit: 30 Minutes.
Kael approached cautiously.
The mechanism was unlike anything he had crafted before.
Its frame resembled ordinary machinery, yet delicate mana channels were woven through every component.
He picked up one of the broken gears.
Tiny fractures covered its surface.
A normal craftsman would replace it immediately.
Kael closed his eyes.
"Material Analysis."
Blue lines spread across the gear.
The damage became clear.
Not every crack needed replacing.
Some only needed reinforcement.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So that’s your test..."
The Builders weren’t searching for the strongest warrior.
They were searching for someone who understood creation itself.
Kael removed the Portable Scrap Processor from his storage pouch and placed it beside the workbench.
The machine hummed softly as stored materials appeared on the System interface.
Reinforced Chitin Plates.
Purified Iron.
Venom Crystal Fragments.
Monster Core Dust.
Not perfect materials...
But enough.
He reached for the first component.
"If I can’t restore the original..."
"I’ll build something worthy of replacing it."
As mana threads gathered around his hands, the silent workshop finally awakened.
Somewhere deep within the darkness...
A second pair of glowing blue eyes slowly opened.
To Be Continued...
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