Chapter 53: Obstacle
Leaning against the windowsill, Lancelot looked at the endless ocean before him.
The headquarters of the Round Hall stood proudly on an island, surrounded by deep waters and layers of security and traps.
Lancelot had always preferred the serenity of mountains—their quiet strength, the way they stood unmoving against storms. But even he had to admit, this ocean view wasn’t too bad.
"Someone seems to be brooding," came a playful feminine voice from the left.
Lancelot scoffed softly. "Need something?" he asked, not bothering to turn his head. He already knew who it was.
"Yes, your report," another voice followed, deeper and more commanding.
Lancelot’s brow furrowed. He finally turned, his tone shifting slightly. "Arthur? Why are you here?"
Standing near the door was a dark-skinned man with silver hair and a calm, powerful aura. His presence alone carried weight.
Arthur—the strongest man on the continent. An eight-star warrior and the man Lancelot respected above all others in the Round Hall.
For Arthur to appear here, after working hours, and in person, meant only one thing: he was curious about something.
"I gave my report though," Lancelot replied evenly.
Arthur crossed his arms. "I heard."
"And I’m upset!" complained a cheerful female voice as a green-haired woman stepped into the view, her star-shaped hair clip glimmering.
Merlin—the second highest-ranking member of the Round Hall, and an eight-star mage. The niece of Burning Sapphire’s master, and one of the few people who could annoy Lancelot without getting burned for it.
She might be fragile in body, easily overpowered once her aether ran out, but that never stopped her. Her strength came from her mind, her will, and years of relentless study.
The three people who held the highest authority in the Round Hall now stood in one room—an unofficial meeting that rarely ever happened.
Merlin pressed her fists to her hips and pouted. "Why didn’t you mention Emma in your report? I told you to scout her!"
Lancelot exhaled through his nose, already knowing this topic would come up.
It was Merlin who had asked him to assess Emma in the first place. The girl had caught the mage’s eye during the contest—her composure, the graceful way she dominated her opponents, and how she handled unexpected danger as if she had seen it coming.
Merlin believed Emma would rise far beyond the average student. She possessed the calm of a scholar, the strength of a seasoned fighter, and the dignity of a paladin. She would be a perfect addition to the Round Hall.
After all, this year, the Round Hall would accept two students—one chosen through the contest and the other through mutual voting.
That meant Lancelot’s report mattered more than most. His words shaped opinions.
And yet, the name he mentioned most wasn’t Emma’s—it was William’s.
Arthur’s silver lashes fluttered as he asked, "You seem quite impressed with this person, William. Did you find a seasoned martial artist in him?"
Lancelot gave a small, wry smile. "Arthur... are you suggesting I was being biased?"
Arthur shook his head slightly. "Nothing like that. I trust your judgment more than I trust my own. But for someone to earn such high praise from you—it means there’s something we shouldn’t overlook."
Lancelot’s thin smile lingered. "Then I suppose you haven’t heard what happened after the footage went off?"
Both Arthur and Merlin’s expressions shifted. During the ambush, the ’eye’ that monitored the first group had suddenly gone dark. For several minutes, no one knew what truly happened inside that dome.
Merlin hummed twice, crossing her arms. "Yes, yes. We were told that the students need to rest—they’re still injured after all."
Arthur’s gaze sharpened. "Erik... you know something?"
Lancelot nodded. "I cornered one of the girls from that group."
"Haww... womanizer," Merlin teased.
He ignored her, continuing, "From what I heard, William fought against the same being who single-handedly slaughtered the Imperial Legion weeks ago."
Merlin froze, eyes wide. "You mean that woman?! Are you sure?"
Arthur’s tone turned grim. "Erik... you realize what you’re saying, don’t you? That woman wiped out two hundred trained soldiers without taking a single wound."
Lancelot nodded firmly. "I know what I’m saying. And there’s a reason I believe it." He paused, then added, "She flipped reality itself. Not a single one of William’s attacks landed."
Arthur’s brows rose. "We saw the footage of him crushing golems. He’s strong. And yet—nothing worked?"
"More like," Lancelot muttered, "she never let anything work. You should know her abilities by now... what do we call her?"
Merlin puffed her chest proudly. "The Void Mage. I gave her that name!"
Lancelot rolled his eyes while Arthur continued in a measured tone, "Then what exactly did she do, if she didn’t kill those students?"
Lancelot shrugged lightly. "No idea. The girl couldn’t hear what was said, but apparently, William and the Void Mage talked."
Arthur fell silent, stepping closer to the window. The fading sunlight glinted against his silver hair as waves crashed below.
Merlin looked between the two men, tilting her head. "So... is Emma no longer our favorite? She’s still really strong, you know."
Neither responded immediately.
Arthur stood there for a few moments, deep in thought, before finally turning around. His calm, commanding voice carried across the room.
"I’m adding a new rule to the Goblet of Honor."
Both Merlin and Lancelot stiffened slightly at the words.
Arthur’s gaze hardened, his presence filling the room like a rising tide. "To step onto the contest stage, every student must first overcome an obstacle."
He paused, then added with quiet finality,
"And that obstacle... is me."
....
William and Emma walked side by side toward the training ground, their steps echoing through the quiet corridor.
Why? Well, of course—it was time for physical training.
Since morning, William had already sent five students crashing to the ground, not counting the three who thought it was a good idea to ambush him early in the morning.
The classroom had been nothing short of chaos. Every chosen one was on edge, uncertain from which direction the next attack would come.
But that was the point of the training.
They needed to adapt—to stay sharp when surrounded by uncertainty, to remain calm even when danger pressed close from all sides.
Because in the real world or during the assessment, no one gets a warning before the storm hits.
Being under constant threat would either forge them into steel... or shatter them completely.
"It’s surprising though," William muttered, making Emma hum in question.
With a grin, he muttered, "No one has attacked you yet."
Emma chuckled. Looking at the indoor gym, she muttered, "Well, I hope I can find someone challenging there."
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.