The Glorious Evolution

Then, he stood up in the center of the room and requested aloud, ”Astra, scan the room and give me a detailed analysis of all objects, dimensions, lighting conditions, and spatial arrangement... Do it on speaker.”

A split second later...

”Scan complete. Here’s what I found:

Room Dimensions: The bedroom measures approximately 4.6 x 5.2 meters, and the kitchen is 3 x 3.6 meters. The ceiling height is 2.7 meters.

Bedroom: Queen-sized bed with white sheets, two pillows, and a nightstand. A lamp is on, and an empty closet.

Kitchen: Stainless steel fridge, stove, and a sink with a few dishes. The cabinets are closed, and a microwave is on the counter.

Food on the Counter: Four loaves of bread, a bowl of mixed fruits, a bowl of mixed vegetables, tuna cans, soda bottles, water bottles, and cheese.

Person Detected: One human leaning against the kitchen doorframe, holding a water bottle. Appears relaxed.”

After the analysis finished, Levi smiled in the direction of Instructor Seraphis and calmly stated that he had the entire room pictured in his mind... just as vividly as if he were seeing it with his own eyes.

”This isn’t enough.”

”You’re right.” Levi tapped gently on his right ear and added, ”Fortunately, my ears are extremely perceptive... I can detect any sudden change in my imagined environment. Using this combination, I can pre...”

Before Levi could even finish his sentence, his ear twitched. Without turning his head, he swung his arm swiftly to the side and caught a small water bottle mid-air. Then, with a casual flick, he twisted off the cap and took a sip, smiling faintly under Instructor Seraphis’ impressed gaze.

”As I was saying... with this combination, I can predict almost anything... as long as my ears can pick it up.”

While Levi wasn’t planning to rely on this technique after becoming a Daywalker, he had used it constantly ever since losing his sight. It had helped him survive.

The only downside was the insane energy consumption... each scan drained the device’s battery like a parasite, forcing him to use it sparingly and smartly.

That’s why he never used it if his brother was nearby... he didn’t want to end up stranded with no battery left in emergencies.

As for using camera-lens glasses? That was the one thing he’d never resort to. Not when the government had the legal right to comb through personal data if they had a warrant.

Of course, Instructor Seraphis had no idea about this, and since Levi was technically telling the truth, he couldn’t detect anything suspicious.

”I have to admit... it still seems nearly impossible to cross the Gauntlet of Titans using just this method. But I’m not close-minded. I know some people are born, or forged, with special talents even without a contract.” Instructor Seraphis smiled. ”I’d like to think that the Holy Heliodor region has one of those rarities, too.”

If Levi had shown signs of having signed a contract beforehand, that would have been the first red flag in Seraphis’ mind. But like Feng Ling, Lord Idriss, Levi’s friends, and practically the entire world, he had utmost faith in Willow Grove’s spiritual field.

In their minds, if Levi had signed a contract already, the tattoo would have flared like a lighthouse the moment he stepped inside the tree... exposing him instantly.

If even Tier 8 nightcrawlers couldn’t sneak past its perception, there was no way a blind kid would.

”So... does this mean I’m allowed to continue in the assembly?” Levi asked, his voice calm but hopeful.

”I don’t see why not. You have a valid recommendation letter... technically, you haven’t broken any rules even if you signed up wearing an ankle monitor.” Instructor Seraphis confirmed.

”Thank you.” Levi exhaled quietly, but the relief was clear in his voice.

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, the fear of being disqualified had been clawing at the back of his mind since the start. He always feared that the assembly’s overseer would throw him out the moment his condition was discovered.

And when he first laid eyes on Instructor Seraphis... he genuinely believed that might happen.

Luckily, things turned out differently.

”If you’d like to improve your chances of being signed, I don’t mind letting you retake the Light Affinity Trial at the end. This time, the test will target your body directly for a proper read.”

”I would like that very much.” Levi’s smile grew, his shoulders loosening.

He knew that a retake wouldn’t change everything... but it might help. Even a small improvement could shift perceptions. Levi had no intention of revealing his full truth to the public, so every edge counted.

”Then it’s settled.”

Instructor Seraphis tapped the doorframe twice and started walking toward the window. Just before stepping out, he paused... his voice turning firm but gentle.

”Whether you get signed or not... just know that I’m proud of you. For trying to change your life. I don’t know how you survived a decade under the company of nightcrawlers... but I respect you for not giving in to their whispers.”

”I know more than anyone... it wasn’t easy.”

”No, it wasn’t...” Levi replied with a faint, mild smile.

”Get some rest. A big day awaits you tomorrow.”

With one final nod, Instructor Seraphis exited the room... leaving behind only a soft breeze. He left as he came.

Levi remained seated for a few minutes in Arthur’s room, doing nothing in particular. Just existing. Staring into the darkness with a reflective silence.

’What a day... but at least it ended on a good note.’

Eventually, he rose and returned to his own room.

As he opened the door, he was greeted by chaos... the kind of chaos that only friends could create. The sounds of laughter, shouting, and a heated card game welcomed him in.

While he couldn’t see them, their noise was loud enough to reach every corner of the apartment complex.

No one dared to tell them to quiet down... not when four of them were in the top ten, and the fifth was top twenty.

Their weird little squad, the group everyone laughed at during the first day, had now become the strongest team in this year’s assembly!

...

Meanwhile, inside one of the nearby rooms, Demetris was seated alone, scrolling through the trial highlights on his tablet again, jaw clenched... until a sharp buzz jolted him out of his thoughts.

[Incoming Call: Big Brother]

He picked it up without hesitation.

”What, David? I am not in the mood.”

There was a pause... then Mantis dropped the bomb straightaway without bothering to greet him either.

”Levi Larson is blind.”

Demetris blinked.

”What?”

”He’s blind,” Mantis repeated, slower this time. ”No eyes. Covered it too well. But I know, I saw him in the Harrowing Forest and he was blinder than a bat with its ears cut off.”

Demetris froze.

He wasn’t the type to believe such craziness, but coming from his big brother made him incapable of going against it.

Still...

”That... that doesn’t make sense,” he murmured, standing up as though it would help his mind process what he just heard. ”He ran through the Gauntlet... Did you see him slide across the lake? Dodge the damn weight traps? Land that staff throw?”

”Yeah. I saw everything,” Mantis growled. ”And that’s what makes it worse.”

Demetris ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room. ”You’re saying he did all of that... blind?”

”Yes, but don’t overthink it,” Mantis said, ”Now you know the truth. Which means... if you want to get rid of him, it’s easy.”

Demetris narrowed his eyes. ”What do you mean?”

”Just tell the Instructor. Use the rules. Say he’s a danger to the others, that someone blind shouldn’t be in an assembly like this.” Mantis’s tone was calm, matter-of-fact. ”The moment you turn it into a security risk, the instructors have no choice. They’ll either suspend him or expel him for safety reasons.”

Demetris didn’t reply.

He sat down again, staring blankly at the wall.

A hundred thoughts swarmed his mind, but one stood above the rest...this wasn’t a kid with a lucky run anymore... this was a ghost. A threat.

Mantis waited, then finally said, ”I know you wanted a way to take him out...Now you have it.”

”I’ll think about it,” Demetris murmured.

”Don’t take too long or choose wrong...You are our family’s last hope to make a name for ourselves. The Bane Lineage needs to rise, at any cost...Keep it in mind, brother.”

Click.

The call ended.

Demetris stared at the black holographic screen.

’Blind... and he still outshone me?’

His breath grew slower. Calmer.

But his gaze?

It burned.

”Snitch? Me? To get rid of a blind mongrel?” Demetris uttered coldly, ”I will ruin him in the trials. I will show everyone, the one, the only star in this event, is me.”