After the events of the system, she was called to the auditorium for her next trial
The roar of the crowd dimmed to a low hum, like distant waves crashing against a silent mind.
Sayaka stood on the wide stone stage of the auditorium, her body still sore from the earlier trial. Her hand rested on the hilt of the Dragon's Breath, but she wasn't going to use it—not here. This was a magic-only trial.
And magic… was the one thing she had never known.
Opposite her stood a confident senior boy, second-year, a C-rank fire user clad in flame-resistant robes. His fiery red hair danced like a wick already lit.
The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium:
"Match Start! Magic Trial: Sayaka of Class 1-A vs. Karn of Class 2-C!"
He didn't even wait.
A blazing fireball spiraled from his palm, flying toward her with heat that warped the air.
Sayaka flinched, ducking at the last second, the fireball bursting just behind her.
No countdown, no mercy, huh?
Another followed.
She sidestepped. Again. Another.
The flames scorched the stage near her boots.
Students watching were already laughing.
"She's just dodging."
"She has no mana, remember?"
Right… this is what they expected. A girl with no power. A joke of a participant.
She twisted her body as a sweeping flame wave grazed past her shoulder, heat licking her skin.
Her chest heaved.
Her legs ached.
I can't win like this. Just dodging won't change anything…
BOOM—
A sudden explosion sent a wave of fire hurtling toward her—too fast to dodge.
THUD!
Sayaka flew backward, the flames engulfing her side as she crashed into the arena floor.
AHH—! Her breath hitched. Her cloak burned at the edge. Pain crackled across her back like electricity.
Then—
PING
The same glowing purple window appeared in front of her eyes.
"Do you wish to awaken the Dark Element, assigned to you by the gods?"
✅ YES❌ NO
Her fingers twitched.
Her teeth clenched.
"…Y-Yes. Please…"
As the word left her lips—
Everything changed.
A surge of heatless, dark energy exploded from her chest like a dam breaking. A windless gust whipped her hair into the air.
Dark mana. Thick. Endless. Cold. Alive.
"Well then! Let's not die in the middle of a match! Booting up full combat mode — welcome, Host Sayaka, to your rightful element: Darkness."
Another screen appeared — lines of glowing purple text scrolling:
▸ Level: 6▸ Element: DARK (Awakened)▸ Skill Set Unlocked:– Shadow Absorption (Passive)– Mana Layering: Dark Veil– Void Pulse (Attack-type)– Forbidden Bind (Control-type)
"Let's show this campfire mage how the dark throws shade."
Sayaka stood slowly, the pain already numbed.
Her once-plain eyes now shimmered with a faint violet hue.
She dusted her skirt off.
"…Hey," she said softly, lifting her gaze to her opponent. "Senior."
Karn blinked.
"What?"
"Get ready to lose."
He roared, spinning fire around him into a flaming tornado and launching it toward her with all his might.
"FLAME TYPHOON!!"
The crowd leaned forward.
Sayaka didn't flinch.
She raised her hand, palm open—
"Shadow Absorption."
The swirling inferno wrapped around her like a hungry beast.
But it didn't burn.
It swirled around her harmlessly—like a confused kitten batting at glass.
The arena went silent.
"…W-What the hell is that?!" Karn screamed, stumbling back.
Sayaka exhaled deeply. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
This power... it's mine?
"Void Pulse."
Her voice echoed as a black shockwave burst from her hand, crashing into Karn's barrier and shattering it instantly.
He screamed and flew backward, skidding across the stage.
Before he could rise again—
"Forbidden Bind."
Black threads snaked from her shadow, locking his limbs midair in a twisted net of darkness.
The crowd gasped.
Even the professors watching stood.
"W-Wait… that element…"
"Isn't that… forbidden?!"
"D-Darkness?! But no one can wield that anymore!"
Sayaka stared down at her opponent, panting softly.
The black aura faded gently around her, still clinging to her like a shroud.
Her hand trembled—but not from weakness.
From… power.
"Match over! Sayaka of Class 1-A WINS!!"
The auditorium exploded into chaos.
Some cheering.
Some murmuring in fear.
Some… silent.
But every eye—every thought—was now on her.
Sayaka of Class 1-A. The manaless girl.
Now the dark-element wielder.
...I did it. I really did it.
But this power... will they accept me?
Or... will they start fearing me instead?