Chapter 8 -8-Another Speedrun! Record Broken Again!

Chapter 8 -8-Another Speedrun! Record Broken Again!Tin-Silver Kingdom – Lumen Sanctum Academy Unlike the Royal Academy, Lumen Sanctum Academy was an institution operated solely by the Church—independent in every aspect, including recruitment. Even the monarch of the Tin-Silver Kingdom had no jurisdiction over its internal affairs. In fact, within the kingdom, a newly crowned king was not considered legitimate until he received the ceremonial blessing—a personal coronation by the Holy Pope. And yet, despite this theocratic dominance, Lumen Sanctum Academy was not viewed as lesser than the Royal Academy. If anything, within the minds of the nobility, its prestige often surpassed that of the Royal Academy. However, no amount of noble blood or political maneuvering could guarantee entry into Lumen Sanctum. Only those of absolute piety, who earned the favor of the Pope himself, could be considered for admission. At that moment, deep within Lumen Sanctum's trial-based underground labyrinth, a radiant young woman was locked in battle. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but her golden eyes remained unwavering. Saintess Marina tightened her grip on her staff, her focus drifting slightly. "Marina! You spaced out again!" "Stay focused! You must concentrate!" Snapped back to reality by her teammate's urgent call, Marina blinked and nodded. With a graceful motion of her scepter, she unleashed a sweep of blessed golden light. The beam of divine radiance enveloped the oncoming monsters, and the moment it touched them, their bodies began to sizzle and dissolve like snow under sunlight. Horrible screeches followed. [Skill Activated: Sanctum Baptism] One after another, the monsters fell as if their lives had been reaped like crops before a scythe. "Saintess! You're incredible!" "Well done, Your Holiness!" Marina wiped the sweat from her brow and offered a soft smile. Though relieved, a shadow lingered in her expression. She had awakened the S-Rank Talent [Sanctum Guidance]—a divine blessing bestowed only once every few generations. With this power, there was no doubt: the Holy Pope had personally named her a chosen candidate for cultivation and future elevation. But just then, a hooded nun quietly approached her. She glanced at Marina with concern, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Saintess... you're thinking about him again, aren't you?" "...Karen, do you really think a talent like Furniture Craftsman has no future at all?" Sister Karen let out a gentle sigh. "Marina, you must let go of him," she said with compassion. "You know better than I do how limiting that talent truly is." "Even if the Pope himself were to intervene, he couldn't turn a Furniture Craftsman into a warrior." Marina lowered her head, the light in her eyes dimming. But rather than argue, she simply turned and continued sweeping through the monsters within the labyrinth. For ordinary people, gaining experience meant risking life and limb in underground labyrinths. But Marina was no ordinary person. With her identity as Saintess, she didn't need to fight directly. The Church's elite had gathered monsters for her in clusters, reducing them to near-death before she cast a single skill to reap the rewards. With this setup, she was expected to reach Tier-3 within a single day—an impossibility for most nobles, even among the mid-tier aristocracy. Only the Church, with its vast resources and blind devotion, could afford to raise its chosen in such luxury. From nearby, one of Marina's companions chimed in gently: "Saintess, Sister Karen only said that for your own good." "Please... forget about him. He's a waste of potential. He's not worthy of you." Hearing someone speak ill of the man she treasured, Marina's brows instinctively furrowed. Seeing her displeasure, Sister Karen quickly stepped in to mediate. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Enough. No more of this," she said firmly. "Focus on helping the Saintess level up. We aim to secure first place in this year's first-class advancement!" "Oh, and I heard there's a new challenge to clear the Tier-3 underground labyrinth. If the Saintess can secure the first clear, it will be a monumental achievement for the entire Church!" "Yes! It would drastically boost the Church's influence and prestige!" Meanwhile – Tin-Silver Royal Academy Daniel had just stepped out of the underground labyrinth when students swarmed him. "Your Highness Daniel! How did you do it?" "You really entered the mutant underground labyrinth, didn't you?" "What's it like in there? Is it really that dangerous?!" Questions poured in from all sides, but Daniel didn't spare a moment to respond. He had no time for chatter. What he needed now was simple: clear more underground labyrinths. Fast. The quicker he leveled up, the faster he could compete for rare resources and elite opportunities. In a world where noble bloodlines hoarded ancient artifacts and legendary techniques, he had to hustle—or be left behind. [Mournwood] [Labyrinth Level: 15] [Entry Level Requirement: 10–15] [Description: A primeval forest drenched in eternal mourning. Beware of the weeping ones—they don't cry without reason...] Without a moment's hesitation, Daniel stepped into the teleportation gate. This time, the portal remained bronze. No ominous red mutation, no anomalies. Students observing nearby let out sighs of relief. What most people didn't know was that a person's awakened talent was undetectable unless explicitly used. So Daniel wasn't worried about being exposed. His cards remained close to his chest. As for the attention he was attracting? He didn't care. He needed gold. He needed skill books. If building a reputation helped him trade and acquire what he needed, then so be it. With a flash of light, he vanished—transported into the next challenge. The students left behind were utterly stunned. "Wait... isn't he gonna rest at all?" "He just cleared a mutant underground labyrinth! Shouldn't he at least resupply?!" "This is unreal. I can't believe a Furniture Craftsman could be this powerful." "...Hold on. Did anyone else notice something strange? Mournwood requires a Tier-1 level to enter." "You mean..." "You're saying Daniel—the 'useless' Uncrowned Prince—already reached Tier-1?!" "That's absurd! I have an A-Rank Talent, and even after all this grinding, I'm still barely above novice!" "How the hell did he get there first?!" The scene outside the teleportation gate devolved into chaos. No one dared enter another labyrinth for a while—not while their minds were trying to process what had just happened. But deep down, everyone there understood one thing very clearly. Daniel was not what he seemed. He wasn't some pathetic, washed-up royal with a trash-tier talent. He had just broken a record that had remained untouched for generations. Even cutting a second off the fastest clear time was considered monumental. But Daniel? He had shattered the record by two minutes and fourteen seconds. And to top it all off—it wasn't a normal labyrinth, but a mutant one. Was that even reasonable? Could it be explained by logic? The truth was evident: Daniel, the so-called Furniture Craftsman, had become a rising force none could afford to ignore.