"[The practical exam is about to begin. All students should be ready.]"
The announcement echoed everywhere, reverberating off the academy's stone walls, reaching every corner. The voice bounced through the cold marble corridors, hitting the ceilings and returning, transforming into a whispering wind right beside every student's ear. The crowd suddenly stirred—the rustling of uniforms, the shuffling of feet, and the murmurs of final preparations brought the amphitheater to life.
Kaelen glanced at the sea of students around him. Many were heirs from renowned families, their confidence radiating across the entire space.
Amid the chaos, Kaelen stood firm. He slowly closed his eyes, noticing the sweat in his palms. *"Just like before,"* he sighed inwardly, recalling the moment he first arrived here. As an orphan, he had barely scraped by, assigned to the lowest class. Unless one assumed he passed the entrance exam by sheer luck, it had been incredibly difficult for Kaelen.
*"I have to endure..."*
The words echoed in his mind.
Kaelen was talented, but his lowly origins made others look down on his abilities. He gritted his teeth. The things he had been forced to endure weighed heavily on him.
He didn't care what others thought, but it was still frustrating. What a pitiful life.
Shaking off his brief thoughts, he scanned his surroundings.
The heirs of the great clans had gathered their followers and were laughing among themselves. Their uniforms were immaculate, their faces glowing with confidence. Some had golden hair, others fiery red, and a few even sported blue locks. These were the academy's elites—those with high mana affinity, which sometimes caused physical mutations like unusual eye colors or hair hues.
His eyes instinctively sought out certain individuals. Even among the crowd, one pair stood out directly across from him.
Sofia and Arnold were chatting between themselves. They had been friends since childhood, both from prestigious families. A few students tried to approach them but soon gave up, realizing it was pointless.
To Kaelen, they were like movie stars—one with unbelievable endurance, the other with equally unmatched offensive power.
Seeing them again made him happy. There were others, too—Seth, Amanda, Rey, and Elene Escard.
Kaelen's gaze landed on the slender girl standing alone at the edge of the amphitheater. Beneath her frail appearance was someone formidable.
She wore a new green uniform, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Her red hair occasionally fell into her face, blocking her vision.
*"Bored."*
Kaelen had known Eleine for a long time. He remembered her saying how utterly bored she was at the academy.
Eleine Escard was the only one who could graduate without breaking a sweat.
She had no rivals.
A faint smile tugged at Kaelen's lips.
*For now.*
He took a deep breath to steady himself. If this was going to be like before, it would be a brutal life-or-death arena.
His eyes shifted to the imposing platform where the professors sat. There, two familiar faces immediately caught his attention—Alfia and Headmaster Herald. Beside them, Pheniyet le Neur sat draped in a royal blue robe, exuding an aura of dominance as if he owned the place.
Pheniyet, a master sorcerer, had been specially assigned to oversee this exam. Kaelen recalled the first time he had been exposed to Pheniyet's magic—even now, a shiver ran beneath his skin. Pheniyet's power was indescribable.
*"What a monster,"* Kaelen thought with a slight shudder.
Soon, he would experience a battle royale where 500 students fought to defeat one another. For the second time in his life.
Pheniyet would create an artificial battlefield. In this exam, every student would compete to be the last one standing out of 500. Fortunately, since the arena was entirely artificial, even if someone "died," they wouldn't perish in real life. But the sensations would be real—pain, exhaustion, fear—all of it would be etched into their consciousness as a result of the magic.
For Kaelen, this wasn't a problem. He had felt death's cold breath before.
And yes, Pheniyet le Neur was a terrifying enough sorcerer to replicate even that sensation artificially.
Even in his past life, Kaelen had always regarded Pheniyet's abilities with awe and disbelief. Pheniyet seemed to embody what it meant to transcend the limits of a mage.
Just then, a sharp announcement rang out:
*"[Now announcing the rules for the 50th Class Combat Exam at Eldoria Academy.]"*
A deep silence fell over the amphitheater. Kaelen felt as if even a single breath would shatter the tension.
The rules were listed one by one. Kaelen listened carefully.
*"It's not that complicated,"* he mused. But its simplicity didn't mean it would be easy.
The test would operate on a point-based system tracking individual performance. Every action—decisions made, damage taken, and moves executed—would be evaluated, earning or deducting points throughout the exam.
Though seemingly straightforward, the tension in the air made it clear this wouldn't be simple.
One student raised their voice:
"What about weapons? We weren't told to bring any. Are we fighting unarmed?"
The announcer answered with a warm smile:
"Ah, about that... The battlefield will contain various mana beasts. Hunting them will allow you to obtain weapons and equipment. Any rewards you earn will be yours to keep. Consider this a kindness from the Council. Remember, acquiring quality weapons before entering the mana seed is no easy feat."
The explanation reinforced the exam's severity. Students began whispering among themselves.
Failing to rank in the top 100 meant expulsion from the academy. Even if they passed, their performance would determine their class placement. A great opportunity—but also a great risk.
"What happens if we kill someone? Do we face no penalty?" asked a student, voice trembling.
Another replied mockingly:
"Focus on protecting yourself first. Surprise attacks can come from anywhere."
"This is going to be a nightmare," someone else groaned.
As the murmurs grew, an unexpected movement caught everyone's attention. Pheniyet le Neur, the honored guest, rose from his seat. All eyes turned to him.
He wore a thick fur coat, completely contrary to fashion norms, yet he carried it with such grandeur that it only added to his majesty. With his beauty and the natural nobility of his power, he seemed like a living legend.
His voice was clear and cold:
"Now that everyone is ready and the rules have been explained... May luck be with you."
And at that moment, a deafening bell tolled, signaling the exam's start.