The Grandra Mana Academy buzzed with excitement and anxiety. Students moved in hurried waves through the courtyards, talking in whispers and bursts of laughter, though none of them felt truly at ease. The air was thick with anticipation—it was the day of the Monthly Evaluation.
Max stood still, his hood drawn low, eyes observing the mass of students gathering near the stone-paved training arena. His heart beat steadily, but his mind raced. The last few weeks had been intense—silent training sessions, secret system missions, and hard-earned level ups. The world saw him as a weak, talentless orphan. Today, he would use that misconception as his greatest weapon.
[SYSTEM STATUS]
Level: 8 → 9 (45%)
Skills: Mana Veil (Lv. 2), Elemental Touch – Lightning (Lv. 1)
Passive: Mana Sensory (Locked)
Quest: "Prove Yourself Silently" – Objective: Complete the Monthly Evaluation without revealing more than one element.
A tall instructor with a sharp jawline and glowing gauntlet stepped onto the elevated platform.
"Silence!" Instructor Talin's voice boomed through a voice amplification rune. The crowd hushed immediately. "You all have trained hard this month. Some harder than others. Today, you will be judged—not by talent, but by results."
His gaze swept over them like a blade.
"You will be placed into randomized squads of three and teleported into Sector B, a controlled combat simulation forest. Survive. Eliminate beasts. Work as a team. The top five squads will receive advanced resource packs and bonus credits. The rest will receive scorecards... and consequences."
Max didn't flinch. He had no plans of being ranked at the top, but he had every intention of leveling up and pushing the limits of his hidden system.
Leo appeared beside him, the usual playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Thought you might've chickened out."
Max gave a side glance. "You brought our third?"
"She's already here," Leo gestured to a girl approaching with steady steps. "Meet Reina. Wind-user. Sharp instincts. Doesn't talk much."
Reina nodded without a word. She had a blade on her hip and eyes like a hawk—unreadable, calm, focused.
Instructor Talin raised his hand, and a large portal rune lit beneath their feet.
"Good luck. You'll need it."
With a flash, the world around them twisted and reformed. Grass beneath their feet. Trees stretching toward the sky. Distant roars. They were inside Sector B.
"Stick to formation," Max said immediately. "Reina, scout forward. Leo, left flank."
Reina vanished into the woods. Leo gave a quick stretch and drew his twin daggers. "You're not wasting any time."
Max activated Mana Veil, his presence dimming beneath a cloak of distorted energy. His steps became lighter. His breathing quieter. The forest hummed with danger.
Reina returned. "Two beasts. Armored boars. Big ones. South ridge."
"Let's go."
They moved in silence, the coordination between them already smoother than Max expected. When they reached the ridge, the ground trembled.
Massive tusked boars emerged—each as tall as a horse, metal-like hide shimmering in the light. The first charged without hesitation.
Max dashed forward. Reina's wind blades cut deep into the beast's legs, slowing it. Leo ducked under the tusks and slashed at its exposed neck. Max finished the job, channeling lightning through his fist as he struck between its eyes.
The beast collapsed.
[EXP GAINED: +7%]
Max took a deep breath. Level 9, halfway to 10.
They fought on for the next hour—ambushes, traps, a few injuries—but Max's squad handled each encounter with ruthless efficiency. Max kept his elemental use minimal, using mostly raw strength and low-tier lightning moves. He couldn't risk revealing his full potential. Not yet.
By the end, they had eliminated seventeen monsters. As the evaluation ended, a return rune activated beneath their feet.
They were back on the academy platform.
Gasps. Whispers. Eyes turned.
Max's name wasn't called, but his presence was felt. Several instructors whispered among themselves. One or two students looked shocked—this was supposed to be the weakest talent on campus.
[QUEST COMPLETE: "Prove Yourself Silently"]
[REWARD UNLOCKED: Passive Skill – "Mana Sensory (Lv. 1)"]
[LEVEL UP: 10 Achieved]
Leo leaned over and whispered, "Guess we made some noise after all."
Max said nothing, but inside, a new fire burned. He had just stepped onto the stage of real power—and no one knew it yet.
And that was exactly how he wanted it.