The Colosseum roared with cheers.The warm afternoon sunlight bathed the arena, fueling a spirit that electrified the air.
In the stands, hopeful faces gazed toward the center of the Colosseum—each one supporting a loved one, whether a child, sibling, or close relative.
Eight hundred participants now stood in their designated spots, prepared to be teleported to the uninhabited island.Their faces reflected a wide range of emotions—some clenched their fists in nervous anticipation, while others smiled boldly, eager for the adventure ahead.
In the main spectator stand, Yong stood with his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the magical screens. He whispered to Jamir, who was standing beside him,
"Are you sure... that kid will make it through?"
Jamir didn't answer right away.His eyes focused on a single point on the screen, then he let out a slow breath—his sharp gaze as if already seeing how everything would end.
"I've never misjudged anyone," he replied confidently."And this time will be no different. I believe he'll pass every single trial."
Then, blue light began striking down—one by one, enveloping each participant.
"KRAZZZHH!"
"KRAZZZHH!"
"KRAZZZHH!"
Their bodies vanished in an instant, transported with astonishing speed.
Yong watched the scene unfold with awe in his eyes, then murmured,
"I had no idea they were already capable of creating modern magic this powerful.Truly... it's incredible."
Beside him, Jamir offered a faint smile and said,
"If only he could see this—he'd be happy to know just how far magic has evolved. That was his dream… that one day, all of humanity would come to realize—magic can never be measured by human understanding."
Yong gave a faint smile and said,"I would be truly happy too... if he could see the dream he once envisioned. He should've been here to witness what he fought so hard for."
Jamir began to shed a tear.He spoke silently in his heart,
"I hope... you can see this from where you are, Toru."
The magical screens began to shift—displaying the locations of each participant who had been transported to the island.
Yong continued watching every screen, casually chatting and laughing with Jamir. Unbeknownst to them, five minutes had already passed since the exam began.
The main screen displaying the number of participants and the timer suddenly changed:
[750 PARTICIPANTS — 07:55]
The atmosphere in the Colosseum instantly turned tense.Jamir quickly turned to Yong with a panicked expression.
"What's happening?" Jamir asked, eyes locked on the screen.
Yong didn't answer. He simply pointed to one of the displays.
The screen showed Aruma standing still, staring at a young noble. The nobleman was bowing with a confident smile, one hand extended toward the group of girls.
Suddenly—"SRAKKK—!"
An orc landed hard from atop a cliff, and in a flash...The noble's head rolled across the ground.
The entire audience in the Colosseum fell silent.The shock immediately rippled through the arena, thickening the tension.
One of the nobles stood up and shouted in panic,
"No… What happened to my son!?"
The Colosseum grew chaotic. Cheers turned into cries, screams, and frantic whispers echoed everywhere.
The main screen now zoomed in on the orc, who raised its massive axe high above its head.It then swung the weapon down toward the fallen girls.
The orc roared in fury, and—
"SRAKKK—!"
Yong and Jamir flinched at the sight. Even the entire Colosseum froze in shock.
After a moment, Yong gave a small smile and muttered quietly,
"He's exactly… what we hoped he'd be."
Unlike Yong, Jamir spoke in confusion,
"How could an orc even be on that island?" he asked, surprised and slightly panicked.
Meanwhile, on the screen, the enraged orc appeared startled—its powerful swing had been blocked.
Someone stood before it.
With a faint smile, Aruma held the axe in his grip and slammed it into the ground—forcing the heavy weapon to lodge deep into the solid earth.
He casually brushed the dust off his clothes and said,
"Thank you… for getting rid of the insect in front of me."
With a cold expression and an intimidating aura, Aruma slowly began walking toward the orc.
The orc, once raging with fury, now began to step back in fear.
As the creature tried to turn its head and flee—Aruma vanished in an instant and reappeared right in front of it.
The orc froze in shock, panic flashing in its eyes. But before it could move—Aruma's hand had already pierced through its chest, driving straight through to its spine.
His fingers grasped the orc's heart, then crushed it in one brutal squeeze. The massive body collapsed instantly, lifeless.
The entire audience in the Colosseum fell silent for a moment… then erupted in cheers and wild excitement. The spectators roared, as if forgetting the horrifying deaths that had come just moments before.
Whispers filled the air, as they questioned the identity of the young man—astonished by the overwhelming power he had just displayed.
Meanwhile, Aruma—soaked in blood—remained silent.He walked away without looking back, leaving behind the girls who were still trembling in fear.
Panting heavily, the girls finally ran after him, not knowing who else they could turn to for protection besides that mysterious young man.
Jamir stood with a serious expression. Though he had been stunned by Aruma's display, he couldn't ignore the rising number of casualties.
He turned to Yong and said firmly,
"We have to stop this exam. We can't allow any more lives to be lost."
The main screen changed once again:
[700 PARTICIPANTS — 07:50]
Blue light once again streaked across the sky.
"KRAZZZHH!"
"KRAZZZHH!"
"KRAZZZHH!"
Several participants began reappearing in the center of the Colosseum—transported back after crossing their bracelets.
Some looked shocked, others cried, and a few were drenched in blood.
The medical team was immediately deployed, rushing toward the center of the arena to provide aid.
The atmosphere in the Colosseum turned chaotic once again. Many spectators began to fear for the fate of their children.
Jamir could no longer bear to witness the suffering of the participants. With a tense expression, he called over a teacher from Eternals Academy—Reddit.
Without hesitation, Jamir gave a firm order,"Pull all participants back. Now."
Yong, who had been smiling the entire time, stood up with a confused look on his face.
"Why are you stopping all this? This was supposed to be an exciting exam!"
"We could've found so many talented young sorcerers if we let it continue."
Jamir stared sharply at him, his voice rising,
"We cannot let future sorcerers die like this."
"Lives are not something to be toyed with, Yong."
Yong, who had been acting childishly, finally let out a sigh. With a fearful expression, he said at last, "Alright… I'll leave everything to you."
Reddit immediately rushed toward the technical room. He ran through the academy's hallway and swiftly opened the door to the Control Room.
But… the room was empty.
Even after circling around and calling for the technicians, not a single voice responded. Reddit stood in confusion, his breath growing heavier as suspicion crept in.
At last, he closed the door again and ran off to look for another technician.
Unaware… he had failed to notice something behind that door.
There—lay a smear of blood and a piece of cloth stained deep red.
To be continued…