The hallway was quiet—almost eerily so. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Kael walked forward at an unhurried pace, his footsteps steady, his expression unreadable.
Yet beneath that calm surface, his thoughts continued to churn—because of what Mr. Jonathan had just announced.
The Divine Trial.
A competition organized each year by the highest authorities of the human race, gathering demigods who had successfully created their own worlds. It brought together multiple divine schools and stood as one of the most anticipated events among demigods across the entire human race.
For many, it was an opportunity—to shine and to be accepted into a prestigious University.
After all, a strong identity could play a crucial role on the path of godhood.
The best university did not merely offer superior resources; they also granted access to vast amounts of top-secret divine techniques, as well as knowledge about the human race, about this world, and even about what lay beyond it.
Thus, the dream of every demigod was to be accepted into a top-tier university.
Yet not everyone who entered the Divine Trial would leave satisfied.
For every demigod who rose, countless others would be filtered out—deemed unworthy, lacking potential, or simply unlucky. The trial was merciless in that regard. It did not care about one's background, ideals, or struggles. Only results mattered.
That was precisely why its name carried such weight.
The Divine Trial was not merely a competition; it was a declaration. A line drawn by the upper echelons of the human race, separating those who would be nurtured and guided from those who would be left to struggle on their own.