"Fire affinity! High tier!"
The examiner's voice rang loudly across the testing grounds.
"Oooh!"
"Wow… did you hear that?"
"That's rare!"
Heads turned instantly toward the crystalline ball glowing with deep crimson light. Flames danced faintly inside the crystal.
The recruit standing before the magic crystalline ball stared at his own trembling hands, disbelief etched across his face. Then joy exploded out of him.
"I—I did it!" he shouted.
Several examiners nodded seriously, writing notes on their enchanted slates.
"High-tier elemental affinity," one of them said. "With proper training, he could become a battlefield mage or even a royal guard."
The crowd erupted again. Some cheered. Some groaned in envy.
I stood among them, watching quietly.
On the opposite side of the courtyard, the strength testing area was just as noisy—but in a different way.
There, no glowing colors or mystical lights appeared.
One by one, recruits stepped up to the enchanted metal strength ball. Their fists slammed into it with grunts, roars, and sharp cracks that echoed through the stone walls of the fortress.
Crack!
Thud!
Bang!
Some staggered backward, clutching their hands in pain. Others growled and tried again, teeth clenched.
One particularly muscular recruit stepped forward.
His arms were thick like tree trunks, muscles coiling beneath scarred skin. He cracked his knuckles slowly, rolled his shoulders, and took a deep breath.
Then—
"HAAAH!"
He punched the strength ball with everything he had.
A deep, resonant chime echoed through the courtyard, vibrating through the ground beneath our feet.
The ball glowed faint gold for a brief second.
The examiner's eyes widened.
"Impressive," he said. "Upper-class physical strength."
"Ha!" The recruit laughed loudly, flexing his arms triumphantly as people stared at him in awe.
Some recruits whispered.
"Upper-class on the first test…"
"He'll definitely get a good rank."
Watching all this, a familiar anxiety crept into my chest.
My fingers tightened unconsciously.
(Would I reveal my true strength if I used the crystal ball?)
(Would I appear suspicious if I chose physical strength instead?)
My gaze drifted to the magic crystalline ball, still faintly glowing from the fire-affinity test.
(My ability… the power I've been hiding…)
I swallowed.
(If I reveal it now, the king might notice me too soon.)
(That shouldn't happen)
(Not until the right moment.)
But then another thought surfaced, sharp and urgent.
(But I need to hurry.)
(The sooner I smash the king's plan, the stronger I will get.)
My jaw tightened.
Every second I stayed weak was another second the king's schemes moved forward unchecked.
Rion nudged my shoulder lightly.
"Coming?" he asked.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my heartbeat to steady.
"Yeah," I said quietly. "Let's do this."
The crowd continued to roar and chatter as more recruits stepped forward.
Some shivered so badly their knees shook.
Others stood tall, confidence shining in their eyes as if victory was already guaranteed.
My turn was coming closer.
Step by step.
Breath by breath.
I wasn't here just to serve the king.
I was here to stop him.
No matter what it took.
I entered through the massive iron gate of the fortress.
The moment I crossed the threshold, I decided my own fate.
The stone beneath my feet was ancient, worn smooth by countless soldiers who had passed before me.
(So this is the Monarch's fortress…)
Just standing here, I could feel pressure pressing down on my chest.
(The main character of the novel goes to the magic crystalline ball.)
(But not this time.)
This time, I walked toward the strength testing line.
Even though the path was familiar, my steps felt heavier—as if the fortress itself was watching me.
(I will go to the strength ball line.)
(Even if I have to pass through the same path…)
(There is a different destination waiting.)
As I approached, a guard with a stern face and heavy armor glanced at me.
He snorted.
"You don't have any strength," he barked. "Leave now."
His words were sharp and dismissive.
I didn't react.
Ahead of me, another recruit placed his hand against the strength ball.
The guard watched closely.
The ball glowed faintly.
"You passed," the guard said.
The recruit sighed in relief and hurried away.
Then—
It was my turn.
I stood before the ball.
Up close, it was larger than I expected. Its surface was smooth and cold, etched with ancient symbols that pulsed faintly.
(I hope I don't make a mistake by coming to this fortress…)
A strange thought suddenly crossed my mind.
(By the way… who was I transmigrated into?)
The memory was vague.
A body with no clear past.
"This is the mod character"
"Hey, you! Step over!"
The guard's shout snapped me out of my thoughts.
"I am going to the strength lane," I replied calmly.
He frowned.
"You don't look like much."
(I can already use magic…)
(But this time… I need to show strength.)
(Just enough.)
(Enough to go near the king.)
The guard placed the crystalline strength ball firmly in front of me.
"Go on," he said.
I closed my eyes.
Deep inside me, power stirred.
I released only a fraction of my strength.
The ball glowed lightly.
Just a faint shimmer.
The guard blinked.
"Nice," he said. "Middle-class strength."
He nodded.
"Welcome to the Monarch of the Fortress."
Relief washed over me.
He handed me a piece of silver paper, inscriptions glowing faintly as words formed on its surface—my provisional rank and assignment.
I stepped aside.
Rion was already ahead of me, waiting near the fence.
"Look there," he said, pointing downward.
I followed his gaze.
Below us were three massive training grounds, each larger than a city square.
Thousands of soldiers trained relentlessly.
Swords clashed.
Spears flew.
Magic exploded in controlled bursts.
Archers fired in synchronized volleys.
Cannons roared.
(No wonder…)
(The novel says this monarch is one of the top monarchs across the land people.)
The power gathered here was terrifying.
"We have to enroll in the next chamber," Rion said.
We moved forward with the others.
After registration, assignments were finalized.
Ranks determined.
Paths chosen.
Finally—
Dormitories.
The fortress was divided by rank.
Building A.
Building B.
Building C.
I was assigned to Building C.