The massive examination hall buzzed with noise.
Thousands of young cultivators had risen from their seats the moment the timer reached zero.
Some wore confident smiles.
Others buried their faces in their hands.
“I swear that exam was impossible!”
“Who asks two hundred questions?”
“I guessed almost half of them.”
A girl sighed dramatically.
“They even asked about weapon compatibility. How are we supposed to know that before entering the academy?”
Her friend groaned.
“I know, right? That question about which weapon grade is suitable for a Rank One cultivator almost got me.”
“That’s literally the easiest question.”
“What?”
“Iron Grade.”
“…”
“…”
“Forget I said anything.”
Laughter erupted nearby.
Another group wore smug expressions.
“My score should be above ninety.”
“Ninety? Mine is definitely ninety-five.”
“My family hired three tutors just for this examination.”
“Then you’ll probably pass.”
Kyle listened quietly.
His expression never changed.
A young man sitting beside him leaned over.
“Brother.”
Kyle turned slightly.
“What score do you think you’ll get?”
Kyle answered calmly.
“The lowest score they’ll probably give me…”
“…is ninety-nine percent.”
Silence.
Then…
The surrounding students burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“This guy is dreaming!”
“Ninety-nine?”
“Brother, confidence is good…”
“…but don’t overdo it.”
Another student folded his arms.
“He’s either crazy…”
“…or terrifyingly confident.”
Kyle ignored every single comment.
Inside, he sighed.
If Master Elias saw this paper…
…he’d probably call it children’s homework.
Every time Kyle thought he had finished reading every book inside Thorn Dojo…
Elias somehow produced another shelf.
Sometimes he’d pull books from hidden compartments beneath the floor.
Other times…
An entire bookshelf would appear from behind a wall Kyle could’ve sworn was empty the day before.
At this point…
…I wouldn’t even be surprised if one day I pushed open a random wall and discovered another library.
The thought almost made him laugh.
Just then…
DING!
The giant holographic screen at the front of the hall lit up.
Every conversation stopped instantly.
The beautiful examiner smiled.
“The written examination has now been graded.”
“The results will now be displayed.”
The moment those words fell…
Everyone held their breath.
Rows upon rows of names appeared.
Students immediately searched for their scores.
“Yes!”
“I passed!”
“Oh no…”
“Eighty-two…”
“I’m finished.”
“My parents are going to kill me.”
The hall exploded into chaos.
Kyle calmly looked for his own name.
Then he found it.
Kyle Verion.
Written Examination Score: 99.5%
Kyle blinked once.
So I really missed one…
Before he could think further…
Someone shouted.
“Who got ninety-nine point five?!”
The entire hall froze.
“What?!”
“Ninety-nine point five?”
“That’s the highest score!”
“Who is Kyle Verion?”
One by one…
Heads turned.
Their gazes landed on the quiet young man from the Ash District.
The same boy who had calmly declared he would score at least ninety-nine.
The student who had laughed the loudest earlier swallowed hard.
“He… he wasn’t joking…”
Another scratched his head.
“What kind of monster studies this much?”
A burly youth looked Kyle up and down before snorting.
“Big deal.”
“He’s probably just a bookworm.”
“Look at those muscles.”
“He must’ve spent all his time in the gym.”
Immediately…
Someone beside him burst into laughter.
“In the Age of Mana?”
“You think muscles mean anything?”
“A pot belly cultivator can beat a six-pack if the cultivation gap is big enough.”
The group laughed.
Kyle simply lowered his eyes.
Those muscles weren’t built in a gym…
Try carrying boulders bigger than yourself every morning.
Then we’ll talk.
The examiner raised a hand.
The hall slowly quieted.
“Congratulations to those who passed.”
“For those who didn’t…”
“…don’t lose hope.”
“The written examination is only one part of today’s assessment.”
“The practical examination carries even greater weight.”
“A lower written score does not automatically eliminate you.”
“If your practical performance is outstanding…”
“…you may still receive offers from one of the academies.”
Many disappointed faces immediately brightened.
Hope returned to the hall.
“All candidates…”
“…please proceed outside.”
“Our transport is waiting.”
Seats slid back.
Thousands of students stood.
Kyle calmly picked up his Iron-grade sword before following the crowd toward the exit.
Several rows behind him…
A young man slowly opened his eyes.
He had remained silent throughout the entire announcement.
His black coat bore a silver crest embroidered over the chest.
The students around him unconsciously kept their distance.
His gaze rested on Kyle’s back.
Kyle Verion…
Ash District…
A faint memory surfaced.
The Cultivator Administration Headquarters.
A young man accidentally pushed aside by his family’s guards.
So it was you…
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Interesting.
Which hidden family do you belong to?
He rose gracefully.
The crowd instinctively parted to make way for him.
No one dared block his path.
His name…
Lucas Valerius.
The heir of the Valerius Family.
One of the most powerful families in Sector Eight.
And for the first time…
He had found someone worth remembering.
The moment Lucas stepped out of the hall…
Several youths immediately gathered around him.
One of them chuckled.
“Young Master Lucas, that guy stole your spotlight.”
Another sneered.
“He’s just good at reading books.”
Lucas didn’t reply immediately.
His calm eyes remained fixed on Kyle’s departing figure.
“You saw his score.”
“So?”
“So that means he has discipline.”
The others fell silent.
One of them shrugged.
“Discipline doesn’t win battles.”
Lucas smiled faintly.
“You’re right.”
“It doesn’t.”
“But people who possess both brains and strength…”
“…become troublesome.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“I’ll find out which one he is.”
Meanwhile…
Kyle followed the stream of students outside.
The moment he stepped out of the skyscraper…
He stopped.
Rows upon rows of gigantic aircraft floated above the plaza.
Each one was nearly the size of a football field.
Blue mana thrusters burned beneath them.
Their metallic bodies gleamed under the sunlight.
The sides of every aircraft bore the emblem of the Cultivator Association.
Students gasped one after another.
“So cool…”
“I’ve never seen one this close.”
“They’re using two of the sector’s Sky Carriers.”
“I heard one of these can carry over a thousand people.”
Kyle looked up quietly.
The sector … really is rich.
Uniformed staff quickly directed everyone into lines.
“No pushing.”
“Keep moving.”
“Show your examination badge.”
Kyle presented his badge.
The staff member scanned it with a small mana device.
A green light flashed.
“Verified.”
“Proceed to Carrier Three.”
Kyle nodded and stepped aboard.
The interior was far larger than he expected.
Rows upon rows of seats stretched into the distance.
Transparent windows lined both sides of the cabin.
Students excitedly rushed to claim window seats.
Kyle simply chose an empty seat near the middle.
Several minutes later…
Lucas entered through another entrance.
Without saying a word…
He sat near the front.
His followers occupied the surrounding seats, almost as though creating an invisible barrier around him.
Kyle noticed him briefly.
That guy…
I’ve seen him before.
Then he remembered.
The headquarters.
The one whose guards pushed me aside.
Kyle looked away.
He wasn’t interested.
The rich had their lives.
He had his.
Soon…
Every seat was occupied.
A pleasant female voice echoed through the cabin.
“All candidates have boarded.”
“Preparing for departure.”
The cabin vibrated gently.
Outside…
The blue mana engines brightened.
With a deep hum…
The enormous Sky Carrier slowly rose into the air.
Cheers immediately erupted inside.
“We’re flying!”
“This is amazing!”
Some students pressed their faces against the windows.
Below them…
Sector Eight unfolded like a living map.
Endless skyscrapers pierced the clouds.
Highways crisscrossed the city.
Mana-powered trains sped between districts.
Association patrols streaked through the sky.
Far below, ordinary people moved through the streets while cultivators walked among them as naturally as breathing.
Kyle watched everything quietly.
This city…
It’s much bigger than I imagined.
The Sky Carrier continued climbing.
Soon…
The towering walls surrounding the city appeared.
They stretched beyond the horizon.
Massive defensive cannons were mounted at regular intervals.
The sector’s guards patrolled constantly.
Beyond those walls…
The scenery changed completely.
The orderly city disappeared.
An endless wilderness replaced it.
Ancient forests.
Towering mountains.
Dark rivers.
The true territory of monsters.
Many students instinctively swallowed.
Even Lucas opened his eyes and looked outside.
The female voice sounded once again.
“We have now entered the outskirts of the Wild Zone.”
“The practical examination…”
“…will begin shortly.”
Silence spread through the cabin.
The excitement from the written examination vanished.
For the first time that day…
Everyone understood.
The real test…
…was about to begin.