Thirty days had passed.
The summer had officially begun, but Lucas hadn’t spent it relaxing.
While most students were enjoying their first month away from high school, Lucas had been training almost every day.
Missions.
Dungeon runs.
Monster extermination.
Physical training.
Ability control.
He had spent the entire month preparing himself for the next stage of his life.
Now, he stood before the gates of the Imperial Awakener Academy.
The academy was enormous.
Its main entrance alone was larger than most government buildings.
Massive walls surrounded the campus, while several enormous training facilities could be seen behind them.
Thousands of students had gathered outside.
Today was the entrance examination.
Lucas looked around.
Most of the applicants were between Level 8 and Level 12.
The stronger students were usually around Level 13 or 14.
The students from powerful Awakener families were different.
Most of them were around Level 15.
Lucas wasn’t surprised.
The major families had access to better training facilities, expensive equipment, private instructors, monster cores, and resources that ordinary people could never afford.
But there were exceptions.
Lucas noticed several students who didn’t fit the normal pattern.
One boy stood alone near the entrance.
He looked younger than most of the applicants.
Lucas checked his aura.
Level 19.
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting.”
That was already far beyond what most applicants could achieve.
Another girl stood nearby.
Level 17.
She wasn’t wearing any expensive equipment.
Lucas couldn’t tell which family she belonged to.
Maybe she didn’t belong to one.
There were always geniuses like that.
People who broke the normal rules.
People who awakened with incredible talent.
Lucas understood something important.
The academy wasn’t going to be filled with weak students.
There would be monsters here.
Not literal monsters.
People.
Geniuses who could become terrifying Awakeners in the future.
Lucas smiled slightly.
“Good.”
He had no intention of staying at the bottom.
A massive screen suddenly appeared above the academy gates.
[IMPERIAL AWAKENER ACADEMY]
[ENTRANCE EXAMINATION]
[NUMBER OF APPLICANTS: 2,041]
The crowd became louder.
Then a voice echoed across the courtyard.
“All applicants, proceed to registration.”
Lucas moved with the crowd.
After several minutes, he reached the registration desk.
An examiner scanned his identification card.
The machine beeped.
“Lucas.”
The examiner looked at the screen.
“Rank E.”
Lucas nodded.
“Level?”
“Twenty-six.”
The examiner stopped typing.
He looked up.
“Twenty-six?”
“Yes.”
The examiner checked the information again.
Most applicants weren’t even Level 15.
A Level 26 E-Rank was unusual.
“Ability?”
“Boost Breaker.”
The examiner entered it.
The machine displayed the information.
The examiner frowned slightly.
“Physical enhancement?”
“Something like that.”
The examiner didn’t question him further.
He handed Lucas a number.
“Applicant 736.”
Lucas took the number.
“Where do I go?”
“Trial Area Three.”
Lucas nodded.
“Thank you.”
He walked away.
As he entered the examination area, he heard several conversations.
“What’s your level?”
“Eleven.”
“I’m twelve.”
“Which family are you from?”
“The Ardent family.”
“No way.”
“You’re lucky.
Their training resources are incredible.”
Lucas continued walking.
Then he heard another conversation.
“Who’s that?”
“Who?”
“That guy.”
Lucas glanced over.
Two applicants were looking at him.
“The one with the E-Rank identification.”
“He’s Level 26.”
“What?”
Lucas ignored them.
He wasn’t interested in attention.
He simply found an empty spot and waited.
A few minutes later, an academy instructor stepped onto the platform.
The entire arena became silent.
“Welcome to the Imperial Awakener Academy entrance examination.”
The instructor looked across the crowd.
“Before we begin, understand one thing.”
The massive screen behind him changed.
[THE ACADEMY DOES NOT ACCEPT STUDENTS BASED SOLELY ON RANK.]
Several students looked surprised.
The instructor continued.
“Rank is important.
Level is important.
Ability potential is important.”
“But none of those things guarantee admission.”
The screen changed again.
[PHYSICAL ABILITY]
[ABILITY CONTROL]
[COMBAT ABILITY]
[DUNGEON SIMULATION]
[OVERALL POTENTIAL]
“You will be judged on all of these.”
Lucas smiled.
That was exactly what he expected.
The first examination began.
[TRIAL ONE]
[PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT]
[STRENGTH]
[SPEED]
[REACTION]
[ENDURANCE]
Applicants were called forward one at a time.
Most performed within the expected range.
Level 8 students produced average results.
Level 10 students performed slightly better.
Level 12 students began standing out.
Then the stronger applicants appeared.
Level 15.
Level 16.
Level 17.
The crowd reacted every time someone with an unusually high level stepped forward.
Then—
“Applicant 736.”
Lucas stepped forward.
The strength machine activated.
[BEGIN]
Lucas placed his hand against the testing plate.
He didn’t use Boost Breaker.
He simply pushed with his natural physical strength.
The machine displayed:
[POWER: 1,964]
Several people looked over.
“That’s high.”
“He’s only Level 26?”
“He’s E-Rank.”
Lucas stepped away. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
The examiner wrote something down.
Next was speed.
Lucas stood at the starting line.
[READY]
[3]
[2]
[1]
[START]
Lucas activated Speed Enhancement.
His body accelerated.
He crossed the finish line.
[RESULT: 3.94 SECONDS]
The crowd became noticeably quieter.
Lucas returned to the waiting area.
He had deliberately restrained himself.
There was no reason to show his actual limits.
The reaction test came next.
Lucas stood inside the testing chamber.
Energy projectiles began firing.
One.
Two.
Three.
Five.
Eight.
The speed increased.
Lucas moved between them effortlessly.
To everyone watching, his movements looked extremely precise.
But Lucas wasn’t struggling.
In his previous life, he had fought monsters far faster than this.
He had learned to react before an attack was fully launched.
He knew where the projectile would go based on the smallest movement.
The machine stopped.
[REACTION SCORE: 98%]
The examiner stared at the result.
Lucas walked out.
The final physical test was endurance.
Lucas completed it without using Break Limit.
When the results were calculated, the screen displayed:
[APPLICANT 736]
[PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT: 93/100]
Lucas nodded.
Good.
Not too high.
Not too low.
Just enough.
The second trial began.
[TRIAL TWO]
[ABILITY CONTROL]
Applicants were placed inside individual testing chambers.
The objective was simple.
Demonstrate control over their awakened ability.
Lucas entered his chamber.
A series of targets appeared.
“Begin.”
Lucas activated Basic Enhancement.
The targets moved.
He destroyed them one after another.
Strength Enhancement.
Speed Enhancement.
He switched between them smoothly.
Then the targets became faster.
Lucas adjusted immediately.
His control didn’t change.
His energy consumption remained low.
The examiner watching from behind the glass frowned.
“His energy efficiency is extremely high.”
Another examiner nodded.
“He’s barely wasting anything.”
Lucas continued.
A larger target appeared.
He activated Impact Break.
Energy gathered around his fist.
Lucas stepped forward.
He struck.
BOOM!
The target shattered.
The room became silent.
Lucas lowered his hand.
He had used only a fraction of Impact Break’s potential.
But the result was still impressive.
The examiner recorded the score.
[ABILITY CONTROL: 99/100]
Lucas walked out.
He wasn’t surprised.
Boost Breaker wasn’t new to him.
It had been with him for years.
Even though this was technically his first month using the ability in this life, his understanding of it came from a lifetime of experience.
That was something nobody else knew.
The third trial was announced.
[TRIAL THREE]
[COMBAT ASSESSMENT]
The crowd became excited.
This was the test everyone cared about.
Applicants would fight one another.
Their levels and ranks would be considered when creating matchups.
Lucas looked at the screen.
His name appeared.
[APPLICANT 736]
[LEVEL: 26]
[RANK: E]
[OPPONENT: APPLICANT 512]
Lucas looked across the arena.
His opponent walked inside.
A young man wearing expensive combat equipment.
The screen displayed his information.
[NAME: ADRIAN VALE]
[LEVEL: 15]
[RANK: F]
[ABILITY: IRON SKIN]
The crowd began talking.
“He’s from the Vale family.”
“One of the major families.”
“Level 15 already.”
“That’s an F-Rank?”
“His ability has excellent defensive potential.”
Lucas studied Adrian.
Level 15.
F-Rank.
The difference between them was significant.
But Lucas didn’t underestimate him.
A powerful ability could close a gap.
The instructor raised his hand.
“Begin.”
Adrian immediately activated Iron Skin.
His skin hardened.
He charged forward.
Lucas didn’t move.
Adrian threw a punch.
Lucas shifted his head.
The punch missed.
Adrian followed with another.
Lucas stepped backward.
Again.
Again.
Lucas wasn’t attacking.
He was studying.
Adrian was strong for a Level 15 F-Rank.
His movements were trained.
His family had clearly invested heavily in his combat education.
But his experience was still limited.
Lucas could see it.
Adrian attacked again.
Lucas stepped inside his range.
Strength Enhancement.
His fist stopped against Adrian’s chest.
Lucas didn’t even activate Impact Break.
The force alone sent Adrian backward several meters.
The crowd became silent.
Adrian looked shocked.
Lucas stood calmly.
“Again.”
Adrian gritted his teeth.
He charged.
This time, Lucas activated Speed Enhancement.
He disappeared from Adrian’s direct line of sight.
Lucas moved behind him.
Impact Break.
He struck Adrian’s back.
BOOM!
Adrian crashed to the ground.
“Match over.”
[WINNER: APPLICANT 736]
Lucas walked away.
The crowd erupted into conversation.
“Level 26 against Level 15.”
“Of course he won.”
“Still, that control was crazy.”
Lucas ignored them.
A notification appeared.
[EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 26]
[EXP: 91%]
Lucas looked at the notification.
He was close to Level 27.
But the next test was already beginning.
[TRIAL FOUR]
[DUNGEON SIMULATION]
Lucas looked toward the massive entrance.
This was the part he was interested in.
The academy’s dungeon simulations were designed to imitate real dungeons.
Monsters.
Terrain.
Environmental hazards.
Limited information.
The goal wasn’t simply to defeat everything.
It was to survive and reach the designated area.
The instructor spoke.
“The dungeon simulation will be adjusted according to your current rank.”
The screen changed.
[SIMULATION DIFFICULTY]
[E-RANK]
Lucas looked at it.
E-Rank.
Perfect.
He stepped forward.
The doors opened.
Darkness waited inside.
Lucas entered.
The doors closed behind him.
[TRIAL FOUR STARTING]
[OBJECTIVE]
[Reach the designated area.]
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVE]
[Defeat monsters.]
Lucas walked deeper into the simulated dungeon.
His expression remained calm.
A month of missions had prepared him for this.
But he wasn’t going to underestimate the academy.
This wasn’t a normal dungeon.
The academy was testing thousands of students.
The simulation was designed to expose weaknesses.
Lucas moved forward.
A growl echoed through the darkness.
He stopped.
Something moved ahead.
Lucas activated Speed Enhancement.
His senses sharpened.
A monster stepped out from behind a rock.
Lucas immediately recognized it.
An E-Rank Fang Wolf.
It charged.
Lucas moved.
The wolf snapped its jaws.
Lucas dodged.
Strength Enhancement.
He struck its side.
The wolf staggered.
It recovered quickly and attacked again.
Lucas stepped aside.
Impact Break.
His fist struck the monster’s skull.
BOOM!
The Fang Wolf collapsed.
[MONSTER DEFEATED]
[EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED]
Lucas looked at the notification.
His experience bar moved.
[LEVEL: 26]
[EXP: 96%]
“Almost.”
Lucas continued forward.
More monsters appeared.
One.
Two.
Three.
Lucas defeated them efficiently.
His experience continued climbing.
[EXP: 98%]
[EXP: 99%]
Lucas smiled.
One more.
He turned the corner.
A larger Fang Wolf appeared.
Its body was considerably bigger than the others.
Lucas stopped.
The system identified it.
[ELITE FANG WOLF]
[RANK: E]
[LEVEL: 18]
Lucas smiled.
“Perfect.”
The wolf charged.
Lucas activated Speed Enhancement.
He dodged.
Strength Enhancement.
He countered.
The wolf recovered.
Lucas stepped backward.
The creature charged again.
Lucas activated Impact Break.
He waited.
At the exact moment the wolf entered range—
BOOM!
His fist struck the center of its skull.
The monster collapsed.
[ELITE FANG WOLF DEFEATED]
[EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED]
[LEVEL UP]
Lucas’s eyes narrowed.
A notification appeared.
[LEVEL 27]
[CURRENT EXP: 0%]
Lucas smiled.
“Level twenty-seven.”
He looked deeper into the dungeon.
He was getting closer.
Not just to Level 30.
To D-Rank.
His D-Rank advancement requirements were already becoming clearer.
[LEVEL REQUIREMENT: 27/30]
[ADVANCED POWER CONTROL: COMPLETE]
[ENERGY CAPACITY: INCOMPLETE]
[E-RANK DUNGEON: INCOMPLETE]
[E-RANK MONSTER REQUIREMENT: INCOMPLETE]
[D-RANK ADVANCEMENT ASSESSMENT: INCOMPLETE]
Only a few major requirements remained.
Lucas clenched his fist.
“Three more levels.”
He continued deeper into the simulation.
But he didn’t know that the academy instructors were already watching his performance closely.
One examiner stared at Lucas’s combat data.
“Level 27.”
Another examiner looked at the screen.
“He started the examination at Level 26.”
“His experience gain is extremely efficient.”
The first examiner frowned.
“That’s not what concerns me.”
“What does?”
The examiner pointed at the ability-control results.
“His control.”
The room became quiet.
“That isn’t normal for someone his age.”
Back inside the dungeon, Lucas continued walking.
He didn’t hear them.
He didn’t know how much attention he was attracting.
And he certainly didn’t know that among the thousands of applicants, several people had already started noticing him.
Lucas simply kept moving.
Level by level.
Quest by quest.
Rank by rank.
He was still an E-Rank.
But D-Rank was getting closer.
And for the first time since returning to the past, Lucas felt like his second life was finally beginning to accelerate.