The examination arena slowly began to empty.
Students gathered their belongings while academy staff moved between the testing areas, collecting results and preparing the final evaluations.
Lucas remained where he was.
Level 29.
One level away from completing the first requirement for D-Rank.
He opened his status one more time.
[STATUS]
Name: Lucas
Level: 29
Rank: E
Class: None
Ability: Boost Breaker
Hidden Ability: Time Manipulation — ???
[BOOST BREAKER]
Current Rank: E
Abilities:
Basic Enhancement
Strength Enhancement
Speed Enhancement
Break Limit
Impact Break
Quest System: Active
[D-RANK ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS]
Level 30: 29/30
Required Energy Capacity: COMPLETE
Advanced Power Control: COMPLETE
E-Rank Dungeon: COMPLETE
E-Rank Monster Requirement: COMPLETE
D-Rank Advancement Assessment: INCOMPLETE
Lucas closed the window.
He could feel the experience he had gained during the examination settling into his body.
He was close.
Very close.
But there was no reason to rush.
The academy examination still wasn’t completely finished.
A final announcement echoed through the arena.
“All remaining applicants, report to the central assessment hall.”
Lucas followed the crowd.
The central assessment hall was enormous.
Several thousand seats surrounded a massive stage.
At the front stood a group of academy instructors.
Among them were people Lucas recognized from his first life.
He kept his expression neutral.
Some of these people would eventually become famous.
Others would become guild leaders.
A few would disappear completely from history.
Lucas knew which ones mattered.
But he didn’t intend to interfere with their futures unless necessary.
He had learned that changing too much too quickly could create problems he didn’t understand.
The safest path was simple.
Become stronger.
Stay unnoticed.
Use his knowledge when it benefited him.
And never reveal his true abilities.
An instructor stepped onto the stage.
“Applicants.”
The entire hall became silent.
“Your entrance examination scores have been recorded.”
The massive screen behind him displayed the results.
“However, your final ranking has not yet been determined.”
Several students looked surprised.
The instructor continued.
“The academy does not simply accept applicants based on their highest individual scores.”
“Consistency matters.”
“Decision-making matters.”
“Combat judgment matters.”
“And potential matters.”
Lucas listened carefully.
This part hadn’t been emphasized in the public examination information.
That was intentional.
The academy wanted to see how applicants reacted to unexpected conditions.
The instructor raised his hand.
The screen changed.
[FINAL ASSESSMENT]
[COMBAT JUDGMENT]
[TEAM DECISION-MAKING]
[ADAPTABILITY]
[THREAT EVALUATION]
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
So that was the final test.
Interesting.
The instructor continued.
“You will be divided into groups.”
“Each group will receive a simulated emergency scenario.”
“Your objective will not always be to defeat the enemy.”
Several students exchanged confused looks.
The instructor smiled.
“Sometimes the correct decision is to retreat.”
Lucas almost smiled.
That was exactly the kind of test an experienced Awakener should understand.
A strong fighter who charged into every battle wasn’t necessarily a good Awakener.
Knowing when not to fight could be more valuable than winning a fight.
The instructors began assigning groups.
Lucas looked at the screen.
[GROUP 17]
[APPLICANT 736 — LUCAS]
[APPLICANT 114 — ADRIAN]
[APPLICANT 302 — DARIUS]
[APPLICANT 671 — MAYA]
Lucas recognized the names.
Adrian was Level 19.
Darius was Level 18.
Maya was Level 17.
They were among the stronger applicants taking the examination.
The academy had placed them together intentionally.
They wanted to see what happened when talented students were forced to cooperate.
Lucas walked toward the designated area.
Adrian was already waiting.
He was tall, with short black hair and a muscular build.
Darius stood beside him, checking the weapon attached to his belt.
Maya stood slightly away from the two boys.
She carried a small staff and watched the surrounding applicants carefully.
Adrian looked at Lucas.
“You’re Lucas, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve heard about you.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
“Already?”
Adrian smiled.
“You’re Level 29.
Darius looked over.
“Level 29 at your age is ridiculous.”
Maya glanced at Lucas.
“Are you really E-Rank?”
Lucas nodded.
“E-Rank.”
Nobody questioned him further.
They already understood that rank wasn’t something an Awakener simply changed whenever they wanted.
Everyone had their own limits and advancement requirements.
Some people could remain at the same rank for years.
Others were fortunate enough to awaken at a higher rank.
Lucas was simply an unusual case because of how quickly he had progressed.
An instructor approached the group.
“Your group has ten minutes to prepare.”
“After that, you’ll enter the simulation.”
Adrian crossed his arms.
“What kind of scenario?”
“You’ll find out when it begins.”
The instructor walked away.
Adrian looked at the group.
“We should establish roles.”
Maya nodded.
“I’m a long-range mage.”
Darius tapped the weapon at his side.
“I’m close combat.”
Adrian smiled.
“Same.”
Both looked toward Lucas.
“And you?”
Lucas thought for a moment.
“Close combat.”
Darius raised an eyebrow.
“Three melee fighters?”
Lucas nodded.
“Looks like it.”
Maya smiled slightly.
“Then I’ll stay behind you three.”
The group continued discussing their abilities.
Lucas listened carefully.
He didn’t reveal everything.
He only said enough to establish his role.
That was intentional.
The less they knew about Boost Breaker, the better.
A countdown appeared.
[00:10:00]
[00:09:59]
The timer began.
Lucas studied the room.
The other students were preparing their equipment.
Some were checking weapons.
Others were activating abilities.
Lucas remained calm.
He didn’t need preparation.
He had spent his previous life preparing for situations much worse than an academy examination.
The timer reached zero.
The floor beneath them disappeared.
Darkness swallowed the group.
A moment later—
BOOM!
They landed inside a ruined city.
Buildings surrounded them.
Smoke filled the streets.
Several explosions could be heard in the distance.
The academy simulation had recreated an emergency situation.
A notification appeared.
[SIMULATION START]
[SCENARIO: MONSTER OUTBREAK]
[OBJECTIVE]
Reach the evacuation point.
[SECONDARY OBJECTIVE]
Protect civilian targets.
[WARNING]
Threat level unknown.
Darius looked around.
“Where are the monsters?”
A roar answered him.
Something smashed through a nearby building.
The group immediately turned.
A massive creature emerged from the rubble.
The academy system identified it.
[E-RANK ROCK BEAST]
[LEVEL: 16]
Darius smiled.
“That’s manageable.”
He stepped forward.
Lucas stopped him.
“Wait.”
Darius looked back.
“What?”
Lucas pointed toward the surrounding buildings.
“There’s more.”
Adrian looked around.
Maya’s expression changed.
“He’s right.”
At first, they saw nothing.
Then another roar echoed.
And another.
And another.
The buildings shook.
Monsters began emerging from the streets.
Five.
Ten.
Twenty.
Maya’s expression became serious.
“That’s too many.”
Darius tightened his grip on his weapon.
“We can fight them.”
Lucas shook his head.
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Why?”
Lucas looked toward the evacuation point displayed on the map.
“Because that’s not the objective.”
The others stared at him.
Lucas continued.
“We aren’t supposed to kill everything.”
He pointed toward the civilians marked on the simulation map.
“We’re supposed to get them out.”
Adrian immediately understood.
“You’re saying we should retreat?”
“Exactly.”
Darius frowned.
“But the monsters are blocking the route.”
He studied their positions.
The monsters were spread throughout the city.
There was one narrow path with fewer enemies.
“We use that route.”
Maya looked at Lucas.
“And the monsters?”
“I’ll handle the ones that get close.”
Lucas activated Speed Enhancement.
His body accelerated.
He moved toward the nearest Rock Beast.
The monster roared and swung its arm.
Lucas ducked underneath it.
Strength Enhancement.
He stepped forward.
Impact Break.
BOOM!
The Rock Beast was launched backward.
Lucas didn’t stop.
He immediately turned toward the next monster.
Darius stared for a moment.
“He’s fast.”
Adrian smiled.
“Then let’s keep up.”
The group moved forward.
Maya stayed behind them, using long-range attacks to weaken monsters approaching from the sides.
Adrian and Darius protected the civilians.
Lucas took care of anything that threatened the group directly.
For the first time, Lucas noticed something.
The simulation wasn’t difficult because of the monsters.
It was difficult because of the decisions.
The academy wanted to know whether they could recognize the real threat.
They weren’t being tested on whether they could win a battle.
They were being tested on whether they understood the situation.
Lucas led the group through the narrow route.
They rescued the civilians.
They avoided unnecessary battles.
They defeated only the monsters that blocked their path.
Eventually, they reached the evacuation point.
[OBJECTIVE COMPLETE]
[CIVILIAN SURVIVAL RATE: 94%]
[COMBAT EFFICIENCY: 97%]
[THREAT ASSESSMENT: EXCELLENT]
[DECISION-MAKING: EXCELLENT]
The simulation ended.
The ruined city disappeared.
Lucas returned to the academy hall.
Adrian looked at Lucas.
“You knew exactly what to do.”
Lucas shrugged.
“It was obvious.”
Darius shook his head.
“It wasn’t obvious to me.”
Maya nodded.
“Most people would have tried to kill the monsters.”
Lucas didn’t respond.
He knew why.
It was experience.
In his first life, he had seen entire teams die because they focused on killing monsters instead of completing their actual objective.
The ability to recognize that difference was something that couldn’t be taught easily.
An instructor approached the group.
“Excellent performance.”
He looked at Lucas.
“Especially you.”
Lucas remained quiet.
The instructor continued.
“You demonstrated exceptional combat judgment.”
“Your ability control is also remarkable.”
Lucas nodded.
“Thank you.”
The instructor walked away.
Adrian looked at Lucas again.
“What’s your ability?”
Lucas looked at him.
“Boost Breaker.”
Darius frowned.
“I’ve never heard of it.”
Lucas simply shrugged.
“It’s rare.”
That answer was enough.
He wasn’t going to explain everything.
Lucas looked at the status window only he could see.
[LEVEL: 29]
[EXP: 18%]
He had gained more experience from the simulation.
Still not enough.
He needed one more level.
Lucas closed the window.
The academy examination was finally coming to an end.
Students were being dismissed.
Final results would be announced soon.
Lucas walked toward the exit.
He wasn’t worried about whether he would pass.
His scores were more than enough.
But there was something else on his mind.
Level 30.
He was closer than ever.
Once he reached it, every requirement for D-Rank except the official assessment would be complete.
And that meant his first real rank advancement in this second life was approaching.
Lucas stepped outside.
The afternoon sun was beginning to set over the academy.
He looked at his hand.
A faint glow appeared around his fingers.
Boost Breaker responded immediately.
Lucas smiled.
“One more level.”
Then he turned toward the city.
He had entered the academy examination as an unknown E-Rank.
He would leave as one of the most talked-about applicants.
But that wasn’t what mattered.
The academy was only the beginning.
Lucas had a much larger goal.
He wanted to reach D-Rank.
Then C.
Then B.
Then A.
Then S.
And eventually, he would discover just how far Boost Breaker could truly go.
For now, however, there was only one thing standing between him and his next rank.
One level.
And Lucas intended to get it soon.