The air inside the Elite Grand Hall was suffocating, heavy with the nervous anticipation of hundreds of young hopefuls.
Ray sat in the back, slouched, his jet-black eyes scanning the room with utter indifference.
He cared little for the architectural grandeur or the frantic chatter of the students around him.
An instructor stepped onto the podium to begin the opening address, but he was cut off mid-sentence.
The massive reinforced doors burst open with a resounding boom,
and an enigmatic, high-ranking official stepped inside.
To everyone’s shock, the instructor immediately rushed to bow, sinking into a posture of deep reverence.
"Greetings, Headmistress," the instructor stammered, his voice trembling.
A deathly silence fell over the hall.
The woman who entered possessed a breathtaking beauty, her hair white as freshly fallen snow and her eyes as cold as glaciers.
She radiated such immense power that the very air seemed to ripple and warp around her.
As the Headmistress of the Academy and one of the most feared beings in this
world, her core level was the legendary "Transcendental Core."
Whispers of awe and terror rippled through the students; a legendary figure had
graced them with her presence, and her mere proximity pressed on their chests like a mountain.
She wasted no time on pleasantries.
She stopped in the center of the hall, her gaze sweeping across the crowd. "Let us begin."
With a flick of her wrist, the entire hall vanished in a flash of blinding light.
In an instant, the students were teleported
to a vast, artificial green plain—a spatial manifestation created by the Headmistress’s own power.
She released her energy into the air, her voice thundering across the horizon:
"Forge your Mana Cores within the next hour."
Ray closed his eyes, centering his spirit. He began to sense the wild mana churning
in the atmosphere, drawing it into his body to craft his core.
He did not rush, yet he did not dally.
He worked with the precision of an ancient expert.
Within thirty minutes, a sharp, rhythmic pulse emanated from his chest—the sign of a "Perfect Grade" mana core, a rank far superior to the chaotic energy of the others.
Around him, five others emerged from the mana-saturated mist simultaneously, their auras signaling their success:
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* Arshion, a commoner with striking blue hair and sky-colored eyes.
He stared at Ray with intense, agitated focus, whispering to himself in panic:
What? A Perfect Grade core? This has never happened before. How did the events change?
* Valerian Fontanis, the Prince of Humanity, with blond hair and golden eyes.
* Selina Fontanis, his sister, the Princess Ray had once insulted, bearing the same noble golden features.
* Decanis, a girl with long crimson hair, matching eyes, and skin pale as snow, the eldest daughter of the Abraham family, the second most powerful Duchy.
* Lancius, a youth with icy blue hair and cold eyes, heir to the Lanchik family, the third most powerful Duchy.
They had all crafted "Complete Grade" cores.
The Headmistress watched them with an evaluative gaze; it was expected for the Imperial Prince, the Princess, and the heirs
of the Great Duchies to reach this level. Yet, her eyes lingered on Ray for a long, heavy moment.
She had heard the rumors—that he was a failure and a disgrace to his lineage.
Yet, here he stood, having crafted a Complete Grade core in only thirty minutes.
The blood of the strongest Duke still runs through his veins, despite his past recklessness, she mused, a faint, mysterious smile touching her lips.
She also noted Arshion—a commoner standing tall among the nobility, a dark horse in this competition.
Half an hour later, the rest finished their task.
Those whose mana cores were of "Normal Grade" were immediately disqualified and vanished from the plains.
Those with Medium, High, and Perfect grade cores remained for the next stage: "Elemental Awakening."
As energies converged, the atmosphere grew volatile.
Distinct auras manifested around the chosen students, swirling like tornadoes of power:
* Arshion was engulfed in a halo of brilliant light and blue lightning, having awakened the elements of Lightning and Light.
* Decanis exploded with a terrifying, dense crimson flame, having awakened the Flame element.
* Around Lancius, an aura of ice and wind manifested, dropping the temperature and making the surrounding students shiver; he had awakened the elements of Ice and Wind.
* Valerian and Selina were bathed in a
shimmering golden aura of Holy Light, having awakened the Light element.
Finally, all eyes turned to Ray.
A mantle of black and white aura manifested around him—forged from the rare elements of "Death" and "Life."
The collision of these two conflicting
forces sent a shockwave across the plains, flattening the grass.
The crowd gasped in horror; such terrifying and contradictory elements should never coexist in a single vessel.
Arshion was stunned, muttering to himself: A Perfect Grade core and the elements of Life and Death? This has never happened! What caused this change?
"Class S," the Headmistress announced, her voice cold and decisive as she
gestured to Ray, Arshion, Selina, Valerian, Decanis, Lancius, and a few others.
The rest were relegated to "Class A," their faces etched with envy and disappointment.
In the lavish Class S lounge, the atmosphere was charged with unspoken tension.
Ray sat by the window, ignoring the emerging rivalries and the condescending glares of the others.
He was locked in a bitter internal struggle.
Life and Death... they are like oil and water, Ray thought with a heavy sigh, frustration simmering beneath his calm, composed exterior.
He could neither force the elements to
merge nor use them effectively without his body tearing itself apart.
Although Arshion was eyeing him with sharp, piercing gazes, Ray remained indifferent.
Suddenly, the heavy door opened. A woman of striking beauty entered, her hair long and black as a starless night, her eyes sharp as celestial stone.
Her presence was terrifying—a cold, suffocating aura that forced every student into immediate silence.
"Congratulations on reaching Class S," she said in a voice like velvet wrapped around a blade.
"Tell me, has any of you heard of 'Latent Talents'?"
A deeper silence fell over the room. No one dared to speak.
"Each of you carries a dormant talent," she continued, walking slowly, the echoes of her heels sharp on the stone floor.
"Usually, these talents only awaken in extreme, life-threatening situations—when one faces the edge of death.
However, the Academy possesses a unique method—it can awaken these talents.
It is a rare and valuable privilege, reserved only for Class S."
She gestured for them to follow. "Everyone, follow me. We don't have all day."
Ray stood up, a flicker of genuine interest finally appearing on his face.
Latent talents? he thought, narrowing his eyes. Good.
That will be far more useful at the moment than these volatile elements I cannot yet control.
He walked out, ready to see what the Academy had in store for him.