(Alistair's POV)
The moment I stepped through the academy gates, I knew something was wrong.
The world shifted.
Not physically, but… spiritually.
The moment my foot crossed the threshold, a sensation of warping space washed over me.
One second, I was standing on the stone pathways of First City—
The next?
I was in an entirely different dimension.
****
Hunter Academy wasn't just a school built on an island.
It was a separate realm.
A space carved out of reality and sealed within barriers of ancient magic.
Above me, the sky wasn't normal.
It was too vast, too endless—stretched farther than logic should allow.
And the academy itself?
It wasn't just one building.
It was a massive fortress, surrounded by floating towers and sprawling combat arenas, suspended by unseen forces.
Enormous bridges of runed stone connected different sections, each district hovering like a separate piece of a shattered world.
I looked down at my feet.
The very ground hummed with mana.
A pulse. A heartbeat.
This place was alive.
****
I wasn't alone.
As I stepped further in, I saw thousands of students standing in groups, waiting for instructions.
Some were commoners, their eyes filled with determination as they clutched their weapons tightly.
Others were nobles, standing apart with arrogance, wearing enchanted cloaks or armor laced with family sigils.
Some had familiar faces.
Characters I remembered from the game—
Future rivals, allies, and enemies.
I recognized a few from First City's cruise ship, their expressions just as wary as mine.
Most of them were young—17 to 18 years old.
Each one was here to fight.
Several large marble counters had been set up in the middle of the plaza, run by academy officials.
Each student had to submit their details for the entrance exam.
I moved toward one of the open counters, where a middle-aged woman with glasses sat, reviewing documents with a bored expression.
She glanced up as I approached.
"Name?" she asked, her voice monotonous.
I didn't hesitate.
"Alistair Vaelthorne."
A brief pause.
Her pen hovered over the document for just a second longer than necessary.
Then, with a small sigh, she continued writing.
"Rank?"
"D+."
Another pause.
Her eyes flickered over me, likely scanning for hidden abnormalities.
She probably noticed my abyssal energy.
But she didn't comment.
Instead, she handed me a small token—a silver emblem inscribed with runes.
"This will serve as your temporary student ID," she explained. "It will also track your performance during the entrance exam."
I took it, feeling the faint hum of mana within.
"Where do I go next?" I asked.
She gestured toward a large archway further ahead.
"All examinees will gather in the main testing field. The exam begins tomorrow morning."
I gave her a nod and turned away.
****
I walked toward the testing grounds, gripping the silver emblem in my hand.
The very air hummed with power.
The academy grounds were infused with mana, amplifying abilities and accelerating growth.
Even standing here, I could feel my own energy resonating with the environment.
Tomorrow.
That was when it would begin.
The entrance exam.
A trial designed to weed out the weak and ensure only those worthy gained entry.
In the game, this was a brutal test where only the strongest survived.
I walked past the towering archway, stepping into the testing grounds.
The field was massive, stretching farther than the eye could see, surrounded by towering stone walls engraved with ancient runes.
This was where tomorrow's entrance exam would begin.
A test designed not just to evaluate strength—but to break those who were unworthy.
Around me, hundreds of students were scattered across the field.
Some were practicing—swinging weapons, channeling mana, testing spells.
Others stood in tight-knit groups, whispering, already forming alliances.
Nobles gathered together, their expressions filled with arrogance as they measured up potential rivals.
A few commoners stood nearby, their eyes sharp, ready to fight for their place.
And then there were the outliers.
The ones who stood alone—silent, calculating, dangerous.
Future monsters.
I recognized a few of them from the game.
Names that would become legends or nightmares in the future.
Some of them would become protagonist allies.
Others?
They were fated to die.
I wasn't sure yet who was worth keeping alive.
But I would find out soon enough.
For now, there was nothing left to do.
I made my way to the temporary student lodgings, a building looked like a small cottage but as entered, inside looked like it can house all students I saw at training facilitie.
Space magic may be, the token guiding towards my asigned room.
Inside, the rooms were simple but functional—a bed, a desk, and an enchanted bulb that provided soft illumination.
I sat on the bed, staring at the silver emblem in my hand.
This token was more than just an identification.
It would track kills, battle performance, and combat efficiency during the test.
A tool used to rank students.
I placed it on the table beside me and leaned back.
My mind ran through everything I knew about tomorrow's exam.
The entrance exam wasn't just a simple duel or written test.
It was a battlefield.
Tomorrow, all examinees would be thrown into a dungeon—one with real monsters, real danger.
There would be no rules.
No instructors holding hands.
Only one objective: Survive and prove your worth.
Some students would work together.
Some would try to eliminate the competition early.
Others would be killed before the first hour passed.
And in the game?
The protagonist ranked first in exam, satting records.
But I wasn't the protagonist.
I closed my eyes and reached into my status window.
Checking my abilities.
Analyzing my strengths.
Ding!
[Status Window Opened.]
I had already gained a massive edge.
Devourer's Authority.
Abyssal and Nature Magic Hybrid.
Swordsmanship Mastery.
Even now, I could feel Ethan's instincts fully merged into mine.
The way I moved, breathed, calculated.
This wasn't just a game anymore.
It was real.
And I was going to win.
I exhaled and leaned back, letting the tension fade for now.
Tomorrow, the real fight began.
For now—
I would rest.
TO BE CONTINUE...