(Third-Person POV – Grand Arcanum -
Academy Instructors' Observation Room)
The Observation Chamber of Grand Arcanum Academy was a vast, circular hall filled with floating digital screens, each displaying different sections of the dungeon.
Seated around the room were the academy's elite instructors, their expressions ranging from mild curiosity to serious analysis as they observed the ongoing entrance exam.
At the head of the chamber, standing with arms crossed, was Headmaster Magnus Everhart.
His piercing gray eyes scanned the screens, his sharp mind already analyzing the performances of the strongest candidates.
To his right, Lady Selena Loventis, the S-Rank enchantress and Avatar of Aphrodite, lounged on her chair with a smirk, swirling a glass of red wine in her fingers.
"Ah, youth," she mused, watching one of the screens. "So full of passion, so full of ambition. It makes me nostalgic."
Across from her, Professor Lucian Valtrix, the S-Rank illusionist and Avatar of Loki, chuckled.
"Or perhaps you're just enjoying watching them struggle?"
Selena smirked. "A little bit of both."
Seated further away, Lord Viktor Dragomir, the Vampire Combat Instructor, leaned forward, his crimson eyes glowing faintly.
"Enough small talk," he muttered, his voice deep and commanding. "Let's see who is worth our time."
On one of the central screens, a massive cavern was displayed, where multiple groups had gathered before the Boss Room.
The instructors all took notice.
Professor Aerith Sylphara, the limiter Rank Elven Archery Instructor, folded her arms, watching intently.
"The strongest have all gathered," she noted. "This will be interesting."
Magnus nodded, his gaze sweeping across the key contenders.
Leon Valerius—the fallen noble, blessed by Zeus and Ares.
Elaine Vaelthorne—the Moon Huntress' chosen, and sister of a disowned heir.
Sylara Ilthariel—the High Elven Princess, wielding the blessings of Gaia.
Kieran Azurios—the Mermaid Prince, bearing the mark of Poseidon.
Rael Thunderfang—the Beastkin Prince, infused with the power of Fenrir.
And then, there was Cassandra Everwyn—the girl with the combined blessings of Envy and Wrath.
"A dangerous mix of personalities," Lucian murmured, stroking his chin. "I can already smell the rivalry brewing."
Professor Ignatius Pyros, the Dragonkin Fire Magic Instructor, grunted. "Hmph. Let's see if any of them can actually fight instead of posturing."
His gaze flickered to another screen—showing an earlier battle between Elaine's group and the Corrupted Guardians.
He couldn't deny it—she was skilled.
But before anyone could comment—
The boss room doors shattered.
Every instructor immediately focused on the main screen as the monstrous remains of the dungeon boss were hurled out like discarded trash.
A massive silence fell over the observation room.
Then—
A lone figure stepped out from the ruined doorway.
Dark tentacles coiled around him, shifting and writhing with unnatural hunger.
His black eyes scanned the chamber—cold, indifferent, detached.
Alistair Vaelthorne.
The instructors stiffened.
Even Magnus' usually unreadable expression darkened slightly.
Professor Viktor narrowed his eyes. "He was the first to reach the boss?"
Professor Morgana Blackveil, the A+ Rank Dark Magic Instructor, smirked. "Not just reach it—he killed it alone."
Lady Selena's smirk widened. "Oh my, how exciting."
Lucian let out a low whistle. "The exiled heir of House Vaelthorne… standing before the rest, drenched in abyssal energy?"
He chuckled.
"This is about to become very entertaining."
Magnus remained silent, his sharp gaze locked onto Alistair.
The Headmaster had expected him to make an impact.
But this?
This was something else.
The entrance exam had just taken an unexpected turn.
****
( Grand Arcanum Academy Exam)
The air was thick with tension as I stepped past the ruined corpse of the dungeon boss, my boots echoing against the stone floor.
In the dim light, the shredded remains of the Corrupted Warbeast sprawled across the battlefield, its once-mighty form reduced to a grotesque mess of melted flesh and charred bone.
The other candidates stood frozen before me, their faces a mix of shock, disbelief, and fear.
Good.
I adjusted my grip on my blade still dripping with abyssal energy. The black flames that had consumed the warbeast sputtered and died, retreating into my body like a beast that had just fed.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then—
"...He killed it?"
Leon Valerius' voice broke the silence, his brows furrowed in something between disbelief and barely concealed irritation.
I barely spared him a glance.
Do I look like someone who needs confirmation?
Elaine Vaelthorne—my twin sister—stood nearby, her emrald green eyes narrowed. Unlike the others, she wasn't shocked. She knew what I was capable of.
Still, there was something else in her gaze. A quiet wariness.
I stepped forward, and the crowd instinctively parted around me.
The powerful ones—Elaine, Leon, Kieran, Rael, Sylvara—they didn't move.
But the weak? The nameless background characters? They stumbled back, avoiding my gaze.
They understood.
At that moment—they recognized the difference.
"Wait… if he already killed the boss, then what the hell are we supposed to do?" A student muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Another one, a girl with emerald hair, whispered, "He did it alone?"
Their hushed voices barely registered to me.
I was still focused on the changes within.
[You have absorbed the essence of the Corrupted Warbeast.]
[Your Abyssal Blessing has strengthened.]
[Your Black Flames have grown stronger.]
Good.
I clenched my fist, feeling the pulse of abyssal energy beneath my skin. It was subtle, but I could tell—I had improved.
And the exam wasn't even over yet.
I tilted my head slightly, studying the strongest contenders.
Leon gritted his teeth but said nothing.
Elaine watched me cautiously.
Sylara and Kieran exchanged glances, their noble pride preventing them from showing too much reaction.
Rael Thunderfang, the beastkin prince, narrowed his eyes. He could sense the predator within me—his instincts warning him of what would happen if he attacked.
And then there was Cassandra Everwyn.
Her lips curled into a slow, wicked smile, her crimson eyes glimmering with amusement.
For a brief moment, our gazes met.
A loud beep echoed from the dungeon walls, followed by the automated voice of the exam system.
[Final Phase Completed.]
[Dungeon Boss Defeated.]
[Evaluation in Progress.]
A moment later, a golden portal flickered into existence at the center of the chamber—a gateway leading back to the Academy.
The other candidates hesitated, still processing what had happened.
Me?
I didn't hesitate.
I walked straight toward the portal, my expression unreadable.
I could feel their stares burning into my back.
But none of them stopped me.
Because they knew.
—they understood the difference between us.
And as I stepped into the portal, vanishing from sight.
TO BE CONTINUE...