(Third-Person POV – Grand Arcanum Academy Observation Room)
The Observation Chamber was silent.
The instructors, some of the strongest beings in the empire, had just witnessed something unprecedented.
A single student had annihilated the dungeon boss alone.
And not just any student.
Alistair Vaelthorne.
The disowned heir of House Vaelthorne.
The boy who rejected the gods of his family.
The one who choose the abyss.
Headmaster Magnus Everhart stood at the center of the chamber, his gaze locked on the digital screen displaying the now-empty Boss Room portal.
His fingers tapped against his cane, his sharp gray eyes unreadable.
Around him, the other instructors were far less composed.
Professor Ignatius Pyros, the A Rank Dragonkin Instructor, exhaled through his nose, flames flickering between his lips.
"...I'll admit it. I did not expect that."
Professor Lucian Valtrix, the Trickster and Illusion Expert, smirked. "Oh? The mighty Ignatius finally surprised?"
Ignatius shot him a glare. "You weren't expecting this either."
Lucian chuckled but didn't deny it. "I expected him to be strong. I did not expect him to butcher the boss before anyone else arrived."
Lady Selena Loventis, the Seduction and Enchantment Instructor, leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs with a knowing smile.
"Mmm… such a dangerous young man," she mused. "That abyssal aura of his… it's simply looks delicious."
Professor Viktor Dragomir, the Vampire Combat Instructor, was silent, his crimson eyes fixed on the screen.
"This is not just strength," he murmured, his voice unusually serious. "This is something else."
The others turned toward him.
"What do you mean?" Magnus asked.
Viktor's expression darkened.
"He didn't just kill that monster."
He tapped a gloved finger against the screen.
"He consumed it."
Professor Aerith Sylphara, the Elven Archery Instructor, frowned. "He used some kind of abyssal absorption technique. That's… concerning."
Professor Morgana Blackveil, the A+ Rank Dark Magic Instructor, smirked. "Why? Because it works?"
Aerith shot her a look. "Because it's unnatural."
Professor Darius Stonefist, the Dwarven Weapons Instructor, grunted. "That kind of power comes with a price. If he loses control of it—"
"He won't."
Everyone turned as Magnus Everhart finally spoke.
His gaze remained fixed on the screen, his expression unreadable.
"He's not a fool," the Headmaster said. "He knows exactly what he's doing."
Silence followed his words.
Finally, Selena chuckled. "So, what do we do about him, Headmaster?"
Magnus exhaled, his voice firm.
"We do nothing."
The instructors blinked in surprise.
Lucian raised a brow. "Nothing?"
Magnus nodded. "This is an entrance exam. We do not interfere in how students rise or fall. We simply watch."
His gray eyes gleamed.
"And Alistair Vaelthorne is rising faster than anyone."
****
(Alistair Pov)
A blinding light swallowed my vision as the teleportation activated, sending me out of the dungeon.
The moment my feet touched solid ground again, I took a deep breath, adjusting to the shift in space.
The first thing I noticed?
The sheer number of eyes locked onto me.
The teleportation had placed all examinees in an open coliseum-like structure—a temporary holding area where students would be evaluated before the final rankings were announced.
The arena was massive, lined with floating projection screens, displaying replays of the exam footage for the academy's staff and watching nobles.
And standing all around me—
Were the remaining examinees.
Hundreds of students, from nobles to commoners, warriors to mages—each staring at me with a mixture of shock, fear, and confusion.
Behind them a big hologram displaying boss room.
The dungeon was meant to test teamwork.
The Boss was supposed to be D- Rank—a challenge designed for a group effort.
And yet—
I had killed it alone.
****
A few steps ahead, Leon Valerius stood with his greatsword resting on his shoulder, his golden eyes narrowed in irritation.
Sylara, the High Elven Princess, kept her arms crossed, watching me with wary curiosity.
The Beastkin Prince, Rael, grinned, his golden fur bristling with excitement. "Damn. You really just took the whole thing for yourself, huh?"
Kieran, the Merfolk Prince, clicked his tongue. "He made us look like amateurs."
Further to the side, lunara nightshade smirked. "Oh, I like this. Finally, something interesting."
The instructors hadn't spoken yet.
But the floating projections replayed the final moments of the dungeon—the instant where I had emerged from the boss room, abyssal tentacles writhing around me, stepping over the mutilated corpse of a creature that should have been a team effort.
I met Leon's gaze.
He looked at me not with fear, but with anger.
I could already tell what he was thinking.
He had believed himself to be the strongest in this exam—the chosen hero, the future king of warriors.
But the moment I stepped out of that dungeon first—
That illusion shattered.
----
Ranking Announcement
A mechanical voice echoed from above.
[Final Exam Results Calculating…]
The air was tense as the rankings were processed.
And then—
The screens flashed with the final rankings.
> #1 – Alistair Vaelthorne – D+ Rank
Boss Kill Achieved | Solo Clear | Maximum Points Earned
> #2 – Leon Valerius – E+ Rank
High Combat Proficiency | Leadership Recognition
> #3 – Elaine Vaelthorne – E+ Rank
High Combat Proficiency | Tactical Execution | Dungeon Team Completion
> #4 – Cassandra Everwyn – E+ Rank
Unique Combat Approach | Ruthless Efficiency
> #5 – Sylara Ilthariel – E+ Rank
High Mana Manipulation | Excellent Team Coordination
> #6 – Kieran Azurios – E+ Rank
Water Domain Mastery | Strong Individual Performance
> #7 – Rael Thunderfang – E+ Rank
Exceptional Close-Combat Strength | Tactical Instincts
----
The list continued, displaying the rest of the students in descending order.
The moment my name flashed at the top, murmurs exploded through the crowd.
The moment the rankings were finalized, Leon stepped toward me.
I could see it in his stance—his pride was wounded.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked, voice sharp.
I stared at him blankly. "What?"
He gestured to the screens. "Going in alone? Taking the boss fight for yourself?"
I tilted my head slightly. "Did you want me to wait for you?"
Leon's jaw clenched.
I didn't need to say it—he had the same opportunity I did.
If he had been strong enough, he would have reached the boss first.
But he hadn't.
And that reality irritated him more than anything.
Elaine finally spoke, stepping between us. "Enough," she said. "The rankings are decided."
Leon exhaled through his nose, backing off, but I could see it—this wasn't over.
He had already marked me as an enemy.
Good.
I didn't care about heroes, chosen ones, or destined kings.
I was carving my own fate.
And if that meant shattering their illusions of power—
So be it.
The rankings were settled.
The entrance exam was complete.
TO BE CONTINUE...