Chapter 11 - Entrance Test (1)

The Next Day

A massive stadium buzzed with life. Students filled every corner—some chatting excitedly, others fidgeting with nervous energy, while a few stood tall, radiating quiet confidence.

Across the entire human continent, towering holographic screens broadcasted the event, displaying live footage not just in Nexus City but in every major settlement.

This was the Starlight Academy Entrance Exam.

A momentous occasion that all of humanity eagerly awaited.

For the people, this wasn't just a test.

It was the birth of the next generation of Hunters—those destined to stand against the monsters and dungeons that threatened their world.

Yet, amidst the sea of eager twelve-year-olds, one figure stood out.

He wasn't nervous.

He wasn't excited.

He was calm.

Too calm.

'Everything is exactly as it was in the novel.'

Ash's sharp gaze swept across the crowd. He exhaled the words, "Now… where's Ray?"

He scanned the endless rows of young applicants, but all he saw were unfamiliar faces. Dozens upon dozens of children.

With a sigh, he gave up.

'Well, even if I didn't find him, I found someone familiar.'

A short distance away, his eyes landed on a girl—silver-haired, blood-red eyes, a delicate beauty so pure and ethereal that she seemed almost untouchable.

There was an innocence in her expression that made people instinctively want to protect her.

Her beauty was comparable to Melissia's.

Maybe even greater.

Elysia Moonglow

'But something is off.'

In the novel, Elysia had been a commoner who lost her parents at a young age. That tragedy had shaped her into someone cold and distant, a girl who kept everyone at arm's length.

The protagonist had spent countless efforts breaking through her emotional walls after falling for her at first sight, dedicating himself to softening her frozen heart.

So then…

'Why does she look so shy and kind?'

He watched as a group of boys hovered around her, trying their luck.

And instead of shutting them down with her signature icy glare, she smiled and rejected them.

Politely.

If she had the same personality as in the novel, those guys would've been frozen stiff by now.

'Did my existence already create a butterfly effect?'

'But I did nothing major... Did I?'

'No… wait, wait, wait… why does she—'

His thoughts were abruptly cut off.

The air shifted.

The entire stadium fell silent as an overwhelming presence descended upon them.

A weight crushed down on their minds—not through brute force but through insidious whispers.

A subtle, persuasive pressure that slithered into their thoughts.

Give up.

Be Alone

Turn around and leave.

Forget this test. Go home. Sleep.

What's the point of getting strong?

Why make friends'?

You are fine alone

In the end, They will die just like her

Ash's jaw clenched.

Shut up, you bastard.

His thoughts, his own mind, turned against him

Shit… I didn't think it would be this bad. Hearing your own thoughts turn against you…

He clenched his fists, his body resisting the urge to surrender.

This was the first test mentioned in the novel, he thought, eyes darkening as he steadied himself against the invisible force pressing down on his mind.

The persuasion became even strong,

The whispers coiled around his thoughts, insidious and relentless.

Just stop.

This path leads nowhere.

Forget this pointless struggle.

You're not meant for greatness.

Ash's breathing grew ragged.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears, louder than the murmurs, louder than the stadium's distant hush.

The weight pressing down on his mind wasn't just suffocating—it was drowning him.

A sickening feeling curled in his gut.

A cold, creeping sensation, like fingers clawing at his very being, trying to peel away the thin layers of willpower holding him together.

.

.

.

.

.

Why am I even here?

.

.

.

.

.

His knees trembled.

.

.

.

.

.

Isn't it easier to give up?

His vision blurred at the edges, shadows bleeding into the light. Every thought felt foreign, tainted.

His mind was not his own.

Then—

A faint glow.

Warmth spread across his chest, chasing away the cold tendrils of despair.

The Rune of Stability.

**

Description:

-Grants the ability to maintain equilibrium despite conflicting and opposing energies in the body, ensuring seamless flow and control in volatile situations. (Passive)

-Improves mana flow efficiency by 50%, ensuring smoother and more potent magical output. (Passive)

-Calms the mind, preventing emotional turmoil and overpowering negative feelings, allowing one to maintain clarity and focus even in high-stress scenarios. (Passive)

**

The symbol etched into his soul flared to life, invisible to the world but burning like a silent beacon inside him.

The suffocating whispers receded—no, they were still there, still trying to twist his mind, but their grip was weaker.

Ash took a breath.

Another.

And another.

His chaotic thoughts unraveled, untangling like knots being undone.

His fingers curled into fists, nails biting into his palm. The pain was sharp, grounding.

But his body no longer swayed. His breath evened.

He blinked.

Trying to regain the Clarity,

Then,

The stadium came back into focus.

Bodies littered the ground—children who had collapsed, unconscious. Others wavered on unsteady feet, glassy-eyed, succumbing to the whispers.

A few were already leaving, turning their backs, walking away as if the test had never mattered.

Ash's eyes darkened.

'Everything's the same as in the novel.'

He exhaled, slow and controlled.

And then, he raised his head.

Floating high above the stadium, a woman exuded an overwhelming aura—so potent that the very air trembled in response.

She was ethereal.

Unnatural.

Almost divine.

Long, flowing Black hair cascaded past her waist, framing a face so stunning it felt unreal. A slender yet exquisitely curved body, draped in a tight-fitting uniform that only served to highlight her inhuman perfection.

She looked young—perhaps in her early twenties—but Ash knew better.

Vice Principal of Starlight Academy… Elva Quill.

Her sharp, piercing gaze swept over the stadium.

And then, for a fleeting moment—

Her eyes met his.

A smile tugged at her lips.

'Tch.'

Ash immediately averted his gaze.

'Why is she looking at me like that?'

Something about her felt off.

She was a mystery in the novel—an SS-Rank Hunter who had long since hit a wall, unable to ascend any further. She had been mentioned only a handful of times, always remaining in the background.

Yet, standing—or rather, floating—before him now…

She was nothing like a background character.

'…Did the novel not do her justice?'

Before he could think further, her voice rang through the stadium.

"Well now…"

Her voice was smooth and velvety, carrying through the stadium with effortless clarity.

"That was entertaining."

She chuckled—low, melodic, almost teasing.

"It's always amusing to see how students react to the first test. Some crumble immediately. Some fight until the very last second. And then…"

Her eyes briefly flickered toward Ash again.

"Some… are simply unfazed."

Ash stiffened.

He didn't like this attention.

'Why does it feel like she's talking about me specifically?'

Elva smirked.

"Regardless, let's not waste any more time."

The remaining students, still dazed from the earlier ordeal, slowly straightened, trying to gather themselves.

"To those still standing…"

She raised a hand, making a small, flicking motion.

A pulse of mana spread through the stadium.

Suddenly—

Every collapsed student disappeared.

Gasps erupted as the unconscious bodies vanished in the blink of an eye.

Ash, however, wasn't surprised.

'Teleportation magic.'

Elva turned back to the remaining students, a satisfied glint in her eyes.

"Congratulations. You've passed the first test."

Silence.

Then, whispers.

Some were confused.

Others relieved.

A few were too exhausted to react at all.

But most of the boys—

Were still staring at her like fools.

A bemused smile crossed Elva's lips.

"Hmm?"

She placed a finger to her lips, pretending to be in deep thought.

"Oh dear. Are you all still too stunned by my presence to respond?"

A few of the boys turned bright red.

Others coughed and looked away in embarrassment.

She chuckled softly.

"Listen up, children."

Her tone suddenly sharpened.

"If you think staring at me like a bunch of lovesick puppies is going to earn you extra credit…"

The air tightened.

"…You're sorely mistaken."

A few students shuddered as an invisible weight pressed against their backs.

Ash remained unfazed.

Elva watched their reactions with amusement before giving a satisfied nod.

"Now then—"

Her playful demeanor returned in an instant.

"Let's talk about the exam."

She gracefully hovered down until she was just a few meters above them.

"What you just experienced was a simple test of willpower. It was not about strength, not about intelligence—just sheer, raw, mental fortitude."

She tilted her head.

"I wonder… how many of you actually understood the meaning behind it?"

Silence.

Then, one student—a boy standing near the front—hesitantly raised his hand.

"Um… was it to see if we're strong enough to resist enemy mental attacks?"

Elva smiled.

"That's part of it."

She took a step forward in the air, crossing her arms.

"But more importantly—it was to see whether or not you would surrender to yourselves."

Her gaze swept across the crowd.

"Every great Hunter faces battles. Some of those battles will be against monsters. Some will be against dungeons. Some—against other Hunters."

She leaned slightly forward.

"But the hardest battles?"

Her voice lowered.

"Are the ones fought inside your own mind."

A shiver ran through a few students.

Ash, however, simply watched.

'She knows how to command a crowd.'

Elva suddenly clapped her hands together.

"Well! That's enough seriousness for now."

Her playful tone returned.

"Moving forward, we will be conducting a written test."

A few groans erupted from the crowd.

Elva grinned.

"Oh? Not excited?"

She placed a hand on her hip, feigning disappointment.

"I was under the impression that all of you were eager students—ready to prove yourselves in every aspect of the academy's rigorous training."

Silence.

Then, a few nervous chuckles.

Elva's grin widened.

"That's what I thought."

She took a step back.

"Now, for those of you panicking—don't worry. The written test will not contain advanced magical theory. After all, most of you don't even know the about Magic."

Some students sighed in relief.

Elva let the moment linger—

Then—

Her smirk sharpened.

"Oh, but don't get too relaxed."

She raised a finger, twirling a lock of her hair.

"The test will be… well, let's just say… quite unexpected."

The students stiffened.

Ash narrowed his eyes.

'She's messing with them on purpose.'

Elva chuckled.

"Don't worry. You'll find out soon enough."

Then—

Without warning—

She vanished.

A beat of silence passed.

Then—

The entire stadium erupted into nervous chatter.

Ash exhaled.

'That woman…'

He didn't know if it was just her personality, or if she had genuinely taken an interest in him.

Either way—

He had a bad feeling about her.

And bad feelings… usually turned out to be right.

***

A/N: Sorry for missing a chapter yesterday! I appreciate your patience and support. More chapters coming soon! ????????????