William Vangeance floated mid-air, radiating that classic peaceful-yet-ominous aura. Dude looked like a tree priest with a grimoire, but the respect in the crowd was real. His voice echoed across the arena.
"I am William Vangeance, Captain of the Golden Dawn… and head examiner for today's Magic Knights Entrance Exam."
He opened his grimoire, pages fluttering like a breeze had kissed the pages, and cast a soft, golden spell. In a flash, a broom materialized in front of every participant.
"The first test," William announced, "will be flying. Use your magic to lift the broom and maintain balance in the air. You may begin."
Zura glanced down at the broom like it was a toy. He didn't need this test to flex. He already trained for this — back in Hage, he rode Noelle's pigeon enough times to figure out the core concept. Controlling mana, balancing output, stabilizing motion.
He poured his mana in. The broom twitched… lifted… then hovered steady. He ascended like it was nothing. Casual. Arms folded. Calm eyes scanning the other participants struggling to even get the broom off the damn ground.
"Easy," Zura muttered. "Warm-up level."
He wasn't the only one, though. Plenty of nobles and big-shot descendants passed that test too. They all floated around like peacocks flapping their egos in the wind.
Once everyone landed, the second test began. Magic blast.
A huge stone wall rose from the ground. "Channel your mana and fire your strongest ranged attack."
Zura opened his nine-leaf grimoire. He didn't have flashy names for his spells — it was basic water magic, after all. But basic didn't mean weak.
He focused. A condensed water bullet formed at his palm, swirling like a mini whirlpool. He launched it with a sharp flick. It blasted through the air and smashed into the wall, cracking the surface and splashing clean.
Some royals had flashier explosions. Some even destroyed big chunks of the wall. But Zura's control? Dead accurate. Clean hit. No wasted mana. Efficient.
Then came the moving target test.
Floating metal dummies zig-zagged in random patterns across the airfield. The moment they activated, Zura launched another shot — it curved mid-air and smacked one right between the eyes.
"Next," he said, not even waiting for the applause that never came. But some captains definitely noticed.
Creation magic test followed.
Zura closed his eyes, summoned a chunk of water, and shaped it into… a crude sword. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't elegant. But it held its form, sharp enough to slice. That was enough.
The seed growth test was next. They handed everyone a small seed and asked them to pour mana into it.
Zura knelt down, held it in his palm, and pushed his mana slowly, carefully. The seed shivered… cracked… then sprouted into a thick green stem and bloomed into a glowing flower. Not the biggest one out there, but the glow? That caught attention.
Some girl from House Vaud woke her seed into a full-ass bush. Show-off. But Zura didn't care. He wasn't here to grow crops.
Finally, the headliner. William raised his hand, signaling the final test.
"For the last task," he declared, "you will choose a partner… and engage in a one-on-one duel. You are free to select anyone."
The crowd buzzed. The air got tense. Participants were already scanning, whispering, forming their matchups like it was some fantasy football draft.
Zura stood still. Thinking.
'Who the hell do I pick?'
He didn't know anyone here. Not a single familiar face. No manga characters to fall back on. No guides. This was all new.
He could pick someone random, sure. But what was the point? He didn't want a punching bag. He wanted someone worth copying. Someone with an actual decent grimoire — three-leaf at minimum. Someone flashy. Dangerous. Someone whose spell he could see, absorb, and make his own.
That's what he came here for.
'Think, Zura. Observe.'
His eyes scanned the crowd. Participants flaunting mana like peacocks. Some already lighting up their grimoires. Fire. Ice. Lightning. Earth.
He spotted one dude with green flame circling his feet. Three-leaf grimoire open, sharp eyes, calm posture.
'Hmm… him?'
Then a girl summoned a floating disk and hopped on it like it was a hoverboard. Lightning magic. Fast. Flashy. Also three-leaf.
Zura clicked his tongue. Choices.
'Let's see who really wants to play.'
Zura stood still, hands in his pockets, eyes calmly sweeping the crowd. Everyone here was a stranger. No manga characters. No names he recognized. Just a sea of disposable NPCs.
'Tch. Who even looks remotely useful here?' he thought.
That's when he noticed a guy with jagged blond hair, sparks flickering around his arms like static. Dude was smirking, stretching his fingers, cocky as hell. A four-leaf grimoire floated beside him.
Lightning magic.
Zura's lips curved into a grin. 'Perfect. That spell's mine.'
He walked over casually, not saying a word. The lightning guy raised a brow.
"You wanna fight me?" the guy asked, voice cocky. "You sure about that, rag-boy?"
Zura shrugged. "You'll do."
They both walked to the center of the field. Some contestants stepped back, whispering.
"That's Rizen. Lightning mage from House Caelum. They say he took down a magic beast with a single strike last month."
"Who's the other one?"
"No idea. Looks like a commoner."
The grimoire floated beside Zura, calm and silent. Just three pages, all blank. People laughed.
William raised his hand.
[Begin.]
==
A/N- Thanks for the feedback in the last chapter. Most of you said that the update schedule was a mess, and you are right. Honestly, I want to write more, write daily, but it's hard for me.
I rarely get time from my work, and I become tired. I don't feel like doing anything. Exhaustion takes over me on Sundays. But I will try to have a fixed update schedule.
I am also working on an OG novel, so I can expand my reach further and gain experience.
Join the discord server. I have set it up!
https://discord.gg/E8vGXVvRbs
PS- Another chapter coming in a few minutes!