A soft chime echoed from the bronze pocket watch resting on the bedside table.
7:02 a.m.
Noah opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few quiet seconds before rolling out of bed. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting golden streaks across the wooden floor of his dormitory room—private, clean, and comfortably spacious, like everything else reserved for Class 1 students.
Today was the day.
The trial.
He moved with calm precision. A cold splash of water to the face. A quick shower. A light breakfast—just enough to keep him focused. Then came the familiar ritual: securing the belt, checking the sheath, and reaching for Kagetsume, his dark-bladed katana with the navy hilt.
As he buckled the weapon into place, his eyes fell on a sealed envelope atop the desk.
A letter.
From his mother.
He unfolded it carefully, the paper still smelling faintly of herbal tea and old wood.
"I received your letter. Wonderful news, Noah.
You should've seen the faces of the neighbors when I told them you made it into Class 1! Even the Ardean family was surprised—they said they might offer you a good position after graduation.
Keep going. We're all proud of you.
—Mom"
Noah exhaled through his nose, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.
'Definitely going to protect this one.'
He folded the letter and slipped it inside the hidden pocket in his coat.
Then his expression shifted, thoughtful.
'The Ardeans, huh? Why would they care about me getting into Class 1?'
'Unless… they need more guards. If "The Staff of Whispering Nature" had been stolen during that attack, it would've been a major loss. That staff is a family heirloom—generational.'
His mind sharpened.
'Amelie will probably use it today. She might be one of the toughest opponents.'
He ran through the numbers in his head.
'There are 40 students in Class 1… and Classes 2 and 3 will participate as well. That's 120 total. Only the top ten get the best rewards.'
He tightened the strap on his sheath.
'They didn't say what the merit is… but I know exactly what Trinity meant by that. And I don't want first place.'
He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, eyes steady.
'I want fourth.'
The northern hall of the academy had been converted into a waiting area—wide stone floors, tall arched windows, and thick beams supporting a ceiling high enough to echo every nervous breath.
Noah stepped through the main doors and scanned the space.
Already, around eighty students were gathered in small groups, some chatting, some sitting quietly, others adjusting weapons or stretching. The tension was palpable. Today wasn't just a class. It was a battlefield.
He walked slowly along the edge of the crowd, keeping his hands in his coat pockets, Kagetsume secure at his hip.
It didn't take long before he spotted familiar faces.
Amelie Ardean stood near the center, surrounded by a few students from Class 1. Her green hair, streaked with bright yellow, shimmered faintly under the sunlight filtering through the windows. Slung across her back was the unmistakable Staff of Whispering Nature, its smooth wood carved with elegant vine patterns and an amber gem at the top.
She caught him looking.
With a calm smile, she raised a hand in greeting.
Noah returned the gesture with a slight nod.
'So it's true. She's using the staff today. Definitely someone to watch out for.'
A few steps away, he saw Varek Drenor—tall, broad-shouldered, with thick black hair tied back into a short knot. He was adjusting a pair of brutal-looking spiked gauntlets, metal glinting with enchantment runes. His presence was like a caged animal—dangerous, ready to explode.
And near the back, sitting against a column with a book in hand, was Tirien Vale. His neatly parted blond hair and glasses gave him a bookish charm, but on his shoulder rested something far more interesting: a tiny golem, no larger than a fist, its eyes glowing faintly.
'Anyone who doesn't know better would think it's a toy…'
But Noah knew.
With mana, that harmless stone figurine would become a five-meter titan, capable of casting Gaia-type magic. Tirien didn't just summon monsters—he created them.
'A genius. And only sixteen.'
Noah folded his arms and leaned against the nearest column, eyes drifting across the room.
'Today's going to be… interesting.'
Noah stayed near the edge of the crowd, quietly watching the room.
He took mental notes.
Amelie, elegant and calm, already had a natural presence that made people listen. Her weapon wasn't just symbolic—it was an heirloom with real history. If she knew how to use it properly, she'd be dangerous.
Varek, on the other hand, was all about power. His fighting style would likely be close-quarters, heavy, direct. Not subtle—but devastating if he caught someone.
And then there was Tirien, flipping pages of his book while the small golem blinked slowly on his shoulder.
'That one's a nightmare if you let him set up.'
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Golems are tough enough, but if he's using Gaia-type magic on top of that…'
He tapped the side of his thigh absently.
'Three major threats already. And that's not even counting the unknowns.'
According to Trinity, all three top classes were participating: 1, 2, and 3. That meant 120 students total.
And only the top ten would get the rewards.
But Noah didn't want first.
He didn't need to stand out like that.
'I need fourth place. No matter how I pull it off—I need the reward tied to that rank for what's coming.'
His lips twitched slightly at the thought.
Most of these students had never experienced real combat.
They trained for school.
He trained for survival plus had more than ten thousand hours in the game back on Earth.
'Poor noobs… you'll see what a 0.1% player looks like. You better pray.'
The clock on the far wall ticked closer to the hour.
A soft rumble echoed through the stone floor as the final wave of students arrived—forty more, filling the hall with the last batch of fresh nerves and anticipation. Their footsteps echoed in scattered rhythms, some light and energetic, others heavy with pressure.
Noah's eyes scanned the newcomers.
And there she was.
Cordelia Ross.
Snow-white hair braided loosely down one shoulder, piercing marine-blue eyes locked forward with quiet determination. She walked with calm precision, not flashy, not arrogant—but completely unshaken by the room around her.
'She's here.'
His attention lingered a moment longer, but Cordelia didn't look his way. She joined a small group from Class 2 and took position without a word.
A second later, the room grew still as two distinct figures entered through the main arch.
Professor Trinity and Professor Darius.
Trinity walked at the front, composed as always, wearing her fitted coat with the academy's insignia embroidered in silver on the collar. Beside her was Darius—a mountain of a man with dark skin, a shaved head, and an aura of relaxed intimidation. He carried no weapon, just wore leather wraps around his forearms.
The two stopped at the front of the hall.
Trinity raised her voice—calm, clear, cutting through the air with ease.
"Students. We hope you've prepared well."
Silence fell across the 120 gathered.
"Let me remind you—only the top ten will receive merits. And today's results will affect more than just prestige."
"Your class assignment may change. Perform well, and you may rise. Fail... and you may fall."
A few students exchanged nervous glances.
Darius crossed his arms, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as Trinity continued:
"Follow us. The portal to the exam zone is ready."
The group began to move as Trinity and Darius turned toward the wide corridor at the back of the hall. The footsteps of 120 students echoed like a march.
Noah stayed in the middle of the crowd, moving with a calm pace, his senses still sharp.
As they walked, he felt a faint pressure—eyes on him.
He glanced to the side.
Cordelia.
She was walking two rows behind, gaze fixed directly on him.
Their eyes met.
For a heartbeat, neither of them blinked.
Then she turned her head away, face unreadable.
'Eh?'
Noah raised an eyebrow slightly, but didn't press further.
'So you're watching me too… Interesting.'
The procession continued down the corridor until they reached a massive stone archway adorned with glowing runes. Energy pulsed around it, forming a semi-transparent field of bluish-white light—the portal.
Trinity stopped in front of it and turned back toward the students.
"Beyond this portal is the testing zone. The terrain is natural—hills, forest, and ruins."
"The area is bounded by a magical perimeter. You cannot escape it. If you try, you'll be disqualified."
Darius stepped forward and added, his voice booming:
"Remember: you'll each start with one bracelet. Each one you collect adds a point to your score. The trial lasts three hours. Form alliances, betray them, fight alone—it's your call."
Trinity's gaze swept across the group.
"Survive think adapt succeed that's the test."
The portal shimmered behind her like a curtain of water.
The portal's light shimmered like a vertical lake of glass, humming softly as mana swirled along its edges.
One by one, the students began to step through—vanishing in flashes of light.
Noah waited near the middle of the pack, silent and focused.
He glanced once more toward Cordelia, but she was already gone.
The line moved forward.
Closer.
Closer.
His hand brushed against Kagetsume at his side, the weapon warm from his presence.
"Well... here we go."
He stepped through.
Instantly, his body was pulled forward as light wrapped around him, tearing the stone corridor from view. Weightless. Disoriented. The sensation lasted only seconds.
And then—
Thud.
His boots hit solid ground.
He staggered slightly, blinking as his vision adjusted.
Around him stretched dense forest, shafts of light piercing through thick canopies overhead. The only sound was the faint rustle of leaves and distant birdsong.
No other students in sight.
'Second time around. Last time, Cael won his. Back then I was in Class 4—this trial helped me climb up to Class 3.'
He rolled his shoulders once, took a deep breath, and rested his hand on the hilt.
'Time to hunt.'