3rd POV — Observation Room
Inside a massive observation hall, dozens of elites of Novacter Academy gathered, whispering among themselves as they watched the projected footage of the students' third-level tests.
At the center of the room sat a woman whose presence alone silenced even Star-rankers.
Long orange hair cascaded to her knees, her eyes glowed like a setting sun. Two fox-like ears twitched atop her head, and behind her swayed three fiery tails—a rare symbol of unparalleled nobility and pride among the Foxkin.
Lunara Emberfang.Principal of Novacter Academy.A woman feared and respected for her brilliance, manipulation, and sheer unpredictability.
Her sharp gaze was fixed on a replay of Arthur's fight. On another screen, Aldric's battle was displayed.
The footage began—
Arthur appeared in his isolated testing space. In front of him stood a Goblin King, a mid-intermediate rank monster four tiers above him.
The Goblin roared and charged.
Arthur smirked.
He whispered something, and a ring of dense red-purple energy materialized—NULL Ring.
The instant the Goblin King stepped inside the ring, its massive body slammed into the ground as if gravity had increased a hundredfold. It struggled, clawed the dirt, but within seconds its body began fading—its life force being erased piece by piece.
Four seconds later, the Goblin King's corpse dissolved entirely.
Arthur was instantly teleported out.
Lunara looked at her own hand—It was trembling.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
"It's been so long…" she whispered, voice trembling. "So long since someone this mysterious… this powerful… this full of potential appeared."
She licked her lips unconsciously.Her hunger for knowledge, for secrets, for prodigies—was limitless.
Everyone around her swallowed nervously.
They all knew exactly how terrifying she was when interested in someone.
Even Arthur knew.That was why he had sworn to stay far, far away from this crazy fox-woman.
Lunara's smile widened.
"SS-rank… hahahahaha… That might be the biggest joke I've ever heard."
Her gaze shifted to Aldric's screen.
Aldric fought a Dusk Bear, flames swirling around his sword—Sharpness Flame and Holy Flame.
She recognized them in an instant.
"Hah. Impressive. Dual-type flame usage at Novice rank…"
Having climbed the Tower for over four hundred years, Lunara had seen more flame variations than anyone else living. If not for the Tower's restriction preventing a lone climber from entering the 50th floor, she would have ascended long ago.
She watched Aldric dominate the bear effortlessly—able to kill it anytime, but choosing to prolong the fight.
Beside that screen, Elyndria was shown yawning lazily while Fang slaughtered a giant bee for her.
A chuckle escaped Lunara.
"This generation… truly something else."
Her eyes drifted back to Arthur.
The composed grin on his face as he stood victorious…He looked like he had just taught the world the meaning of overpowered.
Her tails swayed.
"The Tower is in for a surprise… especially when that contest begins."
A proud, almost predatory smirk formed on her lips.
Arthur POV
Why do I feel like someone extremely dangerous is thinking about me right now?
Well… not that it matters.
I had just shown the world that I was stronger—far stronger—than any student here. Even Aldric.
It was bound to happen eventually.Now the Abyss Seekers' attention would shift to me instead of Elyndria. Good. I could prevent that event from repeating.
Almost everyone had returned by now—only a few remained inside the testing spaces.
With the second and third rounds combined, my place as the ace was guaranteed.
I hadn't even shown my full strength. I couldn't—there were Outer God spies hidden all over the world. Revealing too much would draw the worst kind of attention.
I scanned the crowd and recognized many faces as groups teleported back.
Suddenly—
A ripple of mana, and a woman appeared where Kael had been floating.
Orange hair.Three tails.Foxkin—one of the lost tribes.And one of the few monsters on this continent I genuinely feared.
I knew who she was instantly.
Lunara Emberfang.Principal of Novacter Academy.And the strongest person in all of Novacter.
Her eyes scanned the crowd…
Then stopped on me.
A mischievous, knowing smile curled her lips.
I froze.
Gulp.
I have a very, very bad feeling about this.