"Is it finally starting...?"
Kael Vi-rel stood among the mass of candidates outside the Nexus Hero Academy examination site, his expression taut.
Notice: All cadets should report to the examination site. Lateness will not be tolerated and may result in immediate expulsion.
Kael didn’t wait another second.
He bolted toward the site along with several others. He didn’t plan to get kicked before he even got a chance to fight.
Moments later, panting, he arrived at the staging area.
A mechanical voice rang out over the hall.
"Hello, participants. Cadets Kael Vi-rel, please step forward and choose your weapon from the provided selection."
Kael’s eyes drifted to the long line of standard weapons laid out neatly on one side. Swords, spears, gauntlets, staves, bows all simple and unenchanted. These were weapons for candidates without active magic or artifacts, designed to prevent people from hiding skills using hidden enchantments.
To most candidates, it didn’t mean much. To Kael, it meant everything. This decision would determine how he approached the entire examination. A new playstyle. A new beginning.
This used to be a game... But now, it’s reality.
In his former life, Kael had been one of the top players in "World End." He wasn’t just some casual gamer he had ten years of experience and was part of the team that helped develop the original framework. But now? Now he had no guarantee. This was no longer about earning top ranks. It was about survival.
He needed to pass. He needed a good debut. And above all, he needed to stay alive.
Kael’s eyes finally locked on a basic iron sword.
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t powerful. But it was versatile.
In most games and countless fantasy novels the sword was the most fundamental weapon. It had history, range, adaptability, and near-infinite growth potential. Swordsmanship was a path that could reach mythic heights.
Of course, a sword alone wouldn’t save him. Kael’s body was too weak to swing it properly. His strength stat barely touched double digits. But still...
He didn’t intend to rely on swordplay alone.
Magic. I’ll use both sword and magic.
It was an unorthodox choice. Most players specialized. Few attempted to walk both paths it was inefficient and nearly impossible to master both unless you had extremely rare talents.
But Kael was different. He had drawn one of the most absurd abilities from the system.
[Magic Ruler {F/SSS}]
An ability that granted compatibility with all weapons. It allowed him to manipulate magic even through swordplay, enhancing his physical attacks or conjuring support magic on the fly. Most importantly, it offered potential.
To clear World End, a game notorious for its extreme difficulty, Kael needed every edge he could find.
He gripped the sword tighter and stepped through the 3-meter-high gate.
Time to begin the exam and make sure to pass. The tutorial quest.
According to the test parameters, F-class monsters would appear first. Defeating them would earn points. Candidates were ranked based on speed, efficiency, and body count. Simple enough. Just a small competition between new students to check their their abilities.
But the difficulty would ramp up fast.
After F-class monsters, E-class monsters would appear. Then D-class monster, and so on. Nexus Hero Academy wasn’t known for mercy.
He was starting with dangerously low stats.
[Current Stats] Strength: 12 Magic Power: 18 Speed: 10 Mind Power: 14 Agility: 10 Intelligence: 5 Stamina: 8 Charm: 3 Sense: 11 Luck: 99 .
Unique Skill: Lucky Insight {F/SSS}
Special Skill: True Scan {F/EX}
Characteristic Skill: Magic Ruler {F/SSS}
Alright... Here goes nothing.
A timer began counting.
[Nexus Hero Academy Practical Examination]
Current Monster Level: E-Class
Total Monsters Defeated: 3
Kael wiped sweat from his forehead. His breathing was rough. The F-class monsters were manageable with clever positioning and lucky breaks.
But E-class monsters were no joke.
He turned just in time to block a goblin’s strike Clang! steel on iron.
I can’t rely on luck alone anymore, he thought. One mistake and I’m dead.
He reached into his inventory and quickly summoned an item.
[Middle Low Mana Potion – Used]
[Physical Strength Temporarily Increased]
Energy surged through his body.
With this it’s time to fight back.
He slashed forward with force, cutting through the goblin’s weapon and torso in one clean motion. The monster let out a shriek before collapsing.
Kael didn’t stop. He dashed through the arena, slashing and dodging, each movement calculated but only barely. His sword skill wasn’t honed yet, but with magic enhancement and sheer desperation, he made it work.
He reached for another potion.
[Mid-Speed Mana Potion – Used]
[Speed Ability Temporarily Increased]
[Mid-Speed Mana Potion – Used]
[Speed Ability Temporarily Increased]
[Middle Low Mana Potion – Used]
[Physical Strength Power Temporarily Increased]
Kael’s body moved faster. Stronger. Lighter.
He struck again, cutting through the next wave of goblins. They were stronger, smarter, more agile but his potions made up for it.
Slash. Parry. Dodge. Spin. Counter.
Slash. Parry. Dodge. Spin. Counter.
He fell into a rhythm. An ugly one but it worked.
Haah... Haahh... He panted, his shirt sticking to his back with sweat. Preparing a few items in advance saved my life. Without them, I’d be the one lying on the ground.
Kael glanced at his system window. His kill count was rising. But the test wasn’t over.
He still had a long way to go. And higher-tier monsters would come next.
But despite the fear, the exhaustion, the sweat in his eyes he smiled.
"Alright then... let’s roll the dice."
Because if there was one thing Kael Vi-rel still had in spades...
"A D-Class monster is spawning. I repeat, a D-Class monster has been summoned! Cadets, prepare for battle!"
I snapped my head toward the summoning site.
That thing... There’s no way a novice is supposed to fight that!
Class: D-Class Monster