[Ding! Choose your appearance.]
A mental image formed—Azarel
Dark hair, sharp eyes, neutral expression.
Instantly, he felt the change.
A cool wave spread over his skin, his facial bones adjusting subtly.
Then—his vision returned.
Arthur turned to look at Lucas.
Lucas smiled. "Good. The mask is working perfectly."
Arthur lifted a hand, touching his face.
No weight, no obstruction.
Lucas gestured toward a mirror conjured from thin air. "Take a look."
Arthur stepped forward.
His reflection stared back at him.
Exactly as he had imagined.
Arthur inhaled deeply.
Arthur lowered his hand from his face. "I'll admit… this is impressive."
Lucas nodded. "I thought you'd like it."
Arthur glanced at him. "And if I fail to return your favour?"
"You will not." Lucas smiled.
Arthur glanced at him for a second before nodding.
Lucas's eyes held Arthur's for a moment longer before he exhaled. "Are you ready? I will remove the domain."
Arthur nodded. "Go ahead."
Instantly, the world shifted.
The vast, endless ocean surrounding them vanished.
The weight of water pressing against Arthur's body disappeared, and in the blink of an eye—he was back.
Back on solid ground.
The swirling blue sphere that had engulfed them—gone.
A stunned silence rippled through the crowd.
Arthur kept his expression neutral.
Every eye was on him.
Whispers flooded the air almost immediately.
Lucas, however, remained completely unbothered.
He stepped to the side, he gestured toward the academy gates.
"Pass. Proceed to the next exam."
His tone was calm. Uninterested. As if nothing had happened at all.
Arthur simply nodded in return, his face unreadable. Without another word, he stepped forward.
Arthur felt their eyes trailing him, full of unspoken questions.
Lucas had delayed the examination for a few minutes just to speak to him. That alone was enough to send a clear message—this wasn't a normal student.
And whatever had happened inside that domain, none of them were meant to know.
"What do you think happened between them inside?"
"Not sure… but it's better not to ask."
Arthur walked forward, before arriving at an open courtyard ahead.
He spotted the students who had passed the first examination standing there, murmuring amongst themselves, speculating, wondering what would come next.
At the centre of it all stood a raised an elevated podium.
Then, a voice—rang through the space.
Arthur's gaze flickered across the gathering crowd.
His mind worked quickly, assessing.
He needed information. He had known the specifics of the first examination, but he wasn't quite sure about the second one.
Most of the students who had passed the first test were already here, standing idly, some whispering to each other, others keeping to themselves.
His eyes landed on the girl from earlier—the one who had tested with an A-grade talent.
She was nearby, standing alone, her gaze fixed ahead, waiting.
Arthur took a few steps toward her.
The girl turned, her green eyes locking onto his.
Arthur's expression remained neutral. "I'm new here. I was wondering if you could tell me what '49/50 Arrived' means."
Her gaze lingered on him for a second before she spoke.
"The second examination is done in batches. This is the first batch—each one consists of 50 students. The next batch will have to wait until there are 50 of them before their test begins."
Arthur nodded, processing the information. "I see."
He paused for a moment before asking, "Do you know what the next test is about?"
The girl nodded. "Comprehension."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"An instructor will perform an Uncommon-rank skill in front of us—just once. Our job is to memorize it and comprehend the technique within six hours."
Arthur's fingers twitched slightly.
That was… unexpected.
A test of comprehension meant they weren't just looking for strength, but intelligence and potential.
He considered it for a moment. "And what happens if someone has already learned the skill beforehand?"
The girl didn't hesitate. "Then they are privileged. Lucky. Luck and privilege are also considered a type of strength."
Her tone was even, but there was an unspoken understanding between them.
This examination wasn't about fairness.
Arthur exhaled softly, nodding. "I see. Thank you for answering my questions."
The girl simply nodded, then turned back toward the podium.
Arthur followed her gaze.
A moment later, the same voice echoed again—
A hush fell over the gathered students.
A figure stepped onto the podium.
The moment the instructor arrived, Arthur felt his presence.
The instructor was tall, clad in a fitted white magical robe with silver embroidery tracing the edges. His features were shadowed under the midday sun, and his eyes—cold and piercing—scanned the students before him.
When he spoke, his voice was calm but with a tone of authority. "Welcome to the second phase of your entrance examination."
His gaze swept across the crowd. "You have all been deemed worthy of proceeding to this stage, but let me make one thing clear—this academy does not accept mediocrity. You are not here because we are impressed by you. You are here because we are testing whether you deserve to remain."
Arthur's lips curled slightly.
He was telling every single person in the room to not get cocky, there is always a stronger person inside. Passing their first examination did not guarantee that they would survive the next.
The instructor continued.
"Your second test is one of comprehension. Watch closely. You will only see this once."
A tense silence followed.
The instructor took a stance.
Arthur's eyes sharpened, watching every detail.
His passive rare skill, enhanced senses, was an advantage in an examination . It would help him see more, memorise more and have a higher chance of comprehending the skill that would be performed.
The instructor's fingers twitched—an almost imperceptible movement—before his mana surged.
In his hands was a small leaf, and his hand radiated with mana before the mana slowly seeped into the leaf.
Arthur's eyes focused on the instructor's hand and the small leaf, and in front of his eyes, the leaf was then split in half, completely symmetrical.