The third day of the trial began.

As the students checked their wrist devices and looked at the updated leaderboard, intense fighting spirit surged within them. Most of the talented participants finally realized that without taking risks and facing danger, they would never clear the trial quickly.

They had fallen behind while Azar had seized the opportunity.

It was as if they had been injected with chicken blood as the creatures across the island witnessed relentless attacks from the young Magi, who fought wildly from left to right.

Azar himself was puzzled, not fully realizing that he was the reason behind this sudden intensity.

Very soon, Azar and the others stood up after fully recovering their mana.

Their goal was another leader-class creature.

Now that they had experience killing one, they were more prepared and confident they could perform even better.

But today was not destined to be just another ordinary hunt.

---

Continent A…

"My King, there is trouble," a general spoke as he bowed slightly before the aged man seated upon the throne.

Hearing this, the King slowly looked toward the general.

"What is it?" the King asked, his voice deep and filled with wisdom.

"The monsters have suddenly gone into a frenzy, and the First Wall has collapsed. There are massive casualties, and more Monster Kings are pouring out. Currently, we are losing… badly. We need to call back every Magi we can," the general reported, his sharp eyes filled with sorrow.

These were his soldiers.

The warriors he had personally cultivated.

He had watched many of them rise step by step to where they were today.

Yet now, many were already dead while the rest stood at the edge of destruction.

The general clenched his fists tightly.

The monsters seemed endless.

No matter how aggressively humanity fought, the beasts continued pouring endlessly from unstable spatial rifts surrounding the planet.

For now, there was no permanent solution.

"Hmm… order all soldiers currently off duty to return to the battlefield. This time, make sure they push the monsters back toward the torn spatial portals," the King ordered calmly.

Yet his voice carried unquestionable authority.

"Yes, Your Highness," the general replied before disappearing instantly.

The King then waved his fingers lightly.

A guard emerged silently from the shadows.

"Inform the ministers and the leaders of the great Magi families to gather here tomorrow morning. An important meeting will be held," the King ordered steadily.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the guard answered before vanishing the same way he had appeared.

"After hundreds of years… why the sudden change now?" the King muttered thoughtfully.

For centuries, there had always been balance.

Yet now, the number of monsters had suddenly exploded.

This was bad.

The new generation had not fully matured yet.

Even the strongest among them were only Tier 5 or Tier 6.

No new Tier 7 or Tier 8 Magi had appeared for years.

This situation was becoming serious.

"Your Majesty!"

Suddenly, the throne room doors opened as a man dressed in scholarly robes hurried inside with a serious expression.

This was the King's advisor.

"Tell me, what important event is currently taking place?" the King asked calmly as the advisor bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, it is the Genius Trial held across the ten continents. Once it concludes, we will witness the rise of a new wave of Tier 3 Magi who can be recruited into the military, the great Magi families, or directly under the royal family," the advisor explained quickly.

The King fell silent in thought.

This was terrible timing.

This period was when the kingdom was usually at its most relaxed.

The younger generation was finally beginning to step onto the main stage.

Under normal circumstances, this new blood would steadily advance into Tier 4, and perhaps a few geniuses might even reach Tier 5 in the future.

But now, with the sudden escalation of the invasion, the risks had become unimaginably high.

Many geniuses…

Many so-called wonders…

Would perish.

Yet at the same time, those who survived would become far more terrifying and refined.

"Perhaps… even a new Tier 8 Magi may emerge," the King muttered with a faint smile as his eyes sharpened.

"After the trial ends, send them directly to the Frontline," the King ordered decisively, his gaze cold and ruthless.

"But, Your Majesty…" the advisor protested hurriedly.

On the Frontline, Tier 3 Magi were little more than cannon fodder.

Sending those students there was practically equivalent to sentencing them to death.

Even their current trial was nothing more than child's play compared to the true battlefield.

The King should not make such a reckless decision.

"Luka, I have already thought this through. Unless we discover the root cause of this disaster, the beasts will never stop pouring in. We need more heaven-defying talents. Monsters are forged within rivers of blood."

The King's voice turned cold and heavy.

"Luka… we do not need talented geniuses anymore."

"We need monsters."

Luka's body trembled slightly as chills spread through him.

"Yes… Your Majesty," Luka answered quietly, shocked by the King's ruthlessness.

---

Back on the island…

By this point, the roots of the giant tree had already spread across the entire island.

Slowly but surely, the roots rose into the sky, attempting to cover the island completely and form a giant cage.

At the same time, a strange purple substance spread through the air.

Very soon, the mist expanded across the island as visibility rapidly decreased.

The substance was terrifyingly potent.

Once inhaled, a person would lose consciousness and fall into a dream from which escape was nearly impossible.

Azar and the others sensed that something was wrong.

But by then, it was already too late.

One after another, they collapsed into unconsciousness.

With all the participants asleep, the monsters across the island slowly retreated as the gigantic cage of roots continued forming.

Outside the island, the livestream suddenly cut off, instantly causing panic among the viewers.

Everyone sensed that something had gone terribly wrong.

"Azar!" Tofan shouted as he instantly flew into the sky.

Starting from Tier 4, a Magi could use mana to levitate and fly.

Of course, flight consumed a large amount of mana, which was why one needed the vast reserves of a Tier 4 Magi to sustain it.

Tofan flew forward rapidly, but before he could leave the island, his expression suddenly changed.

He heard groans behind him.

At some point, the other teachers had disappeared, leaving behind traces of spells and massive mana fluctuations.

Tofan frowned deeply.

Standing before him was a being wearing a strange bear-like mask.

"Tofan Kiluwat…" the masked figure spoke.

Tofan's body trembled slightly.

He thought he had hidden his identity well.

How did this person know about him and his family?

Was this a member of a rival family?

But why?

And was this person connected to the strange events happening on the island?

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions," the man wearing the bear mask said, his distorted voice echoing through the air, "but just know this—you cannot stop our plans… nor the arrival of our king."

Tofan's frown deepened.

Plans?

A king coming?

"Who are you?" Tofan asked as his mana surged outward, creating powerful gales around him.

"Me?"

The masked man chuckled softly.

"My name is Kilo. We will meet many times after this. But first…"

"I need to stop you from interfering."

The moment Tofan heard those words, a powerful sense of danger erupted within him.

He instantly teleported away.

The space where he had been standing moments ago collapsed violently.

Cold sweat covered Tofan's back.

This being…

…was a Tier 5 Magi, just like him.