[One week later.]

[The Outskirts of Sector 7 – En Route to the Designated Gate.]

"Huff... Huff..."

The trek through the rugged terrain was a reminder that mid-term exams at Kalmira Elite Hunter Academy were never confined to a classroom. For second- and third-year students, the evaluation took place in the field, under the looming shadows of active gates.

"Huff... Huff..."

Ryan, one of these second years, adjusted the heavy straps of the oversized equipment pack, his breath hitching with every uneven step.

’Damn it. I really have bad luck!’

If the choice had been in his hands, he would have picked any other team in the academy to clear this dungeon with. Because-

"Hey, support trash! What are you daydreaming about!"

The arrogant, mocking voice sliced through the sound of crunching gravel.

Garin, a boy with fiery red hair and a sneer that never seemed to leave his face, looked back with pure annoyance.

"Don’t let anything fall off! Or else I’ll beat the shit out of you myself!"

"A-ah, y-yes!" Ryan stammered, gripping the supply pack tighter against his shoulders. "Sorry."

The other members of the team didn’t bother hiding their amusement, snickering at his frantic reaction before turning their attention back to the path ahead. Ryan could only lower his head and endure it.

Resistance was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

Garin was the team leader and the strongest in the group, already a Third Circle Awakened, while the rest of them were still struggling at Second. Furthermore, his family had money, influence, and the kind of connections that made instructors look the other way.

In contrast, he was just a First Circle support. Not only was he the weakest member of the group, but he was also the lowest-ranked student in the entire second grade. He could barely afford his tuition. His combat scores were abysmal. The only reason he had not been expelled was that his support abilities were still useful enough to justify keeping him around.

’Sigh... Let’s just endure and think of this as a chance to pass the exam.’ Ryan thought, shifting the weight one last time as he trudged behind the others.

After walking for another ten minutes, the jagged cliffs opened up into a wide clearing.

At the center sat a swirling, unstable vortex of bluish mana: their designated Gate.

A small temporary checkpoint had been set up nearby, where an instructor stood with a tablet in hand, checking the time.

"Team 14, you’re right on schedule," the instructor noted, his voice professional and cold.

They lined up for the final check-in.

The instructor reiterated the rules: no outside communication/help, no leaving the designated zone until the gate was cleared, and any sign of lethal intent toward a teammate would result in immediate expulsion. He then handed each of them a small, high-tech body cam.

"Pin these to your chests. Every move is being recorded for the grading committee," the instructor explained. He then gestured to a young man with brown hair standing a few yards away, leaning casually against a rock with a spear gripped in his hand. "And this is the hunter who will be following you today. He is your supervisor."

"Introduce yourselves," the instructor commanded.

Garin stepped forward first, chin held high. "Garin Vale, Third Circle. I am the team leader and primary damage dealer."

Following him, the rest of the group stepped up.

A burly student named Narcus introduced himself as the tank, followed by three girls: Hana the healer, Chloe the archer, and Dia the assassin. They each spoke with a level of confidence that came from being at least at the Second Circle.

Finally, Ryan shuffled forward, eyes glued to the dirt. "R-Ryan... First Circle. Support."

The snickers from his teammates were immediate, but the brown-haired man didn’t join in. He simply gave a subtle, observant nod, pushing himself off the rock. He walked toward them, his movements fluid and controlled.

"I am Soren," he said, his voice calm and steady as he looked over the group. "Pleased to work with you."

The group nodded in acknowledgment, but before they could move toward the gate, Garin stepped forward. He sized Soren up, his gaze lingering on the simple spear and the lack of flashy equipment.

"So, supervisor," Garin began, his tone dripping with practiced condescension. "What’s your rank? And how many gates have you actually cleared?"

Ryan shook his head inwardly. It was typical Garin—overbearing, arrogant, and constantly measuring everyone against his own ego. Even when faced with a supervisor assigned by the academy, he couldn’t help but try to establish a hierarchy.

Still, Ryan found himself leaning in slightly. He was curious too. He looked toward Soren, wondering what kind of man the academy had hired to watch over them.

Soren didn’t seem bothered by the interrogation. He gave a calm nod, his expression unreadable.

"I am Second Circle, E-Rank," he replied steadily. "As for my experience, I’ve cleared about twenty gates."

"Heh, not much then," Garin scoffed, a smirk spreading across his face. He didn’t even bother to hide his contempt. To a Third Circle "elite" from a wealthy family, a Second Circle hunter with twenty low-level clears was barely worth a second glance. He likely viewed Soren as nothing more than a glorified babysitter for those who couldn’t handle themselves.

The instructor, sensing the friction, stepped in and tapped his tablet.

"Alright, that’s enough posturing," the instructor chimed in, his voice cutting through the tension. "It’s time to start the exam. Everyone, get ready to enter the gate."

Garin didn’t wait for a reply, turning his back on the supervisor and marching toward the swirling blue portal. "Everyone, follow me! We are going to ace this!"

"Yeah!"

"Let’s crush it!"

The rest of the team fell into formation, their faces set with excitement.

Ryan trailed at the very back, the heavy supply pack shifting with every step. As he reached the threshold, he stopped. Standing before the three-meter-tall Gate, the sheer pressure of the leaking mana felt like a physical weight pressing against his chest.

He stared into the shimmering vortex, his mind blanking. He didn’t even notice that his legs were shaking or that his breathing had become shallow and ragged.

Just then, a firm hand landed on his shoulder.

The sudden contact made Ryan snap out of his daze. He flinched slightly and looked to his right, finding Soren standing beside him. The supervisor’s expression was calm, his grip steadying the trembling in Ryan’s frame.

"Let’s go," Soren said simply.

Ryan swallowed hard, forced his legs to move, and managed a weak nod. "Y-yes. Let’s go."

Together, they stepped through the shimmering surface, the cold energy of the gate swallowing them whole.