After the busty professor made a mental note of the one who muttered "bullshit," she didn’t react.

She simply continued speaking as if nothing had happened.

Shadow watched her for half a second before exhaling quietly.

’...Yeah. She heard that.’

The woman’s voice rang out again, calm, controlled, and carrying effortlessly across the crowd.

"Everyone who wishes to join our academy must pass the tests designed to evaluate the potential of its students."

The chatter in the crowd died down almost instantly.

"I am Professor Claire," she continued, her sharp gaze sweeping across them like a blade. "Alongside the other professors present here, I will be monitoring your performance during the tests."

Something about the way she looked at them made a few people straighten unconsciously.

"There are four tests," she said. "Each one measures a different aspect of your talent."

A pause.

"To be accepted into Velmora Academy... you must pass all four."

That line settled heavily.

Not loudly.

But enough.

You could feel it in the subtle tension of shoulders, in the way some swallowed, in the silence that followed.

Claire let that pressure build—then casually moved on.

"Alright," she said. "I’ll begin explaining the first test."

She pointed toward the right.

All eyes followed.

Two massive golden gates stood there, tall and imposing, their surfaces covered in intricate runic engravings that faintly pulsed like they were alive.

Even from here, something about them felt... oppressive.

"All of you will enter through these gates," Claire explained. "Inside, the passage is filled with immense magical pressure."

Her tone sharpened slightly.

"The deeper you go, the stronger it becomes."

A few people shifted.

"To succeed, you must reach the other side within six hours."

A brief pause.

"Those who fail... will be eliminated."

Silence.

Then—

"What if someone finishes it within the first five minutes?"

The voice cut through the atmosphere cleanly.

A boy with short golden hair stepped forward, smiling like he had just said something impressive.

Shadow didn’t even need to look twice.

’...Of course.’

Professor Claire looked at him, amused—not impressed.

"In the long history of Velmora Academy," she said, "not a single student has completed the first test in under an hour... let alone five minutes."

That should’ve been enough.

For a normal person.

But—

"I’m Jaden of House Trace," the boy announced proudly, placing a hand over his chest like he was introducing royalty.

His smile widened.

"And I will be the one to shatter that limit."

He turned slightly, making sure as many people as possible could see his face.

"Make sure you watch closely," he continued. "Moments like this don’t come twice."

A pause.

"You might even learn something—though I doubt most of you have the capacity."

Another pause.

He exhaled lightly, almost disappointed.

"...Try not to blink. You might miss it."

Silence.

Then—

He snaps his imaginary cape.

Points at the gate dramatically.

Wind conveniently reacts to his aura tho Shadow could see someone else beside him using wind magic around Jaden.

"Witness the rise of the future of Velmora!"

Jaden decalres while holding his main character pose.

Jaden closed his eyes a little as he imagined the crowd reaction, everyone clapping and cheering his name. But then.... Silence.

Nobody even reacted at least not like Jaden has imagined.

"...Early game delusion is crazy." Talia muttered.

She just stared ahead at Jaden amazed by his confidence.

Jane, however, didn’t bother holding back.

"You’re embarrassing yourself," she said flatly.

Jaden clicked his tongue.

"Criticism from the incapable means nothing," he replied smoothly.

Shadow watched the entire exchange, expression neutral.

’This is painful to watch.’

A pause.

’Actually... no. This is kind of entertaining.’

His gaze lingered on Jaden for another second.

’Big mouths really are the easiest to break.’

Around them, whispers spread quickly.

"House Trace... that’s a noble family."

"He must be strong."

"Or just stupid."

"He’s definitely something."

A young man with short brown hair snorted.

"He’s just an ignorant fool trying to show off."

Not far from him, another golden-haired boy observed everything quietly.

Unlike Jaden—

He wasn’t trying to be seen.

He was just watching.

Carefully.

Calculating.

—

"Since everyone seems to understand," Professor Claire spoke again, cutting through the noise effortlessly, "I will now begin the test."

The golden gates began to open.

A deep, heavy sound echoed as they slowly parted.

For a brief moment—

Everything went still.

Then chaos.

People rushed forward all at once, pushing, sprinting, trying to get ahead.

"Come on," Jane said, already moving as she ran toward the gates.

Talia followed—then suddenly stopped.

She turned her head.

"...Why aren’t you running?"

Shadow stood there.

Relaxed.

Unbothered.

"We can’t let others notice we have a free pass," she added.

"Yeah, yeah," Shadow replied lazily. "Don’t worry."

A small pause.

"I’ll act."

And then—

He started walking.

Talia stared at him.

"...You’re not even pretending."

No response.

She dragged a hand down her face.

"...This is beyond saving."

Then she turned and ran.

—

Inside the gates—

Everything changed.

The moment participants stepped in, their bodies suddenly felt heavier.

Not slightly.

Noticeably.

Like something invisible had grabbed them and decided to press down.

Some stumbled.

Some slowed immediately.

But no one stopped.

"It’s rune magic," Jane said as she pushed forward. "The ground is infused with it."

"Yeah... I feel it," Talia replied, her pace already dropping. "My legs feel like they’re dragging."

Jane glanced around.

"...Wait. Where’s Shadow?"

Talia didn’t even look back this time.

"...He’s walking."

Jane stopped for a split second.

"...I’m going to kill him."

"I’ll help," Talia said.

—

Outside—

The professors watched.

Most applicants had already entered.

But one figure remained.

Walking.

Slowly.

Casually.

"...Professor Claire," Paul said, frowning slightly. "Who is that?"

All eyes shifted.

Shadow.

Approaching the gate like he had all the time in the world.

"I don’t know," Claire said.

But her gaze sharpened.

"...But I’ve already taken note of him."

"Oh?" Tess smiled slightly. "Already?"

Claire didn’t look at her.

"Don’t start."

"Hey—look," Arthur said. "He’s entering."

—

Shadow stepped inside.

The pressure hit instantly.

His body grew heavier.

His steps slowed... just slightly.

He glanced down.

"The rune structure is actually pretty well done," he muttered. "Efficient layering too..."

Then—

[ Rune magic effect detected ]

[ Analyzing symbols... ]

[ Decoding complete ]

[ Effect: nullified ]

The pressure vanished.

Completely.

Shadow stood there for a moment.

"...That’s it?"

The professors who were watching the performance through a screen projector were still wondering of what’s going on.

"He’s probably conserving stamina." Professor Claire stated.

.

.

.

Shadow looked ahead. After less than one minute, people were already struggling.

Panting.

Forcing themselves forward.

Some already looked like they were about to collapse.

Shadow blinked once.

"...This is supposed to be a test?"

A pause.

"...Feels more like a warm-up." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He rolled his shoulders lightly.

"Walking is nice," he muttered.

Then his tone shifted.

"But this is getting boring."

Wind gathered beneath his feet.

The air tightened.

A sharp pressure built for a split second—

Then—

BOOM.

The ground cracked slightly as a violent burst of wind exploded beneath him.

His body shot forward.

In an instant—

He vanished.

A shockwave of air followed behind him, rushing past the other participants like a sudden storm. For a brief moment, even the air felt like it was following his pace.

Hair whipped.

Clothes snapped.

People staggered.

"...What the hell was that?!"

Talia froze mid-step.

Jane’s eyes widened slightly.

And somewhere ahead—

Was Jaden

"Jaden! Jaden! Jaden of House Trace!"

He was chanting loudly trying to hype everyone to repeat after him.

Suddenly, he felt something pass him.

Not just pass him—

Erase him.

Jaden’s smile froze mid-expression. His chant stopped, words dying in his throat as his eyes stayed locked forward. For a second, he didn’t even react—like his mind was trying to process something it couldn’t accept. "...What just passed me?" he muttered, voice quieter than before, the confidence in it slightly crack

For a brief second...

He wasn’t the center anymore.

And he knew it.