Exam day.
Ikrit Academy of Magic, Learning and Education Building.
Natural light streamed through the massive glass walls, illuminating the interior.
Lance had arrived early at the exam hall on the seventh floor, sitting quietly in the waiting area as he waited for the test to begin.
Talia, who had accompanied him, couldn’t enter the exam hall, so she waited outside on the terrace below.
The building's exterior featured a spacious terrace with wooden flooring and long benches for students and faculty to rest. It provided a view of the campus, allowing one to enjoy both the scenery and the fresh outdoor air.
More importantly, a massive magic screen was mounted there, continuously broadcasting academy announcements.
According to those waiting in the same area, the live broadcast of the entrance exams for the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute would soon be displayed on every screen across the academy.
Seventh-floor hall, the vast atrium.
The space was expansive and open.Several towering magical devices stood like silent giants.
The lights reflected off the magical apparatus, creating dazzling, dreamlike hues.
These enormous magic machines stretched across dozens of meters, their entire structure crafted from mithril and magic crystals. They radiated a cold aura yet appeared overwhelmingly majestic.
Many examinees who were seeing them for the first time couldn't help but marvel at the extraordinary achievements of magic engineering.
For this exam, Ikrit Academy would activate the awe-inspiring "Artificial Shadow Realm Terminal" to provide examinees with an immersive combat simulation in the Shadow Realm.
Some examinees appeared excited, others were anxious, and yet some remained exceptionally calm, seemingly well-versed in how to clear the Shadow Realm.
Since this combat simulation was a joint exam for the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute, the waiting area was filled not only with the more refined-looking students of the Sage Institute but also with many who were clearly warriors.
Of course... it was also possible that some of those warriors were from the Sage Institute.
Only those who passed this test would proceed to the final evaluation by professors from their respective institutes.
Seated on a bench, Lance nervously rubbed his palms together.
The exam was going to be broadcast live—professors, as well as students wandering around campus, would all be watching.
Because of this, over the years, "public executions" had become a common spectacle.
Many upperclassmen watched the entrance exams purely for entertainment.
But looking at it positively—
The magic screens would display multiple students simultaneously in a rotating format.
With so many examinees, the chances of him being singled out were slim.
Besides, he had always been cautious and low-key. There was no reason anyone would pay special attention to him.
Lance reassured himself.
At some point, light yet distinct footsteps echoed across the hall, cutting through all other sounds and reaching every examinee’s ears.
This overwhelming presence, radiating from a formidable individual, instantly silenced the once-busy exam hall.
Lance's thoughts were interrupted as he looked up, following the collective gaze of the crowd.
A figure emerged from the inner section of the hall.
At this moment, it felt as if the entire seventh floor had been reduced to nothing but his approaching footsteps.
As the steps drew closer, the figure became clear—a young man dressed in a black, vintage-style suit, paired with a white shirt and a gold tie. His formal attire was adorned with diamond and cross-shaped emblems, glowing faintly with sacred light.
He appeared younger than most had expected, seemingly not yet thirty.
Yet, despite his youth, no one dared to underestimate him.
The symbols on his attire signified that he was not just a teacher at Ikrit Academy but also a high-ranking cleric of the Goddess of Fate’s Church.
His pace was steady, neither rushed nor slow.
He stopped at the front of the waiting area.
His gaze swept over the examinees.
"I am Loren Cranter, today’s chief examiner and the dean of the Sage Institute."
The young man's eyes were gentle, his presence entirely devoid of intimidation.
Many examinees, who had been tense just moments ago, felt their anxiety ease.
Compared to the stern, imposing examiner they had imagined, the Sage Institute’s dean turned out to be rather approachable.
"This exam’s theme is 'Wisdom and Mental Fortitude,'" Loren continued in a calm and measured tone.
"In most cases, when challenging the Shadow Realm, if you follow the correct path and progress along the main objective, you will not be required to face enemies of significantly higher tiers."
"However, should you make a mistake or deviate from the intended route, the Shadow Realm can spiral into extreme danger. Not only could you encounter enemies capable of instantly killing you, but you might also find yourself hunted... or even torn apart."
"Thus, solving the puzzles and obtaining key clues within the Shadow Realm is of utmost importance."
At this point, Loren paused slightly, his expression growing more complex.
"There was once a tragic incident at Ikrit Academy—a failed Tier 4 Shadow Realm expedition. Seven students participated. None survived."
His voice remained calm, yet his words crashed over the hall like thunder.
For teenagers, the concept of "death" might have once seemed distant.
But it was clear that many examinees had not fully considered the dangers before enrolling in this academy.
The exam hall fell into a deathly silence, with many students visibly shaken.
Perhaps anticipating this reaction, Loren remained silent for several moments before speaking again.
"The root cause of the incident was the team's arrogance. They deviated from the main objective, while lacking the strength to handle the resulting chaos."
"This is the imbalance of mental fortitude and wisdom."
"Therefore, this year, both the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute will place special emphasis on assessing a student's ability to maintain composure and handle crises effectively."
"The challenge you will soon face is a replica of a real Shadow Realm."
"Each of you will enter an identical, single-player Shadow Realm. Clearing it successfully will mean passing the exam."
After finishing his brief explanation of the exam format, Loren took out a key radiating a dark crystalline glow and embedded it into the control panel of the "Artificial Shadow Realm Terminal."
At that moment—
The space in front of the magical apparatus began to distort, its colors darkening until it gradually solidified into a massive, illusory door.
Within the mirror-like surface of the door, countless twisted souls seemed to swirl.
It looked nearly identical to the Void Gate that led to an actual Shadow Realm.
Loren stood quietly in the center of the hall.
Meanwhile, the academy staff began directing examinees.
They instructed them to step through the Void Gate and enter the Artificial Shadow Realm.
At the same time—
The massive screens mounted on the hall’s walls stopped displaying routine information.
Instead, they now broadcasted live footage from the entrance exam’s Shadow Realm!