Chapter 3 — Entrance Examination
The first rays of sunlight slowly spread across the village of Velmora.
Usually, mornings in the village were peaceful.
But today was different.
The streets were crowded with students, parents, merchants, and traveling fighters. Excitement filled the air as young boys and girls prepared for one of the most important days of their lives.
The Imperial Soul Academy Entrance Examination.
For ordinary people, becoming a Horsiken Fighter meant wealth, status, and protection.
But for talented fighters…
It meant power beyond imagination.
Inside his tiny wooden house near the edge of the village, Reskin slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment, he stared silently at the ceiling.
Then memories from the previous night returned instantly.
The cave.
Bali.
Gravity Erase.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"So it wasn't a dream…"
"You doubted me already?" Bali's voice echoed lazily inside his mind.
Reskin nearly jumped off the bed.
"You're awake already?!"
"I do not sleep."
"That sounds depressing."
Silence filled his mind for two seconds.
"…Perhaps."
Reskin laughed quietly while sitting up.
Even now, it still felt strange speaking to another being inside his head.
Especially when that being was a 200-million-year-old GOD-HORSIKEN.
He quickly washed his face using cold water from a bucket before wearing his old school uniform. The clothes were still patched in several places, but Reskin no longer felt embarrassed wearing them.
Not anymore.
Because now, he had confidence.
As he prepared to leave, Bali suddenly spoke.
"You should test your soul power first."
"Hm?"
"Concentrate energy into your palm."
Reskin nodded.
Closing his eyes, he focused carefully.
Warm golden energy instantly flowed through his body like rivers of light. Unlike before, controlling Life Soul energy now felt natural.
Golden aura slowly gathered around his right hand.
CRACK.
The wooden floor beneath him shattered slightly.
Reskin's eyes widened.
"That much power leaked from a basic release?"
"You are no ordinary Level 5," Bali replied calmly. "Your Life Soul has already been strengthened by my existence."
Reskin slowly clenched his glowing fist.
For years he had been powerless.
Now even standing still felt dangerous.
"Interesting…"
Suddenly, Bali's voice became serious.
"Someone is approaching your house."
Reskin instantly turned toward the door.
Knock knock.
"Reskin! Hurry up or we'll be late!"
Dugu.
Reskin quickly calmed himself before opening the door.
The moment Dugu entered—
He froze.
"…What happened to you?"
Reskin blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"You feel… different."
Dugu narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Even without seeing soul energy directly, humans could instinctively sense pressure from stronger fighters.
And right now—
Reskin's presence had completely changed.
"You actually found a Horsiken, didn't you?!" Dugu shouted excitedly.
Reskin scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Maybe."
Dugu nearly exploded with excitement.
"YOU IDIOT!! Why didn't you tell me immediately?!"
Before Reskin could answer, Dugu suddenly grabbed both his shoulders dramatically.
"What type is it? Combat type? Beast type? Elemental type?!"
Reskin hesitated.
How exactly was he supposed to explain that he had bonded with a literal GOD-HORSIKEN?
"...Special type," he answered carefully.
Technically not a lie.
Dugu's eyes sparkled instantly.
"I knew it! You actually survived Dark Forest!"
Then his expression suddenly became serious.
"Wait… you did survive, right?"
"I'm standing in front of you."
"Fair point."
The two boys quickly began walking toward the center of the village where transport caravans waited to take students toward the academy examination grounds.
Along the way, countless students proudly showed off their bonded Horsikens.
Small spirit wolves.
Floating crystal birds.
Fire snakes.
Armored gorillas.
Some emitted strong soul pressure while others looked cute and harmless.
Children laughed proudly while parents smiled with satisfaction.
Reskin quietly observed everything.
"So these are modern bonded Horsikens…" Bali murmured inside his mind.
"You sound disappointed."
"They are weak."
"…You're comparing them to a GOD-HORSIKEN."
"Correct."
Reskin almost laughed.
Honestly, Bali's arrogance was beginning to make sense.
Suddenly—
"Look who's here."
A mocking voice interrupted them.
Three students blocked the road ahead.
The leader was a tall boy wearing expensive black clothes decorated with silver embroidery.
Kalen Vortex.
The son of one of the wealthiest merchants in the region.
He was also the strongest student in their school.
Beside him floated a large crimson wolf covered in flames.
A Flame Fang Horsiken.
Dugu immediately frowned.
"Kalen."
Kalen ignored him completely while staring at Reskin.
"I heard the orphan actually entered Dark Forest yesterday."
The surrounding students immediately laughed.
"Maybe he caught a rat Horsiken."
"No, probably an insect."
"Maybe nothing survived after bonding with him."
Reskin remained calm.
Before obtaining power, these insults had always angered him deeply.
But now…
They felt meaningless.
Kalen stepped closer with a cruel smile.
"You should quit before examination starts. Imperial Soul Academy isn't a place for trash."
Golden energy flickered briefly inside Reskin's eyes.
The air around him suddenly became heavier.
Kalen's smile slowly disappeared.
For a moment—
He felt danger.
A strange instinct screamed inside his mind.
But before anyone noticed further, Reskin calmly walked past him.
"I'll decide that after the exam."
Kalen frowned while watching him leave.
Something about Reskin felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Dugu quickly followed beside Reskin.
"What was that pressure just now?"
"No idea."
"You're terrible at lying."
Soon, the students finally reached the transportation area outside the village.
Gigantic armored beasts pulled enormous metal carriages capable of carrying hundreds of passengers at once.
The academy city was far away.
Ordinary travel would take weeks.
But these soul-powered caravans could arrive within hours.
As students boarded excitedly, Reskin silently stared toward the distant horizon.
Today would change everything.
Either he would rise…
Or remain nothing forever.
Hours later—
The enormous walls of the Imperial Soul Academy finally appeared.
Reskin's eyes widened instantly.
The academy looked more like an entire kingdom.
Massive towers pierced the clouds while giant flying beasts circled above the city. Thousands of students filled the streets wearing academy uniforms of different colors and ranks.
Soul energy could be sensed everywhere.
Strong fighters.
Powerful clans.
True elites.
For the first time, Reskin realized how enormous the world truly was.
"Impressive," Bali admitted quietly.
Even Dugu looked speechless.
"This place is insane…"
As students entered through the gigantic academy gates, instructors guided them toward a massive stadium-like arena.
Tens of thousands of seats surrounded the battlefield.
At the center stood a gigantic crystal pillar glowing with blue soul energy.
An old instructor stepped forward.
"Welcome to Imperial Soul Academy Entrance Examination."
His voice echoed across the entire arena through soul amplification.
"This year, over twelve thousand applicants have arrived."
Murmurs spread instantly.
"But only two hundred students will pass."
The atmosphere became tense immediately.
Two hundred.
That meant most people here would fail.
"First examination," the instructor continued, "Soul Power Evaluation."
Students lined up one by one toward the crystal pillar.
Each participant placed a hand on the crystal, causing different levels of light to appear.
"Level 2."
"Level 4."
"Level 3."
Most students fell between Levels 2 and 5.
A few talented nobles reached Level 6.
Cheers erupted whenever stronger students appeared.
Soon—
"Kalen Vortex."
Kalen walked forward confidently.
The moment he touched the crystal—
BOOOOM!!
Bright crimson light exploded outward.
"Level 7!"
The audience erupted instantly.
"A Level 7 high school student?!"
"A genius!"
"As expected from Vortex family!"
Kalen smirked proudly while glancing toward Reskin.
Dugu swallowed nervously.
"He actually reached Level 7 already…"
Even instructors nodded approvingly.
Then—
"Reskin Bond."
The arena suddenly became quieter.
Several students whispered mockingly.
"The orphan?"
"He probably won't even pass Level 3."
Reskin calmly walked toward the crystal.
Inside his mind, Bali suddenly spoke.
"Control your output carefully."
"Hm?"
"If you release your real power here, chaos will begin immediately."
Reskin understood instantly.
A GOD-HORSIKEN's soul power would attract too much attention.
Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand against the crystal.
Warm energy flowed outward.
At first—
Nothing happened.
Some students laughed quietly.
Then suddenly—
CRACK.
A small fracture appeared across the crystal surface.
The instructor's eyes widened.
Reskin immediately pulled back his energy.
The crystal stabilized again before fully shattering.
Silence filled the arena.
The instructor stared at the readings in disbelief.
"…Level 5."
Murmurs spread everywhere.
"Only Level 5?"
"Then why did crystal crack?"
"Was it defective?"
Even instructors looked confused.
Only Bali laughed softly inside Reskin's mind.
"You nearly destroyed academy property."
"That thing is weaker than I expected."
As Reskin walked away, several instructors continued staring at him suspiciously.
Especially one woman standing high above the arena balcony.
She wore a white combat coat decorated with silver symbols.
Her sharp golden eyes followed Reskin carefully.
"Interesting…"
Beside her stood Professor Kaizen from the village lecture.
"You sensed it too?" he asked quietly.
The woman nodded slowly.
"For a second… I felt something ancient."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And terrifying."