Chapter 4 — The Hidden Monster
The atmosphere inside the examination arena became heavier after the Soul Power Evaluation ended.
Students whispered nervously among themselves while instructors reviewed the results on floating crystal screens above the stadium.
Most participants had already been eliminated.
Only around one thousand students remained.
Reskin quietly stood beside Dugu near the waiting area while observing the enormous battlefield ahead.
"So Level 5, huh?" Dugu said while crossing his arms suspiciously.
Reskin remained calm.
"What about it?"
Dugu narrowed his eyes.
"You're hiding something."
Inside his mind, Bali laughed softly.
"Your friend is smarter than he appears."
"Not helping," Reskin replied mentally.
Dugu blinked.
"…Why are you staring into space?"
"Thinking."
"You look guilty when you think."
Before Reskin could answer, a loud voice echoed throughout the stadium.
"Second Examination!"
The entire arena instantly became silent.
An enormous armored instructor stepped onto the battlefield carrying a giant axe over his shoulder.
His muscular body alone looked terrifying.
"This round will test combat ability," he announced loudly.
The giant crystal screens above the arena suddenly changed.
Names began appearing rapidly.
"Participants will fight academy-controlled Soul Beasts inside isolated combat zones."
Several students looked relieved.
At least they were not fighting each other yet.
"Victory conditions are simple," the instructor continued. "Defeat the beast or survive for ten minutes."
A cruel smile appeared on his face.
"However…"
The battlefield beneath him suddenly split apart.
BOOOOOOM!!
Massive underground gates slowly opened.
The moment students saw what emerged—
Fear spread everywhere.
Gigantic monsters.
Some looked like armored lions while others resembled giant reptiles covered in spikes. One beast had three glowing eyes and claws larger than swords.
"These are all real combat-class Soul Beasts," the instructor declared proudly.
Many students instantly turned pale.
Some even stepped backward nervously.
"These monsters were captured from the outer wilderness regions. Their strength equals trained fighters between Soul Levels 5 and 8."
Dugu swallowed hard.
"…We're dead."
"Calm down," Reskin replied quietly.
"You say that because you're weirdly confident now!"
The instructor raised one hand.
"Combat begins immediately. Participants will enter one at a time."
Soon battles started across multiple arenas simultaneously.
Some students performed impressively.
Others were defeated within seconds.
One boy with a lightning-type Horsiken managed to defeat a giant wolf using pure speed.
A noble girl controlled ice chains to trap her opponent before striking its weak point.
But many students failed horribly.
Screams echoed repeatedly as injured participants were carried away by medical teams.
"This exam is brutal…" Dugu muttered nervously.
"That is how real combat works," Bali said calmly inside Reskin's mind. "Weakness leads to death."
Reskin silently watched the battles.
Bali was right.
The academy wasn't training heroes.
It was creating survivors.
Soon—
"Kalen Vortex!"
Cheers erupted immediately.
Kalen confidently walked into the battlefield while his Flame Fang Horsiken appeared beside him surrounded by blazing fire.
His opponent was a gigantic armored gorilla nearly three meters tall.
The beast roared violently.
BOOOOM!!
The battle began instantly.
Kalen moved surprisingly fast.
"Flame Claw!"
His wolf released burning red flames that exploded across the battlefield. The gorilla charged forward angrily, smashing the ground beneath its fists.
But Kalen skillfully avoided every attack.
Several students watched with admiration.
"He's strong…"
"That movement technique is amazing."
Kalen suddenly jumped high into the air.
"Burning Fang Strike!"
His wolf lunged forward like a flaming missile.
BOOOOM!!
The explosion covered the battlefield in fire.
When the smoke cleared—
The gorilla collapsed unconscious.
The audience erupted into cheers.
"Winner!"
Kalen smirked proudly while leaving the battlefield.
As he passed by Reskin, he stopped briefly.
"Try not to embarrass yourself."
Then he walked away confidently.
Dugu looked annoyed.
"That guy seriously acts like he already owns the academy."
"He's strong," Reskin admitted calmly.
"But not dangerous."
Inside his mind, Bali laughed.
"You speak like a predator already."
Suddenly—
"Dugu Arlen!"
Dugu froze instantly.
"…I think I'm going to die."
"You'll survive."
"That's easy for YOU to say!"
Despite complaining, Dugu still walked bravely toward the battlefield.
His bonded Horsiken appeared beside him—a small stone-armored beast resembling a wolf mixed with a bear.
"Earthback Cub," Bali commented. "Decent defensive type."
Dugu's opponent was a long serpent creature covered in poisonous spikes.
The battle began immediately.
At first, Dugu struggled badly.
The serpent moved too quickly.
Several attacks nearly struck him directly.
"Move left!" Reskin suddenly shouted from outside the arena.
Dugu reacted instantly.
WHOOSH!!
A poisonous spike barely missed his face.
"Use defense first!" Reskin continued.
Dugu gritted his teeth.
"Stone Guard!"
His Horsiken slammed the ground, creating a rocky shield that blocked another incoming strike.
The crowd watched carefully.
Little by little, Dugu started adapting.
Eventually—
BOOOOM!!
Using perfect timing, he trapped the serpent beneath collapsing stone pillars.
"Winner!"
Dugu nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
"I ACTUALLY DID IT!!"
Reskin smiled slightly.
For someone always joking around, Dugu had courage when it mattered.
After several more matches—
"Reskin Bond."
The arena became quieter again.
Many students still remembered the cracked crystal from earlier.
Reskin calmly walked toward the battlefield while whispers spread around the audience.
"That weird guy?"
"He's only Level 5 though."
"I heard the crystal reacted strangely because of him."
High above the arena balcony, the white-haired instructor watched silently.
Professor Kaizen stood beside her.
"You're interested in him?"
The woman narrowed her golden eyes slightly.
"There's something unnatural about that boy."
Meanwhile, Reskin entered the battlefield.
A huge metal gate slowly opened across from him.
Heavy footsteps echoed loudly.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Then—
A massive black beast emerged.
The crowd gasped instantly.
The creature resembled a giant tiger covered in dark armor-like scales. Purple energy leaked from its mouth while glowing red eyes stared directly at Reskin.
"Shadow Fang Beast," an instructor muttered in surprise.
"That's too dangerous for Level 5 participants."
Even the examiners looked confused.
"This beast should belong in advanced testing rounds…"
Dugu's face turned pale.
"Why did THEY give him that thing?!"
The Shadow Fang Beast suddenly roared.
BOOOOOOM!!
Dark energy exploded outward across the battlefield.
Several weaker students instinctively stepped backward from fear.
But Reskin remained calm.
Inside his mind, Bali spoke quietly.
"Interesting."
"You know this beast?"
"A descendant species from ancient war beasts."
The Shadow Fang Beast lowered its body before charging forward like a black missile.
CRASH!!
The battlefield shattered beneath its claws.
Many students screamed.
"It's too fast!"
"Move, idiot!"
But Reskin simply stood still.
At the last second—
His eyes glowed gold.
"Gravity Erase."
WHOOSH.
The world slowed instantly.
Dust froze in the air.
The monster's movements became incredibly slow.
Inside his domain, everything felt silent.
Reskin calmly stepped sideways.
BOOOOM!!
The beast flew past him and crashed violently into a wall.
The audience froze.
"…What just happened?"
"He dodged?"
"No… I couldn't even SEE him move!"
Even instructors looked shocked.
The Shadow Fang Beast recovered quickly and roared again before launching another attack.
This time even faster.
Reskin sighed softly.
"You're loud."
The beast swung massive claws toward his head.
Again—
WHOOSH.
Gravity Erase activated.
This time Reskin lightly touched the beast's arm while manipulating gravity around it.
Suddenly—
CRACK!!
The creature slammed violently into the ground as if crushed by an invisible mountain.
The entire battlefield shook.
The audience stood speechless.
The Shadow Fang Beast struggled desperately but couldn't stand.
Its own body weight had multiplied enormously.
Reskin slowly walked toward it calmly.
To everyone watching…
It looked like the monster had simply collapsed before him.
Only Bali understood what truly happened.
"Excellent control," the GOD-HORSIKEN praised quietly.
The beast roared angrily and tried gathering dark energy inside its mouth.
Bali's voice became serious.
"End it."
Reskin nodded slightly.
He raised one hand.
Then—
Gravity vanished completely beneath the monster.
The giant beast suddenly floated upward helplessly.
Its eyes widened in panic.
The audience exploded into chaos.
"IT'S FLYING?!"
"What kind of skill is that?!"
"Gravity-type ability?!"
Even the instructors stood up from shock.
Gravity manipulation abilities were unbelievably rare.
Before anyone could fully react—
Reskin closed his fist.
BOOOOM!!
The invisible gravity instantly returned.
The monster crashed into the ground with terrifying force.
CRAAAAASH!!
The battlefield shattered.
Dust exploded everywhere.
Several students screamed from fear.
When the smoke finally cleared—
The Shadow Fang Beast lay unconscious inside a massive crater.
Complete silence filled the arena.
Reskin stood calmly at the center while wind moved through his black hair.
Not a single scratch existed on his body.
Even the instructors looked speechless.
High above the arena—
The white-haired instructor slowly stood up.
Her golden eyes narrowed sharply.
"…Impossible."
Professor Kaizen looked equally serious.
"That wasn't normal soul manipulation."
Meanwhile below—
Kalen stared at Reskin with disbelief and anger.
"How…"
For the first time in years—
He felt threatened.
Truly threatened.
Inside the battlefield, Reskin suddenly realized everyone was staring at him.
"…Did I overdo it?"
Bali answered instantly.
"Yes."
"…Oops."
The giant axe instructor finally recovered from shock.
"…W-WINNER!"
The entire arena exploded into noise.
"That attack was insane!"
"He crushed a Shadow Fang Beast!"
"Who exactly IS that guy?!"
As Reskin calmly walked out of the battlefield, countless eyes followed him.
Fear.
Curiosity.
Jealousy.
Respect.
Everything had changed.
And deep within the academy stands—
Some very dangerous people had already started noticing him.