Junyeok stared at the translucent status screen hovering before his eyes, its pale light reflecting faintly in his pupils. The numbers, the skills, the unfamiliar terms—everything about it felt strangely fascinating. A slow smirk formed on his lips.
So this is what its looks like now… interesting.
He closed the screen with a thought and adjusted his posture, hands tucked casually into his pockets.
I've already submitted my admission form, Junyeok thought. Now all that's left are the exams.
The idea didn't make him nervous. On the contrary, anticipation bubbled quietly in his chest.
This is going to be fun.
A few days later, Junyeok stood before the massive gates of a gigantic institute campus. Towering black stone pillars rose toward the sky, engraved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly as if alive. Suspended above the gates, forged from dark metal and glowing sigils, were the words:
Abyssal Contract Academy
The air itself felt heavier beyond the gates, dense with pressure and unseen power.
Nyxara looked up, eyes wide with awe.
"Whoa… what a huge place. But why are we here?"
Junyeok answered with a calm, confident smile.
"This is our new home for the next three years."
Nyxara blinked, then grinned.
This is going to be fun, Nyxara thought, an unmistakable excitement creeping into his voice.
They stepped inside.
The main hall was enormous—far larger than it appeared from the outside. A polished wooden floor stretched endlessly, reflecting the light of massive chandeliers hanging high above. At the far end stood a grand stage, its presence dominating the room.
More than three thousand students filled the hall, voices overlapping into a restless hum.
Then, silence fell.
A woman appeared on the stage as if she had always been there.
She had long silver hair cascading down her back and sharp red eyes that seemed to pierce through the crowd. Her posture was upright, dignified, exuding authority with every step she took. She wore formal attire accented with deep crimson, and a single blood-red pearl earring glimmered faintly beneath the lights.
She stopped before the microphone.
Her voice, when she spoke, was clear, cold, and unwavering.
"I am Balirik Claurade, the principal of Abyssal Contract Academy."
The hall remained silent.
"From this academy, many great contractors have graduated—individuals who reshaped the world beyond these walls." Her gaze swept across the students. "Only those with talent, discipline, and resolve can survive here."
A pause.
"Most students drop out long before graduation. Our enrollment retention rate does not exceed thirty-five percent, and our graduation rate is far lower than that."
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
"Those who believe they can live an easy life after enrolling should leave immediately."
Her eyes hardened.
"Very well. With that said—let us begin the first exam."
She stepped away from the microphone and turned to leave.
Junyeok watched her back, a faintly troubled smile tugging at his lips.
She hasn't changed at all.
Nyxara leaned closer and whispered, "That lady is scary… and she really stinks."
Junyeok's eyes narrowed slightly.
So Nyxara can sense it too…
Just before exiting, Balirik glanced back. Her eyes met Junyeok's, and for the briefest moment, a subtle smile appeared on her lips.
Junyeok felt a chill run down his spine.
Looks like I'm already in trouble.
Moments later, another figure appeared at the front of the hall.
He was a man in his early thirties with messy black hair and a casual white shirt loosely paired with a green tie. His expression looked permanently exhausted—dark circles beneath half-lidded eyes, as if sleep had long abandoned him. Standing beside him was a tiny skeleton perched on his shoulder.
The man yawned.
"My name is Han," he said lazily. "I'll be your examiner for this exam."
He gestured toward the skeleton.
"The rest will be explained by this little guy."
Without another word, Han dragged a chair over, sat down, and promptly fell asleep.
The skeleton hopped off his shoulder.
Midair, its bones expanded and reshaped until it stood at human height. A rough brown robe materialized around its frame, fluttering slightly as it landed.
"I am this sleepy guy's partner," the skeleton said, pointing back at Han. "Or you could say—his contract."
It turned toward the crowd.
"My name is Rusty Bones."
The hall erupted.
"Did you see that?"
"That echo just grew bigger!"
"It changed appearance!"
"It's talking—!"
Junyeok smiled quietly to himself.
Adult-level echo… how interesting.
Rusty Bones raised a bony hand, and the noise died down.
"I will now explain the rules and the point system of this academy," he said.
"In Abyssal Contract Academy, money holds no value. Instead, we use Academy Points, or AP."
A projection appeared above him.
"AP can be used to purchase services, facilities, room rentals, training sessions, extra meals, and various resources—both from the academy and from fellow students. In short, AP is your currency for survival and growth."
He paused.
"While most basic classes and facilities are free, advanced facilities and high-level instruction require AP."
Rusty Bones tapped his skull.
"AP will appear directly on your personal devices—yes, your smartphones—the moment you earn them. They are automatically transferred and recorded, so there is no need for concern."
The skeleton's empty eye sockets glowed faintly.
"You may now be wondering how to earn AP. The answer is simple."
"By completing class assignments. By winning tournaments and matches. By dueling other students for AP."
A thin grin spread across his skeletal face.
"And there are many other ways as well."
The hall fell into tense silence.
Junyeok's smirk returned.
Rusty Bones clapped his bony hands together, the sharp sound echoing through the vast hall.
"Alright then," he said, his hollow voice carrying a faint edge of excitement. "Let's talk about your exam."
He extended one finger and pointed toward the far side of the hall.
In response, dozens of blue portals shimmered into existence. They floated slightly above the ground, their surfaces rippling like water, radiating a cold, artificial glow that painted the students' faces in pale light.
"These portals," Rusty Bones continued, "will lead you to your designated NGVR rooms."
A murmur passed through the crowd.
"NGVR stands for Next Generation Virtual Reality," he explained. "Unlike ordinary virtual simulations, this system was developed by top-tier alchemists and researchers."
He paused deliberately.
"This means one thing—pain exists."
The atmosphere instantly grew heavier.
"Don't misunderstand," Rusty Bones added. "The monsters inside are not real, so you won't die for real. However, your senses will register damage almost perfectly. Fear, exhaustion, pain—you will feel them all."
Some students swallowed nervously.
"In the NGVR rooms, you will fight goblins. They are the weakest monsters known, classified as E-rank, so in theory, they should pose no major threat."
Junyeok's eyes narrowed slightly.
In theory.
"You will be disqualified if you fail to defeat at least three goblins," Rusty Bones said coldly, "or if you receive a fatal wound."
The word fatal sent a visible shiver through the crowd.
"The time limit is one hour."
A glowing counter briefly appeared above the portals before vanishing.
"For every goblin you kill, you will receive 10 Academy Points."
At that, expressions changed—fear mixed with hunger.
"But that's not all," Rusty Bones continued, clearly enjoying the shift. "We will be ranking all participants."
His empty sockets glowed brighter.
"First place will receive an additional 100 AP.
Second place—50 AP.
Third place—30 AP."
A pause.
"As for ranks four through ten—excluding first, second, and third—you will each receive 10 bonus AP."
The tension in the hall skyrocketed.
Competition ignited instantly.
"Before the exam begins," Rusty Bones said, lowering his voice, "you will be given 30 minutes to rest and prepare yourselves mentally."
He raised one finger.
"After that, the exam will begin immediately."
Another finger rose.
"All weapons will be provided by the academy. Personal weapons are strictly prohibited."
"So lets begin in next thirty minutes"