At the end of the corridor, a large door came into view. The receptionist stopped in front of it and pushed it open.
A rush of noise spilled out immediately.
The bright lit space beyond was far larger than Kevin had expected, resembling an indoor arena rather than a simple testing room. The ceiling arched high above, supported by thick beams, while the ground was reinforced with smooth tiles of unknown material, mostly likely a technology used to absorb impact or ambient mana in the surroundings. Looking around, there seemed to be about eight scattered or so people.
The atmosphere was tense, heavy with anticipation.
"Stand over there," the receptionist instructed, pointing toward an open section of the arena. "An examiner will arrive shortly."
He nodded and walked forward.
As he took his position, a subtle force entered his sensory range.
«Mana.»
Ever since his core had been awakened, Kevin could feel it more clearly. The air here was dense with it, far thicker than what he was used to outside.
Perhaps it was because of his [Mana Sensitivity] that he was able to perceive and control it more fluidly than others.
Even Sera, a literal succubus, had shown a hint of envy toward his natural aptitude.
"Status."
At his command, a translucent screen appeared before him. Kevin's eyes moved across the familiar interface as he reviewed his current parameters:
[Player Profile]
Name: Kevin Pierce | ID: 0047
Aether Core: V
Attributes: [Mana Sensitivity], [Transmigrator]
Stats:
| Strength: D
| Agility: D+
| Constitution: D
| Mana Capacity: C-
It was a clear improvement.
Before awakening his Mana Core, all his stats had been at E, with his Mana Capacity listed as unknown. Now, not only had his physical attributes risen by an entire rank, but his Mana Capacity had stabilized at a respectable level.
But it was nowhere near the level of a true powerhouse.
For comparison, Kevin took a glance at Sera's attributes... and immediately grimaced.
Name: Sera Aoife | Contractor: Kevin Pierce
Demon Core: VII
Attributes: [Succubi], [Fire Keeper], [Magician]
Stats:
| Strength: E
| Agility: C
| Constitution: B
| Mana Capacity: S
Soul Ability: [Ignition]
Techniques: [Charm], [Drain], [Telekinesis], [Flame Shunpo], [Crimson Pact], [Shapeshift].
The difference was too ridiculous.
While he struggled to claw his way out of mediocrity, Sera was already standing leagues above him in terms of raw capability. That overwhelming Mana Capacity alone was enough to tilt most encounters in her favor.
But he had noticed a few differences, though.
The first thing was their respective cores.
His was an Aether Core.
Hers was a Demon Core.
Even without any formal explanation, the distinction felt significant. Kevin could sense it instinctively. The energy flowing within him was refined, voluminous, almost… adaptable. It responded to his will with a certain fluidity, like water taking the shape of its container.
Sera's, on the other hand, was entirely different.
If his Mana was a calm current, hers was a blazing inferno barely contained beneath the surface. It wasn't stronger, but much more aggressive by nature. Additionally, she was a demon while he was human, which likely explained the absurd gap in their Mana Capacity.
But for some strange reason, he felt there were some undiscovered mysteries in his Aether Core. Of course, he didn't have enough knowledge to make an accurate conclusion.
The second difference lay in their Attributes.
Kevin's were simple and straightforward: [Mana Sensitivity] and [Transmigrator].
They were both useful attributes but not inherently powerful on their own. They granted him extreme capability over mana and accelerated growth respectively, but they didn't provide direct any combat power whatsoever.
Sera's, however, were on an entirely different level.
[Succubi] was self-explanatory. [Fire Keeper] hinted at a deep affinity with destructive flames. And lastly [Magician]…
That one was vague, but also the most dangerous. It was probably the source of her long list of abilities.
In short, she was built for power while he was built for potential.
Kevin clicked his tongue quietly, dismissing the comparison altogether. There was no point dwelling on it.
If anything, it only reinforced what he already knew.
He had a long way to go.
A sudden shift in the air snapped his focus back to reality.
The ambient Mana in the arena stirred, as if reacting to something. Conversations died down, replaced by an unspoken tension that spread across the room.
Curious, he raised his head and looked around only to grow silent too.
Step–! Step–! Step–!
Four silhouettes emerged from the far end of the arena, their presence alone enough to draw every gaze. There was no dramatic entrance, nor excessive display of power… yet the power they emitted from their bodies was quite scary. Amongst them was a woman with short jet-black hair that grabbed his attention.
Most likely, the superior.
Compared to the others, her aura was overwhelmingly vast, to the point where he couldn't even begin to perceive its depth. It felt endless, like staring into an abyss with no bottom in sight.
In the presence of such a titan, even Sera would seem like a child.
Could she be a player? Kelvin briefly entertained that possibility but shook his head in doubt.
It was unlikely.
Moreover, Kevin didn't feel that she belonged to "their" world.
Like an animal instinctively recognizing its own kind, he was certain he would be able to tell at a glance if she were a player. This woman did not have the "scent" of someone from the same world as him.
In other words, she was simply an absurdly powerful individual.
"Hm."
The woman's gaze swept across the candidates, pausing briefly on each of them before moving on. When those eyes passed over Kevin, it felt as though he had been seen through completely.
Fortunately, it was just his imagination as she quickly turned her head away.
The pressure lingered even after her gaze moved on. Around him, the other candidates reacted in their own ways. Some straightened their posture, others avoided eye contact entirely, while a few stared in thinly veiled awe.
The four figures came to a halt at the center of the arena.
Without a word, the air seemed to settle.
Then, one of the men stepped forward, his presence firm but far less suffocating than the woman's. He wore glasses and carried a clipboard in hand, scanning the group with quiet efficiency.
"So these are today's applicants."
His calm voice echoed slightly across the arena. It was almost soothing if not for the occasion.
"Well… we can't linger here all day. Let's begin at once."