The road ended where the sky seemed to widen. He stood still for a moment, his gaze lifting toward the massive structure ahead of him. The entrance grounds of Cheonryeong Grand Academy stretched far beyond what he had imagined, a vast elevated platform carved from white stone, engraved with ancient patterns that pulsed faintly with energy.
It wasn't just large—it felt imposing, as if the place itself carried a will that observed those who stepped onto it.
Crowds had already gathered. Hundreds… no, thousands of candidates stood across the platform, their presence filling the air with tension and ambition.
Some stood confidently, radiating power even without doing anything, while others tried to hide their nervousness behind calm expressions. Above them, multiple floating recording arrays hovered silently, capturing everything from different angles.
"…Live broadcast," he thought, glancing upward briefly.
Across the country, countless eyes were watching. Not just ordinary people, but guilds, academies, organizations, and hidden forces—everyone looking for talent worth investing in.
"…So this is the stage."
He stepped forward. The moment his foot crossed onto the platform, he felt it.
Pressure.
Not overwhelming—but enough to remind him where he was. This wasn't a place for the weak.
Not today.
As he moved further in, he noticed figures standing along the edges of the platform, separated from the candidates. Their presence alone made the atmosphere heavier. These weren't students.
They were powerful. Very powerful.
"…High-rank individuals," he concluded silently.
From the memories and knowledge he had gathered, power in this world wasn't just defined by awakening rank. There was another system—more precise, more brutal.
A numerical classification.
From Level 1… to beyond Level 90.
Below Level 30 were considered ordinary combatants.
Level 30 to 60 marked true professionals—those who could survive in dungeons and battles consistently.
Level 60 to 80 were elites—individuals capable of leading, shaping outcomes, dominating battlefields.
And above that—
Level 90.
A realm where one's existence alone carried weight.
A realm where individuals were no longer simply strong—
But absolute.
"…So those are the kind of people watching…"
His eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained calm.
After some time, the murmurs across the platform gradually quieted as a figure appeared at the center stage.
No one saw him arrive. He was simply there. A tall man, dressed in dark formal attire, his presence calm yet suffocatingly heavy. His eyes swept across the platform, not with arrogance, but with quiet authority.
"Kang Jinhyuk," someone whispered nearby.
"The examiner…"
"…He's a Level92."
The words spread instantly.
Level 92.
A being standing firmly above the threshold of 90. The man—Kang Jinhyuk—took a single step forward, and the air itself seemed to respond. A subtle wave of energy spread outward, invisible yet unmistakable.
It passed through everyone.
A scan.
A measurement.
A silent evaluation.
For a brief moment, it felt as though nothing could be hidden.
Then—
He spoke.
"This year…"
His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached every corner of the platform effortlessly.
"…is better than expected."
A faint nod followed, as if acknowledging something only he could fully see.
"The quality has improved."
A ripple of reactions spread among the candidates, some straightening slightly, others exhaling in relief.
But he didn't linger on that.
"Listen carefully,"
Kang Jinhyuk continued, his gaze steady.
"The entrance examination of Cheonryeong Grand Academy is simple in structure."
A brief pause.
"Passing it… is not."
Silence fell completely.
"The test is divided into three stages."
His voice carried no unnecessary emphasis, yet every word felt deliberate.
"First—Physical Evolution."
A faint shift in the platform occurred as distant mechanisms activated.
"You will be tested based on your body's current state. Strength, speed, endurance, and control. This is not about talent—it is about foundation."
His gaze swept across the candidates.
"Those who cannot maintain stability under pressure… will fail."
A subtle tension spread through the crowd.
"Second—Talent and Blessing Evaluation."
A low hum resonated from the central structure behind him.
"This stage measures your awakened potential. Not just rank—but compatibility, growth, and depth."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Many of you rely too much on your rank."
A faint pause.
"This stage will correct that illusion."
The weight of those words sank deeply.
Then—
"The final stage."
For the first time, a slight shift appeared in his tone.
"Combat."
A ripple of anticipation moved across the platform.
"Those who pass the first two stages will enter one-on-one battles."
His gaze sharpened.
"No restrictions on style."
"No restrictions on approach."
"Victory is all that matters."
A brief silence followed.
"From there…"
His voice slowed slightly.
"The top ten will be determined."
The atmosphere tightened instantly. Top ten. Not just passing—But standing above all others.
"And their rewards,"
he continued,
"will not be equal."
Every candidate listened more intently now.
"The top ten will receive direct admission."
A few eyes widened.
"The top five will receive elite mentorship opportunities within the academy."
A heavier silence followed.
"And the top three…"
For a brief moment, even the air seemed to hold its breath.
"…will gain access to restricted resources."
Whispers began forming again, quieter this time, more intense.
But Kang Jinhyuk didn't stop.
"And the one who stands at the top…"
His gaze moved across the crowd once more.
"…will receive a personal selection right. And a personaldome will be provided to them."
A pause.
"They may choose a mentor."
A deeper pause.
"Or…"
"…be chosen."
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because everyone understood what that meant. To be chosen—By someone beyond even this stage. Kang Jinhyuk turned slightly, as if the explanation was complete.
"The test begins shortly."
His presence remained unchanged, yet his final words carried a quiet certainty.
"Do not disappoint."
The moment he stepped back—The platform shifted. The first stage was about to begin. And with it, The path to the pinnacle had truly opened.
---
To be continued..