Two hours of sleep.
One cup of bitter, lukewarm mana coffee.
And zero hope for rcy.
It was exam day at Ashborn Academy—the most elite institution in the empire—and I was here to prove a point: Ashen Crimson is dead.
Only Ashen remains. And Ashen... doesn’t lose.
The academy gates lood tall, etched with magical runes that pulsed with judgnt. The entrance alone could scare the dreams out of a weak-willed noble.
Students flooded in—so confident, so shaking, so pretending to be confident while shaking. Robes of every color and sigil marked their affiliations. So were laughing, others were praying.
?
I walked through the crowd like a ghost with a grudge.
Inside, the Grand Hall was transford into an examination arena. Rows of desks extended endlessly under chandeliers suspended with light crystals. Enchantnts layered every surface—anti-cheating runes, ntal focus amplifiers, even mana suppressors.
They weren’t taking chances.
Neither was I.
"Mr. Ashen," a voice called.
Professor Vael, the chief examiner, stood at the entrance with his hands behind his back. Tall and lean, wrapped in indigo robes and cloaked in sarcasm, he looked like the personification of ’you’re about to fail.’
"You’ll be seated at 3-C," he said. "No talking, no mana manipulation. Good luck surviving."
"Appreciated," I said, voice cold and flat.
I reached my desk—and of course—was seated between two of my favorite headaches.
To my right:
Eren Whitehound, the living embodint of noble arrogance. With silver hair tied back, blue eyes glowing faintly with mana, and a smirk that scread, "My father can buy your soul," he looked far too ready to win.
To my left:
Aurelia. Blonde hair tied neatly in a braid, eyes that sparkled like sunlight on glass, and that sa warm smile she always had for Ashen.
"Good morning," she said gently.
"Let’s not," I replied, without turning.
She giggled. I hated how charming it sounded.
A holographic scroll appeared above my desk. Runes flickered as the scroll unfurled, revealing rows of intricate, soul-crushing questions.
A deep chi echoed across the hall.
[Written Examination Begins. Duration: 3 Hours.]
Q1. Identify and explain the core differences between mana-induced elental deviation and natural affinity shift.
Q2. Define the conditions required for a dual-elental contract between a mage and a Class B beast.
Q3. Diagram the optimal runic structure for sealing a C-rank corrupted zone.
Oh. These weren’t just tough.
They were intentionally cruel.
But lucky for , I had a little sothing called Ashen Crimson’s full academic mory, plus two months of prep, two hours of last-minute revisions, and one rage-fueled ego that refused to settle for anything but Rank 1.
I wrote with the confidence of a man who already knew the answers. Because I did.
Pen moved. Scroll filled. Ti passed.
Eren kept stealing glances. Aurelia looked occasionally surprised when I turned my scroll for a second revision, already done. Most others were still on the second page.
By hour two, I was reviewing paragraph structures. By hour three, I was staring at the chandelier.
When the chi echoed again, marking the end of the exam, I leaned back, arms crossed, satisfied.
[Exam Concluded. Results at Midnight.]
Students shuffled out like the undead—pale, stressed, empty. Even Eren looked unsettled.
"You look smug," he said, walking beside .
"No. I look correct."
He scoffed. "We’ll see tonight."
Later That Night
My hotel room was quiet. Dim candlelight. Rain tapping the window like nervous fingers.
I waited.
11:59...
DING!
[Written Exam Results Released]
Rank Achieved: #1
Reward: All Stats 10]
[Updated Stats]
Level: 4
Rank: D
Physical Strength: C
Mana: SS
Speed: C
Charm: SS
Luck: E
Affinity: Shadow, ????, ????, ????, ????
Skills: Shadow Bind, Shadow Bomb, Shadow Creation, Shadow Army
Familiars: Volkin (Silver Wolf - E Rank), Shadow Army (4 mbers: Goblin, Skeleton, Kobalt, Lizardman)
I sat still for a mont.
Then I let out a slow, evil smile.
"#1," I whispered. "Take that, Eren."
DING!
[New Quest Unlocked: Place in Top 10 in Physical Test – Reward: All Stats 20]
[Place 1st in Combined Rank – Reward: New Affinity ???]
"System..." I said aloud.
[Yes, your majesty of diocrity?]
"Charm SS. Written exam Rank 1.
I’m on fire. Admit it."
[Yes. You’re a flaming trash barrel. But now you’re a shiny one.]
I laughed.
Next Morning
I woke up at the ungodly hour of 11 A.M.
Dragged myself out. Trained all day.
Practiced mana control until blood trickled from my nose and puke decorated the grass.
Volkin growled, concerned.
Even the skeleton looked worried.
But I couldn’t afford to fail the physical test—not when that charm penalty cost my only excuse to flirt my way to the top.
DING!
[Stats Updated After Training Session]
Physical Strength: B
Speed: B
Mana: SS
Charm: S
Luck: E
Level: 4
Rank: D
Skills: Shadow Bind, Shadow Bomb, Shadow Creation, Shadow Army
Familiars: Volkin (Silver Wolf), Shadow Army (4)
Tomorrow, I fight.
Not just to survive.
But to prove sothing.
That Ashen is no longer the bullied boy from the Crimson estate.
He’s the man who will burn this academy to the ground... with shadows.
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