[4th June]
Vyraazeth.
The heart of the Dragon Kingdom.
Rey's second day in the capital began later than intended.
Not because he was lazy.
Because the night before had refused to end.
Unpacking.
Reorganizing.
Setting up what he believed would be his personal training hall.
He had pushed himself until well past midnight, carefully converting the massive upper hall into a functional training space. Adjusting balance points. Clearing furniture. Measuring angles.
Only to wake up in the morning and learn something infuriating.
There was already a dedicated training room.
A basement-level private gym.
Soundproofed. Reinforced. Designed for martial use.
When the two servants casually mentioned it over breakfast, Rey had almost laughed in disbelief.
Almost.
A whole night of effort.
Gone.
Wasted.
For a brief moment, irritation surged in his chest. Not explosive. Just… tired.
But after a quiet walkthrough of the estate, seeing room after room designed with unsettling precision, he calmed down.
This wasn't a house.
It was infrastructure.
His first day in the capital hadn't been peaceful either.
Yesterday, he'd visited the Martial Market.
Sold everything.
11.5 million Dracins.
For a few seconds, the number had felt unreal.
Then he spent seven million of it on weapons.
Just like that.
The real blow, though, came afterwards.
A three-million Dracin deposit.
His mind had gone blank the moment the blacksmith stated the amount. Words had left his mouth on instinct, some cool novel line he barely remembered.
The silence that followed had been unbearable.
He'd regretted it instantly.
Walked out without looking back, heart hammering, half-expecting guards or ridicule or something worse.
None came.
Still, the embarrassment lingered.
And today?
Today was worse.
"You're being watched more closely," Aiden warned, hovering above Rey's head while he ate.
Rey paused mid-bite.
'How many now?' he asked calmly.
"Roughly twenty strong ones," Aiden replied. "At least peak-stage Apprentices. And over fifty weaker observers scattered around."
Rey exhaled slowly.
'So around seventy-six total,' he muttered. 'What am I carrying, a bomb?'
Four more than yesterday.
They hadn't even given him a day to breathe.
"And yes," Aiden continued, "those twenty stronger signatures most likely belong to a Duke House, maybe. Some of them were already present back in your hometown."
Rey nodded absently, chewing in silence.
The caretaker maid noticed his repeated nodding and hesitated.
"Sir… do you need something?" she asked politely.
Rey startled slightly.
"Oh—no. Nothing. You can go. I'll call if I need anything."
She bowed and left.
Aiden spun lazily. "You're jumpy. She's harmless."
"I know," Rey replied quietly. "I just… don't want people around me right now."
He stared at the table.
"It's fine with family. With people I care about. But with others…" He frowned. "I feel detached. Like being alone is safer."
Aiden studied him for a moment.
"That's not the curse," he said finally. "That's what happens when someone your age starts thinking about things far beyond their years."
Rey didn't respond.
"You're standing at the edge of a path meant for those who challenge the world itself," Aiden continued. "That kind of thinking isolates people. It always has."
He didn't say what Veylen had warned.
Didn't say the word doomed.
Because Aiden had already decided something else.
Even if fate demanded it.
Even if the curse tightened.
He would fight it.
"I guess you're right," Rey said at last, shaking his head. "It shouldn't affect me this early."
He finished his meal.
Aiden vanished, thoughts heavy.
The dining hall fell silent.
After breakfast, Rey stood up.
"I'm heading out for the exam registration," he said instinctively.
No reply came.
He blinked… then sighed.
Old habits.
"Okay, sir," the butler replied, misinterpreting the comment. "We'll take care of the house."
Rey nodded and stepped outside.
No concealment.
No skills.
Today, he was just another citizen.
He walked to the main road and waited for a taxi.
The registration center was far.
A few minutes later, one stopped.
As the car started moving, Rey frowned.
"Wait," he said. "You didn't even ask where I'm going."
The driver stiffened.
"Oh—sorry! Registration Hall, right? Everyone's going there these days. Eight out of ten passengers. I just assumed."
He spoke quickly, clearly nervous.
Rey chuckled softly.
"Relax. I was asking, not threatening. And yes, that's where I'm headed."
The driver visibly relaxed.
"Sorry… had a martial artist yesterday. Nearly wrecked my car."
Rey's expression cooled slightly.
"Using strength to bully others," he said. "That's just stupidity."
The ride continued.
Conversation flowed naturally after that.
The driver was young. Easygoing. Normal.
And before Rey realised it, they had arrived.
"Here you go," the driver said, stopping a little away from the rush.
"Thanks," Rey replied, paying before stepping out.
The building stood tall at the center of a wide plaza.
Massive. Official. Overwhelming.
And the crowd—
It was insane.
People packed the entrance so tightly it was hard to tell where the line even began.
Staff members shouted instructions. Failed. Tried again.
No one dared cross the gate.
A man stood there.
Spear strapped to his back.
Still.
Silent.
Rey approached and was immediately directed to the line.
He glanced around.
'So even after three days…'
The registration had opened on June 1st.
Yet the numbers hadn't dropped at all.
If anything, they'd grown.
"Looks like evening at minimum," Rey sighed, assuming, moving to the back.
Within seconds, fifty more people joined behind him.
Aiden appeared again.
"Competition's fierce," he remarked.
Three massive lines stretched outward, nearly touching the road.
Staff struggled to manage them.
After fifteen minutes, the desks were finally set outside.
Two staff per desk.
One by one, candidates approached.
The spear-bearing martial artist nodded his approval.
Rey felt it clearly.
Apprentice rank. At least.
"Forget him," Aiden said quietly. "Look behind you."
The line kept growing.
Rey clenched his jaw.
'Are people from other kingdoms coming too?'
He didn't fear the tests.
But the rounds.
The elimination.
And waiting another year wasn't an option.
Next year… wouldn't allow it.
He tried speaking to the person in front.
Ignored.
The guy behind him was too busy flirting with a girl.
So Rey waited.
Silent.
Patient.
Watching the capital that watched him back.
...
Two full hours.
That was how long Rey stood beneath the merciless sun.
The heat pressed down on the plaza like a living thing, baking stone, steel, and flesh alike. Sweat-soaked clothes.
Tempers frayed. Some people had long since abandoned patience, stepping out of line to buy water, only to lose their place forever.
Rey, however, stood calmly.
His breathing was steady.
His posture relaxed.
Thanks to the resistance he had built long ago, the heat barely bothered him. He had even prepared in advance, carrying his own water bottle. Every few minutes, he took a measured sip, watching others curse their luck as they left the line and never returned.
Slowly, painfully, the line crawled forward.
Three people.
Only three stood between him and the desk now.
Behind him, the line hadn't shortened at all.
If anything, it looked longer.
'So this is the capital,' Rey thought dryly. 'Endless people. Endless ambition.'
For a brief moment earlier, he had considered leaving and returning later. That thought had died instantly once he saw the size of the crowd.
This wasn't something you postponed.
At the desks, each candidate took roughly a minute. Papers. Instructions. Verification.
And then—
Finally.
His turn.
As Rey stepped forward, he felt it.
A gaze.
Sharp. Focused. Heavy.
The spear-bearing martial artist at the gate was staring directly at him.
Not casually.
Not curiously.
Intently.
'What,' Rey wondered, 'does he think I am? Prey?'
Ignoring the stare, Rey walked up to the desk.
The staff member seated there looked half-dead from exhaustion. Dark circles under dull eyes. His pen moved mechanically as he stacked papers and pulled out a fresh sheet.
"Name," the man muttered, barely awake.
"Rey."
The pen paused.
"Full name," the staff member said, irritation creeping into his voice.
Rey didn't hesitate.
"Rey Dragonstorm."
The pen stopped completely.
The man froze.
"…Huh?" He raised his head slowly, eyes unfocused at first, then sharpening. "What did you say?"
"I said," Rey repeated, his voice calm but slightly louder now, "my name is Rey Dragonstorm."
Silence.
Not just at the desk.
Across the entire front section.
Every nearby staff member turned to look at him.
Dragonstorm.
In the Dragon Kingdom, that name wasn't obscure.
It was infamous.
A fallen Duke family.
A bloodline forgotten after the Patriarch's death.
A name spoken only in whispers or history texts.
"Don't joke around, kid," the staff member snapped reflexively. "Give me your real name and move along. There are people waiting."
Rey met his eyes.
No smile.
No arrogance.
Just quiet certainty.
The staff member hesitated.
Then, slowly, he glanced back toward the spear-bearing martial artist.
The man gave a subtle nod.
"Write it," he said flatly. "And mark it carefully."
That was enough.
The staff member swallowed and began writing.
The rest of the process followed standard protocol.
Age.
Contact information.
City of origin.
Rey answered cleanly, deliberately omitting his exact address and giving only what was required. No more. No less.
When it was done, the staff member handed him a sheet.
"Proceed inside."
Rey turned and walked past the desk.
Eyes followed him.
Some curious.
Some stunned.
Some… calculating.
He didn't notice the staff member quietly placing his page into a separate stack, marked differently from the others.
As Rey passed the spear-bearing martial artist, the man's gaze sharpened even further.
For a split second, their eyes met.
Rey felt it then.
Not killing intent.
Something colder.
Like a blade resting against skin without cutting.
Aiden sensed it instantly. So did the others.
Rey only felt a vague pressure, an instinctive warning.
He walked past without a word.
'If he tries something,' Rey thought calmly, 'I'll put him down.'
Inside the hall, the crowd thinned.
The vast interior had been divided into multiple smaller sections. Rey chose the nearest one, where only a single person stood ahead of him.
After a short wait, that person was called inside.
Two minutes later, a staff member beckoned Rey forward.
He glanced back.
Three more people had already taken his place in line.
Good timing.
Inside the section were two desks.
One held stacks of documents.
The other held something else entirely.
A crude sphere rested on a metal stand.
It pulsed faintly.
Rey felt it instantly.
Energy.
Not mana as he knew it. Something structured. Evaluative.
With his Eternal Darkness Body, he could sense the difference clearly.
'What is that thing…?'
"Hey," the staff member snapped, pulling his attention back. "Hand over the page and stand there."
Rey complied without comment.
The man took the paper—
And froze.
The exhaustion drained from his face as his eyes darted between the name and Rey himself.
He swallowed hard.
"…You may proceed," he said quickly, pointing toward the sphere.
Rey stepped forward.
The second staff member gestured calmly.
"Place your hand on the orb," he instructed. "And don't resist. No matter what you feel."
Rey nodded.
He placed his palm against the cold surface.
The moment his skin made contact—
The sphere pulsed.
And something deep within Rey responded.
The orb pulsed.
A faint tremor ran through it as Rey felt something slip into his body.
For a brief second, his senses rang.
Not pain.
Not discomfort.
Just… intrusion.
A system-like ripple echoed inside him, sharp and fleeting, as if something had scanned him and moved on.
Before Rey could react—
"Don't do anything foolish, kid. Let me handle it."
Victor's voice echoed calmly from behind.
Rey felt the strange energy quietly circulate through his body, moving across his muscles, bones, and internal pathways before retreating the way it had come.
Yet—
Not all of it is left.
A thin fragment lingered.
It settled somewhere close to his mana veins, faint but undeniable. Rey could feel it clearly, yet no matter how hard he focused, he couldn't pinpoint its exact location.
His eyes slowly opened.
"What… was that?" Rey asked as he withdrew his hand from the orb, prompted by the staff member's signal.
The man exhaled lightly.
"Hah. That's an Acolyte-ranked beast core," he explained. "One taken from a highly sensitive energy-based beast. Mid-tier quality."
He glanced at Rey.
"You felt a current pass through your body, didn't you? It was the Qi stored within that core; you shouldn't worry about that."
Rey nodded.
The staff member gestured toward the earlier desk. "Go back there."
Rey complied, casting one last glance at the dull-glowing sphere before returning.
"So," the man continued, flipping through Rey's file, "you haven't cultivated yet, correct?"
Rey nodded again without hesitation.
He was certain the orb had already revealed that much.
"Hm." The man hummed softly. "Then… any prior experience with weapons?"
"No," Rey answered bluntly. "I'm new."
He had briefly considered lying.
But officially, he had never wielded a weapon in public.
"Alright." The man reached beside him and pulled out three thin books. "For newcomers, we offer one free manual. It's meant to keep you from falling too far behind."
His gaze lingered on Rey, sharp and suspicious, as if weighing his words.
The three books were placed on the desk.
Rey examined them carefully.
The first read:
A basic foundational manual.
The second:
Covering spears, polearms, and long-shafted weapons.
The third:
A guide detailing bows, their strengths, weaknesses, and fundamentals.
While Rey read, the man continued working.
A small, hard-plastic badge, his Applicant number, was printed and slid across the desk.
19,082
Rey picked it up but didn't take any books yet.
"Hm?" The staff member frowned. "What's wrong? Changed your mind?"
"No," Rey replied honestly. "I'm just thinking. I can't decide. Can you help?"
The man scoffed lightly.
"Hah. We don't have time to guide everyone, but listen carefully."
He tapped the desk.
"Swords are the most common. Balanced. Straightforward. Most people choose them."
He pointed to the second book.
"Spears are less common but effective. Reach advantage. Popular among disciplined fighters."
Then the third.
"Bows are the least chosen. Long-range. Weak in one-on-one fights, but excellent for support, especially at lower strength levels."
He leaned back.
"All three contain basic foundations and a single introductory technique. Choose."
Rey stared at the books silently.
Then—
"Can I take all three?"
"No." The answer came instantly. "One only. That's the rule. If you want more, buy them from the Martial Mall."
"I see."
Rey reached out.
"Then I choose this."
He slid two books back and kept one.
The staff member paused.
Surprised.
He didn't comment.
His job wasn't to teach. Only to record.
He marked Rey's file accordingly.
"I should warn you," the man said seriously. "This competition isn't safe. You can get injured. I strongly recommend obtaining a weapon that matches your chosen manual."
He glanced at Rey.
"At least a mid-tier Stage One beast weapon. And if possible, learn a footwork technique with low requirements."
Rey nodded and signed the page without hesitation.
Fear wasn't a reason to turn back now.
"Don't worry," Rey said calmly. "I came here to enter the Academy. Not to retreat halfway."
The man studied him for a second longer.
Then spoke again.
"Listen carefully. This exam was originally three parts. Theoretical test. Practical assessment. Elimination battles."
He paused.
"Due to the overwhelming number of participants, the theoretical test has been cancelled."
Rey's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Only the elimination matches remain," the man continued. "You'll be notified when they begin. Train as hard as you can."
Rey nodded and turned to leave without looking back.
As he exited—
"Hah… such a massive competition for just two hundred seats," the staff member muttered under his breath. "And at least fifty are already reserved for nobles."
He shook his head.
"These commoners don't stand a chance. A few might shine… but monsters like the Ashcroft young master are already confirmed."
Then he paused.
"And now even the Fallen Duke's heir has appeared."
A faint smile crept onto his face.
"With strength like that and a mind like his… it'll be interesting to see how far he goes."
His gaze flicked to the record.
"And that weapon choice… different from the rest."
Before he could stretch, another applicant stepped inside.
Work resumed.
Far ahead—
The final elimination battles awaited.
Where Rey truly stood among this generation… would soon be revealed.
And compared to the previous generation—
Those old monsters—
He still had a long road ahead.
…