"Can I really?"
The thought echoed in Kai's head as the noise of hundreds of students blended into a dull roar behind him.
Thinking didn't help.
So he stopped resisting and let himself move with the crowd.
By the time nearly three hundred and fifty students had gathered on the massive ground, the entrance gates—and even the roof of the arena—began to slide shut. Metal groaned as it locked into place.
The air shifted.
It now felt nervous and heavy.
Then the lights started going out—one by one—until only a single beam remained, illuminating a stage-like platform at the center.
A man in his mid-forties stepped into the spotlight with a wide grin plastered across his face.
He stood tall, casually adjusting his white shirt beneath a black suit, then straightened his rectangular glasses.
"It was fun exploring DMI, wasn't it?"
His voice was calm and clear. Somehow loud enough to reach every corner of the arena—without any visible amplifier.
"I'm your homeroom teacher. Sac Renser."
He brushed back a few strands of his neatly combed black hair.
"Enough greetings. Let's talk business."
Kai felt a flicker of surprise. This man didn't raise his voice, yet every word landed perfectly.
Everyone was listening.
This was an assessment.
Missing even a single detail could cost them everything.
"So—first things first," Renser said.
"What is DMI? And why are you here?"
He paused, letting the silence stretch.
"Let me answer that for you. You're here because you want a bright future. Or maybe prestige. Power. Recognition."
A few students shifted uneasily.
"And DMI delivers exactly that—if you're willing to work for it. Some of you might be thinking, 'Can't I just train at home?' Sure. You can."
He smiled.
"But DMI gives you opportunities you can never create on your own."
"A person with great power and a Soulmark might struggle to get noticed outside. But here?"
"There's a guarantee. If you perform well, Vowline will pick you up before your final semester ends."
A ripple went through the crowd.
"Second—Soulmark."
"We're here to awaken your Soulmark at a very young age."
Murmurs erupted.
"Yes, you heard me right. Most people your age—or even older—don't have an awakened Soulmark. Why?"
"Because it's dangerous."
"A Soulmark usually awakens naturally around thirty. Some can sense it after twenty-two. Many never feel it at all."
He shrugged.
"That doesn't mean their life is over. It just means they'll never rise above a certain level."
Kai felt a strange knot in his chest.
So many here had worked endlessly just to enter DMI—while he hadn't even known there was an entrance exam.
It reminded him why he was standing here in the first place.
The tension thickened.
A Soulmark wasn't inherited. It was random. Cruel, even.
Some types—enhancement, healing—could be transferred between humans.
But the price? Astronomical.
"Every two years," Sac continued, "DMI conducts an event called the Awakening Assessment."
"It's a filter. To measure potential. To separate those who have a Soulmark from those who don't."
"And it starts… right after this speech."
The crowd stiffened.
"So listen carefully."
"The game is simple."
"We'll divide you into ninety squads. Four players per squad."
"You'll be sent to a Beast Planet divided into nine zones. Each zone contains one Intermediate-tier beast and over a hundred Basic-tier beasts."
A few students swallowed hard.
"There is also an Advanced-tier beast on the planet."
"Relax. There's only one."
He chuckled.
"It's highly unlikely you'll encounter it. But yes—if you do—it's walking death."
"Also," his grin widened, "it's a goldmine of ranking points."
The atmosphere snapped.
"If your squad somehow defeats it, you'll instantly secure Rank One and be removed from the game as winners."
He raised a finger.
"But it's not mandatory. There are Intermediate-tier beasts whose cores are equivalent to ten Basic-tier beasts."
Fear crept in fast.
Some students collapsed to their knees. Others froze where they stood.
"Oh? Afraid?" Sac asked casually.
"Because DMI doesn't accept weak minds."
Spines straightened instantly.
"Hey, Sam," someone whispered. "What are the odds we meet that Advanced-tier beast?"
"Almost zero," came the reply. "And even if we do, we've got Bloodcore gear. We can run."
The murmurs spread.
"You'll find all the rules on your ID," Renser said.
"Lose it, and you're a fraud."
Kai frowned.
"Higher rank means a better future. I'm not exaggerating."
"Soulmark is life energy. In near-death situations, it tries to escape your body."
"That's when you feel it."
"For some of you, it won't happen immediately. Keep going."
"Now—form squads of four."
"You'll be teleported shortly."
The spotlight vanished as Renser walked away, leaving the arena submerged in darkness filled with frantic whispers.
Then—light.
Every dome lamp snapped back on.
*PING
Something vibrated in Kai's pocket.
He pulled out his ID.
Notifications flooded the screen.
"…That's a lot."
He tapped .
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He exhaled.
So I'm verified.
Thank God.
But another thought crept in.
The system… the trial realm… Shadow ability
Was it really just a dream?
It felt too real to dismiss.
With no way to confirm it, Kai moved on.
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The crowd began splitting into squads.
Kai could even see his teammates' locations on the ID map.
Two were nearby.
He walked toward the closest—Player 100.
"Hey," a boy said, adjusting rectangular glasses held together by tape.
The metal frame barely clung to his face.
"Are you Player 289?"
"Yes," Kai replied. "You're Quinn, right?"