After entering, the three of them continued forward until they reached a large open hall-like area.
The space was wide and highly organized, filled with young participants who had gathered for the examination, standing in scattered groups across the area.
The atmosphere inside felt different from outside. It was quiet in structure, yet heavy with presence each individual seemed to carry a distinct pressure of their own.
Milo slowly looked around, his eyes shifting across the crowd. As he did, he could sense it… different auras spread throughout the hall, each one unique, some calm, others sharp and dense.
He narrowed his gaze slightly and whispered in a low voice:
"No one here is on the level of those people…"
Herax also looked around while walking slowly through the area.
"So this is the waiting hall… it's much larger than I expected."
He observed the crowd of participants, his eyes moving with curiosity and focus, taking in the atmosphere of the place.
Lilithia stood beside Milo, her expression calm as always. After a brief glance across the hall, she spoke in her usual quiet tone:
"I don't see him anywhere…"
The three of them shifted their attention toward another large gate ahead of them the entrance leading deeper into the examination area.
Milo spoke while observing it carefully:
"So that's the place where the test will be held…"
Herax added while glancing over the structure:
"It looks smaller than the waiting hall…"
Lilithia, who had been scanning the crowd in silence, suddenly focused her gaze in one direction. Her expression changed slightly as she said:
"I found him!"
Lilithia immediately ran toward the direction she had noticed.
It was Solir, their friend.
She called out to him in her calm voice.
Solir was speaking with someone the others didn't recognize. The stranger was relatively short, wearing a neat adventurer's outfit decorated with small details and utility straps. He had long blond hair tied neatly into a shoulder-length ponytail, and calm blue eyes that gave him a composed and quiet impression.
Solir turned as he noticed Lilithia approaching them.
A calm smile appeared on his face.
"Ah… Lilithia…"
He then turned fully toward her as she approached.
Lilithia stopped in front of him.
"I was looking for you… you arrived early as always."
Then her gaze shifted toward the person standing beside Solir.
"Is this the friend you told me about?"
Solir nodded calmly.
"Yes."
He gestured toward the stranger.
"This is Aurelius."
Aurelius placed a hand over his chest and gave a respectful greeting toward Lilithia.
"Pleased to meet you."
Solir noticed Milo and Herax approaching them.
A calm smile appeared on his face once again.
"Oh… Milo! And Herax."
Aurelius turned his gaze toward the two newcomers. In his mind, he began analyzing them quietly.
The one with slightly long brown hair… that must be Milo. His aura is balanced, but there's a slight trace of tension hidden beneath it.
And the one beside him… Herax. Large build, tall and physically strong, but his aura is less stable compared to Milo. Still… in team-based trials, someone like him would be highly useful.
He kept his expression calm, not revealing any of his thoughts.
Milo stopped in front of Aurelius.
"So you're Solir's friend…"
A faint sense of curiosity was in his eyes.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Milo."
Aurelius looked at him calmly for a moment before replying.
"The pleasure is mine as well. I am Aurelius."
After a few minutes of brief introductions and small talk, Herax glanced around with a slightly annoyed expression.
"Ryo still hasn't arrived… or did he oversleep again?"
Lilithia also looked around, a faint hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"Ah… I miss Saly. It's a shame she won't be participating."
Milo placed a hand on Herax's shoulder.
"Don't worry… I'm sure Ryo will show up."
Aurelius's gaze shifted for a moment toward the most well-known person in the entire courtyard.
Solir noticed this and followed his line of sight.
It was Korito Kuroka, the son of the leader of the renowned Kuroka family.
Most of the attention in the courtyard was directed at him some with admiration, others with dislike. For Solir, however, he was simply a rival.
At that moment, Korito was sitting on the ground with his eyes closed, seemingly in deep focus and calm meditation.
He wore a long dark robe secured with a black belt at the waist. His long black hair flowed smoothly down his back, with parts of it touching the ground.
He could feel all the gazes directed at him… yet he did not care.
But Korito was not alone.
Standing beside him was his cousin from the Kuroka family, watching him with a curious gaze.
She had a tall, slim figure with soft, elegant curves. Her outfit consisted of a crop top layered under an open jacket, paired with a short skirt that matched her confident presence.
Her hair was styled in layered cuts with soft face-framing bangs, giving her a slightly airy yet structured look, with strands falling naturally around her face.
A small beauty mark was visible beneath the lower part of her mouth, adding a subtle charm to her expression.
She tilted her head slightly as she looked at Korito and asked:
"Are you going to keep sitting like that?"
Korito gave no response.
The silence only lasted a moment, but it was enough to make her visibly annoyed. She clicked her tongue and looked at him with clear disdain.
"Tch… loser."
She turned away from him and walked off, leaving him sitting alone.
Meanwhile, Milo's attention remained fixed on Korito. As he focused on him, he felt it… a sudden shift in pressure.
His heartbeat slightly quickened, a mix of excitement and caution rising within him.
In his mind, he thought:
That aura… it's the closest thing to people like Celestine and the stronger Numbers.
He's not on their level… but among everyone here, he is the closest to them.
"he is the strongest here"
"I noticed it too, Milo."
Milo turned his gaze toward Solir.
Solir continued speaking.
"Korito Kuroka… he is a member of that well-known family. A family that treats all of its members as tools of power. They possess both talent and strength."
His eyes began to glow faintly with a golden spark.
"And on top of that… he has the Dark Element."
At that moment, Korito slowly opened his left eye, directing a brief glance toward the direction where Solir stood.
"Hmmm…"
Then he closed it again, returning to his calm state.
Solir then turned his gaze toward the gate of the hall.
"There isn't much time left."
Milo nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
Suddenly, a girl's scream echoed from one corner of the courtyard.
Milo and Solir immediately turned toward the source of the sound and started moving in that direction.
Lilithia and Herax quickly followed behind them, while Aurelius began walking at a slower, steady pace toward the same direction.
Nearby participants also turned their attention toward the disturbance, their focus shifting toward the source of the scream.
Milo looked around as more people gathered, forming a loose circle as they watched what was happening. He stopped among them, his eyes fixed on the scene.
At the center stood a man in his twenties. He wore strange, worn-out clothes, stained and unkempt. Several earrings were oddly placed across his forehead, giving him a disturbing appearance. He was tall and thin, with sharp features and an aggressive demeanor.
He was gripping the wrist of a girl.
She was short, with long, light brown hair that softly covered her forehead, her appearance gentle and fragile.
He shouted at her, his voice filled with frustration and anger:
"Why do you keep avoiding me like this?! Is it because I'm ugly?!"
His grip tightened slightly.
"Is it because I'm a failure?! Because I've failed this damn test so many times?! Huh?!"
Tears streamed down the girl's face as she trembled.
"I'm sorry… please… let me go…"
He shouted even louder.
"Shut up!"
He raised his other hand, ready to strike her.
Then, in a sudden motion, he brought it down
But before the slap could land, Milo stepped in and caught his wrist mid-air, stopping it completely.
The man turned toward Milo, his face twisted with anger.
"Who do you think you are?!"
Milo looked at him with a serious, unwavering expression.
"That question… is for you."
For a moment, the man froze.
Then he let go of the girl's hand.
She quickly stepped back, tears still falling, as a few other girls rushed to her side, standing protectively around her.
The man slowly moved his hand down toward his waist, slipping it near his pants as he grabbed a dagger. He began to lift it, preparing to strike Milo
But suddenly… he froze.
A chill ran through him.
He turned his head slightly, his expression shifting with irritation and unease.
Behind him stood Solir.
His gaze was calm… yet cold, carrying a quiet, overwhelming pressure.
The man's body tensed instantly as he felt it.
Without saying a word, he pulled his hand away from Milo's grip, then slowly lowered the dagger and slipped both hands into his pockets.
"Tch… whatever."
He turned and walked away, leaving the scene behind him.
The girl stood in front of Milo, wiping away her tears.
"Thank you…"
Milo smiled gently and raised his hand slightly.
"It's nothing."
Solir looked at him as well and said calmly:
"Well done."
Suddenly, Herax wrapped an arm around Milo from behind with a grin.
"That's our hero, Milo!"
Meanwhile, Lilithia stood beside the girl, speaking softly to reassure her:
"Don't worry… no one will hurt you as long as we're here."
Around them, some of the other participants returned to their conversations, while others simply watched or ignored the situation altogether.
Not far away, a girl with a bat resting behind her back clicked her tongue in annoyance, her wild expression showing clear irritation.
"Tch… they ruined everything."
The sound of Milo and his friends talking and laughing lightly caught the attention of someone nearby.
A figure leaning against a wall, silent… observant.
He wore a black shirt that covered the lower half of his face like a mask, along with sharp, reflective glasses. His pants were slightly loose, while his jacket was tight-fitted, allowing for better movement.
His dark blue hair was slicked back neatly
At that moment, Ryo rushed into the courtyard, slightly out of breath.
"Damn… I'm late!"
Just as he caught his breath, the gate behind him slowly closed.
The heavy sound echoed across the courtyard… making it clear to everyone
There was no turning back.
The examination was about to begin.
Moments later, the gate leading to the hall opened.
From within, an old man stepped forward, wearing glasses, his posture calm yet authoritative. Beside him stood two men with stern expressions, their hands placed behind their backs.
The old man stopped at the entrance.
All eyes in the courtyard turned toward him.
Then, in a clear voice that carried across the entire area, he spoke:
"The first test…"
A brief pause.
"…will begin shortly!"