Miles away from the Portal Domain, high within a fortified observation tower at the Heavenly Knight Academy, Headmaster Lord Valerant watched the live feed of the First Round's final moments. He was not alone; six other senior instructors Master Knights and powerful mages sat around a glowing holographic map tracking the final fifty qualifying bracelets.
The room was silent, save for the hum of the monitoring equipment. Then, one instructor gasped, pointing to a flickering screen showing the chaotic aftermath of the Boss fight.
"Look at Prince Theron Valerius's point acquisition," a sharp-eyed analyst noted. "He jumped from zero to the top five in less than a minute. And look at the footage of the Black Serpent."
The Headmaster leaned forward, his massive frame radiating cold intensity. The screen replayed the high-speed sequence: the battered prince standing up after a Level 50 attack, the vanishing, the KRAK! of the two-fisted blow, and the absurd strength used to swing the gigantic serpent.
"Impossible," whispered the Chief Mage. "That's not Theron. That speed… that raw physical force is not just Level 42. It has the quality of a Master Knight who has trained for forty years."
The Headmaster's eyes narrowed, his gaze chilling. "Who is this? And why is he masquerading as the kingdom's weakest heir? Investigate immediately. I want to know everything about his recent months his location, his training, and every individual who came into contact with him. That is not the power of a noble family; that is the power of a legend reborn."
Meanwhile, deep in the Domain, Leo tracked Lysander's bracelet signal. He found his friend in a small clearing, leaning on a battered sword, panting heavily. Lysander's clothes were ripped, his face was smudged with dirt and sweat, but his eyes were bright with a fierce stubbornness. He had just won a tough fight against a snarling, wolf-like monster.
"Theron! You're still here!" Lysander staggered forward, relief washing over his strained face. "How are you not teleported out? You must have hidden the whole time."
"Something like that," Leo replied, a ghost of a smile touching his lips.
"How many monsters did you fight?" Lysander asked, checking his own modest, hard-won point total.
"One," Leo said, holding up the massive, dark-purple Boss Core he had just stored in the Ring.
Lysander's expression softened with pity. "Only one? Did you hide the whole time? That's smart, Theron, truly. But don't worry, I'll protect you now. I have points; I'll transfer half to you so you can pass easily."
Leo merely raised an eyebrow. He looked at Lysander's bracelet, which showed a small, proud number, and then glanced at his own point total. He let out a silent, slow chuckle.
"Don't worry about me, Lysander." Leo raised his own wrist and, with a quick thought, transferred an overwhelming number of points to his friend's bracelet.
Lysander stared at his own wrist. His eyes went wide, his jaw dropping. The number was unbelievably huge far more than he could have earned in a hundred years.
"What... How... Did you cheat or something?" Lysander stammered, his eyes darting around the clearing, terrified the Academy would catch them.
Leo's face was serious now. "Is there anyone in this Kingdom who can cheat the Headmaster's magic in this exam?"
Lysander swallowed, shaking his head. "No. No way."
A loud, booming voice suddenly echoed across the entire Portal Domain, cutting through the forest like a physical wave.
"ATTENTION! THE FIRST ROUND OF THE HEAVENLY KNIGHT ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAM HAS ENDED!"
Every remaining student instantly felt a magnetic pull. The landscape blurred, and within moments, Leo and Lysander were teleported back to the Main Hall.
The main hall was now a different scene. Only fifty-one students stood scattered across the marble floor the final remaining contestants. Most were battered, bruised, and exhausted.
"So many eliminated in the first round," Leo murmured to Lysander.
Headmaster Valerant stood on the platform, his gaze sweeping over the survivors, lingering for a fraction of a second on Leo.
"Congratulations to the successful fifty," the Headmaster's strong voice boomed. "You have passed the Trial of Valor. There are two more rounds. The Second Round the Trial of the Mind is mandatory. Pass it, and you are in the Academy."
He paused, letting his voice drop to a warning. "There is also a Third, optional round a special test with additional, immense rewards. It is exceptionally dangerous, and you may withdraw now if you wish."
No one moved.
"The Second Round is simple," the Headmaster continued. "One by one, you will step into the Portal and return from the other side. This is an individual test; you cannot help or be helped."
A ripple of relief went through the students. "Simple test," one student whispered. "Easy!"
Leo nudged Lysander. "Don't be fooled. Nothing about this place is simple."
The Headmaster seemed to hear the student's relief. "It is not simple. This test is designed to measure your mental fortitude, your will against terror.
One by one, the students stepped into the shimmering blue portal. Many returned quickly, shaking but upright. But the sixth student emerged, his face a mask of pure, absolute horror. He stumbled out of the receiving portal, screaming a wordless, panicked sound. He was teleported away instantly, eliminated.
The passing students were pale, exhausted, and shaken. Lysander swallowed hard as his name was called.
"Be careful, Theron," Lysander urged, his usual fear tempered by concern for his friend.
"Don't worry about me. Just pass," Leo replied, giving a quick nod.
Lysander took a deep, steadying breath and stepped into the portal.
He found himself standing in a realm of cold, ringing metal and utter darkness. Ahead of him, a single, impossibly distant point of light shone. A voice told him to follow it, but the chilling presence in the darkness was overwhelming.
He took a few steps, and the darkness solidified. Before him, chained by immense, humming steel, was a beast of pure shadow, its body rippling with killing intent so profound that it forced Lysander's knees to buckle. He fell to his hands and knees, fighting a desperate battle against an unseen force that tried to crush his will.
I won't stop! Theron believed in me!
He forced himself to look up at the beast, shaking violently, and then, slowly, painfully, he stood up. He walked one step. Then another, directly toward the chained terror.
As he walked his third step, a bright flash of light engulfed him. He opened his eyes to find himself back in the main hall, stepping out of the exit portal.
"I passed!" he shouted, throwing his fist into the air. He turned to Leo, giving a relieved thumbs-up, his joy quickly mixed with fresh worry. If that was my trial, what horror will Theron face?
Leo simply gave a calm smile and walked toward the glowing blue entrance portal.