Something feels wrong.
The pressure… i..it increases—
UGHHHHH!!!!
Why?
WAAHH!! Is she trying to kill us…..?
At the upper platform—
Instructor Bantea stood still, arms crossed to the back.
…She's enjoying this, he thought.
And it very obvious.
A silent breath slipped past his lips.
This pressure…
If it keeps rising—
Some of them won't last.
His gaze swept across the hall.
Students—
Dropping.
One by one.
Bodies hitting the ground.
"—Ack!"
Another fell.
His jaw tightened.
This should be enough already…
But as expected, the international top students are holding on well.
Not far away—
"…Hm?"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Strange."
"that kid."
"…his not struggling like the rest."
No trembling.
No bleeding.
Just perfectly still.
A slow smile formed.
"…What a gem."
At the far corner—
Someone yawned.
"…what's happening?"
I've been standing here for quite some time.
Waiting.
Is it that the mana wave isn't strong enough to reach the last roll, tia thought, his eyes searching.
No.
It doesn't seem so. Almost everyone here are unconscious.
Few are barely holding on, but am still standing.
The air just feels cold.
Besides that, I feel nothing.
Could it be that...
His eyes widened for a second before returning normal.
No, impossible.
But…
I can't feel anything.
Hmm.
The Vice Headmaster… must have a reason for this.
Instructor Bantea's gaze swept the hall.
The pressure—
Still rising.
Students collapsed one after another.
His eyes narrowed.
The front four…
They were still standing.
Barely.
Breathing rough.
Bodies trembling.
No…
A small shake of his head.
It's not them.
At this rate… they'll fall any second.
His gaze shifted.
Searching.
Scanning.
Then—
He paused.
"…Ah."
A flicker of realization.
That kid at the back.
I almost forgot.
But—
She's already seen him.
Bantea exhaled softly.
Am sure of it.
Otherwise… this would've ended already.
At the front—
The four stood in place.
The strongest candidates.
The pride of the academy.
Yet—
"…Why is it getting heavier…?"
One of them clenched his teeth.
Breathing uneven.
Her lips—
Curved.
…She's smiling?
His eyes widened slightly.
Who is she looking at?
A chill ran down his spine.
…No.
Slowly—
He turned.
Toward the back.
"…Impossible."
"…Huh?"
The second followed his gaze.
"…What are you—"
He stopped.
"…No way."
The third turned.
Then the fourth.
Silence.
Their eyes locked onto one figure.
At the very back.
Still calm.
Still standing.
Not even a single sweat on his forehead.
Who is that…?
Where did he come from…?
Stronger than me…?
Impossible.
Did he use an artifact…?
Why isn't he struggling like us?
"…finally a worthy opponent."
Tia blinked.
…What's going on?
He felt it.
The weight of their gazes.
Pressing.
Sharp.
A small sigh escaped him.
A tight breath slipped from Bantea's lips.
This is getting out of hand…
His eyes snapped toward the crowd.
Students were dropping faster now.
They've reached their limit.
Another body hit the ground.
His jaw clenched.
If this continues—
"Vice—"
He almost called out.
Then—
The pressure vanished.
Instantly.
Bantea froze.
A second passed.
Then—
Bodies dropped.
Students gasping.
A few—
Vomited.
Others barely holding themselves upright.
His fists tightened at his sides.
Damn it…
That was too close.
Silence filled the hall.
Her gaze stopped.
For a brief moment—
It lingered.
On him.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Gone in a second.
Then—
She raised her hand.
Snap.
The sound was soft.
But the effect—
Instant.
Both the fallen and the injured
Were gone in an instant.
Like they had never been there.
A ripple spread through the hall.
"…Teleportation…?"
Someone whispered.
Tia's eyes narrowed slightly.
She lowered her hand.
And spoke.
"Congratulations."
A pause.
"To those still standing—"
"You have passed the first test."
No excitement.
No praise.
Just fact.
"This year…"
Her gaze moved slowly across them.
"…only the best will remain."
A slight shift.
"…due to some peculiar circumstances."
….some changes occured.
Her eyes moved again—
And this time—
They met his.
Directly.
No one else noticed.
But Tia did.
Is this because of me?
But how?
The gaze broke.
Like it meant nothing.
"As you should already know—"
"I am the Vice Headmaster of this academy."
A murmur spread.
"She's that young…?"
"I heard she's SSS-rank…"
"Are you serious…?"
She ignored all of it.
Her eyes sharpened.
"Do not misunderstand."
"This event is not yet over."
Silence returned.
"Now…"
A faint curve returned to her lips.
Dangerous.
"…for the second test."
The air tightened.