Chương 89: UNIFIED ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAM (1)

Jimin had completed his morning training as usual. His Telekinesis had reached Lv. 15. And he had gained +1 STR as well. And now- He was standing right outside the Seoul Central Arena with Yuna. To watch Hyun-woo. A smile slowly formed on Jimin's face. He had really turned his words into reality. A massive crowd of hundreds of spectators poured toward the entrances. Jimin and Yuna naturally moved with the flow of the crowd. The Seoul Central Arena stood proudly in the heart of Samseong-dong.

Its enormous curved exterior gleamed beneath the morning sunlight, reflecting countless colors from the surrounding skyscrapers. Even from outside, its scale felt overwhelming. Excited conversations echoed from every direction. People discussed predictions. Favorite candidates. Academies. Hovering broadcast drones continuously flew above the entrance. Their quiet humming mixed with the noisy atmosphere as they streamed the scene live across the country. Massive holographic displays floated above the gates.

One after another, they projected the official crests of the major academies. Among them the top 3 stood out the most. The Eastern Horizon Academy. An Academy under the prestigious Yoo family. The family of Yoo Hwa-rin, The Flame Queen. The Guild Leader of the Crimson Tower Guild and the current third National Ranker. It was specially famous for its magical legacy. And infamous for its brutal competition. It boasted a series of famous and successful mage type Rifters as its alumni.

And given its direct ties to the Yoo family and one of the top five guilds in the country, it was an absolute powerhouse of an academy. It had only one motto- Talent above all. Next was the Daehan Military Academy. A government funded Academy, run by the state military. Needless to say, the one with the government's total backing. It's famous for its monstrous physical combatants and excellent battle capabilities. While also being infamous for its brutal training and harsh treatment at the same time.

Yet, popular for being the most affordable among the top three. Truly a dangerous combination of tactical bruteforce with discipline. And finally the first and foremost, The Seoul Imperial Academy, the hub of the elite. An academy where most of the students are prodigies from prestigious families, corporations, guilds, etc. In short, a gathering place of those who will be at the center of power and authority in future, effectively controlling the country. Notorious for obvious reasons.

Yet, unmatched when it comes to resources, authority, connections and influence. Establishing it as the top academy in the country. These were the academies every aspiring Rifter dreamed to be a part of. Suddenly-"We've to enter now," Yuna said with anxious excitement. She grabbed Jimin's sleeve, as her eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

"Move fast. Or we'll miss the good spots."

"Yeah, I am," Jimin replied with bare minimum energy.

"It's not like I can use 'Dash' here." Yuna immediately shot back, "I would, if I could." Both of them burst into laughter. As they hurried toward the entrance. But Jimin's laughter gradually became a little awkward, as he tried to stop himself smiling like an idiot. Of course, she's so excited. Earlier- Hyun-woo had personally sent him a ticket. Jimin himself hadn't expected it. But the moment Yuna found out, she had practically exploded. From excitement of course.

Without any hesitation, she had immediately set out to get herself a ticket. Even though it cost her a whole two and a half million won. Meanwhile- Jimin had hung out with Ji-hye. Unlike Hyun-woo, her examination had already finished, since she was a support type. She seemed quite confident. That alone was enough to reassure him. So, he had congratulated her in advance. He was just glad that she never insisted on coming to the arena together. The examination period had mentally exhausted her.

Especially since the official overall results would be announced after today's examinations concluded, she intended to be with her family during that time.. Jimin silently sighed in relief. In case she had decided to come, she might have ended up meeting Yuna. And his whole appraisal secret might have been revealed. Which he had no intentions for at the moment. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Eventually, they entered the arena.

Inside- Jimin and Yuna had already found their seats. The location was excellent. The entire battlefield could be seen clearly. Even if anything happened, gigantic holo-screens suspended above the arena ensured nobody would miss a moment. The exam was about to start soon. Jimin slowly looked around. It was a massive state-of-the-art indoor stadium. At the center, there was a big rectangular ground with no grass on it. And it had adequate space to duel freely without worrying about movement.

Then there were rows upon rows of spectator seats stretching upward, surrounding it. Nearly four thousand of them, which were almost filled. And more spectators continued pouring inside. The atmosphere grew livelier every passing minute. But ordinary spectators weren't the only ones present. Several elevated sections overlooked the battlefield. VIP areas, reserved exclusively for influential figures. Guild representatives. Corporate executives. Prestigious families. Academy officials.

Even from a distance, their seating arrangements looked considerably more luxurious. Jimin also noticed numerous personnel walking throughout the arena. Organizers hurried between different sections. Association staff continuously communicated through earpieces. Security personnel carefully monitored every inch. Everything proceeded with remarkable efficiency. Then another interesting thing caught Jimin's attention. A transparent forcefield that stood between the battlefield and the audience.

Which meant that their safety was guaranteed. It was almost invisible. The crowd itself only amplified the atmosphere. Cheers. Conversations. Excited laughter. The entire arena felt alive. The air itself carried an indescribable energy. Absolutely contagious. And Jimin wasn't immune to it either. A faint smile slowly appeared. Damn… I've been watching this on screen my whole life. But being here physically… Is a completely different experience. In fact, this was his first time entering a place like this.

He had never even attended a sports match before. Simply because he couldn't afford tickets. Back then, surviving had always come first, entertainment much later. His eyes wandered, observing everything. No wonder even the basic ticket costs two and a half million won. They burned money like water... This is crazy already. Then- A sharp screech echoed throughout the stadium as someone adjusted a microphone. The unpleasant sound instantly silenced thousands of conversations.

The entire arena became quiet for a moment. Suddenly- A male voice was heard.

"Good morning, South Korea!" the host shouted. The crowd went absolutely crazy. The host continued, "Welcome to the grand final stage of the Unified Academy Entrance Exam, broadcasting live from the heart of Samseong-dong!" Another roar followed. He added, "Four thousand of you are packing these stands today, and millions more are tuning in from home. All to witness the birth of our nation's next generation of elite Rifters! The energy in this arena is absolutely electric! Are you ready?"

"YEAHHHHHH!" The crowd erupted into a deafening roar as the stadium light grid flashed to life.

"That is what I'm talking about! Today, the ultimate test begins. Out of thousands of hopefuls, only the elite remain. Let us look upon the faces of the prodigies who survived the preliminaries… The Top 32!" the host said, as he pointed upward. The stadium lights dimmed abruptly, and the massive holoscreens floating above the center of the arena flickered to life with blinding brilliance. Several profiles of examinees appeared on the screens, showing their faces and names.

"First up, the supernova from the prestigious Kang Family, Kang Min-jae!" It drew cheers from a specific section of the crowd.

"Next, the rose from the Hwasan Corporation, Park Seo-yeon!" The screen cycled through a few more faces. Each name sent a fresh wave of murmurs through the crowd. Then-"And the electrifying dark horse, Lee Hyun-woo!" the host shouted. The audience erupted once again. Yuna instantly grabbed Jimin's arm.

"Look! His face is up there!" she said, shaking his arm excitedly as she pointed toward the massive screen. Her eyes were wide and a bright, relieved smile breaking across her face.

"Yeah, I can see!" Jimin shouted with an excited laughter, while looking up at Hyun-woo's stoic, unblinking portrait. You finally made it to the big stage. His fist tightened slightly inside his jacket pocket. His eyes narrowed. But those bastards from big families and corporations are going to be gunning for your head the second you step out there… Give them a taste of your lightning. As the introduction ended, the holoscreen finally faded back into the official academy crests.

The host's voice swelled over the speakers, reclaiming the crowd's soaring energy.

"But before they step foot onto the arena floor to risk it all, let me introduce you all to the absolute pinnacle of our Rifter society. Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the VIP pavilion as we introduce the legendary figures who will be judging today's trial!" Suddenly, the stadium's main light grid cut out, plunging the entire arena into pitch-black darkness. A tense murmur washed over the crowd. So quiet that you could hear the faint hum of the hovering broadcast drones.

Then, the arena's specialized lightworks kicked into overdrive. Clack! A brilliant, piercing beam of pure white spotlight dropped vertically from the high ceiling, instantly cutting through the dark. It struck the elevated VIP pavilion, at the top right side of the arena with pinpoint precision. With a hiss, a thin mist gathered around the pavilion, the bright glare fully illuminated the figures sitting in the light.

"Whoa!" A collective gasp rippled through the stadium.

"Holy crap…" a man sitting a few rows ahead of Jimin whispered, his voice shaking as he stood up to get a better look. Even from across the massive stadium, the sheer, crushing weight of their presence could still be felt. The air around the VIP deck seemed to be slightly distorted by the massive pools of mana radiating from the seated figures. They looked down upon the thousands of spectators with completely indifferent, unblinking expressions. Like ancient kings looking over a chessboard.

"No kidding…" a quiet murmur escaped Jimin.

"Holy crap!"