Chương 90: UNIFIED ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAM (2)

"Emergency protocol. Massive mana signature detected," Mi-mi suddenly alerted. Jimin visibly flinched.

"I sense the intent of intimidation from the mana waves," Mi-mi continued.

"Should I activate battle mode?" Jimin's eyes remained fixed on the figures sitting beneath the spotlight. No need. It's not hostile.

"As you wish, Master." Mi-mi immediately fell silent. Jimin quietly let out a sigh, there was something he couldn't deny. Looks like she's becoming more reliable... Before he could dwell on it any longer, the host's booming voice reclaimed everyone's attention. The spotlight remained fixed upon the VIP pavilion.

"First… Representing the pinnacle of elite Rifter education..." the host announced dramatically.

"Please welcome the Headmaster of the Seoul Imperial Academy, Jang... Su-yeon!" Every eye turned toward the first chair. Thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena. The spotlight shifted perfectly onto the first high-backed chair. An old man was leaning comfortably against the backrest, one leg casually crossed over the other. He looked surprisingly relaxed. Especially considering the pressure pouring from the pavilion. He possessed broad shoulders and a naturally imposing physique.

His neatly maintained silver hair complemented a full silver beard that reflected the brilliant spotlight. Rather than wearing ceremonial robes or an extravagant suit, he wore a stylish modern trench coat over casual clothing. He had a warm grin that didn't match the terrifying pressure rolling off him.

Jang Suyeon, The Dark Lance Headmaster, Seoul Imperial Academy Rank: S-5 Status: Retired (Former Ranker) The host continued.

"Next. The master of elemental magic… The Headmaster of the Eastern Horizon Academy, Moon... Soo-bin!" The audience applauded once again. The light swept to the next seat, revealing a starkly different presence. A mature lady sat with an impeccably straight posture, looking every bit the traditional aristocrat. Her sharp eyes calmly observed the arena from behind thin silver-rimmed glasses. And her dark hair had been tied into an immaculate traditional bun. Not a single strand appeared misplaced.

Even from this distance, her appearance looked flawless. She wore an elegant silk blazer that subtly shimmered with intricate, defensive mana-runes woven directly into the fabric. She didn't wave or smile; she merely offered a simple nod to the stadium. Her expression radiated cold, unyielding authority.

Moon Soo-bin, The Queen Elementalist Headmaster, Eastern Horizon Academy Rank: S-4 Status: Retired (Former Ranker) The host's voice echoed once more.

"And making his presence known today… The iron-blooded commander and Headmaster of the Daehan Military Academy, Kang… Mu-rok!" The third spotlight flashed to life, as the audience applauded. Kang Mu-rok didn't wave. He sat like a stone monolith; his massive, broad-shouldered frame filled out a crisp, dark-green military dress uniform adorned with rows of golden medals. His face had scars, defined by a thick jawline and eyes that seemed to scan the arena like a battlefield.

He simply stared down at the arena floor, his heavy silence speaking louder than any greeting.

Kang Mu-rok, The Dictator Headmaster, Daehan Military Academy Rank: S-4 Status: Retired (Former Ranker) The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Then, the host raised his voice even higher.

"And last but not the least… Our esteemed special guest for today's event… The President of the Korea National Rifter Association, Tae... Won-shik!" The final spotlight descended. Instantly illuminating the last seat. The stadium exploded. Applause thundered across the arena. Yuna immediately began clapping enthusiastically.

"So cool!" Her eyes practically sparkled.

"I've only ever seen them on television!" Jimin found himself clapping as well. His eyes slowly swept across the four figures seated together. He didn't even blink. Damn. That's one hell of a panel… All are bigshots. The host continued, "Now, before we reveal the highly anticipated matchups, let's break down the official format and regulations for today's tournament!" The massive holoscreens immediately shifted.

The academy crest dissolved into a clean tournament bracket accompanied by several floating information panels. Every spectator instinctively focused.

"We are running a brutal elimination bracket." The host's energetic voice echoed throughout the arena.

"We begin immediately with the Round of 32! And To keep the action fast and furious, each match will have a strict 10-minute time limit, and two duels will take place simultaneously on the arena floor." An excited buzz instantly rippled through the audience. Sitting in the stands, Jimin leaned forward, his eyes scanning the vast arena floor. Two duels at once? His eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"Tch," he clicked his tongue. That means less eyeballs for Hyun-woo. The host continued, "The victors will advance to the Round of 16. And from the Quarter-finals onward, the spotlight narrows. We transition to one duel at a time." The crowd cheered again. The host raised his voice dramatically, "But that's not all! The stakes rise higher in the Semi-finals and the Grand Final, where the match time will be extended to a grueling 20 minutes!" The host paused as a serious weight settled over his voice.

"Now, pay close attention to the Rules…" The entire arena naturally quieted.

"As usual, every single examinee has been issued a specialized artifact, a protective bracelet." A detailed image of a sleek silver bracelet appeared on the monitors.

"If an examinee's HP plunges below 100, the bracelet will automatically trigger, instantly healing them and deploying a sturdy barrier around them. And alternatively… An examinee can choose to trigger the artifact manually by injecting their own mana into it… But doing so will be counted as an immediate surrender. Either way, once that barrier appears… It is game over!" The host continued, "Any intentional attack launched after a bracelet has been activated is strictly prohibited.

Needless to say, any form of cheating is completely banned." His tone hardened.

"Any attempt to break these rules will result in instant disqualification. And that…Is all." The stadium fell into a tense, breathless silence. Then- The host's voice suddenly swelled to a theatrical crescendo, shattering the quiet.

"Examinees… Brace yourselves." His voice echoed throughout every corner of the arena. The stadium lights dimmed once more.

"Because… It is time to reveal the matchups!" Instantly, the massive holoscreen flashed. And all the profiles began rapidly shuffling across the display. Excited murmurs immediately swept through the arena.

"Come on..."

"Who's fighting first?"

"Please be an easy opponent." Suddenly- The shuffle stopped. And the bracket locked into place. The audience collectively leaned forward, the first-round pairings became visible. And right there, in the very first slot of matches, Lee Hyun-woo's name appeared.

"Look!" Yuna pointed anxiously.

"Hyun-woo is up first!" Her face brightened. Jimin nodded as his eyes immediately shifted to the opponent's profile. It belonged to a boy named Choi Sung-min. Jimin didn't know anything about him. But nobody who reached the Top Thirty-Two could possibly be weak. A wave of genuine anticipation hit him, making his chest tighten as he stared up at the bracket. He's really kicking off the exam. But his wide grin was slowly replaced by a serious expression, as thought crossed his mind.

But that means he will get no chance to observe and get a feel for it.

Meanwhile inside one of the examinee's waiting rooms of the stadium- Several examinees had gathered around a large monitor broadcasting the bracket reveal. The room buzzed with nervous conversations.

"So I'm fighting him..."

"Damn."

"I wanted someone else." One examinee repeatedly bounced his knee. Another quietly stretched. Yet, one person remained completely detached from the chatter. Lee Hyun-woo. He calmly adjusted the sleeves of his sky-blue robe embroidered with elegant golden patterns. Then, he lifted his weapon. A long staff, its polished golden-alloy shaft reflected the room's white lighting. Suddenly, a faint buzz suddenly echoed from faint crackling electricity. TZZZZT...

And it seamlessly folded around his hand, transforming into a sleek and highly stylish fingerless light gauntlet. Golden lines traced intricate patterns across its surface. His sharp eyes calmly observed the glove. The very first slot huh? He thought, as he tested the glove by curling his fingers into a tight fist as micro-sparks danced across his knuckles. He quietly exhaled, as a solitary, unblinking focus settled over his sharp features.

Up in the packed spectator stands- Jimin quietly stared toward the tournament bracket. The wave of genuine anticipation hit him. The same thought came across their mind, as faint grins appeared.

"Well," they muttered under their breath. At least… I don't have to sit through the anticipation.

"Now, without further ado, let our very first contenders step onto the battlefield!" the host's voice boomed across the stadium.

"Examinees for the opening two duels, enter the arena!" A thunderous rumble echoed beneath everyone's feet. Deep vibrations rattled the stadium floor as two massive reinforced concrete platforms slowly rose from opposite halves of the arena, locking perfectly into place to form the twin battle grids. The crowd erupted into deafening cheers. At the same time, inside the entrance tunnel- Hyun-woo quietly took a deep breath, as the door opened at the end of the tunnel.

The roar of thousands of spectators poured in from the brightly lit exit ahead. Without another moment of hesitation, he tightened his gauntleted fist and stepped forward. A faint smile appeared on his face. This is exactly where I shine.