Chapter 2: The Gathering Storm
The Castle of the King Wizard
Beyond the high walls of Astra High School, in the heart of the Kingdom of Eldoria, stood a magnificent castle—Arcana Citadel—the dwelling of King Wizard Matthew, the ruler of all magic and the overseer of magical laws. The castle itself was a masterpiece, its towering spires reaching toward the heavens, its walls glowing with ancient enchantments. Inside, hundreds of magicians, scholars, and high-ranking officials carried out their duties, ensuring the stability of the magical world.
Within the grand hall, King Wizard Matthew sat on his golden throne, his eyes locked onto a crystal ball that displayed the freshman entrance tests of Astra High School. A wide grin formed on his face as he observed the young magicians battling holographic monsters, their talents unfolding before his very eyes.
"Ah, look at them! Such potential! Such raw energy! I can already tell that some of them will become legends!" Matthew chuckled to himself.
His assistant, an old and strict magician named Gaius, stood beside him with an irritated expression. "Your Majesty, I must remind you that you have important state affairs to attend to. Watching a school entrance test does not befit your role as the King Wizard."
Matthew waved his hand dismissively. "Nonsense! This is the future of magic, Gaius. Besides, it's not every day that we get to witness the next generation of champions in action."
Gaius sighed. "You have three councils waiting for you, Your Majesty. The Council of Magical Laws, the Council of Defense, and the Council of Arcane Research are all expecting your presence."
Matthew did not turn away from the crystal ball, still enthralled by the battles. "Let them wait."
Before Gaius could protest further, the large wooden doors of the hall swung open, and Jason, the Leader of Magic, strode inside. He was a tall man with long silver hair, his royal blue robes embroidered with golden runes that pulsed with power. His golden staff radiated authority as he approached the throne.
"Your Majesty," Jason said, his voice deep and commanding. "We have an urgent meeting regarding a matter of great concern."
At that moment, the carefree expression on Matthew's face disappeared. His demeanor turned serious, and he immediately stood up. "Very well. Let's not waste any time."
Gaius blinked in disbelief. "So now you care about your duties?"
Matthew smirked. "Of course. When it comes to real threats, I always take things seriously."
With that, the three men left the hall, making their way toward the Council Chambers, where the most powerful magicians in the world had gathered.
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The Freshman Entrance Test – Astra High School
Meanwhile, back at Astra High School, the atmosphere was electric. The seniors and elite students stood on the observation balconies, watching the freshman display their abilities. Among them were the Ten Holy Ones, the students with perfect magical abilities, their eyes filled with arrogance as they gazed at the newcomers.
Paul, standing in the shadows, observed the battlefield. "I must not draw attention to myself." He reminded himself. "I did not come here for glory."
The test required students to defeat as many monsters as possible within a time limit. The more points they earned, the higher their class placement. The classes ranged from E (lowest) to A (highest) for juniors, and from C to A for seniors.
Paul had already defeated ten monsters, but he made sure not to stand out. As he prepared to move to his next target, a blur of movement rushed past him. A student with insane speed decimated multiple monsters in mere seconds. Paul narrowed his eyes, impressed.
Up on the observation deck, a girl dressed in royal attire sat on an extravagant chair, her followers gathered around her. She was Eleanor, one of the Ten Holy Ones. She turned to a blue-haired senior, smirking.
"Your sister is quite impressive," she remarked. "I wonder if she can pass all three tests."
The blue-haired senior, Damien, scoffed. "I expect nothing from her. She will land in Class E."
Back in the battlefield, Paul had stopped moving, allowing a hulking monster to approach him. A student nearby, Nathan, unleashed a powerful spell, "Storm Surge!", blasting away the creature before Paul could react.
Nathan turned to Paul and sneered. "If you're that weak, you won't last long here."
Paul smirked internally. "So that's how I play the weak role."
A few moments later, another monster charged toward Paul. He examined its weak spots and reached toward its mouth, preparing to deactivate its core. Just before he could execute his move, Felix jumped in, striking the monster down with a powerful blast. "That's fourteen in a row!" Felix cheered, then noticed Paul.
Paul sighed. "Not this guy again."
Felix grinned. "Were you stuck inside the monster's mouth or something?"
Paul gave a neutral expression and replied, "The monster attacked me."
Felix laughed. "These things are weak!"
In Paul's mind, he thought, "Weak? If I unleashed my true power, I'd wipe them out in seconds."
Meanwhile, Shasha was slashing through monsters effortlessly. Her eyes locked onto a bald-headed student who was punching monsters with brute force. Enraged, she vowed to become the top scorer.
After hours of battle, the first test finally ended. The head teacher gathered the students and announced their next test: "Survive in a Monster-Infested Zone."
The ground rumbled, and walls emerged, forming a massive survival arena. Students were randomly grouped, and Paul found himself teamed with Felix, Joseph, and Deborah. Their task: Kill three high-level monsters.
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The Council Meeting – A Threat Emerges
Back in Arcana Citadel, the grand chamber was filled with powerful magicians, each representing a faction of the kingdom. King Wizard Matthew sat at the head of the table, flanked by Jason and Gaius.
"We have a crisis," Jason declared. "One of the most dangerous wizards, imprisoned in High-Security Arcane Prison, has escaped."
The room erupted into chaos, with magicians offering conflicting opinions.
"Impossible! The barriers are unbreakable!"
"It must have been an inside job!"
"Who could orchestrate such a thing?"
Gaius slammed his hand on the table. "We believe a secret organization was involved. Their goal is unknown, but if they have that wizard… we're in grave danger."
King Wizard Matthew leaned forward, his expression dark. "Then we must prepare for war."