The gates of Zenith Academy loomed high, shimmering with intricate runes and the legacy of centuries.
As the sun cast golden rays over the academy grounds, a tide of candidates flooded in through the colossal entrance.
Hundreds, no, thousands of aspiring elites had gathered here from every corner of the world for one goal—the Zenith Academy Entrance Examination.
A loud voice echoed across the open field from hovering speakers attached to flying golems.
"All candidates, please proceed to registration and head to the Main Auditorium. You will receive further instructions there."
All the candidates after registering were instructed by the staff to head towards the grand auditorium.
Amidst the crowd was a certain silver-haired boy, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape.
Alex Dragonheart stared in awe at the sprawling architecture of the Zenith Academy. The floating towers, the gravity-defying waterfalls, and the sheer magic density in the air—it was breathtaking.
"I mean... I've seen this place in the game," he thought, eyes practically sparkling. "But this... this is the greatest thing a gamer could ever ask for. Damn, I could die happy just staring at this marble."
He turned left.
Then right.
Then straight.
Then backward.
He had successfully managed to walk in a complete circle. Twice.
"Wait… wasn't I just here ten minutes ago?" Alex squinted at a statue of a flaming lion devouring a magic orb. "Yeah, I definitely admired how badass you looked earlier. I'm lost, aren't I?"
So mesmerized was he by the giant dragon statue spitting water that he turned left.
"Huh… Did the map change in a patch update or something?"
He scratched his head and wandered off, completely lost and mumbling to himself like an NPC with a broken questline.
---
Meanwhile, in the grand auditorium, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. The immense hall, capable of holding tens of thousands, slowly filled with candidates. Just then, the large doors creaked open again.
A new arrival.
From the Noble House of Crestvale, Alden von Crestvale walked in with calculated grace. His black-white hair fluttered(despite no wind there again). A confident smirk rested on his face, as if he already owned the place.
Alden von Crestvale, heir of the noble Crestvale House, strode in with elegant steps and the smug grace of someone who knew everyone was watching—and loved it.
"That's Alden! From the Human Domain!" someone whispered.
"He won the Grand Swordmaster Cup three years in a row!"
"He's rumored to be a prodigy among prodigies!"
Alden smirked as if he could hear it all and was already bored by the praise. He took his seat in the front row, crossing one leg over the other with princely arrogance.He looked like the final boss of a noble tea party.
Whispers erupted among the candidates.
"He's the future Sword Saint for sure."
Alden took a seat in the front row, arms crossed, head slightly tilted as if unimpressed with everyone else.
---
Not long after, the temperature in the room dipped.
From the Marquis House of Starlight, Seraphina Starlight entered.
She walked with the elegance of falling snow, her icy-blue hair cascading like frozen silk. Her gaze was calm, yet powerful, and her presence made many hearts skip a beat.
Men gawked.
Women gawked harder.
Boys froze mid-sentence. One guy accidentally walked into a pillar.
Her attire shimmered with enchanted frost, subtly releasing cold air. She sat down gracefully, the chair beneath her developing a light frost pattern.
"She's so beautiful it hurts to blink."
---
The doors burst open dramatically as shadows stretched across the hall.
From the Bloodmoon Empire, she entered.
Lilith Noctis Bloodrose, the Vampire Princess.
Dressed in regal black and crimson, her crimson eyes glowed under the chandelier light. Her presence was suffocating, like royalty that demanded both awe and fear.
Behind her were cloaked vampire retainers, each with a predatory aura.
Lilith Noctis Bloodrose, that name held weight to everyone who knew her.
She entered with a dozen crimson-robed followers, her ruby eyes glowing faintly. Her aura pulsed with power, and her mere presence made the temperature drop and rise simultaneously.
Her long black hair shimmered with red streaks, and her smile—dangerous, intoxicating—made people forget how to breathe.
She was the master of Blood Magic, and with one glance, she made people feel it in their veins.
Gasps echoed.
"She looks like she drinks mana for breakfast."
"Rumours has it that she can drain you with a kiss."
Someone added dramatically "yeah yeah ... she can drain you with a glare."
The guy fainted when she glanced in his direction.
Lilith licked her lips and gracefully sat, her followers forming a protective circle around her.
---
The atmosphere shifted once again.
From the Everfrost Empire, a shimmering light of nature and mystique filled the hall as the Fairy royalty entered.
Aurelia Sylven Everglade, the Fairy Princess, floated in with crystalline wings, glittering like dew-kissed petals.
Beside her was her twin brother, Prince Thalor Sylven Everglade, whose presence was more grounded, yet equally majestic.
They moved with a flow that seemed like they were dancing with the wind. Their followers trailed behind like a trail of stardust.
Gasps.
"Fairies?! Here?!"
"They're known to never leave their empire unless it's something monumental!"
---
And then came an ethereal silence.
From the Verdant Dominion, the Elven Princess made her entrance.
Elaria Moonshade Lareth'Thalas.
Every step she took was poetry. With long blond hair braided in Elven tradition and emerald eyes sharper than daggers, she radiated disdain for everything around her. Her elven entourage looked upon everyone like they were cockroaches.
A guy whispered, "She's so hot… I think she insulted my bloodline just by breathing near me."
Many fainted. A few tried to act cool and failed miserably.
---
Heavy footsteps echoed.
From the Dwarven Kingdom of Titania, the Dwarven Prince stomped in.
Draven storm Everforge.
He was taller than average dwarves due to his mother who was human , and wore a mechanical exosuit on one arm.
"I heard that this guy once hacked his kingdoms entire security system."
He waved to the crowd.
His followers carried tech gear and various gadgets, one of which exploded and turned someone's hair pink. Draven high-fived the guy.
---
A holy glow followed as white-robed figures walked in.
From the Holy Kingdom of Celestara, the Saint and Saintess Candidates entered.
Leading them was Saint Candidate Elias Dawncrest, who radiated an aura so blinding that someone screamed, "My retinas!"
He strutted like a messiah.
Behind him were two Saintess Candidates: Maria Lunehart and Stela Starvale, who were elegant, graceful, and kind.
"Goddess of Light bless your path," Maria whispered to a stuttering commoner, who promptly forgot how to speak.
Meanwhile, Elias muttered, "Finally, peasants get to witness greatness."
Someone sneezed.
Elias yelled " Blasphemy."
---
Then the room shook with anticipation.
From the Human Empire of Avaloria, a noble woman appeared at the gates. And from the center of the magic circle stepped out Princess Charlotte Evan Avaloria.
She glided forward with hair white like snow and a gaze that made both men and women pause in reverence.
Every step she took seemed to distort gravity itself.
"She's a goddess… no, goddess is her side hustle!"
Girls screamed. Boys fainted. Even the chandelier tilted toward her in admiration.
---
Meanwhile…
Alex was still outside.
He had ended up in a secret garden.
"Why is there a talking peacock here? Wait, did I just trespass into a forbidden zone?"
Someone yelled.
" Hey kid what are you doing here."
" Oh no—run!"
---
Inside the hall, a new wave of candidates arrived. These were not nobles, but their future would be anything but ordinary.
A tall young man with a scar and a massive greatsword—Rein Greystone, future Mercenary King.
A calm girl adjusting her glasses—Luna Astelle, future Archmage of Elements.
And many others: brawlers, assassins, beast tamers—all humble today but destined for greatness.
Even the lesser noble houses had promising talents who would one day shock the world.
---
And then...
The room fell utterly silent.
From the Ducal House of Williams, a brilliant glow filled the room.
Ethan Williams entered.
With platinum blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and an aura that radiated divine power, Ethan looked like a hero descended from the heavens. He walked past everyone, who instinctively made way.
Ethan Williams stepped in.
Everything... stopped.
Time felt slower, air heavier. Even the floating crystals dimmed slightly as if respecting his presence.
Clad in dark navy and gold-trimmed robes, sword on his back, he radiated power that made even veteran knights sweat.
"That's him…" someone whispered. "The Chosen of the Goddess."
Leaders of every race were eyeing him like he was out of this world.
The Holy Church candidates stated praying.
Some girls cried and some were eyeing him like they wanted to eat him.
He ignored the reverence and strolled straight to Alden.
"Yo, Al. Looking smug as usual."
"Ethan. Late as ever."
"Fashionably. It's part of my charm."
They fist-bumped like it was destiny.
---
Suddenly, a thunderclap silenced the crowd.
A terrifying presence appeared on the stage.
Headmaster Aldric Verlane.
With long black hair, a black coat laced with stars, and an aura so immense it bent mana itself, he stood like a god among mortals.
Gasps echoed.
"It's him… The Celestial Slayer."
"The one who defeated an abyss lord—alone."
His gaze swept the room, stopping briefly on Ethan.
After some time.
He spoke. "All of you… are weak. Pathetic. Arrogant fools."
He raised a hand. The temperature dropped.
"You're not worthy of this place… yet."
He was about to continue—
BANG!
The door flew open.
"I FOUND IT! I FOUND THE AUDITORIUM!"
Everyone turned.
Alex stood at the entrance, panting, sweating, like he head run a marathon.
He raised a hand. "Hi. Name's Alex Dragonheart. I think I missed roll call."
Aldric narrowed his eyes. He whispered something that no one but he could hear:
"Just like his mother… always late."
Thousands of eyes were on Alex.
He blinked. "Uh… am I in the right place?"