Chapter 48: Entrance Exam (6)
A few minutes earlier...
The atmosphere in the stadium was tense. The gigantic magic screen displayed fragments of chaos from various points in the virtual world.
Clashes, light, rapidly moving figures—the cameras switched constantly: it wasn't just one fight that was the spectacle, but hundreds of fragments that made the viewers' hearts pound.
Abel, Noah, Lia, and the Elf Princess Maira were seen fighting with their respective powers—fierce, fast, and almost unreadable.
Especially Lira Tempest, her shadow moved alive like another entity, making the audience in the stands swallow hard.
Because she was featured most prominently on the main screen, her battle became the center of attention.
The students were engrossed. Whispers drifted, not merely out of curiosity, but due to a sudden respect that emerged.
Amy and her friends sat with wide eyes. Some students who came from other regions exchanged glances—they weren't yet familiar with the big names.
But they sensed the unusual Aura when the screen focused on a participant who caused Mana surges that blurred the projection.
"This... is like watching living legends," whispered a student from the back row, his voice small for fear of being disruptive.
In the upper stands of the Student Council area, whispers turned into brief analysis. Leonhard, who was leading the exam—his name was murmured with different tones by some viewers: awe, while others questioned the policy.
Meanwhile, some more familiar faces stood out. One of them was Evelyn Monbast, the child of the King of the Northern Continent, and a half-fox.
She stared at the screen, biting her nails, waiting for someone to appear.
As if she had been waited for, the moment she thought about it, the screen switched to another fight, Ren and Kyle facing each other.
Instantly, Evelyn abruptly stood up from her seat and shouted loudly.
"Ah!! My love! My love!!" she screamed, causing the people near her to stare, but she didn't care.
On the blue screen, the scene showed Ren and Kyle talking about something casually.
The girls in the stands were no different; they shouted Ren's name loudly. Perhaps you don't know, but Ren has a very popular fan club.
"Kyaaaa!! Prince of Snow!!" screamed a group of girls in the stands.
"Ren! Ren! I love you!" another group continued.
"Oh God! Oh God!! Just seeing his face almost makes me faint!" said a girl dramatically.
The boys looked at them with furrowed faces due to envy. However, they held it back. They knew they couldn't compare to Ren's face.
Honestly, comparing their faces to Ren's was like comparing the ugliest animal in the world—to the most beautiful animal in the world.
One of the boys asked curiously, pointing at the screen, towards Kyle.
"Who is that guy?"
The people in the stands looked at each other. Judging from Ren's tone of voice towards him, they seemed to be old friends.
Leon, who was sitting in the Student Council stand, leaned forward instinctively and said curiously.
"Kyle Khan, huh? Are they old friends?" Leon asked a girl, or Evelyn, who was next to him.
Evelyn, who was still fixated and standing, finally snapped out of her daze and turned to Leon.
"I don't know," Evelyn tilted her head with slight curiosity. "But if he's Ren's friend, he must be quite strong, I guess?"
Leon sighed and leaned back, saying in a soft tone.
"You keep thinking about strength."
"Exactly, that's why I like Ren." She held her cheeks shyly, "You know, even now I can't defeat him."
Leon raised his sleeve, "I know."
The two of them stared at the broadcast again. Ren and Kyle were about to fight. Ren pulled out a strange weapon shaped like a spear but without a blade, the Yari. Kyle also brandished his greatsword.
The people in the stands held their breath, then—
In one second—the two of them disappeared from their spot.
BZZZT!
A faint lightning sound was heard. Ren's Yari vibrated, its parts separating to form three short rods that spun in the air.
Ren rotated them, striking Kyle—the weapons cut through the air with a sharp whizzing sound.
Kyle ducked, letting the rods shoot over his head, then quickly turned, slashing him with the brown Aura wrapping his sword.
BLAAANG!
The collision between the Aura and the Yari rods produced sparks that formed an energy wave in all directions.
The audience's breath caught in their throats; some opened their mouths, agape.
Ren had disappeared again, appearing behind Kyle and striking his back. But Kyle parried with his elbow, spinning his body and slashing from below.
The ground split, a small explosion sound was heard.
The magic screen shook slightly due to the dense energy collision.
"So fast… I can't even follow their movements," said one instructor with a furrowed brow.
"And they are only relying on a little Aura; the rest? It's purely physical!" said a fourth-year student nervously.
On the screen, Ren jumped backward while linking the three Yari rods together again. Click—a mechanical sound and a small blue light appeared at the connection.
Ren spun the spear like a staff with a steady motion, then took a stance.
He stared at Kyle with a small smirk.
Kyle took a deep breath, looked down briefly, then raised his sword with both hands. "You're strong! But I will definitely defeat you!"
And instantly—the two of them shot off again.
The air shook violently, and the ground beneath them shattered.
Energy waves spread, leaves flew, and blue and brown Aura lights clashed in the middle of the forest.
The audience's cheers erupted. Some even stood up from their seats, some covering their mouths in disbelief.
"Insane… are those entrance exam participants?" asked someone in the stands.
"This... Is this what they call the Golden Generation? I didn't expect them to be this strong!"
"The guy named Kyle managed to keep up with Ren in a physical fight," Leon said with a brow furrowed with curiosity. His body leaned forward.
"Even though Ren is barely letting out his Aura, in physical combat, Ren is extremely superior in that area."
Then Leon looked at Evelyn with a questioning gaze, "What do you think, Eve?"
Evelyn, still watching the fight, said to Leon without turning her head, "He's strong, very strong for a first-year candidate."
She closed her eyes for a moment. "But, he made a big mistake by fighting Ren one-on-one."
Evelyn turned to Leon and smiled, "Because Ren will adapt to his attacks, and if that happens... there is no hope."
Leon smiled back, nodding, "You are right."
They both turned their faces again, staring at the screen.
The magic screen continued to shake, but one thing was certain—the battle between Ren and Kyle had just begun.