---
The artificial gate crackled with a soft hum, arcs of pale-blue mana weaving like lightning veins across its surface. Even though this wasn't a natural gate, the pressure was real—heavy enough that first-timers visibly trembled.
I stepped forward with the rest of the participants.
Hana stood up from the audience seats, waving both hands.
"Brother! Good luck!"
I lifted a hand and gave her a small nod.
Any more than that and she'd start crying from excitement.
⟦Cute girl. Very loyal.⟧ Aphrodite
commented.
⟦Try not to embarrass yourself now.⟧
"I wasn't planning to," I whispered.
A few participants glanced at me weirdly.
Talking to a goddess in your head had that downside or maybe Hana shouted too loud?
Kael Bolan raised a hand.
"All examinees—enter!"
The gate pulsed once—then opened like a curtain made of swirling light.
One by one, we were swallowed by its glow.
---
The sensation of entering a gate never got easier.
Pressure wrapped around my body.
My vision blurred.
My footing vanished for a heartbeat—like falling and floating at the same time.
Then—
Thud.
I landed on rough soil.
The artificial gate's interior unfolded before me:
A reconstructed forest zone, tall trees spreading a canopy overhead, sunlight simulated by bright mana-lamps in the distant sky.
Dozens of participants appeared in flashes behind me.
The air smelled faintly metallic— i have read once artificial gates always had that weird scent.
My wristband blinked to life:
————————————
EXAM STARTED
Points: 0
Ranked Monsters Present:
• E–D–C Rank Beasts
• B Rank Lightning-type Variants
• Boss: Lightning Wyrm
————————————
⟦Alright, Damon. Show me something worth watching.⟧
Aphrodite's tone shifted—calmer now, more focused.
"Yeah… let's begin."
I flexed my hands—my claws slid out with a click.
Agility boosted.
Stamina reinforced.
Strength enhanced.
I felt lighter. Sharper.
Ready.
Around me, participants began splitting into self-formed groups—some well-organized, others just clinging to the strongest-looking person they could find.
I walked alone.
⟦Going solo?⟧
"Of course."
⟦Confident. I like it.⟧
I spread my stance slightly—my shadow rippling with movement as I prepared the Second Form.
Time to hunt.
---
---
The forest inside the artificial gate felt too real.
The cold breeze.
The damp soil.
The faint scent of something wild hiding behind the trees.
My heart thumped harder than I expected.
This was my first monster.
The rustling came before the eyes.
Two faint blue orbs glowed between the bushes, followed by a low growl.
A Thunder Feral Wolf stepped out.
Sparks flickered over its teeth.
My wristband flashed:
—————————
Target: Thunder Feral Wolf
Rank: D
Reward: 50 Points
—————————
My palms were sweaty around the grips of my claws.
⟦You're breathing too fast. Slow it down.⟧
"I know," I whispered.
The wolf crouched, muscles tightening—
Then it lunged.
I panicked.
I actually panicked.
Instead of countering, my first instinct was to dodge—
And I threw myself sideways into a roll.
The wolf's claws grazed my arm—burning but shallow.
I scrambled up, breath ragged.
⟦Good! Move again! Don't freeze!⟧ Aphrodite shouted in my head.
The wolf turned sharply and charged once more.
I forced my stance low—
Just like I practiced.
"Second form… Ghost Step!"
My foot dug into the soil—
My body shot to the right, not perfectly disappearing, just fast—
Barely enough to avoid the bite.
The wolf whiffed past me, confused.
I swung clumsily—
Slash!
My claws scraped its hide, not deep enough.
The wolf shrieked but recovered instantly.
This was nothing like training.
It was fast.
Real.
Trying to kill me—even if the exam made them hold back from lethal blows.
The wolf jumped again.
This time—
I didn't run.
I inhaled sharply, braced my arm—
And slashed straight into its face.
The impact vibrated up my arm, and the wolf collapsed with a strangled sound.
—————————
+50 Points
—————————
I stared at the dissolving pixels, chest heaving.
"My first… kill."
Although I did practice forms and learnt them on my own, it was obvious that the real credit for this hunt goes to my new and improved stats.
⟦You did fine. Sloppy, messy, reckless—very charming in its own way.⟧ Aphrodite said smugly.
⟦But don't celebrate yet.⟧
She didn't need to warn me.
Two more growls echoed from the brush.
My wristband beeped twice.
—————————
Targets: Thunder Feral Wolf ×2
Rank: D
Reward: 50 Points each
—————————
They appeared together—siblings, probably.
Faster, more coordinated.
My stance tightened.
Hands trembling, but more from adrenaline than fear now.
⟦Two at once… this will be harder. Don't try to fight both. Separate them.⟧
"Right."
The first wolf dashed forward.
The second circled to flank me.
I backed up deliberately, angling my body so a tree was behind me.
The flanker couldn't take the wide route now.
Both wolves charged at once.
I stepped in.
Ghost Step—
Better this time, cleaner—
I shifted left and slashed across the first wolf's ribs.
It yelped, stumbling.
The second wolf dug its claws into my side.
Pain spiked—sharp and hot.
I gritted my teeth and elbowed it away.
⟦Good! Counter, Damon, counter!⟧
I pushed forward.
One wolf weakened—
I finished it with a downward claw strike to the neck.
—————————
+50 Points
—————————
The last wolf lunged for my throat.
I ducked—
And this time, instinct moved me.
A half rotation—
Claws sweeping like a crescent moon.
"First Form—Crescent Slash!"
CRACK—
My claws smashed clean into its jaw, throwing it sideways.
It twitched once, then dissolved.
—————————
+50 Points
Total: 150 Points
—————————
I stood panting, sweat dripping, body aching.
My first three monsters.
My first real fight.
⟦…I'll admit it, Damon.⟧
Aphrodite's voice softened, almost proud.
⟦You're much better than someone who has never fought before.⟧
I exhaled slowly.
"That's good," I murmured, wiping my claws.
"Because this is only the beginning."
---