Chapter 5: Bringing the Graduation Project to the Entrance Exam (1)

 

The entrance exam of Pentagon Academy.

 

A crucial event where new awakeners showcase their talents to the world for the first time.

 

Most of the new students were thrilled at the thought of displaying their abilities.

 

They had even prettied themselves up, hoping they might appear on the news.

 

However,

 

– Scritch, scratch.

 

‘The highest record so far is level 4… Is level 5 really an unbreakable barrier?’

 

Among the shadows cast by the group of new students,

 

A woman was hidden in the darkness, evaluating the cadets.

 

…The number one clan in the country, ‘Cheonhwa’.

 

She was Yoo Shia, the third daughter of the clan leader.

 

‘I don’t expect them to reach my level, but at least level 5?’

 

Yoo Shia was doing this to find talents worthy of joining the clan.

 

Isn’t it true that strong awakeners are extraordinary from the start?

 

Just like how a needle hidden in a pocket will eventually pierce through and reveal itself,

 

Those destined for greatness show their exceptional talents even during entrance exams.

 

Yoo Shia intended to focus on forming relationships with such individuals.

 

It would be easier to recruit them into the Cheonhwa clan later if they became friends now.

 

But then,

 

– Murmur, murmur.

 

‘A katana… a Japanese sword? Unbelievable, really.’

 

Not only were there no talents, but now someone was even trying to use a Japanese sword.

 

Without looking closely at who it was, Yoo Shia turned away.

 

There was no need to look at such a person. She thought she might as well use this time to visit the restroom.

 

———That was a mistake.

 

– Swish.

 

‘That one must be done by now, so let’s see. The next cadet is… huh?’

 

When she returned from the restroom,

 

She realized something was amiss.

 

The atmosphere in the clearing, which should have been bustling…

 

Was too quiet.

 

As if everyone was holding their breath, focusing intensely.

 

‘What’s going on? I was only gone for a moment… oh!!?’

 

She too gasped.

 

In the middle of the clearing, within a large activated barrier,

 

A young man was fighting while wielding a katana.

 

…Against an ogre.

 

‘That’s definitely level 5… Did he pass all the way through level 4 while I was gone!?’

 

The appearance of the ogre indicated level 5.

 

The stage Yoo Shia considered the benchmark for talent.

 

Yet, there was a cadet using a katana who had reached this point so quickly?

 

She was dying of curiosity about how he had done it.

 

Fortunately, the answer came from an instructor nearby.

 

“…Judging by his skill with the katana, he’s almost on par with that Aika.”

 

‘Aika!!? That S-rank number 1!!!?’

 

“Moreover, his pattern recognition is perfect. You could believe he’s a veteran of 20 years.”

 

‘What on earth… Oh, it’s true!’

 

Yoo Shia began observing the fight with all her focus.

 

It took her less than 3 seconds to recognize the young man’s extraordinary skills.

 

“Grrrrrrraaaaaaaarrrr!!!”

 

The enraged ogre swung its arms wildly.

 

The sound of the wind cracked like a whip, and green afterimages were left in its wake, moving incredibly fast.

 

An average awakener would have been pulverized in an instant by such a ferocious attack.

 

But…

 

– Swish, swish.

 

Tap, tap. Tap, tap.

 

Light footsteps danced across the ground.

 

Like leaves fluttering in the wind.

 

With just that, the fists, which seemed capable of breaking everything, didn’t even graze him.

 

‘The circus show is over. Let’s finish this now.’

 

– Swish.

 

As he gradually closed the distance, a violet flash struck the back of the ogre’s neck.

 

It was a weak spot notoriously difficult to target when in a berserk state.

 

Ogres, when berserk, swing their arms wildly, launching omnidirectional attacks.

 

Therefore, the general strategy was to take them down before they went berserk or accumulate damage slowly with ranged attacks…

 

“Gr… waaa……”

 

– Thud.

 

‘He really took it down… an ogre in berserk mode, with just a katana.’

 

Before her eyes, a sight that defied common sense unfolded.

 

A perfect strategy, so flawless it could be used as educational material.

 

An achievement accomplished not through sheer power, but through mastering extreme patterns and skill.

 

Perfect soloing.

 

The spectators finally exhaled their held breaths.

 

– Murmur, murmur.

 

“Whoa… what was that? Is he really a freshman?”

 

“Even A-ranks can’t do that!!”

 

The volume of the exclamations was a measure of how remarkable Yu-jin’s skill display was.

 

Yoo Shia was also greatly impressed.

 

‘His physicality isn’t much… but we can fix that. He definitely needs to be recruited by Cheonhwa.’

 

A kid using a weapon like a katana?

 

No. A raw talent brimming with potential.

 

The talent she had been waiting for.

 

Her eyes burned with desire to recruit him.

 

“Cadet Seo Yu-jin. Will you continue to challenge?”

 

“Please.”

 

‘Well, level 6 might be impossible, though.’

 

But she, the instructor, and everyone thought the same.

 

That even he would never pass level 6.

 

The reason was simple.

 

The practical level a freshman cadet could clear was up to level 5.

 

From level 6 onwards…

 

You needed the skills of an academy graduate. In other words, a professional level.

 

“Then, we’ll begin level 6. Three, two, one. Start.”

 

– Shwoosh.

 

‘Damn… they say level 6 is a graduation project, but it’s really horrible. How is a melee fighter supposed to solo this?’

 

The summoned creature this time was an Incubus, also known overseas as a ‘succubus’.

 

A monster that mainly used mental attacks.

 

…It was never meant for a freshman to handle.

 

To withstand her temptation, one needed a ‘mental barrier’ to protect their mind with magic.

 

But that was a skill even talented awakeners only managed to use in their second year, or third year if they were ordinary.

 

Fighting an Incubus without such defenses?

 

One would be captivated in a second and have their heart pierced with an ecstatic expression.

 

The fight couldn’t even begin.

 

If there was any chance a freshman could win…

 

It would be by inflicting overwhelming damage from a distance, where the temptation wouldn’t reach.

 

Or instantly killing it with overwhelming ability.

 

Neither was possible for Yu-jin.

 

Everyone’s certainty in his defeat was natural.

 

In the negative atmosphere, the Incubus shot out a pink glow from its eyes.

 

“Hehe. Oppa, let’s have a good time together♡”

 

[Skill ‘Devil’s Temptation’ effect: Status condition ‘Captivated’ acquired….]

 

– Ding!

 

[Possessing a skill of the same type. Checking the rank of each.]

 

[Overwhelming rank difference! Skill ‘Absolute Hypnosis’ scoffs at the inferior skill.]

 

[As a failure backlash, the Incubus acquires the status condition ‘Captivated’. Furthermore, the target falls under ‘perfect’ hypnosis.]

 

“……?”

 

Nothing happened.

 

Yu-jin, who was expected to walk over and offer his heart, remained still, as did the Incubus.

 

The onlookers blinked in confusion, unable to understand.

 

Only Yu-jin found this result natural.

 

‘Even the monsters that flooded in 15 years later couldn’t put status conditions on me.’

 

The rank of his inherent ability was Ex-rank.

 

Before the regression, it was a rank only he and his master held worldwide.

 

Even the monsters that overwhelmed him couldn’t lay a finger on his mind.

 

So when an inferior Incubus attempted to control him mentally…

 

It was only natural it would backfire.

 

The price of hubris was defeat.

 

“Hey, you.”

 

“Did you call for me, Master♡”

 

“———Hand over your core.”

 

“Yes, Master♡”

 

– Puk!

 

The Incubus’s hand mercilessly pierced its own chest.

 

Searching through the thrumming flesh for its core.

 

And then,

 

– Crunch.

 

“Here it is, Master♡”

 

For a monster, it was akin to a heart.
The organ known as the core, or nucleus, was revealed.

 

“Mas…ter….”

 

– Thud. Ssshhh.

 

The Incubus, now without its core, collapsed and turned to ash without taking another step.

 

Yu-jin merely looked down at it indifferently.

 

The spectators were collectively thrown into confusion.

 

‘What the hell is that!!?’

 

They had thought he was a melee-type awakener.

 

Reflecting mental attacks? Making the enemy commit s*****e instead?

 

That was something no melee-type could ever do.

 

But the previous battle…

 

Questions upon questions.

 

All the questions converged into one, filling everyone’s minds.

 

What on earth is his ability?

 

“Cadet Seo Yu-jin, that was….”

 

“I will proceed to the next stage immediately, Instructor.”

 

‘Alice hates brutality. Let’s get this over with.’

 

But Yu-jin was only thinking about his wife.

 

His indifferent golden eyes turned toward the instructor.

 

Feeling a chill, the instructor quickly operated the device.

 

“Th-then, we will start stage 7. Three, two….”

 

– Grating sound.

 

Everyone’s attention focused again.

 

Yu-jin’s katana glowed violet once more.

 

“Tired from flying around? Come down and rest for a while.”

 

[Mental Barrier Judgement… Partial success. Target falls under ‘weak’ hypnosis.]

 

“Grurk? Grurrr….”

 

“Good. Stay put.”

 

– Slash.

 

Stage 7. The Hisq, a creature that flew around spitting acidic poison.

 

Taking advantage of the moment when its wings stopped due to hypnosis, Yu-jin struck.

 

“…….”

 

– Creak.

 

‘I once thought golems, being lifeless, wouldn’t be susceptible to hypnosis.’

 

“Core malfunction detected. Initiating emergency maintenance protocol.”

 

[Mental Barrier Judgement partial success. Target is…]

 

– Slash.

 

‘But there was never such a thing.’

 

Stage 8. A stationary golem that defended all around with a barrier and fired magic bullets alone.

 

During the brief moment the barrier was down, Yu-jin slashed the core.

 

“Die… you….”

 

[Effect of skill ‘Absolute Hypnosis (Replica)’: Status condition ‘Hypnosis’ acquired….]

 

– Ding!

 

[Skill ‘Absolute Hypnosis’ rages at the mockery of the counterfeit!]

 

[Target falls under ‘perfect’ hypnosis.]

 

‘Yes! Got the easy pattern.’

 

Stage 9. A doppelganger that copied all his stats and skills.

 

Reversed into hypnosis, it crouched down out of sight of others, destroyed its own core, and died.

 

Time taken to break through from stage 6 to stage 9: just 3 minutes.

 

Hypnosis was this overwhelming.

 

‘I even gave up thinking I couldn’t clear stage 9….’

 

– Gulp.

 

“…A different league.”

 

Yoo Shia, who had been watching as if she were watching a movie, muttered a single phrase.

 

It spoke for everyone’s thoughts.

 

And then,

 

“I will challenge stage 10 immediately.”

 

“Are, are you sure? If you want, you can take a one-hour rest as per the graduation exam regulations.”

 

“If I delay the schedule, I will feel sorry for my peers. I will decline.”

 

“Th-then. Very well. Three, two, one.”

 

Not just an entrance exam, but the final gate of the graduation project.

 

Stage 10.

 

The opening.