In a vast space engulfed by darkness.

The only sources of light were the numerous holograms floating in the air.

These holograms displayed crucial areas inside The Tower of Growth where the first-year students had just entered.

“It’s already been a year. Time flies.”

Around the table, holograms radiated light, and the attendees encircled it.

In the silence, everyone focused on the holograms; a languid voice echoed through the room.

It was Lee Suyeon, the professor in charge of the first-year Usu class.

Twirling the ends of her wavy purple hair, she stretched her arms with a slack expression.

“I remember it was just a few days ago when they first entered as freshmen.”

“You say that, but nothing about you has changed in a year.”

“People don’t usually change much within a year.”

Lee Suyeon grimaced, not quite shaking off her lethargy, and massaged her shoulders.

“The difficulty seems a bit higher than last year, doesn’t it?”

“It’s based on the average of the students. This year’s average has increased significantly, so the difficulty was adjusted.”

Suyeon, not a new professor but in her first year of charge, had little knowledge to go on.

Albert, who had overseen the Gogu class for the past decade or so, responded.

Several other professors, listening to Suyeon and Albert, nodded inwardly too.

Lately, the basic level of students has increased significantly. This trend has continued for a few years, and especially this cohort has been highly praised as one of the golden generations in Shio-ram’s history.

The first ascent for the first-year students had always taken place on the ‘first floor’ of The Tower of Growth. This tradition had never changed.

The theme was survival, the environment an expansive forest teeming with monsters.

A five-day survival ordeal in a forest swarming with monsters, armed with only one’s primary weapon.

During the last dungeon practice, preparation was allowed. Survival gear was permitted, and somewhat combat-supportive items were acceptable.

However, this survival trial was different.

They were thrown into the forest with only their primary weapon. No other preparations were allowed. Now, they had to survive for five days in this penniless state.

And amidst the monsters, even more dangerous was the competition with other students.

The difficulty was undeniably higher than the dungeon practice, and even more so than last year.

But that wasn’t what Suyeon was referring to.

“Weren’t they 6th-tier creatures last year?”

“Yes, last year it was the 6th-tier alpha entity ‘Earthstone Treant’.”

Cheongmyeong’s professor, Johannes, confirmed after checking the records.

On the third day of the five-day survival on the first floor of The Tower of Growth, a central area would spawn a special monster.

This monster, offering a substantial amount of points, was a target for the students, promoting cooperative competition.

It was the same case last year.

The Earthstone Treant. A 6th-tier monster. As the name suggests, an amalgamation of soil, stone, and wood constructed its golem-like body.

“Last year… haha. Surprisingly, a single student defeated it.”

Last year, that kind of monster was subdued by just one person.

“Taesan’s Lee Jiyoon, wasn’t it? It was quite the talk of the academy. I heard she overwhelmed it with brute force.”

“To crush a golem, known for its regeneration and durability, head-on… It was absurd when I heard it.”

The 6th-tier alpha.

Considering the monster classification from the 1st to the 8th-tier, the 6th-tier resides in the lower ranks.

At a glance, someone might think it’s a weaker monster, but that’s a grave mistake.

The 6th-tier represents the level of a boss in a 4th-grade dungeon.

The lowest class of superhumans and soldiers who enter just to subdue a 4th-grade dungeon can be annihilated by the appearance of a boss.

The 6th-tier. An entity that even capable academy students find challenging to engage with.

“Yes, it was 6th-tier last year. But why this year…”

Suyeon pointed to a section of the document.

[Deployed Monster: 5th-tier Alpha ‘Parasitic Moth’]

“A 5th-tier? And it’s an alpha?”

The difficulty was higher. The overall environment was similar, but the rank of the boss creature deployed was different.

“Last year, a 6th-tier was subdued by a single student.”

“Do we need to raise the difficulty because of that? That was Taesan’s heir acting alone, and no matter how high the average is…”

“This year’s freshmen include the heirs of Gop-hwa and Changhae, and with other students cooperating, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Moreover, Hong Yeon-hwa has a case of defeating a 5th-tier on her own, doesn’t she?”

His point was valid.

Suyeon nodded, then as if suddenly remembering something, she changed the subject.

“That’s a point, but doesn’t it put Lee Hayul at a considerable disadvantage?”

Lee Hayul. The mentioned name drew the attention of the professors who hadn’t participated in the conversation.

Cheongmyeong’s professor Johannes asked back.

“A disadvantage? There are no special restrictions imposed on him.”

“It’s not about restrictions. I’m talking about the points.”

Suyeon flicked her fingers. The hologram expanded into the air from all directions.

[Special Admission: 1,000 points]

“It’s too blatant. It’s like an open call to target him.”

“How could we possibly know the principal’s intention?”

Suyeon frowned. She couldn’t fathom the principal’s reasoning.

The special admissions student. Ever since the confirmation, rumors swirled, and after observing his growth rate and evaluations during sparring and dungeon practice, he was deemed to have ‘potential.’

I understand he has potential, but why offer such an astronomical amount of points before he even blossoms?

Suyeon pondered for a moment then turned her gaze. In the direction was Liana, the professor in charge of the Ipchun class to which the special admissions student belonged.

She would have her thoughts about her student, Lee Hayul. Suyeon intended to ask her opinion.

“……”

Normally, Professor Liana had a very good reputation. Known for always responding with a kind smile.

But there she was, unusually absent-minded, staring blankly into space.

Something wasn’t quite right. And, come to think of it, there had just been an absurd rumor about her among the students.

What was it, that she had teased a male student by smelling him? Utter nonsense. Surely, those spreading such rumors would face significant consequences.

Regardless, Liana didn’t seem to be in a normal state.

Suyeon, with her lips pursed again, shifted her gaze slightly to the side.

Nearby, though not a first-year professor, there was someone else present.

The sharp golden eyes were striking, and despite being concealed, the ferocity of her mana presence was palpable.

It was Professor Atra, responsible for the specialized lectures of the special admissions student. As his assigned teacher, she too had entered the discussion.

“What do you think, Professor Atra?”

Suyeon and Atra were not well acquainted. They had only exchanged greetings a few times at informal gatherings of professors.

Suyeon asked. Atra, who had been resting her chin on the back of her hand while watching the hologram, glanced over.

What is your opinion? She had heard all of the prior conversation and understood the question.

“……”

Atra reflected on recent events. While her life had not been long, the recent past was certainly one of the most intense periods.

Their first meeting. The unimpressive skills and growth rate.

Then, day by day, the astonishingly steep increase in growth rate and the blossoming of talents in various areas.

Always diligently following without resorting to shortcuts, an attitude that, although it must have held doubts, seemed pure in its conviction.

And then the dungeon practice—

– Wretch… Hurl!

His disgusted reaction upon seeing her.

An unwelcome memory. Atra bit her lip. Suppressing the surge of emotion, she voiced her thoughts.

“Well…”

Based on the average of the students she had observed recently,

And judging by her experience teaching Lee Hayul so far.

“He won’t just be a victim.”

Lee Hayul was far from a weak link in this examination.

He was already a superhuman in the midst of blossoming.

…

…

…

Lately, nothing has been going my way.

It was so in the previous world, and it’s the same here.

My life has always been plagued by mediocre misfortune.

Not overwhelmingly hopeless, but enough to break the ladder of hope every time.

– Whoosh

The wind brushed past. It carried a strangely cool chill.

I comforted my instinctively shivering body and burrowed deeper into a reclusive spot.

Blindly, after losing my sight, I barely found this place, crawling on the ground.

A relatively low area with rocks interlocking in such a way that there was a suitable crevice to hide.

After squeezing myself inside, I covered the entrance with large branches I had prepared earlier. With a few layers in place, basic concealment should be achieved.

A touch of magic on top, and it makes for a decent hideout.

‘……’

After steadying my breath, I tried to expand my spatial perception.

…

I couldn’t do it. It was like being pinned under a boulder; it twitched, but I just couldn’t spread it out properly.

My spatial perception, which had served as my eyes, was gone. And my smartwatch, which had fulfilled the role of speech, was also gone. Now, on my wrist was only a test watch that served to tally points.

‘What do I do now.’

It feels like I’ve already failed from the start.

The first ascent, the first ordeal. Whatever you call it doesn’t matter.

This event is the proverbial player-harassing event.

Competition among students is permitted.

For those who already look down on the special admissions student, it’s a golden opportunity, and even those merely curious might take a jab in such a setting.

And there are tangible benefits.

A thousand points hanging around the neck of the special admission.

The points earned during the ascent count towards your grade and serve as a currency of sorts.

Accumulate enough points, and later you can exchange them for items listed in the Shio-ram catalogs.

One thing’s for sure; capturing the special admissions student’s 1,000 points would yield many benefits. Even if it’s not enough on its own, having it would never be a disadvantage.

Most likely.

Right now, many students are probably scouring the area, eyes alight, looking for me.

‘Ah…’

I rubbed my face and sighed.

I tried looking up, feeling claustrophobic. Nothing was visible.

My sight was sealed; I couldn’t see. Even if I had spatial perception, its range wouldn’t allow me to see the sky.

Even with sight, the leaves would obscure the sky.

I couldn’t see above.

My head drooped with despair.