In the sprawling center of the University of Phoenix's vast stadium, a gentle breeze carried the scent of fresh grass and fine dust kicked up by the steps of thousands of prospective students. The stadium, with its towering grandstands looming in the distance, stood as a silent witness to the magical energy capacity test that would determine the fates of its participants. At the heart of the field, the exam overseer—a grizzled old man draped in shimmering silver robes that gleamed under the sunlight—stood atop a simple wooden platform. Around him, ten advanced magical energy testing devices were neatly arranged, each emitting a faint, otherworldly hum that pulsed with arcane power.
Unlike the hyper-accurate tools of the Magic Association, which spat out precise numerical outputs, the university's devices were cruder, measuring capacity based on specific parameters. Their results would sort each candidate into color-coded categories: yellow for low capacity, green for moderate, blue for high, red for extremely high, and black—a color shrouded in mystery and dread—for massive, abnormal magical capacity that shook the very foundations of the magical world.
With a booming voice that echoed across the stadium, the overseer commanded the candidates to form ten orderly lines across the open field. Cheers and excited whispers filled the air as hundreds of young hopefuls scrambled to find their places. Amid the chaos, Raiden chose not to rush. With a leisurely stride and a smug, confident grin, he sauntered toward the rearmost line—a line that, by sheer luck, was filled with stunningly beautiful women, overseen by an elegant female instructor in a sapphire-blue robe that fluttered softly in the breeze.
This line was like an oasis in the sea of candidates. A few men tried to sneak their way in, hoping to bask in the presence of the captivating women. But they were met with sharp jeers and biting insults. "Fucking creeps!" one woman shouted, her voice ringing clear across the field. The men slunk away, faces flushed with embarrassment, some muttering curses as they kicked at pebbles in frustration.
But when Raiden arrived, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. His steps were light, brimming with confidence, as if he owned the entire stadium. The women in the line didn't just tolerate him—they welcomed him with open arms. Some flashed coy smiles, their cheeks tinged with a shy blush. Others played with the ends of their hair or whispered in awe, their voices adding a vibrant energy to the line. The breeze carried the faint scent of their perfume, mingling with the fresh stadium air, amplifying the moment's allure.
Raiden chuckled, reveling in the warm reception. His eyes flicked to the other lines, where the rejected men now glared at him with burning envy. With a deliberate, provocative glance, he seemed to say, You're just a bunch of losers who can't even get close to these women. His smirk widened, dripping with mockery, as he stood nonchalantly in the center of the field, surrounded by the admiring gazes of the women.
"Piece of shit!" growled one of the male candidates from a nearby line. His face was red with rage, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened, as if he wanted to crush something in his grip. "Just wait, man! If I get my shot, I'll fuck up that smug-ass face of his!" His voice was low, seething with barely contained hatred, nearly drowned out by the wind and the stadium's ambient noise.
Raiden overheard but merely shrugged, unfazed. To him, jealousy was just a sign of defeat. Leaning casually against one of the marker poles on the field, he soaked in the attention from the women around him while awaiting his turn to test his magical energy capacity.
To leave those stunning women in awe, Raiden had no intention of holding back or pretending to be weak just to avoid standing out too much. Still, he wasn't reckless enough to destroy the testing device by unleashing an excessive surge of magical energy, which could have catastrophic consequences.
By activating Life Force Transmutation, Raiden worked to reduce the concentration of magical energy in his body, converting it back into life force. As an Immortal, the external life energy transformed from his magical energy radiated outward as residual emissions from his entire body.
Ordinary people without special abilities could never sense, let alone see, the pure white light emanating from Raiden's form. But it seemed one woman could feel the surge of life energy, while another could even see the radiant white glow directly.
The first woman likely possessed above-average sensory abilities, while the one who could see it outright had a unique gift of vision.
Both began to take notice of Raiden in their own distinct ways. However, their attention was soon diverted by the next announcement.
"Let's begin the testing now!" bellowed an old man, his voice ringing out across the area.
Each proctor near the testing devices signaled for the first candidate in line to step forward.
"One at a time, in an orderly manner," came the firm instruction from the proctor overseeing Raiden's row—a strikingly beautiful adult woman with an air of authority.
A bespectacled woman with neatly tied black hair stepped forward, placing her palm on the advanced scanning device.
She channeled a small amount of magical energy into the scanner, linking its operating system to the network of magical energy within her body. A simple calculation based on fixed parameters began, and within seconds, the result appeared.
"Candidate 07, test result: Red!" the female proctor announced loudly, prompting gasps of awe and disbelief from the other candidates.
"Candidate 19, test result: Red!" another proctor from a different row quickly followed, not to be outdone.
"Candidate 42, Yellow," came another proctor's voice, flat and devoid of enthusiasm.
One by one, candidates stepped forward to test their magical energy capacity. The colors of their results echoed through the air, filling the atmosphere with a mix of awed murmurs, hopeful whispers, and barely concealed disappointment.
Raiden's row was filled with gorgeous women who grew increasingly excited and curious each time a red result was announced. Occasionally, they exchanged glances, sharing subtle smiles. Such energy wasn't common—especially the red hue, which signified an exceptionally high magical capacity.
As time passed, the list of tested candidates grew. Yet, among all those tested, none had produced the black color—the mysterious and dreaded hue in the magical world.
Tension slowly began to build as Raiden's turn drew closer. The women around him seemed to pay even closer attention to his every move, as if sensing the unique aura radiating from him.
"Candidate 58, your turn," the beautiful female proctor commanded with a firm tone, her gaze locking onto Raiden.
Raiden stepped forward casually, maintaining his confident smirk. He didn't rush, strolling leisurely toward the testing device, fully aware that this was his moment to shine.
Before placing his hand on the scanner, Raiden closed his eyes briefly, focusing the magical energy within his body. He didn't intend to unleash his full power—just enough to pass the test without damaging the device, while still making an impression on the women watching.
As his palm touched the scanner's surface, a gentle yet far denser flow of magical energy than that of the other candidates surged forth. The testing device hummed with a mysterious buzz, filling the stadium with an eerie sound.
Everyone watching held their breath, waiting for the color and number to appear.
Suddenly, the device's screen displayed a color that sent a shiver through every soul present—a deep, inky black, radiating a dark and terrifying aura.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Whispers turned into shouts of awe mixed with fear.
The women who had been captivated earlier gasped in shock; some stepped back slightly, while others stared at Raiden with a mix of astonishment and respect.
The female proctor furrowed her brow, her eyes studying Raiden with a serious, calculating intensity.
"Candidate 58, test result: Black…"
Silence fell, letting the weight of those words echo.
Raiden flashed a smug grin toward the other candidates, who glared at him with envy and resentment.