Early the next morning, with the rising sun casting long golden beams across the neighborhood, Lucas met Mason at the gate of their apartment complex.
"Hey, Mason! You've actually lost weight!" Lucas blinked in surprise as he scanned his best friend from head to toe. "Wow, not bad! Looking good, man. Almost handsome!"
Mason was munching on crispy potato chips, clearly unbothered by the irony. He grinned and handed Lucas a fresh pack.
"It's not by choice, I swear. I've been grinding from morning till night these past couple weeks. All that running and fighting monsters burned the fat right off!" he declared proudly, striking a pose to flex his arm.
Lucas took the chips without hesitation, opened the bag, and popped one into his mouth. "Still tastes amazing. You really do know how to pick snacks."
Mason puffed up his chest. "Listen, as a warrior, I've got to give the team a sense of security. That means being sturdy. And round is sturdy."
"So... you're going for the 'Kung Fu Panda' aesthetic?"
"Exactly."
They both laughed, casually walking toward the nearest bus stop. The city felt fresh and calm, a contrast to the tension brewing in every student's heart.
Not long after, they caught the No. 56 bus, riding it all the way to their school campus—where the atmosphere was completely different.
---
"All newly transferred combat students, please report to the playground immediately!"
The campus loudspeakers repeated the announcement several times, each time louder and more urgent. Teachers from each class began counting heads, calling out names and checking lists to ensure everyone had returned for the final assessment day.
Lucas and Mason joined their classmates in the designated area.
The energy on the playground was lively, with students catching up and joking around after weeks of not seeing each other. Tension and excitement mixed freely in the air.
Leon Graves, the class monitor, stood at the center of a crowd, practically glowing with smugness.
"My EXP bar was at 87% yesterday, so of course I stayed out all night in the outer forest, grinding monsters like crazy." He showed off his glowing status screen to a group of impressed classmates. "I soloed until 2 a.m., and guess what? Level 16, baby. I'm guaranteed to get into Kyoto University now!"
"Wow, that's amazing!"
"You're ahead of the whole pack!"
The praise came in waves. Leon soaked it in.
He turned with a spark in his eyes and approached Alexis Lane, the famously cold but brilliant S-Level Frost Mage, and asked enthusiastically, "Hey Alexis, what level are you now? You're an S-Level Talent too, right? Hidden combat class and everything? Bet you're way ahead of even me."
But Alexis didn't even look at him. She calmly brushed past without a word, her expression completely neutral.
Leon froze mid-step, his proud grin cracking slightly like glass hit with a pebble.
"Oof… that was painful," Mason whispered to Lucas, amused by the rejection.
Mason then raised his voice just enough to be heard. "Hey Leon, congrats! You finally hit Level 16. All that grinding paid off!" There was a sly smile on his face.
Leon turned, and when he saw Mason and Lucas standing together, his expression instantly changed. He didn't say a word—just nodded stiffly and walked away.
Lucas smirked. "Looks like he still sees me as some kind of rival. Too bad I'm not even in the same race."
Mason nodded. "He probably still thinks you're competing with him for Alexis."
Lucas chuckled. "Let him. It's not like I care."
In truth, Leon's jealousy didn't bother him. It was shallow and misplaced. Lucas had too many bigger things to worry about now.
Mason added with a whisper, "I heard in the chat group he ditched two of his teammates just to grind faster. Kicked out two girls, apparently. Classy guy."
Lucas shrugged. "Doesn't matter. After today, we probably won't see him again."
"That's true!" Mason grinned. "I'm just happy I made it this far."
Then, Mason's mood dipped slightly. He scratched his head. "Hey... have you decided which university you're aiming for? Are you really going to Kyoto University? It's so far from Tianhai…"
Lucas nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. They've got the best resources—top-tier equipment, dungeons, even special areas in the Secret Realm. If I want to grow, that's the place."
Mason sighed but smiled. "Well, good luck then. You deserve it."
Lucas clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "And what about you? Where are you going?"
"Tianhai University, for sure." Mason's answer came without pause. "My grandpa's getting older, and I want to stay close. Plus, if I stay here, I can still get support from my family and the blacksmith shop. No reason to go far. And honestly, Tianhai University isn't bad at all. Top tier within our region."
Lucas nodded in approval. "That's a smart call. No shame in that."
He meant it too. Mason's B-Level Talent and Level 15 status were more than enough for Tianhai's admission standards.
---
Soon, over 300 new combat students had gathered on the campus playground. All of them were waiting anxiously for the assessment to begin.
A group of teachers arrived, led by the dean of students, and several officials from the Ministry of Education followed close behind. They were carrying something special—a glowing, sacred recording stone.
It was similar to the one used during the initial job awakening ceremony, though smaller and more refined. It looked like a beautifully polished crystal orb—like something out of a medieval magician's workshop.
The staff ascended a temporary stage that the school had prepared in advance.
They arranged the orb and related tools with careful precision, then turned to face the sea of expectant faces.
Finally, the old principal arrived.
He stepped onto the platform, his presence commanding yet calm, and raised his voice across the quieting playground.
"The assessment officially begins!" he announced with a smile. "We'll proceed in order of student ID numbers. When your name is called, please come forward and enter your personal data into the crystal recorder."
The students straightened up. Some clenched their fists. Others whispered nervously. But all eyes turned to the stage.
The real test had begun.
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