Tarse and Vee stood at the front gate of **Isytopia Grand Academy for All**.
Tarse crossed his arms, staring at the massive towers and glass halls beyond the gate. "Big."
Vee — now going by his full name, **Veren Emitsu** — whistled. "You think they got snacks inside?"
Tarse shot him a look. "We're here for the exam."
"I can't take a test on an empty stomach."
They walked in.
The interior was just as huge — tall marble ceilings, glowing walls, magical floating signs. It felt like a city wrapped in a castle.
At the front desk, a woman with tied-back silver hair looked up from her holo-screen.
"Welcome," she said. "Name?"
"We're here for the entrance exam," Tarse said.
"We're here for the food," Vee added.
Both at the same time.
The receptionist blinked. "I see…"
She raised an eyebrow. "We only serve food to registered begets or academy students. You two don't qualify. Please find a public diner."
Tarse muttered under his breath.
She handed them a small glowing book. "This is a guide for the exam. Read it. You'll be called when ready."
They sat on a bench and read the first few pages… and then stopped reading.
One hour later, a voice boomed from the speaker above:
**"All examinees, report to Hall X7 for your entrance test."**
More than **400 examinees** had gathered by the time Tarse and Vee stood up.
They followed the others into a dark room.
Pitch black.
Then — **lights exploded to life**, revealing a massive chamber that stretched higher than a ten-story building.
Everyone gasped.
A glowing platform descended from above. A tall man with a black coat, golden runes etched across it, stood with folded arms.
His name echoed through whispers.
**Umari Tanaka.** The infamous head examiner.
"There seems to be… *quite* the number of you today," he said, voice calm but sharp. "That won't do."He added on," We'll do a little test to get the best for this exam and then a written test."
Everyone muttered." A test before the actual test."
"I hope I pass."
"My sister did say this university is weird."
Someone raised their hand.
"Yes, you there," Umari said. "Speak."
"I would like to introduce myself first."
"Okay, you're free to do so just make it quick."Umari said
"My name is **Azrack Miekket**, and I would like to know what kind of test we will be given, sir."
Umari grinned. It was the kind of grin that made people stop breathing.
"What an *excellent* question."
He chuckled darkly.
"You'll be reducing yourselves… through battle. Knock each other out to earn a place at this academy."
Everyone looked around.
"There's no arena?" someone whispered.
Then the ground rumbled.
Panels shifted. Steel beams rose from the floor. Magic surged in arcs of light. The floor transformed into a **colossal arena**, hovering above another floor.
Umari raised a finger.
"**now for the Rules:**
1. No killing
2. You're allowed to form teams.
3. Weapons are allowed.
4. If you're thrown off, you're out.
5. They'll be no retakes this year.
6. Obey the examiner."
Someone else raised their hand. "I have a ques—"
"**Good. Everyone ready. Begin.**"
---
**Chaos.**
Spells flew. Blades clashed. Screams filled the arena.
Tarse stood still.
Then a group of five charged at him.
"Get him before he turns us to ash!" one yelled.
He raised his hand. Then dropped it.
**Boom.**
A wave of flame exploded outward. Not deadly — but hot enough to send them flying.
The fire didn't even touch them — the **pressure** alone blew them back.
Vee ducked behind a stone pillar. "Dude, chill.Chill?! Now *everyone's* looking at us!"
"They were looking already," Tarse said.
And it was true.
Examinees started avoiding him… or hunting him.
One girl didn't hesitate.
She came at him, twin swords spinning like wind turbines.
She swung.
Tarse dodged, barely.
The girl grinned. She flipped, kicked him in the chest, and he stumbled.
Fell to one knee.
He stood again, brushing off his jacket.
"It seems I'm too famous even here."
The girl's red hair flew behind her as she twirled her blades. "**Emilia Rosethorn.** Let's see what you've got, Cursed Boy."
Her blades lit up with mana — pure, focused energy.
She lunged.
Tarse blocked one swing with his arm, rolled to the side, but she followed — **fast**.
Then she did something weird.
She **threw both swords into the air**.
He looked up.
**Mistake.**
Her fists connected with his stomach. Then her elbow hit his chin.
He fell back.
Before he could stand, she caught one sword mid-air, sliced — cutting him across his face— He turned round,**Another Mistake**— and the second came down straight for his back.
He ducked and kicked her leg. She staggered.
He got up and punched — but she spun with the blade flat, smacking his arm aside, then jabbed her foot into his side.
He gasped
**Finally used his flames.**
Emilia was amazed,"You're quite the inferno, let me see what you've got
They clashed again — only this time Tarse was holding his own.She jumped with both her swords, he dodged. He tried to catch off guard but her reflexes were too good.She decided to keep pushing and he was feeling a bit exhausted yet she wasn't even slowing down not once.
The inferno raged on and blinded Tarses vision. Se it as covered. Closes the distance and swung her swords and threw Tarse away. He got up but she was already on him, concentrated his flames and punched her, landing his first successful hit.
He smirked, she came back faster, stronger, she swung her swords, cutting his arm, he swung his heated fist she dodged, kicked him upwards,slashed, dodged once more.
The arena could not take it anymore and fail, Emilia continued ger onslaught,
*"This match is too one-sided and somehow she's getting faster and faster, I need to something."
The platform crushed to the ground, dust looming all over it, ruble and cracks.
"Umari—" Gloria, another examiner said, "—aren't you gonna stop this."
"Not yet."He said." It's just getting fun, it's nice the principal let's us choose the tests to give."
"Athough, I didn't expect Emilia Rosethorn to be here, she's a true talent and wanted by most university, the Third Division Knight Saint captain even offered her place," Gloria said.
Umari added." I haven't heard of that."
Gloria replied." Get a fucking phone, you battle perverted grandpa."
Tarse, running, blocked, dodged, swung his fist, missed. He was waiting for the examiner to stop the test.
**DING—!**
Everyone froze.
Umari's voice echoed:
**"Enough. 80 remain. Testing phase complete."**
The arena was devastated. The floating panels all in tatters.
Tarse stood across from Emilia, both of them panting.
She looked at him with a smirk. "You held your own. A impressed fireboy."
She turned and walked away.
Tarse dropped to the ground, hand on chest, sweat pouring.
"Damn," he breathed. "I don't think I would've lasted longer than that..."
He looked up at the ceiling.
"...The bell sure saved me."