The next morning, Kai Krownwell woke in his cramped dorm room at Saint Azure Academy, the faint hum of mana crystals illuminating the space with a soft blue glow. He sat up on his narrow bed, rubbing his eyes as the reality of the day sank in. His black hair was even messier than usual, sticking up in odd directions from a restless night spent staring at the crimson system notifications floating in his vision. The piercing blue of his eyes seemed sharper today, almost electric, as if the Incubus System had infused him with a subtle energy overnight.
"So the exam is today," he muttered to himself, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His voice was low, laced with a mix of resignation and quiet determination. He glanced at his reflection in the small mirror on the wall 5'3" of slender build, the black uniform jacket hanging loose on his frame, silver epaulets catching the light. I guess I'll attend and at the very least pass. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. He didn't know what awaited him today, but after last night's awakening, a spark of confidence flickered in his chest. With this system... maybe I can do more than just pass.
He dressed quickly, pulling on his pants and boots, the leather creaking softly. The dorm was quiet, most students already up and buzzing with nerves. Kai grabbed his watch the one issued a week ago, embedded with a help signal button and strapped it to his wrist. It felt heavy, a reminder of how fragile new Awakened like him were supposed to be. But with his stats? He flexed his hand, feeling the unnatural strength in his fingers. Not fragile. Not anymore.
The academy hall was a massive chamber of polished stone and glowing runes, packed with students milling about in tense clusters. The air was thick with anticipation, the scent of sweat and mana mixing with the faint metallic tang from the artificial gate at the far end. Kai pushed through the doors, his boots echoing softly on the floor. Immediately, his eyes landed on the crowds gathered around the stars of the show: Razor, the S-rank Shadow Assassin with his sleek dark hair and cocky grin, and Aria Voss, the Thunder Empress, towering over most with her silver-white hair crackling faintly like static electricity. She laughed at something Razor said, her sharp features lit with confidence, drawing admiring glances from the group.
Kai approached quietly, weaving through the throng. A few students noticed him the short guy with the messy hair and those unnerving blue eyes but they quickly looked away, dismissing him with subtle sneers or indifferent shrugs. Short king, he could almost hear the whispers in his mind. He ignored them, his expression neutral, jaw set in a tight line. No point engaging. Not yet. He focused instead on the artificial gate ahead: a shimmering square portal of swirling mana, about ten feet tall and wide, containing captured monsters from recent gate breaks. Mostly low-levels E-rank fodder around level 10 or so, with a few D-ranks sprinkled in for challenge. The gate hummed with restrained energy, like a beast waiting to be unleashed.
The room fell silent as a group of professional Awakened entered from a side door. There were five of them, each radiating an oppressive aura that made the air feel heavier, like gravity had doubled. Kai's skin prickled with the pressure, his breath catching slightly. These weren't academy instructors they were the real deal, hardened hunters with scars and custom gear etched with runes. Their presence alone made students straighten up, eyes wide with awe.
The principal stepped forward, his grizzled beard and booming voice commanding attention. "As everyone knows, the exam is today. The rules are simple: enter the gate, kill monsters, and earn points. The more you kill, the more points you accumulate for academy resources potions, gear upgrades, even priority training slots." He gestured to the professionals. "And these Awakened ones? They are professional ascended hunters. If you're in serious danger, press the help signal button on your watch that was given a week ago. They'll intervene immediately. But remember, calling for help deducts points. Show us what you're made of."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, nerves turning to excitement. The principal raised his hand. "We start now!"
Chaos erupted as students surged toward the gate, some shoving to get ahead. Kai hung back, walking slowly, his heart rate steady despite the adrenaline. A shadow blurred past him Razor, using his Shadow Step skill to zip forward like a phantom, vanishing into the portal with a smug wave to his admirers. Kai rolled his eyes, unfazed. Show-off.
As he approached the gate, Kai mentally pulled up his system status, the crimson interface blooming in his vision like a secret overlay.
[System]
Name: Kai Krownwell
Class: Space Mage
Level: 1
Stats:
Str: 50
Agility: 80
Durability: 50
Mana: 300
Primary Skill: Paralyze (EX)
Class Skills:
Teleport : Casting time 1 second, range 100 meters (increases with level), cost 10 mana.
Void Dismantle: Casting time 2 minutes, will slash with countless dimensional slashes, cost 50 mana.
Kai's eyes widened slightly, a rush of exhilaration hitting him. Wow, is this for real? My mana is 300 that's the highest a level 1 can get. Most get around 160 on average, 200 at best. He flexed his fingers, feeling the mana pool like a deep reservoir inside him, warm and potent. He'd researched classes on the academy's wiki Space Mage wasn't new, but this stat distribution felt rigged in his favor. The system must have boosted me. Good.
He stepped through the gate, the mana wall enveloping him like cool water, tingling against his skin. The world shifted in a blink no arena, no structured battlefield. He emerged in a dense forest, sunlight filtering through thick green canopies, the air humid and alive with the chirp of insects and distant rustles. Vines dangled from ancient trees, and the ground was soft with moss. Kai's expression darkened as he recognized it immediately. Python Lair. The most dangerous starting point for a fucking mage. Tight quarters, ambush predators blending into the foliage no open space for casting. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple, but he pushed it aside. But not for me. I have something they don't.
He glanced at his watch: the point leaderboard flickered to life. Aria was already at 1000 points must have killed an E-rank monster right out the gate. Razor wasn't far behind. Fuck, how did she find a monster this quick? And that aside, how did she even kill it? Isn't Thunder Empress a battle mage that fights up close? Other students' points started ticking up slowly. Kai cursed under his breath, his brows furrowing. Shit, what am I doing? I should gain points too.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, a rustle overhead made him tense. A massive green python slithered into view, its scales blending perfectly with the leaves, eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. It was at least 10 meters long, coiled and ready. Without warning, it launched fangs bared, body uncoiling like a whip.
Kai's heart skipped, but instinct kicked in.
Teleport. Mana flared warm in his core, a one-second hum building as he vanished in a violet shimmer, reappearing behind the snake. The python twisted mid-air, mana surging through its body to redirect its strike, fangs snapping inches from where he'd been.
Shit, how the fuck is that possible? Kai teleported again, blinking 10 meters away, leaves crunching under his boots. The snake was relentless, faster than it should be for its level, its tail whipping through the air like a blade. Sweat beaded on Kai's forehead, his breath coming in sharp bursts. How is it so fast? I can't keep dodging forever mana costs add up.
Should I try that skill? The thought activated it instantly. Paralyze.
A mere whisper of intent, and 10 mana drained from his pool. The python froze mid-lunge, its massive body locking in absolute stasis. It hung in the air for a split second before gravity claimed it, crashing to the forest floor with a thud. Its eyes bulged in frozen terror, scales still, not even a twitch of muscle or mana flow. Kai exhaled, a grin breaking through his tension. Holy shit. It works on monsters too. No resistance, just... stopped.
Without wasting time, he channeled his next skill. Void Dismantle. Mana surged, 50 points burning away as violet-black cracks spiderwebbed in the air around the paralyzed python. The cast took two full minutes Kai's hands steady, sweat dripping as he focused, the forest sounds fading into a tense hum. The cracks widened, reality glitching like shattered glass. Then, in a burst, countless invisible slashes erupted shing shing shing glowing violet lines carving the snake apart in a whirlwind of dimensional fury. Scales flew, flesh parted like tofu under a hot knife, the body disintegrating into nothingness. No blood splatter, no remains just erased.
The system chimed triumphantly:
Killed a Level 7 Python.
Level Up!
Current Level: 10
Kai staggered back a step, power flooding his veins like adrenaline-laced fire. His muscles tensed with newfound strength, mana pool expanding subtly. He checked his watch his points had spiked from the kill, putting him on the board. But more importantly, he felt alive. This is just the beginning..The short king had taken his first real step.