The massive hall hummed with overlapping voices and restless stirs.
Students filled every corner—
Some chatting excitedly.
Some trembling slightly under pressure
While few others gave a quiet confident demeanor.
This was the Sky High Entrance Ceremony.
And everyone knew what it meant.
Tia exhaled lightly.
moved toward the last row.
This is better.
No attention.
No trouble.
His gaze swept across the hall.
Careful.
Observant.
Then—
It stopped.
At the front.
Several figures stood there.
Black coats.
Each lined with a different color.
They didn't speak loudly.
Didn't move much.
Some talked in low tones.
Expressions tight.
Others simply watched.
Not a single smile.
Tia's eyes narrowed slightly.
The academy Instructors…
A pause.
…Something's off.
The noise in the hall continued—
Tia's gaze lingered a moment longer.
Then—
He looked away.
…Bad feeling.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Click.
.
.
.
Click.
.
.
.
.
Click.
..
.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
Slow.
Measured.
The noise in the hall faded.
Bit by bit.
Heads turned.
One after another.
She stepped in.
Black.
That was the first thing they noticed.
A long dark coat
Lined faintly in red that only showed when it moved.
Her steps didn't hurry.
Time seam to pause too.
No one spoke.
their chest…
Tightened.
She passed them.
No glance.
No acknowledgment.
Yet—
People lowered their eyes.
Instinctively.
She stepped onto the stage.
Turned.
And faced them.
Silence.
She didn't speak.
Didn't move.
Seconds passed.
Then more.
The air changed.
Sour.
But
Breathing became heavier.
Subtle at first.
Then—
Noticeable.
A student swallowed.
Too loud.
Another shifted—
His chair pen dropped.
Everyone heard it.
No one dared to move again.
Then—
It came.
No warning.
No guidelines.
Just—
THRUM—
A wave of cold energy descended upon them.
Clouding their minds and instincts
A few students flinched.
One nearly staggered almost falling.
Another rested against the hall walls
Breathing—
Unsteady.
She said nothing.
Did nothing.
Yet—
"Ghk—!"
Then another.
"Ngh…!"
UGHHHHH
The pressure deepened.
"Kh—!"
Someone choked.
A boy near the front staggered slightly—
What… is this…?
His breathing turned uneven.
Test or not…
His jaw clenched.
I will endure it.
No matter what.
Besides him
Another student leaned forward.
"Ghk—!"
His hand pressed against his abdomen.
This pressure…
His vision shook.
It feels like my insides are being crushed—
"Damn…!"
He forced himself upright.
A few rows behind
A girl wiped the sweat sliding down her chin.
"…Vice Headmaster…?"
Her brows furrowed.
A mana wave…? From her…?
Her fingers curled slowly into a fist.
"…Of all people…"
At the far corner
A quiet figure stood still
Head slightly lowered.
"…Heh."
A faint sound escaped.
Not pain.
His fingers tightened into a fist.
Finally something challenging...
Let's see…
how it feels like fighting mana with mana.
Fl.....
She watched.
One by one as They fell.
"…As expected."
A few remained.
Her gaze lingered.
Noble crests.
Refined posture.
"…Trained from birth."
"…Yet still
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
None of them noticed.
The nature of the pressure.
The more they resisted—
The deeper it pressed.
A slow exhale.
"…And if they let it in…"
A faint smile touched her lips.
"…they'll suffer from an outburst
Her gaze shifted.
"…Joshua Bassett."
Still standing.
Smiling.
"…So the rumors were true."
A pause.
Then—
Her eyes sharpened.
"…Using mana to push back?"
A soft, quiet laugh escaped her.
"…Reckless."
Then—
She stopped.
Her gaze moved.
To the back.
"…Hm?"
Someone stood there.
Unaffected.
No resistance.
Just—
Stillness.
For the first time—
Her expression shifted.
"…Oh?"
A faint smile formed.
"…This should be entertaining.