[Location: Holy Temple – First Exam Area]
Rick lightly cleared his throat. The air inside the exam area was still heavy due to the lingering energy left behind by the previous candidates. The massive stone resting on the floor bore the scars of earlier attacks, while the surrounding dust slowly settled back down.
Rick: Ahem… anyway. Rose Flowend, it's your turn.
Rose began walking forward.
Her steps were calm yet confident. Everyone's eyes were on her. What a healer could possibly do in this test was still unclear, which naturally made Rose the center of attention. Watching from behind, Jack couldn't suppress the thoughts forming in his mind.
Rick: I saw your Technique in the files.
If you can restore even part of the stone to its original state, you'll get 100 points.
Rose (cheerfully): Perfect.
Jack's fist clenched involuntarily.
Jack (thinking): I'm sick of losing to geniuses… I'll surpass all of them and become the best.
Rose took a deep breath.
The stone in front of her had just been completely shattered. Under normal circumstances, this would signal failure but for her, it was an opportunity to showcase her Technique.
Rose: Reversion!
The moment the Technique's name was spoken, a vibration spread through the air almost tangible. This power didn't exist to destroy, but to reclaim, to return things to how they once were. Like a severed limb reappearing where it belonged…
Rick: Not a bad name, honestly.
Rose (focused): Come on… come on! Ah—found you… the stone's core.
The fragments around the stone began to tremble. First the small pieces, then the larger ones… all of them slowly being pulled toward the center by an invisible force. It felt as if time itself were rewinding.
Rick: That's some seriously good healing.
As Jack watched, he swallowed without realizing it.
Jack (thinking): So this is what healing really looks like…
The pieces snapped back into place, cracks sealed themselves shut, and within seconds, the stone was completely restored to its original form. Sweat dripped from Rose's forehead—this Technique had consumed far more energy than she expected.
Rose (slightly tired): Full score?
Rick: Full score.
Rose stepped back with a relieved smile.
Jack: Wait… what happened to that guy named Mark?
Rick paused for a moment, then turned to Jack as if he had just remembered.
Rick: His Technique doesn't work on inanimate objects. So I sent him away.
Jack: When?
Rick: You don't need to know.
In truth, the moment Rick realized Mark's special condition, he quietly sent him to another room.
[Location: Holy Temple – First Exam Area
(Earlier)
Vals's patience was about to snap.
Vals (furious): Rick, knowing you're an idiot, I'm explaining this for the fifth time!
Rick: Hey! Don't you think those words are a bit harsh?
Vals shot him a look that clearly said "Have you learned nothing?"
Vals: Let me remind you of your last mission: all you had to do was lock a door—but because you forgot the password, a bunch of exiled entities escaped.
Rick: Oh, that… If they hadn't made the password so long, it wouldn't have been a problem.
Vals: …
Vals: The password was 1923. If you think that's long, you have a serious memory problem.
Rick: That was uncalled for.
Vals: I'm telling you one last time: the kid named Mark cannot pass the first stage because his Technique doesn't work on non-living things.
Rick: Okay, okay. It won't be a problem.
Vals: I hope so, Rick… I really hope so.
The moment Rick remembered this, he moved so fast he practically vanished from the participants' sight. He grabbed Mark by the arm and almost dragged him toward another area.
Rick: No problem, I'll just toss him into that room real quick nothing'll go wrong.
Rick literally threw Mark inside like a mop being flung aside.
Rick: No more problems… I'll be right back.
Mark hit the floor hard. He lay still for a moment, then slowly looked around. Silence… dusty walls… emptiness.
Mark: I guess no one accepted me… they threw me into storage.