Chapter 3 – The Shattered Mana Crystal
The final trial of the entrance examination stood before the gathered students at the Royal Mage Academy.
Floating above a circular platform was a massive crystal glowing with blue energy — the Mana Capacity Crystal.
Its purpose was simple.
It measured raw magical potential.
Students whispered nervously as they watched their peers step forward one by one.
Some produced weak light.
Others displayed moderate power.
None caused surprise.
Until Audrey's name was called.
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The Test
Audrey walked calmly toward the platform.
Behind him, male students stared with irritation.
"Let's see how average he really is."
"Maybe the crystal will expose him."
Audrey ignored the insults.
He placed his hand on the crystal.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
The surface remained stable.
Laughter spread through the crowd.
"See? He's ordinary!"
But suddenly —
A strange force awakened inside his body.
The Infinite Gold System activated automatically.
---
Mana Surge
[WARNING]
Unstable Energy Detected
System Core Interference — Increasing Output
Golden light erupted from Audrey's hand.
The crystal responded instantly.
Its blue glow intensified.
The pressure in the arena began to rise.
Students stepped back.
"What is happening?!"
The crystal vibrated violently.
Cracks formed across its surface.
The examiner's eyes widened.
"Impossible… the mana reading is exceeding maximum limits!"
The energy continued to surge uncontrollably.
Audrey panicked internally.
"Stop! I didn't mean to push it that far!"
But the system continued channeling power.
The crystal glowed brighter… and brighter…
---
The Explosion
CRACK!
A loud sound echoed through the academy grounds.
The crystal shattered into thousands of glowing fragments.
Shock filled the arena.
Smoke covered the platform.
When the dust cleared —
The crystal was completely destroyed.
Silence followed.
The examiner stared at the empty pedestal.
"…It has never broken in centuries."
He turned slowly toward Audrey.
"…Your mana pressure exceeded measurable limits."
Students whispered fearfully.
"Is he a monster?"
"Or a hidden genius?"
Audrey looked at his hands in disbelief.
"I didn't expect that…"
---
Aftermath
News of the shattered crystal spread quickly across the academy.
Some council members interpreted the event as a threat.
Others saw it as a sign of extraordinary potential.
High above, watching from the balcony, stood Leon — the hero candidate.
He clenched his fists.
"So… he can destroy sacred artifacts?"
Leon's expression darkened.
"This rivalry just became serious."
From that day forward, the academy no longer saw Audrey as merely a student.
They saw him as an unpredictable force.
And forces that cannot be controlled…
Are either recruited or eliminated.
---
End of Chapter 3