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Chapter 16: Lanchi Does Not Seek Attention
Chapter 16: Lanchi Does Not Seek Attention
On the day of the entrance examination...
Ikelite Academy of Magic, Learning and Education Building.
Natural light poured through the expansive glass curtain walls, illuminating the interior.
Lanchi arrived early at the exam venue on the seventh floor, sitting quietly in the waiting area, awaiting the commencement of the exam.
Although Talia accompanied him, she could not enter the seventh-floor exam room and waited outdoors on the terrace below.
One corner of the building featured a spacious terrace area with wooden flooring and benches for students and staff to relax. It offered a picturesque view of the campus, along with the enjoyment of the outdoors, sunshine, and fresh air.
Additionally, there was a giant magic screen displaying school information.
According to those waiting, the Knight's College and Sage's College entrance examinations would be broadcast live on any screen across the school.
...
Seventh Floor Arena, Grand Atrium.
The space was expansive and open.
Several gigantic magic machines stood tall, like silent giants.
The lights reflected off the machines, creating a mesmerizing and magnificent display of light and shadow.
These massive constructs, with their components intertwining for dozens of meters, were crafted from mithril and magic crystals, exuding a cold aura while appearing extraordinarily grand.
Many first-time examinees in the waiting area couldn't help but marvel at the extraordinary achievements of magic engineering.
For this exam, Ikelite Academy would activate the breathtaking "Artificial Shadow World Terminal," offering candidates a practical, immersive combat experience within the Shadow World.
Among the examinees, some were visibly excited, while others appeared anxious. In contrast, a few stood out for their exceptional composure, as if they had already mastered the art of navigating the Shadow World.
As the exam was a unified test for both the Knight's College and the Sage's College, the waiting area was filled not only with the more academically inclined Sage's College candidates but also with those who clearly favored martial arts.
Of course, there was also the possibility that they were Sage's College students.
Those who passed this test would then undergo a final assessment conducted separately by professors from the two colleges.
Lanchi, who had been anxiously waiting on the resting chairs for a long time, rubbed his palms together nervously.
The exam would be broadcast, and not only the professors but also the students and staff on campus would be able to watch it.
And that was why, year after year, there were often cases of "public executions."
Many senior students would watch the freshmen's entrance exams for entertainment.
However, looking on the bright side, the magic screens displayed a split-screen scrolling broadcast.
With so many candidates, the probability of him drawing attention was not high.
Moreover, he usually acted low-key and steadily, so he doubted he would stand out.
Lanchi thought.
At some point, light footsteps began to echo through the arena, their sound seemingly amplified to reach the ears of all the waiting examinees.
This powerful presence, emanating from a strong individual, naturally calmed the initially noisy, spacious exam venue.
Lanchi's train of thought was interrupted, and he looked up, following the gaze of everyone around him.
A figure emerged from within the arena, and at that moment, it seemed as if the entire seventh floor could hear only his footsteps.
As the footsteps drew closer, the crowd finally discerned the appearance of the visitor—a young man with brown hair, dressed in a black classical-style suit, a white shirt, and a golden tie, with diamond and Holy Cross patterns on the buttons and collar.
He looked much younger than they had imagined, appearing to be under thirty years old.
However, no one dared to underestimate him because of his age. The fact that he wore such decorations indicated that he was not just a teacher at Ikelite Academy but also a high-ranking priest within the Church of the Goddess of Fate.
The man's strides were measured and calm as he walked to the front of the waiting area, his eyes scanning the group of examinees.
"I am Loren Cranter, the chief examiner for today's exam and the Dean of the Sage's College."
The young man's eyes were gentle, and his demeanor exuded a sense of calm, easing the tension in the hearts of many nervous examinees.
Compared to their initial expectations of a stern and formidable examiner, the Dean of the Sage's College appeared approachable and amicable.
"The theme of today's examination is 'Wisdom and Mental Fortitude'," Loren continued in an organized manner.
"In most cases, when challenging the Shadow World, as long as you follow the correct path, decipher the clues, and advance the main objective, you will not be required to defeat enemies far beyond your level."
"However, if you make a mistake or encounter an unexpected situation, the Shadow World can become extremely dangerous. Not only will you face enemies powerful enough to instantly kill you, but you may also be hunted down and..." His voice trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging with an ominous tone.
"Therefore, it is crucial to be able to decipher the clues and obtain critical information within the Shadow World."
Here, Loren paused, and his eyes took on a complex expression,
"There was once a tragic accident at Ikelite Academy, a failed fourth-tier Shadow World challenge, which took the lives of seven students. None of them survived."
His voice wasn't particularly deep, but these words resonated like thunder in the grand atrium.
For teenagers, "death" might be a distant concept. However, this reminder served as a stark realization that not everyone was adequately prepared for the dangers that lay ahead.
The exam venue fell into an eerie silence, and many examinees' eyes wavered with uncertainty.
As if anticipating their reaction, Loren remained silent for a moment before continuing, "The fundamental cause of that incident was the overconfidence of the students, which led the mission astray from the main objective, and they lacked the ability to handle the rapidly deteriorating situation."
"This is an imbalance of mental fortitude and wisdom."
"So, this year, both the Knight's College and the Sage's College will place extra emphasis on the examinees' mental resilience and their ability to adapt to changing situations."
"The exam you are about to face is a replication of a real Shadow World."
"Each of you will independently face the same solo Shadow World, and passing it will mark your qualification."
After a brief introduction of the exam process, Loren inserted a black crystal-like key into the control panel of the "Artificial Shadow World Terminal."
Subsequently, the space in front of the magical machinery began to distort, the colors darkening until a seemingly illusory door materialized. In the giant mirror, countless twisted souls seemed to be swirling.
It resembled the Void Gate that could transport people into the Shadow World.
Loren stood quietly in the hall, while the other staff members began guiding the examinees.
They directed the students through the Void Gate and into the Artificial Shadow World.
At the same time, the giant screen hanging on the wall of the atrium switched from its usual display to a live broadcast of the Shadow World challenge during the entrance examination!
Usually, the new chapters are posted between 6 am and 8 am in the morning, but sometimes they might be posted earlier, at midnight in the underworld time. The next chapter will be Lanchi's rise to fame!
(End of Chapter)
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