"Ye who led the arcane path led the truth."
This voice was soft, almost like the whisper of a dying old man, but everyone, within the 5 kilometers of the entire stadium heard these words like thunder ringing through their eyes.
Everyone felt their blood roiled and their heart thumped.
"Is magic truly magic? Or magic, controlled nature?"
"Is this plane an arcane spell model and we its magical nodes!?"
"Are we meant to control the universe or are we slaves to its whim!?"
This time, several students as well as important guests' faces turned red as they stood up in agitation. These words, these secrets were enough for them to ponder a lifetime without answers!
"However, the true arcane path is in the heart, which is what the Darkbane Academy seeks from our new students!"
In that instant, a middle-aged man wearing midnight blue robes, like a starless night appeared in midair as though he was part of the wind itself.
Embroidered on the hem were constellations in silver thread, each star a tiny pinprick of light against the dark expanse of the robe.
The man's hands, weathered by time and the elements, seemed to be etched with swirling runes that seemed to dance in firelight.
On his feet, well-worn boots, their leather creased and scarred, hinted at countless journeys across forgotten landscapes, the soles imbued with the dust of ancient paths.
This man was one of the Nine Arch Magus of Dark-Bane Arcane Academy For Magus!
Immediately the elderly man appeared, and the entire spectators, both students and guests stood up clapping in applause. It was only an archmage who could release words so powerful enough to shake their magical cortex!
"Arch Magus!"
"Arch Magus!!"
"Arch Magus!!!"
The entire stadium shook with that name even the world seemed to want to warp as though a new true time like gravity or life was being launched.
At this moment, the Arch Magus raised his hand and his 6-path arcana staff glowed brilliantly, releasing six massive spell circles that revolved behind him like 6 plants orbiting around the sun.
Instantly, the arcane energy present within the hall increased by several folds.
The hearts of everyone watching shook. Even the servants could feel their Cortex's mana increasing in strength.
Such, was the power of the Arch-Magus!
...
Tron exited the servant's row and entered the Arcane's path participants tunnel.
However, there was already a long straight line at the tunnel leading to the arcane path which also led to the small realm.
Immediately he entered the path, he entered the queue and he was numbered participant 370.
...
Two hours later.
"All disciples who wish to compete, and submit for authentication at the Arcane Path Realm should withstand one attack of a level-1 acolyte from the Magus to qualify."
On the arcane stadium, there were more than 100,000 spectator seats, all belonging to the acolyte alone not to mention those belonging to the servants. The servants were almost like cheerleaders at this point.
As for the Elite Acolytes of Darkbane Academy For Magus, they all had their own seats, and their seats were in the skies, above the normal guests and servants, with an even better view.
The Magus testing them seemed like a casual individual. He wore a blue shirt with sleeves pushed up to his elbow, revealing the faded tattoos swirling around his forearms. A silver pendant, on his chest with a symbol that pulsed with faint energy, on his chest.
Also, his worn boots were scuffed, but with intricate markings carved into the leather underneath, making it unique.
The man stood at the center road of the arcane path, testing every participant wishing to go through the arcane road.
"Next!"
A particularly chubby young man standing before Tron was about to step forward but paused. He seemed to have noticed something on Tron's face and mistook it for nervousness instead of impatience.
He suddenly turned back to him and spoke with a chuckle.
"You know, these things are easy to enter. If you possess enough gold, then they are really easy to pass."
Tron frowned slightly at the man's words but didn't bother to listen to him.
"Isn't that Maine Falstone?"
"Falstone? One of the three noble families in Blue Vision City, that Falstone?"
"With the amount of gold his family possesses, he shouldn't even have to take this test at all. He could directly become a mage without needing the help of the academy faction!"
The servant's eyes were green with envy and jealousy. Even those who came from well-known families were jealous of the young man.
Although not nearly, fully explored, this world has been controlled by Mages for hundreds and thousands of years.
Different factions, kingdoms, academies, Noble families, and institutes try to control this world for a very simple reason, the Fourth Dimension.
An incredibly dangerous realm yet filled with massive treasures and opportunities that overlap consistently with this world.
The three moons, each at various distances formed a triangular formation around this Earth.
However, it is rumored to be a 9th-tier forbidden spell formation that activates the 4th dimension at random.
"I'm ready!"
As the young man's voice faded, an intense flame roared outward like a wildfire as it blasted towards the fatty young man like a blooming river.
"Whoosh!"
However, no matter how much the flames raged at the young fatty, a multi-coloured shield blazed around the young man like a blazing rain and nothing was able to affect him!
Tron's face changed slightly as the flames finally subsided around the young man. It turned out that the fatty was actually possessed an expensive protective arcane treasure.
"Haha, didn't I tell you it was easy?"
The young man chuckled and looked at Tron as he collected an object from the Magus before leaving.
"Next!"
Finally, it was Tron's turn.
Tron inhaled deeply and stepped forward.
"Who is that?"
"I don't recognize him!"
Some of the students watching the qualification trials below couldn't help but speak.