Within the arena, Ray found his seat amidst a group of peers, faces unfamiliar to him. He took a deep breath, settling himself among them. The air was thick with anticipation, the murmur of countless voices swirling around him. Despite the whispers that still lingered, despite the faint echoes of gossip that tugged at his focus, Ray held firm. He would not let them distract him—not today.
His heart beat steadily as he reminded himself that this was his moment, his test. The rest of the world could wait. The rumors, the expectations, the doubts—all of them faded into the background as his mind shifted into the one state he knew best: focus. His entire being zeroed in on the exam, on the challenge ahead. He was here to prove himself, and nothing, not even the whispers of those around him, would break his concentration.
Then, from behind him, a voice cut through the tension.
"I can't believe I'm meeting the son of one of the greatest heroes of our generation today."
Ray turned slightly, startled by the sudden interruption. A man stood behind him, grinning broadly, his face radiating innocence and sincerity. His eyes shone with admiration as he spoke, clearly thrilled by the chance encounter. There was no sarcasm, no judgment in his tone—just pure, untainted excitement.
Ray blinked, unsure how to respond. The man's words were a reminder of the reputation he carried, the legacy of his adoptive father, the Vice Leader of the Night Guardians. But Ray, for a moment, felt disconnected from that legacy. The weight of being "the son of a hero" wasn't something he often allowed to define him. He wanted to be seen for who he was—his own person, not just an echo of his father.
But the sincerity in the man's smile caught him off guard. For a brief moment, Ray found himself smiling back, the tension in his chest easing just a little. It was a small, fleeting connection, but it was enough to remind him that, perhaps, there was more to this moment than just the exam.
"Thank you," Ray responded, his voice steady but still carrying a hint of surprise at the unexpected warmth. He stood up, extending his hand with a polite gesture. "By the way, I'm Ray."
The man who had tapped his shoulder rose to his feet with a smooth, practiced motion, his eyes filled with a deep respect, the kind that spoke not just of admiration but of genuine acknowledgment. His smile remained as sincere as before, and he gripped Ray's hand firmly.
"I am Stephen Everard," the man said, his tone confident yet unassuming, as though his name carried its own quiet weight.
Ray paused for a moment, the name striking a curious chord in his mind. "Everard?" He furrowed his brow slightly, trying to place it. "I think I've never heard this last name before," Ray thought, scanning the man's face for any hint of recognition.
Stephen, noticing the brief hesitation, gave a small chuckle, as if he understood the unspoken question. "I know," he said, his voice light yet tinged with a touch of humility. "The name's not exactly famous around here. I'm from a low-class family with no real status or power. My father's a tradesman, and my mother's a teacher. We're simple folk, but it's all we've ever known."
Ray blinked, surprised by the bluntness of the man's words. Stephen's tone wasn't self-deprecating but instead matter-of-fact—accepting of his circumstances without shame. There was no pride in his voice, no attempt to hide his background, but there was also no bitterness. Stephen had clearly made peace with who he was, regardless of what others might think.
Ray, still processing this revelation, nodded. "So, he's not of noble birth or a hero's son. No family with titles or riches," he thought. Yet Stephen stood before him, exuding respect and sincerity, completely unaffected by his lack of status.
Something about this genuine humility struck Ray. In a world where lineage often defined one's worth, here was a man who had nothing to prove—nothing but his own integrity, standing just as firmly as anyone else. It was a rare quality, and for a fleeting moment, Ray wondered if there might be more to Stephen Everard than met the eye.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may we all welcome and give it all for the Admission Exam facilitator... the one and only... Mister Jhonnnnnyyyyyy Kanggggg!" The announcer's voice boomed with such energy, it felt like the introduction to a boxing match, the crowd's excitement palpable.
"Looks like it's about to start," Stephen said quietly, breaking the stillness between them. He and Ray both settled into their seats, the anticipation in the air thick enough to taste.
The lights in the arena dimmed, casting everything in an eerie silence. All eyes turned to the center, where a figure began to materialize from the shadows, an aura of light and joy surrounding him like a halo. As the spotlight snapped onto him, a ripple of excitement coursed through the crowd.
The man raised his hands high, his presence commanding attention, and when he lowered them, revealing his face, a collective gasp echoed throughout the arena.
The women in the crowd began to cheer wildly, their voices a chorus of admiration. There was no mistaking the cause: Jhonnny Kang was undeniably handsome. His features were sharp and symmetrical, his dark hair perfectly styled, and his eyes gleamed with a charm that seemed to captivate everyone who looked at him. He wasn't just any facilitator—he was a spectacle, a living embodiment of charisma, a man who seemed to thrive under the spotlight.
Ray couldn't help but watch, intrigued by the sheer force of Jhonnny's presence. The way the women reacted was almost surreal—like they had seen a star. The man didn't speak yet, but it was clear that his very appearance had a magnetic effect on the entire arena. Ray, in that moment, realized that there were people in this world who didn't just command power; they were power.
Stephen, noticing Ray's gaze, leaned in slightly and whispered, "He's quite the showman, isn't he? Never met someone who can turn a simple entrance into a performance like that."
Ray nodded, though he felt a strange mix of admiration and skepticism. It wasn't just his looks—Jhonnny Kang had an aura about him that seemed to radiate something deeper, something more captivating than just physical appeal.
"Is everyone ready?" Jhonnny Kang's voice rang out, smooth and commanding. As the words left his mouth, the women in the arena swooned even more, their admiration for him growing in leaps and bounds. The air itself seemed to vibrate with their energy as the crowd echoed in a single, unified shout, "YES!!!!"
Ray could feel the intensity of the moment building, his heart quickening as the atmosphere around him pulsed with excitement. But Jhonnny Kang, with a cool wave of his hand, brought a sudden shift to everything.
"Then let's all begin."
With those words, the entire arena transformed before Ray's eyes. The once sterile, organized space around them became a tangled, chaotic labyrinth—a jungle maze of towering trees, thick vines, and twisted pathways that seemed to stretch into infinity. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and the rustling of unseen creatures. The transformation was so seamless, so perfect, it was as if the very fabric of reality had bent to Kang's will.
Ray stood frozen for a moment, utterly stunned. His eyes scanned the scene, taking in the massive walls of foliage and the winding corridors that had replaced the orderly seats and arena. "What just happened?" he thought, his mind racing. "What did he do?"
His thoughts churned, trying to comprehend what his eyes had just witnessed. "Was it teleportation?" he shook his head. "It couldn't be. Everything's still here, but... it's different. Reality's been changed completely. Is it warping? Or...?" His gaze darted around again, looking for any sign of trickery. "An illusion?"
No matter how he looked at it, the phenomenon was unfathomable. The sheer scale of it, the way the world had shifted with such precision—it was beyond anything he could make sense of. Every corner of his mind was occupied with trying to decipher what he had seen, but nothing fit.
The world around him had become something entirely else, and in that moment, Ray realized just how far the gap between him and someone like Jhonnny Kang really was. Whatever this man could do, it was something that defied all logic and explanation.
And in that staggering realization, Ray felt both awe and fear.