One man's voice cut through the murmur of the crowd like a sharp blade.
"Silence."
The single word reverberated through the air, and everyone immediately quieted, their gazes turning toward the figure who had spoken.
"I am the leader of the Battle Department. This time, the entrance exam will be conducted by me."
The man, middle-aged with waist-length white hair and bright purple eyes, wore an intense red uniform. His presence was so commanding that even the air seemed denser, as though the very atmosphere around him had changed.
In the corner of the crowd, Lucy muttered quietly:
"Damn... This test is going to be a nightmare."
Rylan, standing beside him, leaned in to ask, his eyes fixed on the man in front of them:
"What do you mean?"
Lucy cast a nervous glance at the leader and, in a muffled tone, explained:
"This man is known as the White Devil in the entrance exams."
Rylan furrowed his brow, curiosity spreading across his face. "Lucy, there's something I don't understand. Do the entrance exams change every year?"
Lucy sighed, trying to remain calm as he watched the White Devil from afar.
"Of course. The exams to enter the academy depend on two factors: the candidates' abilities and the leader in charge. For example, the year I took the test, it was the leader of the Beast Department who conducted it."
Before he could continue, Rylan interrupted him, pointing at the five imposing figures behind the White Devil.
"Which one?"
Lucy followed Rylan's gaze and responded, pointing to a woman with golden hair and cyan eyes, wearing an emerald green dress. Her pointed ears were the most striking feature.
"The woman in green."
"Why are her ears so strange?" Rylan asked, intrigued.
Lucy raised an eyebrow and answered, not taking his eyes off the woman:
"She's an elf."
Rylan was shocked. He hadn't expected to find another race besides humans at the academy. But deep down, he didn't care much about it. "That doesn't concern me," he thought.
Noticing Rylan's silence, Lucy continued, now with a more serious tone:
"Her test was to face a beast."
As soon as he said that, Lucy got lost in his own memories, recalling the day he was brutally beaten by a monstrous creature.
"Ugh... Ugh... Bad memory," he murmured, shaking his head as if trying to push those thoughts away.
Rylan watched him for a moment, almost unable to hold back a laugh at Lucy's exaggerated reaction. But he was soon interrupted by the firm and grave voice of the White Devil, which echoed through the crowd like thunder.
"Your test will be to gather four crystals from the Infernal Realm."
The declaration immediately shocked everyone. The crowd fell silent as they processed the leader's words. The Infernal Realm was a name that made even the bravest hesitate.
It was known that the Infernal Realm was a small, empty world—a fragment that had fallen from the Void and merged with the planet Celestial Star. This planet was home to many small worlds scattered around it. The Infernal Realm was divided into four deadly regions: the Ice Valley, the Fire Valley, the Burning Desert, and the Red Lake.
"Leader, isn't this test too difficult? Many people here don't even know the basics of cultivation! How do you expect us to enter the Infernal Realm?" A frustrated voice echoed through the crowd, confronting the White Devil directly.
The leader of the Battle Department showed no sign of irritation. Instead, he responded in a calm yet cutting tone:
"So what? No one here is obligated to take the test."
This comment only fueled the indignation of the crowd. Voices rose, murmuring protests and insults. The White Devil, however, remained unfazed, a mocking smile dancing on his lips.
"As our first companion said, the Infernal Realm is dangerous," he continued casually. "In the Fire Valley, the heat is so intense that it feels like hell itself. In the Ice Valley, the cold can freeze you to the bone. The Burning Desert has a ground that burns like coals, and the Red Lake... well, there are monsters there that make the worst stories seem like children's tales. For you, who don't even have decent cultivation, I suggest you leave. Believe me: death here is not uncommon."
Lucy, who had been listening attentively, gave a forced smile and murmured to himself:
"True to his name... White Devil."
Despite his growing concern, Lucy couldn't help but glance at Rylan, who appeared completely unfazed. His expression was resolute, showing no sign of fear. That only increased his unease.
Finally, Lucy approached the boy, placing a heavy hand on his head.
"Kid, it's better to go home and try again next year. You're too young to die here."
But Rylan's response was quick and firm, as though he already knew what to say:
"I'm not leaving."
Lucy frowned, surprised by his answer. "Why push yourself so hard? You're just a kid. You have plenty of time to try again."
Rylan looked at him with an expression of pure determination and replied without hesitation:
"Thanks for your concern, but I promised my grandfather that I would only return to the village when I was a strong man."
Those words, spoken with so much emotion, made Lucy pause. Something in those words made him reflect for a moment.
"This isn't a joke, kid. Your life is on the line here." Lucy spoke, his tone now more serious, as if trying to open the boy's eyes.
Rylan clenched his fists tightly, staring at Lucy without looking away.
"If I'm afraid of dying, how can I ever become strong? Since the day I made that promise to my grandfather, I decided I would face any challenge to achieve my goal."
Rylan's words hit Lucy like an unexpected blow. He stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what he had just heard. The determination in the boy's eyes made him feel a strange sense of respect.
"Kid...? Is this... really a twelve-year-old?" he murmured to himself, incredulous.