A few minutes earlier.
The door hissed shut with finality, and the silence that followed felt almost ceremonial.
A flickering hologram materialized before Kael Vireon, followed swiftly by a countdown. The chamber, sterile and enclosed, felt like a cocoon of steel—one that would either birth a future Lord… or swallow a dream whole.
When the timer hit zero, a mechanical voice echoed through the chamber, devoid of emotion:
[The examination will begin shortly. Please confirm your identification.]
"Student Kael Vireon, ID number 53632-29," Kael responded coolly, masking the buzz of excitement in his chest.
'Once this is over… I'll finally be free.'
He had once entered the academy with high hopes. A beacon of prestige in the Golden Sun Province, it was said to polish diamonds from dust. But Kael quickly learned—this place did not mold greatness. It only recognized it. And if your blood wasn't gilded with legacy, your worth was measured in silence.
Even the fascinating courses on the Primordial Domain couldn't redeem the daily tedium. The social elite didn't bother hiding their disdain for him. But Kael didn't care. He had no use for hollow alliances or smiles crafted by ambition.
He preferred solitude to sycophants.
He had once made the mistake of standing out—earning top marks in his first year, believing merit would earn him companionship. Instead, it painted a target on his back.
Bullied. Shunned. Isolated.
Since then, Kael had chosen anonymity over achievement, slowly preparing—not to impress anyone, but for the sole purpose of surviving the Primordial Domain.
[Student ID confirmed. Iris scan and biometric verification initializing. Please remain still.]
A pale light scanned his eyes as a soft screen projected before his hands. Kael pressed down, and a brief pulse of energy ran through his palms.
[Match confirmed. Commencing graduation evaluation for Student Kael Vireon.]
[Prepare yourself.]
In an instant, a blinding light surged forth.
Kael instinctively closed his eyes, the brilliance threatening to consume his senses. When the radiance faded, he opened them again—only to find himself standing before a mountain that scraped the heavens.
Clouds clung to its peaks, and frigid winds howled around him, whispering with voices not quite human.
The soil was damp beneath his boots. He knelt, brushing his fingers against the earth. It was real. The cold stung his skin, the air bit into his lungs.
This wasn't just an illusion.
This was a trial crafted to feel like the Primordial Domain.
The terrain was treacherous, filled with traps, beasts, and puzzles. A student's score would be calculated by how far they climbed, how they adapted, and the choices they made.
Kael's gaze fixed on the winding trail ahead. Then, the voice returned:
[Choose your weapon.]
"A thin longsword. Double-edged. Straight blade. Pointed tip," he replied without hesitation.
A ripple of light converged before him, coalescing into a finely balanced longsword. Its design was simple but efficient—practical.
Kael gripped it with practiced ease, swinging it twice to test its weight.
"Let's get to work."
Moments later, the air trembled.
He caught the faint whistle—something slicing through the wind. Instinctively, Kael tilted his head skyward.
Two emerald-winged Emactyls burst from the clouds above—prehistoric pterosaurs with dagger-like fangs and claws that gleamed like obsidian.
Their eyes locked onto Kael, and without delay, they dived.
Right into the kill.
Kael's body moved before thought could intervene.
A swift sidestep. A low crouch. The hiss of wind over his shoulders.
The creatures missed by inches—and as one of them swept by, Kael twisted his torso, slashing upward.
The blade met flesh.
One Emactyl let out a shriek before dissolving into shimmering particles.
The second tried to retreat—but Kael didn't give it the chance. He closed the distance and drove the sword into its back as it tried to ascend.
Ding.
The kill registered. Light particles danced briefly in the air before fading.
Kael exhaled, feeling a subtle warmth course through his limbs.
"Is this an artificial simulation of energy plunder?" he wondered.
The exam chamber's ability to mimic the sensation of growth from battle was remarkable. It made the stakes feel disturbingly real.
Not wasting time, Kael resumed the climb. Over the next twenty minutes, he dispatched ten more Emactyls with clean, efficient motions.
But this was only the beginning.
The voice returned, and a glowing screen materialized before him.
[Answer the following questions to proceed:]
1. What is a War Rune? (60%)
2. What is the Primordial Domain? (20%)
3. Name the key factors Lords must consider when developing their territory. (20%)
Kael studied the questions. Straightforward… on the surface.
He knew better than to rush. The final score would depend on both how far he climbed and how precisely he handled the questions. Every point mattered.
"I'll begin with question three," he murmured aloud.
"As a Lord, one must prioritize security, economic development, infrastructure, resource management, and social welfare to ensure the stability and prosperity of the territory. A loyal population forms the backbone of enduring power."
He paused, reading it back in his mind.
"…And of course, military readiness, education, innovation, and cultural unity must not be overlooked. These foster internal strength and external respect."
Satisfied, he nodded.
"For the second question—the Primordial Domain…"
His tone grew reverent.
"The Primordial Domain is a realm of unknown origin, one that transcends the bounds of ordinary space. Over five centuries ago, it revealed itself to humanity. No one knows why.
It is a place of limitless danger and infinite opportunity—a proving ground where only the cunning survive. All sentient races are said to have access to it. It is there that human potential is unlocked, and power can be plundered from the very essence of existence.
It is… the forge of legends."
Kael inhaled deeply.
Only one question remained.
But before he could speak, the sky roared.
Six Emactyls tore through the clouds, their shrieks deafening. They had seen him. Locked on.
Their wings beat like war drums, and they descended with murderous precision.
Kael sighed, tightening his grip on the sword.
"…Can't I just answer in peace?"
His feet slid back into a ready stance.
Steel gleamed.
The hunt resumed.