After our battles, we stood by, watching the remaining students. A long time passed, but none piqued our interest. Some were decent, but none truly stood out.

Just as we were about to leave, Ivan suddenly spoke.

"Let’s watch this last one."

We all sighed but agreed.

Instructor Roderic glanced at his list. "Next—Ivansia Raviel, daughter of Duke Daniel Raviel."

A hush fell over the crowd.

The Raviel family was one of the most powerful noble houses in the kingdom, known for their mastery over fire magic. The name Ivansia Raviel carried weight, and expectations soared.

A girl stepped forward onto the platform.

She had long silver hair cascading down her back and piercing red eyes that gleamed like embers. Her presence was refined yet powerful, and as she raised her hand, a crimson glow flickered around her fingers.

The golem activated, its eyes shining red.

"Begin!"

Ivansia Raviel vs. Golem – The Dance of Flames

The golem charged, but Ivansia didn’t move.

She simply whispered, "Ignite."

A wave of heat erupted from her, distorting the air around her like a mirage. The moment the golem's foot touched her aura, its stone surface began to glow red-hot.

CRACK!

A sudden pillar of fire shot up, engulfing the golem in flames. The crowd gasped as the golem burned, its once-solid form melting under the intense heat.

The creature staggered, its movements sluggish.

Ivansia raised her hand, fingers curling into a fist.

"Infernal Surge."

The flames around the golem compressed, spiraling into a single burning sphere at its core. For a second, nothing happened—then—

BOOM!

The golem exploded into molten shards, its remains scattering across the platform. The heat was so intense that some students stumbled backward, shielding their faces.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

"Wow! She’s incredible!"

"I guess she’s not the Duke’s daughter for nothing!"

Ivansia flicked her wrist, and the flames vanished as if they had never existed. She stepped down gracefully, not even sparing a glance at the remains of her opponent.

---

The Fate of a Name

Nether turned to Ivan, a slow smirk forming.

"Ivan… Ivansia… don’t they match a lot?"

Ivan frowned. "What?"

Rean grinned. "It seems like fate to me."

Ivan scoffed. "You two are idiots."

Nether stepped closer, placing a hand on Ivan’s shoulder. "Look at her."

Ivan sighed, glancing at Ivansia as she walked past.

"Yeah?"

Nether’s smirk widened. "Silver hair. Red eyes. Name? Ivansia. You understand, don’t you? This is fate calling to you."

Ivan twitched. "Shut it before I blow you up."

Nether chuckled. "I will survive, but how will you escape the fate of love?"

Ivan growled.

Without warning, a sudden gust of wind erupted beneath Nether, sending him flying through the air.

"Wha—?!"

He twisted mid-air, trying to regain balance—

—but instead, he crashed directly into the next opponent’s golem.

---

An Uninvited Interruption

Roderic sighed. "Next—Sylpiette Vaelora, from the Elven Kingdom."

An elven girl stepped forward, her long sliver hair flowing in the wind. Her green eyes held an unreadable calm, and the air around her hummed with magic.

She was a wind mage.

But before the fight could begin—

CRASH!

Nether slammed into her golem from above, his dual swords flaring with energy.

"Sword Aura—Dual Crash!"

The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the platform, splitting the golem in half instantly.

Silence.

Nether landed smoothly, looked around, then turned to the stunned audience.

"Oops. My bad."

He casually stepped off the platform, walking away as if nothing had happened.

Crowd: "…Is he hiding his true power?!"

Roderic pinched his nose. "Sorry for the inconvenience. Prepare the next golem."

Sylpiette crossed her arms, looking at Nether with curiosity. "Interesting."

---

Sylpiette Vaelora vs. Golem – The Song of the Wind

A new golem activated, and Sylpiette finally got her chance.

She raised her hand, and the wind around her shifted—growing sharper, colder.

The golem charged, but Sylpiette didn’t even move.

She simply whispered: "Wind Cutter."

SWOOSH!

A single invisible blade of air sliced forward.

For a moment, the golem stood still.

Then—CRACK!—its entire body split apart, severed into countless pieces by a single, precise strike.

The crowd went wild.

"She didn't even need multiple attacks!"

"She’s got terrifying precision!"

Sylpiette exhaled softly, stepping down as if nothing had happened.

---

More Strong Contenders

1. Darius Flintlock – The Unbreakable Shield

A burly, dark-haired youth stepped onto the platform, carrying a tower shield as big as his body.

The golem attacked, but nothing moved him.

Each strike that landed on his shield shattered the golem’s arms, as if hitting an unbreakable wall.

With a roar, Darius bashed his shield forward—crushing the golem in one mighty blow.

"He's a walking fortress!"

---

2. Celestine Luthiel – The Ice Queen

A beautiful girl with long silver hair stepped onto the stage, exuding a cold, almost inhuman aura.

The golem rushed forward—

But before it could even take two steps, the entire stage froze.

Celestine whispered: "Glacial Coffin."

The golem froze solid, its body encased in ice so thick it looked like crystal.

She snapped her fingers.

CRACK!

The ice shattered into a thousand pieces, taking the golem with it.

"Unbelievable! Her ice magic is absolute!"

---

3. Alistair Ravenshadow – The Phantom Blade

A black-haired youth with golden eyes stepped forward, carrying a single katana.

Unlike the others, he vanished before the battle even started.

The golem froze, confused.

Then—SHING!

A single, precise slash cut through the air.

The golem collapsed, its core sliced clean through.

Alistair appeared behind it, sheathing his blade.

"Winner—Alistair!"

---

The First Day Ends

As the last battles finished, we exchanged glances.

Nether smirked. "Well, I think we’ve found some interesting people."

Rean chuckled. "The academy might actually be worth it after all."

Ivan crossed his arms. "We’ll see."

Arther grinned. "I can’t wait for the next challenge!"

Little did we know—this was only the beginning of our legend.

------

The Aftermath of the Entrance Exam

The battles concluded, and the fresh batch of Hunter Academy students was finalized. The once-roaring arena had settled into murmurs as the remaining spectators dispersed.

Ivan, Rean, Arther, and I stayed behind, still absorbing what we had just witnessed.

Ivansia Raviel, Sylpiette Vaelora, Darius Flintlock, Celestine Luthiel, Alistair Ravenshadow...

They weren’t just strong—they were monsters in the making.

As we left the stands, Ivan suddenly muttered, "This year is going to be a pain."

"Excited?" I nudged him with a smirk.

He shot me a look. "No. It just means more annoyances."

Rean chuckled. "Come on, don’t act like you’re not interested. I saw the way you were watching Ivansia."

Ivan sighed. "I was watching her fight. Not her."

I wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Denial is the first step, my dear brother."

Before he could retaliate, a whistle caught our attention.

We turned to see Instructor Roderic approaching, his towering figure still clad in his black uniform. He looked at us with a knowing smirk.

"Your fights were impressive," he said. "Especially you." His gaze landed on me. "That stunt you pulled with Sylpiette’s golem—bold."

I grinned. "Pure accident, I swear."

"Sure it was," he said, unimpressed. "Regardless, I wanted to inform you—the academy has its eyes on you. All four of you."

Ivan crossed his arms. "What does that mean?"

"It means expect trouble. Powerful people don’t like competition, and you just painted targets on your backs," Roderic said. "But that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?"

Before we could respond, he turned and walked away.

I chuckled. "Well, that’s ominous."

Rean smirked. "I say we embrace it. The real games begin now."

Hunter Academy – The First Assembly

The grand hall of Hunter Academy was colossal, its marble floors polished to perfection, and banners of the Four Great Houses hanging from the ceiling. At the center stood a massive golden crest, symbolizing the academy’s legacy.

Students flooded in, murmuring amongst themselves as they took their places.

I immediately spotted familiar faces.

Ivansia Raviel – The Duke’s daughter, standing tall and composed.

Sylpiette Vaelora – The elven prodigy, her silver hair flowing like silk.

Darius Flintlock – A beast of a man, arms crossed, looking impatient.

Celestine Luthiel – The mysterious mage, clad in deep blue robes.

Alistair Ravenshadow – A dark-haired swordsman with an air of arrogance.

The strongest of our year, all in one place.

A boom echoed through the hall as an elderly man stepped onto the stage.

"Welcome, new students, to Hunter Academy!"

The murmurs died instantly.

The man was Headmaster Ardent, a living legend—a retired S-Rank Hunter, known for slaying an Ancient Wyrm single-handedly.

His eyes swept across the room, sharp as a hawk’s.

"You have entered the greatest academy in the world. But do not be mistaken—this is not a place of comfort. This is a battlefield."

Silence.

"You will face trials beyond your imagination. You will bleed. You will suffer. And only those who endure will rise."

Some students gulped. Others smirked in excitement.

Ardent continued. "We do not train the weak. We forge warriors, leaders, and legends. If you are not ready to fight for your place, leave now."

No one moved.

"Good." A slight smirk crossed his lips. "Then let the trials begin."

---

The First Test – Rank Assessment

Before classes could begin, every student had to undergo a rank assessment.

Hunter Academy categorized students into three divisions:

1. A-Rank – Elite, prodigies, and nobility.

2. B-Rank – Skilled, but not exceptional.

3. C-Rank – Weak, barely above commoners.

Fail, and you’d be expelled.

We were led to a massive open field, where dozens of instructors stood waiting.

Roderic, the instructor from before, stepped forward.

"The test is simple," he announced. "Defeat a summoned demonic beast. The stronger your performance, the higher your rank."

One by one, students were called forward.

---

The Battles Begin

First up – Ivansia Raviel.

The crowd buzzed. A Duke’s daughter—expectations were high.

A massive Hellfang Wolf was summoned before her, its fur bristling with dark energy, glowing red eyes fixed on its target.

Ivansia merely raised a hand.

"Incinerate."

A wave of fire erupted, engulfing the beast in blazing red flames.

BOOM!

The Hellfang collapsed into a pile of charred bones in seconds.

The crowd erupted.

"A-Rank, without a doubt!"

She stepped back, unfazed.

I smirked. "Damn. Ivan, she’s dangerous."

Ivan: "I know. And stop that."

---

Next – Sylpiette Vaelora.

The elven girl stepped forward, her emerald eyes glowing.

Her opponent was a Storm Serpent, coiling and hissing, lightning crackling along its scales.

She merely whispered, "Wind Prison."

A cyclone of blades erupted around the serpent, slicing it apart before it could even strike.

Shredded.

More cheers.

"Another A-Rank!"

Sylpiette sighed. "Too easy."

---

The Battles Continue...

One by one, powerful students displayed their talents.

Darius Flintlock crushed a Shadow Bear with sheer brute force.

Celestine Luthiel froze a Venomfang Panther in an instant.

Alistair Ravenshadow destroyed a Nightmare Stalker with shadow magic.

Each earned an A-Rank.

Then...

---

Nether’s Turn

Roderic: "Next, Nether William."

I stepped forward, rolling my shoulders.

My opponent was a Crimson Fang Behemoth—twice the size of the others. The instructors were testing me.

I smirked. "Fine. Let’s play."

The beast charged, shaking the ground.

I waited—patient.

At the last moment, I sidestepped, swords flashing.

"Dual Blade Art—Crimson Fang!"

A cross-shaped slash split the Behemoth into four.

Silence.

Then—

"…What just happened?"

I stepped back, sheathing my blades.

Roderic chuckled. "A-Rank. No question."

More murmurs. Some impressed. Others skeptical.

Ivan sighed. "You just had to be flashy."

I grinned. "Of course."

---

Ivan’s Turn

Roderic: "Next, Ivan William."

Ivan stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor unchanged.

His opponent was a Thunderclaw Lion—twice the size of mine.

The instructors were testing him harder.

"Wind Magic—Gale Severance."

A single slash of air cut through the beast like it was paper.

The remains crumbled instantly.

Even I was speechless.

The crowd went wild.

"What the hell was that?!"

Roderic smirked. "A-Rank. Obviously."

I patted his back. "Okay, I take it back. You’re flashier than me."

Ivan sighed. "Shut up, Nether."

---

---

The Final Results

By the end of the test, our rankings were clear:

Nether William – A-Rank

Ivan William – A-Rank

Rean William – A-Rank

Arther William – A-Rank 

The instructors confirmed the top students:

Ivansia Raviel

Sylpiette Vaelora

Darius Flintlock

Celestine Luthiel

Alistair Ravenshadow

The William Siblings

This was our year’s Elite Class—the strongest of the strong.

But even among them, I could feel the rivalry brewing.

And it was only the beginning.

---

To Be Continued...