The survivors of the first exam were led down a wide stone path surrounded by ancient trees. The tension in the air was thick, but beneath it, there was a spark of excitement — they had made it through the first hurdle.

Leon walked quietly in the crowd, his mind half-lost in thought.

So this is what comes after the first exam…

In his previous life, he had failed at the very beginning — during the “Don’t Get Wet” trial. He had never seen what awaited those who passed. Every step he took now was into unknown territory.

Soon, they reached a massive arena carved into the hillside. The stone walls were etched with glowing runes, and the air hummed faintly with mana. It was like standing inside the heart of a spell itself.

Dozens of students gathered in the open space, murmuring as they looked around.

Then, a deep, booming laugh echoed across the arena.

“Ha! So these are the ones who survived the first test, eh? Not bad at all!”

Everyone turned toward the sound.

A muscular old man strode into view from the opposite gate, wearing a sleeveless black coat and heavy boots that cracked the stone beneath his feet. His arms were as thick as tree trunks, his grin wide and confident.

Behind him followed two attendants — one, a tall woman with golden hair and sharp eyes; the other, a lean man with gray robes and a calm, almost detached expression.

The old man stopped before the crowd and crossed his arms, his presence commanding silence instantly.

“My name’s Gran Drakov! I’ll be the proctor for this part of your exam!”

His voice boomed through the arena, resonating with power.

Whispers spread among the students.

“Gran Drakov…?”

“I’ve heard that name before…”

“Isn’t he the strongest Earth mage in the kingdom?”

Leon’s eyes widened slightly.

Gran Drakov… the Earth Titan.

He knew the name — in his past life, Gran had been the Headmaster of Elsgard Magic Academy, a man of unmatched strength and respect. Leon had never met him before, but he had heard the legends.

So he was already here, acting as an examiner even back then…

Gran stomped his foot once. The ground rumbled, then began to rise.

The students gasped as massive pillars of rock surged upward from the arena floor, merging and twisting until they formed a colossal wall — smooth, steep, and impossibly tall.

By the time the shaking stopped, a hundred-meter-high stone wall stood before them, with a massive sealed gate at its base engraved in runes that glowed faintly with earth magic.

Gran threw his arms open proudly. “Behold — the Gate of Trials!”

Silence followed, until the murmuring began again.

“Wait, are we supposed to climb that!?”

“That wall’s huge! You’d die if you fell from halfway up!”

“What kind of exam is this!?”

Gran chuckled, the sound rolling through the air like thunder. “You kids sure love to complain! Don’t worry, I’ll make it simple for you.”

He raised two thick fingers.

“There are two ways to pass this test! You only need to accomplish one of them.”

“First!” he bellowed, pointing at the towering wall. “You can climb over the wall! Reach the top, and you pass!”

Several students looked up and paled. The wall was perfectly smooth — no handholds, no ledges.

“Second,” Gran continued, “you can break through the gate below!**”

At those words, the two attendants stepped forward. Their mana flared instantly — one’s aura burning hot and fierce, the other’s sharp and cold as ice.

“These two will act as the Gatekeepers. If you can break through them and the gate behind, you pass!”

Gasps spread through the crowd.

“So we either climb a hundred meters straight up… or fight those two?”

“Both options sound insane!”

“Is this really an entrance exam!?”

Gran grinned broadly. “Of course it is! Welcome to Elsgard Magic Academy! Now—”

He clapped his hands, and the sound cracked like thunder. “You may use any magic you possess! You can work alone or form temporary teams — your choice! There are no rules except these: if you step outside the arena, you’re out. If you lose consciousness, you’re out!”

He paused, his grin widening. “And if you make me laugh, I might even give you extra points!”

A few nervous laughs broke out.

Leon, however, was silent, eyes fixed on the colossal wall. His heart pounded in his chest — not from fear, but from anticipation.

I’ve never seen this part before… he thought, clenching his fists. In my last life, I didn’t even make it this far. This is completely new.

But that only made him more determined.

Good. That means I can carve a new path from here.

Gran’s hand slammed into the ground. “The Gate of Trials begins—now!”

The runes on the wall flared to life, and a shockwave of mana rippled through the arena. Students shouted and scattered, each rushing toward the wall or preparing spells.

Leon watched for a moment, analyzing the terrain, the Gatekeepers’ stance, the faint pulse of energy flowing through the runes.

Then, he smiled faintly.

“All right,” he murmured. “Let’s see what you’ve got, Elsgard.”

And with that, he stepped forward into the fray, his eyes gleaming with resolve.