“As you can see,” he had said earlier, “the total number of obtainable points far exceeds the minimum required to pass. Therefore, each of you will choose the tests that will bring you to your target score.” 

 Then, with a graceful stride, a woman appeared beside him. 

 “Yes, my lord,” she said, bowing slightly before addressing the sea of candidates. 

 Her name was Rebecca. Her entrance alone drew the crowd’s attention — and not merely because she was beautiful. Tall and elegant, she carried herself with the kind of confidence that only came from immense power. Her long pink hair shimmered in the light, and her eyes, the same delicate hue, seemed to glow faintly with the essence of the flow of strength. Even her voice carried a subtle enchantment. 

 “After you have chosen the number of tests required to reach a total of 10,000 points,” she began, “you must also select at least three phases within each chosen test. This is mandatory.” 

 A pause. Then, her tone hardened. 

 “Every failed phase or uncompleted test will result in a deduction of double the required points. And no matter the reason—” her gaze swept across the crowd, “—not even death will make us intervene.” 

 A shiver ran through the audience. 

 Rebecca smiled faintly. “You may, of course, take on every test if you wish. Those who exceed expectations may earn more points than listed, depending on performance.” 

 Then, realizing she had said too much, she muttered under her breath, “Oops.” 

 “She’s done it again,” one of the other administrators whispered irritably from behind the podium. “She always says too much.” 

 The principal merely shook his head, amusement flickering in his yellow eyes. 

 Rebecca, unbothered, raised her hand to her forehead. A small light pulsed from her headband, and an artifact materialized in her palm — a crystalline sphere that shimmered with an endless swirl of colors. 

 “This,” she announced, her voice ringing. “is an artifact containing a Formless Realm. Within it exists a space that can reshape itself into any environment the user desires.” 

 She lifted the sphere, and power surged outward like a wave. 

 “Now, prepare yourselves—and do not panic!” 

 Her warning had no impact after all the shock the examinee recieved at the witness of the power unfolded by the artifact could not ne capmed. 

 Gasps and shouts filled the air as a translucent force expanded from the artifact, swallowing candidates one after another in beams of light. 

 Roso froze mid-step. “Wait—already? I thought I’d have time to find them before this started!” 

 He tried to resist the pull, clutching desperately at a nearby railing. The suction only grew stronger, lifting his feet off the ground. 

 “Ah—!” he cried, his voice vanishing as the force consumed him. His last thought before being taken was simple and desperate — I just wanted to see them one more time. 

 Then— 

 Pop! 

 Roso crashed down onto something hard. 

 “Ow—! I nearly broke my back! What kind of joke is this?” he groaned, rubbing his spine. “Couldn’t they at least teleport us gently instead of throwing us in like trash?” 

 Somewhere beyond the formless veil, one of the administrators sighed. “She definitely didn’t control the output again. Poor students… dashed like dirt.” 

 “What is this place?” Roso exclaimed, his voice echoing faintly through the endless white expanse around him. He rose to his feet, turning in circles as his eyes scanned the blank, featureless world that seemed to stretch into infinity. 

 Then, without warning, a translucent blue screen materialized in front of him. A calm, synthetic voice echoed from it: 

 [Enter your information for verification.] 

 Roso blinked, leaning closer. “Enter my information?” he muttered, tapping the glowing surface. Nothing happened. 

 He tapped again—harder this time. Still nothing. “How am I supposed to enter my information if this thing doesn’t even respond?” He jabbed the screen a few more times in frustration. 

 No change. No sound. No flicker. 

 He frowned. “Is it even functioning?” he wondered aloud, turning his back to it. 

 But then, once again, the same voice echoed behind him. 

 [Enter your information for verification.] 

 Startled, Roso spun around, glaring at the screen. “You again?” 

 Acting on impulse, he swung his fist, slamming it directly into the screen. The blow was strong enough to shatter stone—yet the screen didn’t even flicker. Not a single mark was left. 

 He stared at it, rubbing his knuckles. “That solid, huh?” A slow grin formed on his face. “Maybe what it wants is proof of power.” 

 The voice repeated a third time. 

 [Enter your information for verification.] 

 “I know!” Roso shouted back, taking a stance. His body tensed, energy pulsing through him like a storm gathering power. The air vibrated as magic gathered at his fists. 

 “Let’s see if this works,” he muttered. 

 He launched his attack—a vortex of raw magical energy exploding forward. The impact hit the screen like a meteor strike. A shockwave followed, sending Roso flying backward through the empty white void. 

 “Ah—!” he cried as he crashed, tumbling across the ground. “I hope I won’t die before the exam even starts!” 

 Groaning, he pushed himself upright—and froze. The same blue screen was now floating calmly in front of him again, not a single scratch visible. 

 “What? Even that didn’t work?” He squinted. “Wait… I was blown backward, but the screen’s still right here? Does that mean this whole white space is… endless?” 

 He sank down cross-legged on the blank floor, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “There has to be a way forward,” he muttered. 

 The voice returned once more. 

 [Enter your information for verification.] 

 “Shut up for a moment!” Roso snapped. 

 This time, however, the voice changed. 

 [Invalid information. Access refused.] 

 Roso blinked. “Wait a second… voice recognition?” He smirked. “So it reacts to speech, not energy.” 

 Standing up again, he took a deep breath and spoke clearly. 

 “Name: Roso. Code: 862.” 

 A faint hum filled the space. 

 [Information verified. Access approved.] 

 Before he could react, light engulfed his vision. The ground vanished beneath him, and he felt his body being pulled forward—transported to another realm. 

 But just before the white faded completely, Roso glanced at the selection menu that appeared beside him and made his choice. 

 He had already decided which task would suit him best.