Chapter 98: 98 The Protagonist.

“Okay, for the number that got called, you guys can leave the room”.

The middle-aged man on the stage shouted his instructions, causing the atmosphere in the entire room to be heavy with stifling pressure that choked their breaths.

One hour passed in a blink, and another hour was needed to grade the test. It was graded by the one and only man who stood on the stage, tirelessly flipping each answer sheet.

“Number 7, 13, 19…”.

As the man announced the results, many candidates lowered their heads, and some held back tears of joy at passing the menial test.

Jin supported his chin with his hand, waiting for his number and group to be announced. ’My number was fifty, so if we pulled four behind, then…’.

“47, 48, 49, 50…”.

The room buzzed as this was the first time a number was called simultaneously without being skipped once.

Lucya brushed her golden hair and lifted her average chest forward, exuding confidence.

Silvia and Iris exchanged looks, and they wrapped each other’s bodies in tight hugs, feeling happy for having taken the first step.

When this happened, every candidate aware of their surroundings noticed the level of beauty that gathered in Jin’s camp.

Lucya, the princess of a nation, Silvia, a frost beauty exuding ethereal charm, and Iris, a descendant of a legendary fairy, stood amongst the other women.

Their gaze stopped bothering the mundane old man on the stage, but toward the four groups encased in a bright halo.

“Attention, please!” A thunderous rumble shook the entire room, sending a shockwave that made everyone cover their ears.

The candidates’ faces turned pale as they turned toward the stage again, but not all of them returned. Some of them who had failed the test kept glancing back; their lecherous eyes were obvious in a mile.

“Okay, that’s all for the written exam. For those who passed, go toward your next assignment”.

Jin stood up, followed by the other three, drawing many envious glares that stung his back. But he was undeterred, leaving the room with a gaze held high.

Once they stepped outside, the sun’s glare burned their pupils, who had become accustomed to the dim light inside.

“So, I assumed you guys here passed the first test?”.

Again, the handsome senior emerged with his smile, a perfect refreshment for the earlier stress.

Several candidates, mostly girls, squealed in glee as their expressions loosened into grins and their cheeks were painted pink.

While he enjoyed the candidates’ praise, the handsome senior spoke to them. His tone was low, and he let out a threatening growl that shifted the mood in the area.

“Okay, now onto the second exam, you guys will be conducting a test skill, follow me”.

Jin noticed the candidates had stopped in their tracks. He stepped forward with the girls behind him, followed by several eccentric figures of boys and girls with colourful hair.

He followed the senior guard, who escorted them to another side of the place. They passed several buildings and a garden with a vast plain until they arrived at the colosseum.

“We have arrived at the arena,” the handsome senior said, flinching when he saw Jin, who welcomed him. He nodded his head off and turned toward the other.

“You will be tested inside. Go ahead and enter. Your examiner is already waiting inside”.

The guy stepped out from the scene, casting one last look at Jin before disappearing from the group.

After pondering for a moment, Jin lifted his legs and began walking toward the open door, which went straight toward the light further ahead.

Their footsteps echoed like a battalion of thousands marching toward their battle. The sound that bounced resonated within their beating hearts, a reminder that the test was far from over.

As they passed the light, a circular monument built with reinforced marble aged finely like wine, stood like forgotten glory.

Around the perimeter of the weathered walls, arches with deep scars from many weapons lay still, a testament to the struggle and effort the seniors had put in during the years they had spent at the academy.

In the middle stood a man in his prime with a rough appearance. He wore a uniform with ripped sleeves, revealing his thick, bulging muscles, which twitched continuously.

He was a tall man, around two meters, his slicked black hair tinged with a bit of grey. But the spirit that emanated from his fierce aura made the candidates gulp in tension.

Jin lifted his gaze and saw several people above, sitting on the spectators’ seats, holding a thin board with parchment to grade the candidates’ skills.

“Attention, you new blood!” the man roared, sending a terrifying pressure that momentarily suffocated the candidates’ breath.

“My name is Dannan, and I am your martial instructor in this academy. I will test your skills to see if you are worthy to enter this place.”

The candidates gulped their saliva, reaching out toward their chest to massage their beating heart like crazy.

“For some of you who are brave enough, step forward and shout your test number”.

No one moved, time slowed before the fierce lion that stood tall under the sky, holding a wooden sword the same width as his robust waist.

’Looks like their fear still preoccupies them’. Jin peeked over his shoulder and saw the girls behind him nodding.

“I’ll,”.

“I will go first”.

All eyes turned toward the source, and there, stood a boy wearing a blue outfit for easy movement. A wooden sword hung on his slender waist.

’Wait, is he!?’. Jin stiffened like a rock, his pupils dilated to see a familiar figure he had once seen on that box.

The boy had short white hair, his ruby eyes gleaming like a charm that incited a protectiveness of women’s maternal instinct.

His face was sculpted so perfectly that it confused the onlookers into thinking he was a boy or a girl in disguise.

But, from the way he acted and bulged around its neck. There was no mistaking that he was a boy.

He walked toward the middle arena, passing Jin, who stared at him intently. The boy scratched his nose, shying away from Jin’s gaze with a blush on his cheeks.

’Is he serious?’ Jin knitted his brows. A certain emotion inside him awoke, and a chill crept on his skin, making him shudder. ’Dude, stop that! I’ve seriously got goosebumps all over!’

“Hoo, state your name and test number”. Dannan’s face tightened, probably because unsure of the boy’s appearance.

“My name is Allen, and my test number is 99.” Allen took out the wooden sword from his waist and prepared his stance. “I hope we can have a good duel.”

Dannan kicked the embedded sword, letting it spin several times in his hands, hurling the surrounding air and dust that rose from the ground, holding the hilt firmly, and taking a swing.

*Woosh!

A heavy silence descended upon the arena. Jin crossed his hands and waited for the spar to happen.

’Let’s see what you’ve got, protagonist. ’ A spark of curiosity filled his emerald eyes, watching the protagonist in the story that came to life in front of him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep