The morning sky was covered with a thick, misty veil, the air dense with anticipation. Today was the day of the exams, and I could feel the weight of the challenge pressing down on me. As I walked through the hallways of the academy, my footsteps seemed unnervingly loud, echoing off the stone walls, the silence hanging heavily in the air.
In my room, I had prepared as best as I could. My abilities, though varied and potent, remained largely untested although I was entirely sure I had physical abilities,I could feel that there was more to my power than that. How would I fare when pushed to my limits? What if my power wasn't enough? I couldn't afford to show weakness—especially when most students had already mastered some form of elemental or physical ability. I had only telekinesis to fall back on, and even that had taken me by surprise during the lake accident and the confrontation with Song Mei. Today though, I would find out where I truly stood.
The exams were divided into two individual sections—an intellectual test and the survival test: the Illusory Array Test, designed by none other than Althea, the Dean of Arrays. The rumors surrounding this test were chilling.
"Isn't Althea the one who built the mind-bending array?" One of the senior students had whispered to me during a passing training class.
"The ones that can make you lose yourself entirely?" another added with a shudder. "They say some students don't come back the same."
It was enough to make me feel a cold flutter in my stomach. But there was no turning back now. If I failed these test my future would be ruined, Father would be disappointed again. Ever since I was reborn in this world ,having knowledge that I was reborn yet not having the memories of that life really frustrated me to no end.
Somehow I could feel that my being here in this academy could unlock something deeper, maybe buried in my memories. For now though I had to focus on the entrance exams.
The first section was straightforward enough: an academic test that probed our knowledge of attributes, survival instincts, intelligence, and the history of cultivation. The questions were challenging, some of them designed to trap the unprepared, but I took my time, carefully sifting through the information I had learned from Iris.
Some questions on when the kingdom was founded and who was the first King, Questions about the goddess and her blessings. Still, some of the histories and fine details had evaded me, and I could feel my stomach churn as I second-guessed a few answers.
Once the bell rang, signaling the end of the first section. Many others cried as they left the hall in failure ,while the rest of us heaved sighs of relief. We were then led to a large, open chamber in the heart of the academy. The air inside was dense with a strange, shimmering energy, and I couldn't help but feel as though the walls themselves were watching us. Before us is a large archway with a swirling, shimmering rainbow-like center. Intricate patterns of wildflowers around its edges. This must be the gateway to another pocket dimension.
At the front of the room stood Althea. Her figure was slender, dark hair tied in a severe bun, her robes a deep blue that seemed to ripple with a life of their own patterns that seemed to move on there on , shimmering. Her purple eyes were sharp, the kind of gaze that could pierce through even the most guarded soul.
"Students, welcome to the second part of your exam," she began, her voice smooth and controlled, like the calm before a storm. "The Illusory Array Test. As you enter the array, you will be faced with challenges that will test not only your physical and spiritual strength but your courage, intelligence, and ability to adapt under pressure. You must think carefully and act swiftly, for while this test may appear to be an illusion, the dangers are very real. Fail, and you may not make it out unscathed."
The room seemed to shimmer, the air growing thick with a heavy sense of unease. A faint buzzing filled my ears, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
I wasn't the only one who felt it.
Students exchanged nervous glances, some swallowing hard as their eyes darted around the room. A sense of collective anxiety rippled through the group, and I could see the tension building.
"You will enter one by one," Althea continued, "and face what lies within. Good luck."
With that, the first student stepped forward, her body trembling slightly. She passed into the swirling vortex of energy that looks like it materialized in the arch. The portal closed behind her with a snap.
As I waited for my turn, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The buzz in my ears grew louder, and I suddenly had the urge to glance behind me. But when I turned, there was nothing there.
The second student entered, followed by the third. Finally, it was my turn. I swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
The world around me rippled and distorted. One moment, I was standing in front of the shimmering array; the next, I was plunged into a dense fog. My vision blurred, and the ground beneath my feet seemed to shift unnaturally.
For a moment, I thought I had been transported into some dark abyss. But when the fog cleared, I found myself in a forest. It was eerily quiet, the air still and thick with tension. The trees loomed tall, their gnarled branches twisting like claws reaching for the sky.
I hesitated, unsure of what to do next. This was part of the test, I realized—the illusion was just as much a part of the challenge as the physical obstacles. My survival instincts kicked in, and I began to scan my surroundings.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath me. I felt the vibrations in my feet, a deep, resonating hum that echoed through the trees. Then, without warning, the forest exploded into chaos.
Giant roots shot up from the earth, twisting and writhing like snakes, while massive thorns, sharp as daggers, shot from the branches above. I raised my hand instinctively, using telekinesis to try and push the roots back. They jerked violently in response, some breaking free from the ground entirely, others slithering back with a vengeance.
The test was no longer just an illusion—it was deadly. Something wasn't right , this test wasn't supposed to be so violent.
I leapt aside as the thorns came crashing down where I had been standing moments before, barely dodging in time. The scene before me shifted again. The forest began to burn, the trees igniting as though they had been doused in oil. The smoke billowed, choking the air and blurring my vision.
But in that smoke, I saw something else—a shadow darting among the flames. A creature, monstrous in size, emerged from the haze. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural red light, and its teeth were sharp as jagged rocks ,its claws swiped at me as i stumble back . This creature resembles a large cat with pitch black fur and sharp claws.
I reached deep within myself, drawing on the power that pulsed through my veins, my telekinetic abilities responding to the surge of danger. I tried to move the creature, to throw it back into the flames—but my power faltered. It wasn't enough ,exhaustion slowly creeps us on me making me gasp in fear.
The beast charged toward me, its roar deafening. I stepped back, raising my hands, gathering my strength to make one final push. My mind focused, clearing away the panic and fear.
Then, I felt it.
An unnatural calm descended over me, as though the energy around me had shifted. The creature stopped mid-charge, its glowing red eyes locking with mine. For a moment, we stood there, frozen in time.
In the space between us, I saw something—a flicker of recognition. The beast wasn't just an illusion; it was a test. A test of control, of strength, and of resolve.
And I wasn't about to fail.
With a swift motion, I used every ounce of my telekinetic power to push the creature back, sending it flying through the air and into the flames. It roared in fury, but it was no match for my focused control.
As the beast dissolved into the smoke, the forest began to fade. The flames, the roots, and the thorns all disappeared, leaving only the dense fog once again.
But this time, I didn't feel as lost.
I took a deep breath, the weight of the test settling over me. The illusionary dangers had tested my abilities, my intellect, and my courage. But I had passed.
For now, anyway.
When I emerged from the array, I was greeted by the silent stares of the other students, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief. Had I done well? I wasn't sure. But the test had left me feeling more focused, more alive, than I had in a long time.
Althea, watching from the sidelines, gave me a brief nod. I couldn't read her expression,
but I knew that something happened in there that made me stronger.