The nameless slave's expression shifted from despair to anger, hopelessness creeping in—but when he heard the mocking from beneath the ritual site, from his owner, something else began to stir in his mind: a murderous intent.
"Damn it!"
It was hard to accept what was happening. What could he do with his summoned creature? it was just a big, motionless trash.
He could not even form a connection with it, so his core mana couldn't be created.
He gritted his teeth and let out a deep breath—not in giving up, but to steady himself.
"There might be another way."
Luckily for him, being the personal slave of a noble meant he could come to the academy with his owner's permission. He would find a way to resolve there; the academy surely held things he'd never known.
He just had to persevere.
After that, he returned to the initial spot with Tyler was crossing his legs with a laugh in the front row of the arena
"Listen closely, my favorite slave. This is your fate. Even if I've given you a chance to summon, it won't change a thing. Your destiny is to forever grovel at my feet—so just accept it as usual."
"Do you hear me? Junk."
The nameless slave smiled, lightly massaging Tyler's shoulders. His soft, polite voice concealed a deep, murderous intent.
"Of course, my lord."
Tyler smirked as he enjoyed the slave's skilled massage while watching the students perform their ritual summons.
"Oh, it's him… Morris Rhodes, second son of the leader of the legendary Clan."
Then he asked in an excited tone,
"What do you think of him? What kind of summoned creature will he call forth?"
The slave frowned, rubbing his chin as he assessed the firm young man—only wearing long pants and showing a bare, muscular torso.
After just a few seconds, he felt the urge to shrug but controlled himself to remain polite.
"Well, sir… I think he'll summon a dragon. Like his father"
Tyler clicked his tongue.
"You're smarter than I expected. He's the first person I should get acquainted with. Making friends with someone stronger than you keeps you safer."
The nameless slave whispered under his breath,
"Weaklings and cowards' thoughts… but I suppose it somehow suits you."
Minutes later, both grimaced as they witnessed Morris's summoned creature.
It was a red dragon—and its potential was staggering.
Again! Ascendant Potential had appeared in this generation.
"W-what a monster…" Tyler's expression twisted with countless emotions, mostly jealousy and a deep sense of unfairness.
But it didn't stop there. Again! Ascendant Potential appeared—this time in a student who was the son of the leader of the legendary Clan.
He was Curry Leonard, sibling of Dana Leonard. He summoned an archer stone knight.
"How does the world even operate…? It's so unfair to me, right?"
The slave nodded obediently, though his thoughts were different: "Unfair? That's my word, not yours."
"You're right, my lord."
***
''What a relief.'' The Principal smiled in satisfaction while glancing at the outstanding students, who had just summoned creatures with Ascendant potential. He had high hopes for them, because they would be the core of the world in the future.
The children of three legendary clans:
Leonard Clan of summoning humanoid stone knights.
Alvarez Clan of summoning demonic trees.
Rhodes Clan of summoning dragons.
And several other students.
What luck that all of their children were born in the same generation. Just thinking about these dozen of Ascendant potential, he felt deeply content and happy.
''Sir, I think now it's time for it,'' a nearby professor spoke up politely.
''Uh, I know.'' The Principal quietly nodded and glanced at the gate behind him.
Three gates began to form from the void before bewilderment and astonishment of everyone in the arena.
Just so several people just knew those gates…the gates of god.
''What is that?'' A student widened his eyes while pointing toward those gates in surprise.
''It's… Ah, I used to hear about it in the past… The Gates of God…. I thought it was just a tale for kids, but…'' Another student flinched as he remembered some details from an old story.
Countless gossip spread again until the principal shouted, making everyone fall silent immediately.
He walked lightly to the center of the place, where the three gates converged, and eventually cleared his throat to prepare for his magnificent speech.
"Greetings to all precious rough gems. It's truly fortunate to have a second chance to stand here again. It's quite nostalgic… the first time I stood here by the gates of God 200 years ago… where excellent individuals were born… where transcendent potential summoned creatures came into being."
As soon as the principal mentioned "transcendent potential," silence fell over the arena. No one spoke.
All eyes turned to the principal in disbelief, because transcendent potential was so rare—almost impossible. No one in the world could summon beings like that normally, unless they went through a ritual of God. Yet no one really knew what that ritual entailed, except for some mythic tales passed down through generations.
The principal chuckled and continued.
"Are you thinking I'm lying? All of it is true. Leaders of legendary clans are a perfect example. You think they reached the peak of mankind for no reason? They possessed summoned creatures with Transcendent Potential, because the gates granted them that after they completed the challenges."
He gestured again for gossip to stop and spoke with formal authority.
"I guess you're all wondering why… Why now? Why did the gates of God just appear at this time? Honestly, I don't know either… But I'm the only one who can predict when the gates of God will appear again, because my summoned being are a bit connected to God… like messengers of God."
He restrained the pride in his voice and added,
"It's a miracle that this time there are dozens with Ascendant Potential. It comforts me."
"However!" The principal's voice grew heavier as he turned toward the three gates of God.
"It's extremely dangerous. In the previous challenge, various candidates and even three with Ascendant Potential fell – died during the challenge."
''It's not a game for kids…It's deadly challenge of god, only for worth candidates.''
Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, the Principal scratched his head and said,
"Don't worry too much… Because you have the right to choose. I won't force anyone to cross the deadline of death. That's why I said anyone with Ascendant Potential should test themselves in the challenge. And those with Awakened Potential, you guys might also attend. I really like brave students. Anyway, it's a big opportunity for everyone."
Suddenly, he flinched for a moment as if he just remembered something important and horrible. He turned toward the three gates and pointed while some sweat dropped on his temple.
"Gate of the Sun God!"
"Gate of the Shadow God!"
"Gate of the Nameless God!"
"I have a word of advice for you guys: don't choose the Gate of the Nameless God… if you want to live."