Nix stepped through Arcaleon Academy's outer gate, and the moment his foot entered the vast courtyard, dozens of whispers rippled through the air like soft vibrations.
It wasn't surprising…
With his stark white hair glimmering beneath the sunlight, and his mismatched eyes—one icy blue like a frozen lake, the other golden and sharp—drawing every gaze, it was impossible for him to go unnoticed.
His calm, defined features; his steady footsteps; his expressionless face… all of it created a quiet aura that forced people to look his way.
With every step he took, more eyes followed him.
"Oh my god… he's insanely handsome."
"Who is that…?"
"Is he a noble? He doesn't look like a commoner at all."
"His eyes… are they real?"
Some girls froze as if their breath had been knocked out of them.
Some guys frowned for no reason other than jealousy.
Even nobles, who usually stood with effortless confidence, turned to look—evaluating him with curious, calculating eyes.
But amidst all those whispers…
Nix's expression didn't change.
No smile.
No annoyance.
No interest.
His eyes stayed forward, his pace steady, his face unreadable—
as if none of their stares could reach him.
As if he walked in a world separate from theirs.
---
While weaving through the crowd, his gaze brushed over a few familiar faces…
Main characters.
Heroes and figures he had once written about.
People he'd only imagined on a page, now walking before him in the flesh.
He didn't stare for long, but a strange realization pricked his chest.
Never thought I'd stand among the characters I created… how ironic.
But the feeling faded quickly.
Because now… he was part of the story.
Not a writer watching from afar.
---
Suddenly, the mana in the courtyard dropped sharply, as if the very air grew heavier.
A strange silence swept over everyone, and many bowed their heads without meaning to.
Nix lifted his eyes toward the platform.
A woman stood there.
Tall, with an undeniable presence.
Long black hair flowed behind her like a living shadow.
Her eyes—crimson like fresh blood, sharp like blades—were enough to freeze even the bravest.
She wore a black robe embroidered with silver lines, marking her high rank.
Servana Astria.
Headmaster of Arcaleon Academy.
One of the extremely few individuals in the world who held an SSS rank.
Her presence alone was enough to make thousands of students feel breathless.
An SSS rank wasn't just raw power…
It was a walking natural disaster.
No one challenged someone of that level.
Someone swallowed hard.
Another froze completely.
But Nix…
Didn't change at all.
His gaze remained calm, balanced—neither fearful nor impressed.
Not because he was stronger—
but because ever since arriving in this world, he had already faced things far beyond the normal.
---
Servana raised her hand slightly, and even that small gesture carried weight.
Her voice rang out—clear, authoritative, needing no shout:
"Welcome… you weaklings."
Whispers stopped instantly.
Her crimson eyes scanned them coldly as she continued:
"If you think Arcaleon Academy will cradle your dreams and lead you to glory… you're mistaken."
Some students trembled. Others clenched their fists nervously.
"This academy is not a gentle place. It is a battlefield.
And here… the weak are crushed without mercy."
There was no exaggeration in her words.
It was brutal truth.
"I will not tell you this place will shape your future," she said.
"Nor will I promise any of you will become heroes."
Her gaze swept across them with surgical precision.
"War creates the strong.
And corpses… are what remain afterward."
Hundreds swallowed hard.
Nix, however…
Didn't even blink.
He had survived something far worse—
that colossal creature in the darkness.
Compared to that, the Headmaster's speech felt like nothing but a mild introduction.
---
Servana lifted her hand again.
One of the side gates shuddered violently.
A blue glow expanded from its center, pulsing outward like the breath of a massive beast.
"Well then," she said, voice firm.
"Let the entrance exam begin."
Eyes lit with excitement; others trembled with fear.
The crowd straightened, preparing themselves.
As for Nix…
His steps didn't change.
Calm.
Focused.
Emotionless.
So… it begins.
He spoke the thought silently, mismatched eyes glinting faintly.
He wasn't excited.
He wasn't nervous.
He was simply… ready.
Exactly as he needed to be.