Nyx couldn't stand up at first. Every part of his body screamed in exhaustion, but what shocked him even more was the strange sensation spreading within him.
The power of the Chaos Element was immense… far greater than he had imagined, but its price revealed itself instantly.
It felt as if a small piece of him had been torn away—something he couldn't see or define, yet he knew it was gone.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"This… wasn't normal," he muttered.
What surprised him further was that the ominous voice he'd heard earlier did not return.
Before he could think more, a mechanical announcement echoed across the entire forest:
"The examination has ended. All candidates must cease combat immediately."
Nyx dropped to the ground, sitting as a long exhale escaped him.
"Finally… it's over."
A moment later, everything faded before his eyes, and he lost consciousness for a brief second.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself inside the same wide white hall where the exam had begun.
He sprang to his feet, quickly inspecting his body.
No wounds, no blood… yet his mind felt drained, as though he hadn't slept in days.
"Strange. It's like they restored my body but left the exhaustion for me to deal with…"
He gave a faint, bitter smile and sat back down, waiting for the announcement.
He didn't wait long.
The academy headmaster, Servana, entered with calm steps, accompanied by several instructors.
She stood before the candidates and spoke with a cold, confident tone:
"Well done. You have demonstrated your efforts during the examination."
Her crimson eyes swept slowly across the room, studying each face one by one.
But when they landed on Nex, something unexpected happened.
A smile—so brief it could've been imagined—appeared on her lips for less than a second before vanishing, replaced by her usual icy expression.
Nyx blinked.
"Did… did she really smile at me?"
He wasn't sure, but his heart insisted he'd seen it.
Servana continued,
"You may leave for now. The results will be announced tomorrow morning."
With that, she left the hall, and the instructors escorted the candidates to their designated rest areas.
Inside his assigned room, Nyx closed the door behind him without a second thought.
He stripped off his shirt and stepped under the hot shower, letting the steam ease the pain in his muscles.
Minutes later, he collapsed onto the bed, lacking the energy to think.
He fell asleep instantly.
---
⭐ Meanwhile…
Inside Arkalion Academy, in a sealed conference chamber, the instructors were engaged in a heated debate about the exam results.
One of them spoke with a serious tone:
"The first place has already been decided."
Another replied hesitantly,
"But the winner is a commoner… Do you really think the nobles will accept that?"
A third instructor snapped irritably,
"Since when do we care about what nobles think? Our principle is simple—strength above all. And that boy… none of them can match him."
But a nervous voice rose from the back:
"That's not the issue. The power he used… we've never seen anything like it. It doesn't even exist in the records. What if he becomes a future threat?"
Silence fell over the room.
Then a cold, commanding voice cut through:
"That's enough."
Everyone froze and turned toward Servana, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Her gaze alone silenced them, but her voice made the air itself grow heavy.
"I have already made my decision regarding first place…
And it will go to that boy.
There will be no discussion."
Her voice lowered, yet became far more chilling:
"Does anyone object?"
In that instant, a crushing pressure surged through the hall.
Not killing intent—but a force powerful enough to make every instructor bow instinctively.
Faces paled, chests tightened, and for a moment, they forgot how to breathe.
The pressure vanished as suddenly as it appeared.
Servana continued,
"As for him being a commoner…
This will be the first time it happens.
And anyone who disagrees…"
She paused, then finished with lethal calm:
"…knows where to find my office."
And with that, she disappeared as if she had never been there.
Leaving the instructors frozen in place, unable to move for several seconds.
Thus ended the night of the exam.
The candidates slept, the instructors fell silent, and the headmaster… pondered something no one else knew.
As for Nyx, he remained in deep sleep—unaware that tomorrow would forever change his place in the world.