Morning light slowly spread across the broken skyline of the human domain.
The sun was visible—but only faintly.
Two hundred years after The Great Descent, the sky was no longer the pure blue it once had been. Thin cracks of strange energy stretched across the atmosphere like scars that never healed. Sometimes faint lights flickered inside those cracks, reminding humanity that the universe itself had changed.
For most people, the sight was terrifying.
For Leo, it was simply normal.
He walked quietly through the dusty street of the lower district, carrying a small worn bag over his shoulder. His clothes were simple, slightly old, but clean.
Today was an important day.
Today, the City Academy Entrance Selection was being held.
Every year, the academy accepted a small number of children to train as Hunters, Warriors, or Mages—the people who protected human domains from monsters and demons.
For most children, entering the academy meant one thing:
A chance to survive.
But for Leo, it meant something else entirely.
It was the first step toward understanding the world he had been reborn into.
The Path of the Strong
As Leo walked toward the central district, the surroundings slowly changed.
The lower sector buildings were broken, patched together with metal plates and concrete fragments. People here looked tired, their faces carrying the weight of survival.
But the central district was different.
Tall reinforced towers stood proudly behind glowing barrier walls. Patrol drones floated through the air. Hunters wearing combat armor walked confidently through the streets, their weapons glowing faintly with runic engravings.
These were the protectors of humanity.
Each of them carried power far beyond normal people.
Some controlled fire.
Some could move faster than sound.
Some possessed bodies strong enough to tear monsters apart with their bare hands.
Children watched them with admiration.
Adults watched them with respect.
Because in this world—
Strength was the only true authority.
The Academy
At the center of the district stood a massive structure surrounded by high defensive walls.
The Astra Dominion Academy.
The most important training ground in the entire region.
This academy had produced hundreds of powerful hunters, several Lord Rank warriors, and even one legendary individual who had reached King Rank decades ago.
The entrance plaza was already crowded.
Hundreds of children stood in long lines, each waiting for their chance to be tested.
Some looked confident.
Some were nervous.
Some trembled with fear.
Parents stood nearby, watching with hopeful eyes.
Leo stood quietly among them.
No one noticed him.
No one paid attention to the thin boy from the lower district.
And that was exactly how he preferred it.
The Entrance Test
A tall instructor stepped forward onto the stage.
He wore black combat armor, and a long scar stretched across his face.
His voice was deep and powerful.
"Listen carefully!"
The crowd fell silent immediately.
"This academy does not accept weaklings."
His sharp gaze swept across the children.
"We train warriors who face monsters, demons, and unknown beings. If you enter this academy, you will risk your life."
Some children swallowed nervously.
But no one stepped back.
The instructor nodded slightly.
"Good."
He pointed toward three large testing devices placed across the field.
"The entrance examination has three parts."
He raised one finger.
"First: Mana Resonance Test."
Second finger.
"Second: Physical Capability Test."
Third finger.
"Third: Combat Instinct Evaluation."
Only those who passed at least two tests would be allowed to enter the academy.
The crowd buzzed with whispers.
Leo simply watched silently.
First Test – Mana Resonance
One by one, children stepped forward and placed their hands on a glowing crystal pillar.
If mana existed within them, the crystal would react.
Different colors represented different elemental affinities.
Blue for water.
Red for fire.
Green for wind.
Yellow for earth.
Sometimes rarer colors appeared—light, shadow, lightning.
Each time the crystal glowed brightly, the crowd cheered.
But when it remained dark…
The child quietly stepped aside.
Failure.
Eventually, Leo's turn arrived.
He walked forward calmly.
The instructor glanced at his registration sheet.
"Lower district."
His tone carried little expectation.
Leo placed his hand on the crystal.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
The crystal remained completely transparent.
Just like during the inspection test.
Some children nearby whispered.
"Another non-awakened."
But suddenly…
A faint pulse appeared deep inside the crystal.
Not bright.
Not explosive.
Just a small ripple of light that quickly disappeared.
The instructor frowned slightly.
"…Weak resonance."
He marked something on the tablet.
"Passable."
Leo stepped aside.
Inside his chest, the sealed divine power remained completely silent.
He had suppressed it perfectly.
Second Test – Physical Strength
The next test measured body capability.
Children had to strike a reinforced testing pillar with all their strength.
A number would appear on the screen measuring force output.
Strong awakened children easily reached 200 points.
Exceptional ones reached 300.
When Leo's turn came, he stepped forward slowly.
He raised his fist.
Then punched.
The sound was dull.
The screen displayed:
132 Points
Average.
Completely ordinary.
Some students laughed quietly.
But Leo didn't react.
He had intentionally held back.
If he allowed even a tiny portion of his sealed power to flow through his body, the pillar would not survive.
Third Test – Combat Instinct
The final test was the most important.
An artificial combat drone appeared in the arena.
It moved quickly, attacking with blunt strikes designed to simulate real battle situations.
Students had to dodge, defend, or counterattack.
This test measured reaction speed and survival instinct.
One by one, students stepped forward.
Some lasted several seconds.
Some were knocked down instantly.
When Leo entered the arena, the drone activated.
Its sensors locked onto him.
It dashed forward.
Punch.
Kick.
Spin attack.
Leo moved calmly.
He didn't attack.
He simply stepped aside each time.
To the spectators, it looked like luck.
But to the instructors watching carefully—
Something felt strange.
Leo moved with perfect efficiency.
No wasted motion.
No panic.
No hesitation.
Thirty seconds passed.
Then one minute.
The drone stopped automatically.
Test complete.
The instructor's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting."
The Quiet Selection
After all tests finished, the instructors gathered to review the results.
Most students waited anxiously.
Leo simply sat on a bench.
Eventually, the instructor returned with the final list.
"Students whose names are called will enter the academy."
He began reading.
One by one, names echoed across the plaza.
Cheers erupted as selected students stepped forward proudly.
Finally—
"Leo."
Some students looked around in surprise.
"That weak kid?"
But Leo stood calmly and walked forward.
The instructor handed him a badge.
"Welcome to Astra Dominion Academy."
Leo accepted it quietly.
This was only the beginning.
He had entered the place where future heroes were created.
Where warriors were forged.
Where power ruled everything.
And none of them knew…
That among them now stood someone who once ruled an entire universe.
A Distant Observation
High above the academy, inside a hidden observation chamber, a woman with silver eyes watched the test recordings.
She replayed Leo's combat test slowly.
Again.
And again.
Her expression became thoughtful.
"That movement…"
She whispered softly.
"…that is not the instinct of a child."
Something about Leo disturbed her intuition.
Not power.
But depth.
And in this dangerous world—
Depth often meant something far more frightening than strength.