The Grand Training Hall was massive.
Hundreds of students gathered inside the vast chamber, their voices echoing across the tall stone walls.
Large magical runes glowed faintly on the pillars surrounding the hall.
But everyone's attention was focused on the center of the room.
A giant crystal pillar stood there.
Nearly three meters tall.
Soft magical light pulsed within it like a heartbeat.
"That's the evaluation crystal."
"I heard it's ancient."
"It measures magic potential."
Students whispered nervously.
Adrian leaned against a nearby pillar, watching calmly.
Lyra stood nearby with her usual quiet composure.
Leon waited a short distance away.
Soon an elderly man stepped forward.
His white beard reached his chest, and his academy robes shimmered with magical energy.
"I am Professor Aldric," he announced.
"I will oversee today's evaluation."
The hall immediately fell silent.
"This crystal will measure three things."
He raised three fingers.
"Your mana capacity."
"Your elemental affinity."
"And your talent rank."
Students swallowed nervously.
"These results will determine your starting class."
A line quickly formed.
Students stepped forward one by one.
"Talent Rank: D."
"Talent Rank: C."
"Talent Rank: B."
Different reactions filled the hall.
Some students looked relieved.
Others looked devastated.
Then Professor Aldric called a name.
"Leon Draven."
The hall grew quiet.
Leon stepped forward calmly.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"That's the entrance exam champion."
"I heard he defeated a monster alone."
Leon placed his hand on the crystal.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
The crystal began to glow.
Blue.
Then purple.
Then—
BOOM
A burst of golden light filled the hall.
Gasps erupted from the students.
Professor Aldric's eyes widened.
"Incredible…"
The crystal displayed its result.
Talent Rank: S
The hall exploded with excitement.
"S-Rank?!"
"That's genius level!"
Leon stepped back calmly.
Exactly like the original story.
Adrian watched quietly.
Right on schedule.
Then the professor called the next name.
"Adrian Valemont."
Laughter spread instantly.
"The useless noble."
"This will be embarrassing."
Adrian walked forward calmly.
Leon watched him carefully.
Lyra's eyes followed him silently.
Adrian placed his hand on the crystal.
For several seconds—
Nothing happened.
Students began whispering.
"See?"
"I told you."
But then—
The crystal trembled.
Professor Aldric frowned.
"…Strange."
A thin layer of frost spread across the crystal surface.
Then more.
The temperature inside the hall dropped sharply.
Students shivered.
"What's happening?"
The crystal's glow darkened.
Blue.
Then deeper blue.
Then almost black.
Professor Aldric stared in shock.
"This mana density… impossible…"
The crystal flickered violently.
Then displayed a result.
Talent Rank: ???
The professor froze.
"I have never seen this result before."
Inside Adrian's mind, the system appeared.
[Ding!]
External evaluation detected.
World evaluation cannot measure Mythic-level affinity.
Activating concealment.
The crystal flickered again.
The result changed.
Talent Rank: A
Gasps filled the hall.
"A rank?!"
"Adrian Valemont?!"
Leon's eyes narrowed.
Lyra stared silently.
Adrian removed his hand from the crystal.
He smiled slightly.
Good.
The system had hidden the truth.
Because if the crystal revealed his real power…
The entire academy would panic.
Adrian calmly walked back.
Behind him, Leon watched carefully.
For the first time in his life…
Leon felt like someone had appeared who could steal the destiny meant for him.