Izumi stood before the gates of the Royal Academy, his expression calm and detached. While other students might marvel at the grandeur of the academy, he barely spared it a glance. The towering spires, intricate carvings, and ancient magical aura meant nothing to him.
This was merely another step forward.
Inside the trial arena, the atmosphere was electric. Each trial took place on a new stage that reset after every test, with the platform transforming into a unique environment tailored to each student’s abilities. The stages were different each time, designed to challenge the mage’s control and strength.
When Izumi’s name was called, the whispers began.
"A darkness user? They’re letting him in?"
Izumi strode to the center of the arena with deliberate, almost lazy steps. His black cloak trailed behind him like a shadow, and he approached the platform where a stone statue of a grand knight stood, its sword raised in challenge.
The instructor gestured toward the statue. “Demonstrate your power.”
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Izumi glanced at the statue, his face unreadable. He took a slow breath and then raised his hand.
In a calm, almost indifferent tone, he muttered: "Devour."
Black smoke unfurled from his fingers, creeping across the stone floor like a living shadow. It rushed toward the statue, wrapping around it in dark tendrils. Slowly, the stone began to dissolve, as if consumed by an unseen force. The knight’s figure was eaten away, its stone armor melting into nothingness.
The crowd gasped, stunned by the sight of the statue disappearing under Izumi’s control.
Izumi lowered his hand and stepped back, unfazed by the attention. His gaze swept the arena, noting the shock in the eyes of the onlookers. He allowed the faintest smirk to form on his lips. As expected.
The stage beneath his feet shimmered, dissolving to reset for the next test. The stone knight was gone, leaving nothing but faint echoes of its previous form.
Another name was called: Renji Arclight.
A boy with golden hair stepped forward, his presence radiant with the power of light. His aura seemed to push back the lingering darkness in the arena. Renji gave Izumi a quick glance, a mixture of curiosity and challenge in his eyes, before turning his attention to his own test.
The instructor gestured to the newly reset stage. “Your turn.”
Renji raised his hand, his voice clear and strong: "Holy Purification."
A radiant beam of golden light burst from his palm, striking the remnants of the knight’s stone form. The light didn’t purify—it obliterated what was left. The stone shattered under the intensity of the divine energy, leaving only a pile of dust and glowing particles floating in the air.
The crowd cheered, impressed by the sheer force of Renji’s magic.
Renji turned, his gaze meeting Izumi’s across the arena. There was no fear in his eyes, only quiet determination.
Izumi, still standing at the edge of the arena, returned his gaze with calm indifference. In his mind, he was already calculating. Impressive, but what happens when your light can’t reach what you can’t see?