The dimly lit room buzzed with tension as shadows flickered across the walls. Inside, a group of figures stood huddled around a large table, their faces obscured by dark cloaks. The air was thick with the scent of anticipation and the promise of danger. In the center, a lone figure, their face barely visible beneath the hood, leaned over the table, hands steepled in thought.

"So, how are you planning to succeed this time?" a gruff voice broke the silence, its owner standing near the corner of the room, arms crossed. The man's posture was defensive, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Every time we try to infiltrate the Academy, that guy Kagea always shows up out of nowhere and ruins everything."

The figure at the table slowly raised their head, revealing a pair of piercing eyes. "He won't show up this time," they said, voice calm but carrying an unmistakable confidence.

A collective pause filled the room as the others exchanged skeptical glances. One of the figures, a slender woman with sharp features, stepped forward, her expression doubtful. "Eh? What do you mean by that?" she asked, voice dripping with skepticism. "Kagea's always there, watching from the shadows. How can you be so sure he won't interfere this time?"

The leader of the group smirked, a glint of mischief flickering in their eyes. "Because this time, we're not just going to charge in recklessly. We're going to use their own system against them." They tapped the table, a map of the Academy spreading out across its surface. "The entrance exam is coming up."

At the mention of the entrance exam, the room fell silent. The members of the group exchanged quick, sharp glances, a mix of surprise and understanding crossing their faces. The entrance exam was the Academy's most secure event, a time when hundreds of hopeful students flocked to the gates, each one vying for a coveted spot in the prestigious institution. But more than that, it was a time when the security and surveillance at the Academy were relaxed under the guise of welcoming newcomers.

A thick tension filled the air as the leader leaned forward, voice low but clear. "We use that opportunity. We infiltrate during the exam. Once we're inside, we can carry out the mission without Kagea even knowing what hit him."

The man in the corner grunted in acknowledgment, his suspicions easing slightly. "So, we're going in as students?"

"Exactly, one of our comrade have power change an appeance of himself and others we use his ability to get inside the acadmey" the leader confirmed, a cold smile spreading across their lips. "We'll slip in undetected, blend in, and wait for the perfect moment. By the time Kagea realizes what's happening, it'll be too late."

The woman who had spoken earlier tilted her head, considering the plan. "But Kagea is a genius, always a step ahead. Even if we infiltrate during the exam, he's bound to sense something's off. How do we deal with him?"

"That's the beauty of it," the leader said, their voice laced with a dangerous calm. "Kagea's power relies on his ability to control the situation. But when he's distracted by the chaos of the entrance exam, he won't have time to track all of us."

Another figure, a tall man with a long scar running down his face, spoke up. "But what if we don't make it inside? What if the secuirty is harder than we expect?"

The leader stood up, hands still clasped. "We will. We've prepared for this. You've all trained for so long. "

A dark silence followed, and then a low murmur spread through the group. The plan was audacious, reckless even. But there was no turning back now. The leader's confidence was infectious, and for the first time in a long while, they felt a glimmer of hope—a real chance to succeed where they had failed before.

The woman smirked, her sharp eyes gleaming with excitement. "Alright, then. Let's make sure we don't let Kagea ruin it this time."

The leader turned, their voice quiet but filled with conviction. "This time, we win."

The sky was overcast, the morning light dull and washed out by a blanket of clouds that hung heavy above. It wasn't the kind of day Nehora had hoped for, but then again, nothing ever went according to plan in his life. Today, of all days, was important. The exam for Country No. 1 Academy was today—the place everyone talked about, the place everyone dreamed of.

My name is Nehora, and I'm going to start my new life. That was the thought that had been keeping him steady as he stood at the gates of the Academy, heart pounding. Every year, thousands of students lined up to take the entrance exam for this prestigious institution, but only a hundred ever made the cut. It wasn't that the Academy didn't want more students—it was just that the exam was brutal. Only the truly elite could pass.

The written exam was the first hurdle. The questions were grueling, covering everything from power theory to tactics, survival skills, and knowledge of the wild creatures that roamed the dangerous forests surrounding the academy. But even that wasn't the hardest part. The real test came after.

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The moment Nehora had dreaded for months was finally here: the Physical Test.

All the students who passed the written exam would face the three-stage physical challenge. The first stage was a 5km race. A test of speed and endurance, the course would push every student to their limit. But that wasn't the worst part.

Stage two came next: a 3km course while carrying a 10kg weight on their back. It was designed to test strength and stamina, and for many, it was the point where their bodies gave out.

But the final stage? The living hell.

All the remaining students would be dropped into a massive forest, one known for its deadly creatures and the wild dangers that lurked beneath its dense trees. There, scattered throughout the forest, were badges that each student needed to steal. The badges were guarded by some of the most dangerous animals in the world—each creature stronger, faster, and deadlier than the last. It was a test of survival, wit, and strength.

If you could make it out of that forest, if you could steal the badge and make it back to the starting point, you could finally call yourself a student of Country No. 1 Academy.

Nehora took a deep breath as he stood before the towering gates of the Academy, a massive structure of glass and steel that reflected the looming gray skies. It was an intimidating sight, but not as much as the thousands of students standing in the courtyard around him, all with the same goal in mind.

To get in.

"Today's the day," he murmured to himself.

The gates opened with a low groan, and the sea of students surged forward, eager and nervous. Nehora stepped in line, his bag slung over his shoulder, his expression calm but his mind racing. His first test would be a written exam, one of the hardest part.

The exam hall was suffocating with silence. Nehora sat at his desk, his palms clammy as he adjusted his grip on his pencil. His eyes flicked over the paper, scanning the questions quickly, but nothing seemed familiar. Power theory, tactics, survival skills, and the creatures of the wild—the questions felt like they came from another world. His stomach twisted.

The room was tense. The students around him sat like statues, their pens moving with mechanical precision, the only sound the faint rustle of paper and the steady ticking of the clock. The air felt thick with the weight of the exam.

Nehora's gaze shifted toward the front of the room where the invigilators stood, watching. No one was allowed to speak, to glance at each other for comfort. No one dared break the silence. The pressure felt almost suffocating.

He glanced down at the first question. What's the primary function of arcane energy in combat situations? His mind blanked. He had studied it. He was sure he had, but now it all seemed irrelevant. Panic flared, and his hand shook.

Focus, focus!

The other students were in a rhythm now, scribbling away, some even flipping through pages with ease. Nehora tried to steady his breathing, but his head spun. He wasn't prepared for this. Not like this.

Taro was sitting to his right, the boy who always seemed so confident, so sure of himself. Taro's pencil moved like a storm—fast, sure, and unyielding. Nehora couldn't help but glance at him. Taro didn't even seem to pause. Nehora swallowed hard and glanced back down at his paper. Stop looking around. Don't think about him. Think about the questions.

But it was no use. The words on the page refused to make sense. His mind was racing. His eyes darted to the clock—twenty minutes gone already, and he had barely filled out the first question.

Then, a sudden sound broke the silence—a soft, audible thud echoed from the back of the room. Nehora's heart skipped. One of the students, Ryo, had slammed his pencil down, his face contorted in frustration. He shot a glance at the invigilator, who was already moving toward him. The tension thickened.

Nehora's heart pounded harder. It can't be like that. I can't fail. Not here. Not now.

He looked back at his paper. The second question was about wild creatures—more specifically, how to survive an encounter with a chimera. This he knew. His mind snapped into focus for a brief moment, recalling everything from the textbooks to his practical lessons. He scribbled down a few points about agility, misdirection, and using the environment to gain the upper hand.

Yes!

But that moment of triumph was fleeting. The next question was about tactical formations in battle—something Nehora had struggled with. He stared at it, his hand hovering over the paper, knowing that the clock was ticking. He had to write something. Anything.

The room seemed to close in on him, the quiet pressing harder against his chest. Nehora looked up again, his eyes scanning the room.

What if I fail?

But as he turned his gaze across the room, he noticed something: the others weren't perfect. Some were pausing, glancing nervously at their papers, their brows furrowed in concentration. No one was flawless. Even Taro, the one he had envied earlier, was taking long moments to think, his pen tapping against the desk in deep thought.

For the first time since the exam started, Nehora allowed himself to breathe. It wasn't just him. Everyone was struggling. This was hard for everyone.

Nehora shook off the last of his panic, refocusing. He looked back at the page, moving past the impossible questions and focusing on what he did know. Survival tactics. Arcane energy. Wild creatures.

One by one, the answers began to come together, shaky at first, then with more confidence. He scribbled faster, pushing himself to answer each question, even if he wasn't sure of the specifics.

The clock ticked on. The pressure was unrelenting, but Nehora wasn't frozen anymore. He was moving forward.

As the final minute approached, Nehora took one last deep breath, then hurriedly filled in the last few blanks. His hands were trembling, but his mind was clearer than it had been since the exam started.

He wasn't finished. Not perfect, but he had done what he could. He looked down at his paper one last time, and for the first time in what felt like hours, a small sense of calm washed over him.

The first round was over before he could fully process it. Nehora had passed with a score that placed him among the top 10 in the written exam. But that was just the beginning.

Nehora watching the students going home who failed in exam he go even more nervous then before he don't want to become one of them.

To be continue......