I crossed the gate and entered the military zone, a place one could only access with a proper reason. During the entry season that lasted for the first three days of each month, anyone aged between 9 and 17 could enter to take the academy's entry test. However, if someone was caught trying to enter any military institution instead of the academy during this period, they would get into trouble. I continued on my way towards the test zone.

On my way, I passed by the Security Branch headquarters, a large building adorned with a giant Vermillion flag in front. There was also a garden in front of it, and I assumed that the training zone would be located behind the building.

Finally, I arrived at the academy's entry area. There was a line of people, all of them kids around my age or slightly older. They were well-dressed, and most of them were armed. The line moved quickly, and after a few minutes of waiting, my turn came. I approached the table where registrations were taking place, and a female student attended to me.

"Good morning," she greeted me. "We need to know your name and age."

"My name is Allen, and I'm 9," I replied.

"Okay, no last name?"

"No."

"Alright, then, Allen. The entry test is conducted in the academy's training hall. It involves a mock battle against another candidate, you will both be evaluated, and if you fight well you pass. However, you'll need to pay 3000 Loris per month. Can you afford that?"

"I'm here for the scholarship test, actually."

"To be eligible for that, you must be Bronze rank. Do you have a badge?"

"No, but I heard I could undergo the evaluation here."

"Yes, you can. However, there's a fee of 200 Loris, the same as in any other place."

"No problem," I said, handing over the money.

"Thank you. The evaluation will take place in another location. My colleague will guide you there. If you have the required rank, we'll appraise you. If we believe you might be eligible for a scholarship, you'll proceed to the test, which involves a mock battle against a teacher. If you win, you'll be accepted immediately."

"That's quite a bit of bureaucracy," I commented.

"Yes, the scholarship isn't an inexpensive endeavor. If anyone could obtain it easily, it would be problematic."

"I understand," I replied.

A male student approached me and instructed, "Allen, right? Please follow me to the evaluation zone."

I followed him as we reached the evaluation zone, which happened to be the academy's arena. Behind a table sat two men and a woman, presumably instructors.

The student began explaining, "The rank evaluation, the appraisal, and the mock battle will all take place here. Please go to the center for the first part."

I moved to the center of the arena, where I saw a wall, a large rock, a target, and various other objects.

The female professor introduced herself, she had strong orange hair and green eyes, she wore a red cleaveged dress with fur on the colar, her appearence seemed has she had twenty's, but her aura don't. "Good morning, Allen. We are the academy's board. My name is Vanessa Stone, the Mistress of the Stone House and the headmaster of this academy. These two gentlemen beside me are the instructors, Joseph and Folden. One of them will serve as your opponent in the mock battle. However, most candidates either don't pass the rank evaluation or perform poorly in the mock battle. I hope that won't be the case for you. So, tell me, which techniques have you mastered?"

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"Good morning, Madam," I replied. "I've mastered up to the 5th technique."

"Then you're already Silver rank?"

"In theory, yes."

"Alright, let's see if that's true. First, break that rock by enchanting your body."

I glanced at the rock, realizing that I could probably break it without enchanting my body. Nevertheless, I activated the enchantment and delivered a punch that shattered the rock into numerous smaller pieces.

"Very good! Now, for the second and third techniques, do you have a sword?"

"Yes," I confirmed.

"Great. First, bend that adamantium stick over there, and then cut it with your sword."

Adamantium was an incredible metal known for being indestructible by conventional means. However, it was susceptible to manipulation through mana—the only thing capable of damaging this unbreakable metal.

I took the stick, activated my mana armor, and bent it. Then, I retrieved my sword, extended the mana armor to it, and sliced through the stick. With this demonstration, I had already achieved Bronze rank.

"Good job," she complimented. "You've already met the requirements to take the test. However, you mentioned that you're Silver, so let's continue the evaluation. Now, look at those six baskets. I will hide my mana signature inside one of them, and you must correctly identify the one containing my mana signature four times. If you succeed, it will indicate that you've mastered the 4th technique. Ready?"

"Yes," I replied.

"First."

"6."

"Correct. Second."

"6."

"Correct. Third."

"3."

"Correct. Last."

"None."

"Correct. Very good. Now, for the final challenge, climb that wall without running or using your hands."

I approached the wall, walked toward it, and began climbing it without relying on my hands. Once I reached the top, I leaped down to the floor. With this, I had completed the evaluation.

"Very good," Headmaster Vanessa Stone praised. "You are indeed Silver rank. That's quite remarkable for your age."

The male student approached me and handed me a silver badge with a wolf symbol, indicating my Silver rank and serving as my identification.

"Now for the appraisal," Headmaster Vanessa Stone continued. "I've already used it to learn your name and age, and I'll now use it to determine the rest and put it on this paper for you to have. Afterward, you'll engage in the mock battle. If you pass, I'll grant you the scholarship."

With that, she focused her attention on me with her eyes wide open, and a light appeared on the paper. Appraisal was a rare and valuable skill. It was intriguing that the headmaster herself was using it to appraise students, after all that could also be done with an appraisal spell, so why was she personally involved?

The board members finished reading the paper and handed it to the male student, who then gave it to me. I glanced at the information:

Name: Allen

Age: 9 years

Race: Improved Human

Height: 1.40 meters

Weight: 30 kg

Skills: 6th Sense, Appraisal

Masteries: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Illusionism, Psychology, Sword Basics, Hand-to-hand Combat, Lorish

Attribute: Time Wallet

Hercules Bless: 100

The masteries... The knowledge of dreams... This was bad. How could I explain this? Wait, instead of English, it says Lorish. Maybe I can still get away with this. Headmaster Vanessa Stone then cast a spell on the male student, putting him to sleep.

"As I thought, it was a good idea to come personally," she said. "I heard from my husband, the Security Branch general, that a soldier was defeated at the entrance during a duel by a boy named Allen who came for the entry test. And now, not only are you already a Silver rank, as you claimed, but you also possess these specialties. Ignoring the Hercules Bless of 100, the two skills, and the attribute, what are these masteries? How can a 9-year-old boy master all of this? These are almost all scientific subjects. To have a mastery in them means you know at least as much as an academic. And the race, Improved Human? Who are you, boy?"

"I only studied these things on my own, and I don't know anything about being an Improved Human."

"You're lying. There's no way that's true. It's okay to have secrets, but this much is dangerous."

She approached me, and a green area surrounded us.

"This spell is called the Truth Area," she explained. "It will make you answer any question honestly, but only yes or no questions. A very useful technical spell. Now, answer me: are you a threat to this kingdom?"

"No," I replied truthfully.

She lifted the spell, and I fell to my knees, feeling powerless. This woman was someone I couldn't defeat yet.

"Thank goodness," she said. "I didn't want to have to kill someone with so much potential. You've more than passed. However, you still have to fight the mock battle. But it won't be against any of the instructors; they're both Gold rank. You'd probably beat them with ease. I shall be your opponent. However, I'm Diamond rank, which means you won't stand a chance. So, I won't use mana armor. If you manage to defeat me, I will grant you anything you ask for. Do you accept these terms?"

"Yes," I replied. "Please, go easy on me."

"Of course," she said with a smile. "If I didn't, this would end too quickly."

And with that, the battle began.