"Wave Three - Begin."

Two massive ogres materialized alongside a swarm of agile shadow panthers.

The ogres roared as they charged forward, raising their massive clubs, while the panthers darted around them, looking for openings.

Klein’s eyes sharpened with focus and a faint golden glow began to trace along the spear’s shaft.

*swoosh*

Dashing between the panthers, he struck vital points with precise thrusts, causing them to dissipate instantly.

"GRAARGHH!"

The two ogres roared and charged simultaneously as they brought their massive clubs down in crushing arcs.

When the first ogre’s club came down, Klein used the spear shaft to redirect the force with timing.

The momentum carried him upward as he drove the spear upward with explosive power, piercing straight into the ogre’s neck joint.

CRUNCH-!

The spear sank deep and the ogre staggered in pain.

Klein didn’t give it a chance to recover. He leaped onto its massive shoulder, using the embedded spear as leverage, and slammed it downward with both hands, driving the weapon straight through the ogre’s skull in a single strike.

The construct shattered into exploding particles of mana.

The second ogre tried to smash him while he was still in mid-air.

Klein twisted his body mid-fall, using the momentum to hurl the spear like a javelin with force.

sleesh-!

The spear pierced straight through the ogre’s thick chest, pinning the massive creature to the ground with a heavy *thoom*.

Before the ogre could even struggle, Klein landed, jumped forward, grabbed the shaft of the spear, and drove it even deeper into its chest with a powerful downward thrust.

"GRGHH!" The second ogre let out a final roar before disintegrating completely.

In the next instant, the remaining shadow panthers also dissipated into fading mana particles.

The entire third wave was destroyed in a matter of seconds.

The spectators looked at him in amazement before they erupted in claps and cheers.

Resting the spear on his shoulder, Klein frowned slightly ’Hmm... it feels good to use mana. My body feels a lot better. The circulation is smoother, and the strain is manageable now.’

He glanced at his [Arbiter Panel] and saw that his Spear Mastery has reached B rank.

’The growth speed for spear mastery is exponential because I am a master at using it.’

’Same thing can’t be said to other skills.’

’Chains of the Forsaken is still at the starting stage. And it’s related to curses, I don’t want to use it front of others.’

’I am still not sure how curses are seen in this world or if there is even a [Curse Realm]’

At this time, he heard the evaluator’s voice from behind "Young man, do you want to continue to wave four?"

Klein turned to him and gave a nod "Sure."

Looking at him, the evaluator "Clearing three waves already guarantees your entrance in the Academy and that too at Elite class."

"Continuing is optional, if you wish..."

Klein simply nodded again, twirling the spear once in his hand as he prepared himself.

’My marks need to be perfect to get that damn scholarship.’

The examiner raised his hand "Wave Four Begin!"

---

Julia stood there and watched Klein as he cleared the fourth wave just like other waves.

’His mana control is high tier for a novice. Is it one of his skills or is he naturally gifted?’

’He is perfectly using the mana to enhance his body and his spear.’

’His spear play is also no joke... He is probably better then me.’

Julia lowered her gaze with a complicated expression crossing her face.

She came to the examination expecting to see another promising talent, perhaps someone she could compete with or even look down on slightly.

Instead, she found herself staring at someone who made her question her own skills.

’Guess I was entitled because I was trained since I was a kid and from a noble family.’

She shook her head slightly, dispelling the momentary self-doubt and a glint of determination passed through her eyes.

’No, it is the confidence in my own skills.’

She sheathed her sword and walked toward the edge of her arena with her eyes fixed on Klein.

’Who exactly are you, Klein Faress?’

Klein, meanwhile, remained standing in the center of his arena and let out a deep breath.

’I am quite exhausted. No matter how good my mana control and spear skill are, it’s still a weak body and F rank. My stamina is not that good.’

He glanced toward Julia’s arena and noticed her watching him. He gave her a small nod and she returned the nod.

The examiner for Klein’s group cleared his throat, "Applicant Klein Faress... you have the option to stop here. Your performance has already secured your admission to Grayhaven Academy."

"Continuing to Wave Five is entirely optional and carries higher risk."

Klein looked up at the examiner with steady eyes.

"I’ll continue."

The examiner stared at him for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well. Wave Five, Final Wave. Begin."

*WOOSH*

A powerful gust of wind swept through the arena and a single mana wyvern construct appeared in the arena.

"GRRAAARGHHHH!" The wyvern roared as it materialized, spreading its wide wings.

Klein stared at the majestic beast with a deadpan expression.

’-_-’

’I hate flying enemies,’ he thought bitterly.

The wyvern took to the air instantly, circling above him with predatory eyes.

Its wings beat powerfully, creating gusts that whipped across the arena as it searched for the best angle to strike.

Seeing this, Klein’s gaze narrowed ’This is why... if I had telekinesis or a flying ability, I would easily fight it.’

’Well, this one has simulated intelligence, so it will come down to fight me anyway.’

He raised his spear and pointed the tip directly at the circling wyvern, "Come down, you little shit."

"SCREEEEE-!" The wyvern let out another deafening roar and dove like a meteor with its talons extended wide, aiming to rip him apart in one devastating strike.

Klein dashed sideways at the last moment, avoiding the initial claw strike by a hair’s breadth.

The wyvern’s talons gouged deep trenches into the reinforced ground, sending chunks of stone flying.

As it passed him, Klein leaped upward with explosive force, spinning midair.

Blue mana energy surged along the spear’s shaft as he drove it into the creature’s side with all his strength.

CRACK-!

The spear pierced through the tough scales with a resounding crack.

A blue glint passed through Klein’s eyes as he pushed the weapon even deeper, channeling more power into the strike.

"SCRREECCHHH!" The wyvern screeched in pain and twisted violently in the air, trying to throw him off.

Klein held on tightly, using the embedded spear as leverage to climb onto its back.

The wyvern rolled and bucked like a wild horse, trying desperately to dislodge him.

Its wings beat furiously, creating violent winds that whipped across the arena.

Klein gripped the spear with both hands and twisted it deeper.

The wyvern roared in agony and crashed downward, trying to slam Klein into the ground.

At the last second, Klein pulled the spear free and leaped off its back, landing several meters away.

The wyvern recovered quickly.

It let out a furious screech and flapped its massive wings, shooting back into the air with powerful gusts that whipped across the arena.

It circled high above him once more, looking down at its prey.

A soft, irritated sigh escaped Klein’s lips.

"I really do hate flying fuckers," he muttered under his breath.

Gripping the spear tightly, he took a single step forward and hurled it upward with explosive force.

SWOOOSH-!

The spear whistled through the air like a black comet, spinning with deadly precision as it rocketed toward the wyvern.

The construct tried to dodge at the last moment, but it was too late.

*CRACK*

The spear blasted straight through one of its massive wings with a sickening crunch, tearing through the scales.

"GRREEECCC!" The wyvern let out a deafening roar as it lost balance mid-air.

It spiraled violently, crashing down toward the arena floor with tremendous force.

BOOOOM!

The impact shook the entire arena. Dust and debris exploded outward as the massive wyvern slammed into the ground.

Klein dashed forward at full speed and closed the distance in seconds.

The wyvern lunged at him with its remaining strength with its jaws wide open to crush him.

Dodging its strike, he climbed onto the wing and pulled out the spear.

It tried to shake him off, but Klein leaped high, spinning in mid-air and brought the spear down with both hands in an overhead strike, channeling his mana into the blow.

CRAAAAACK-!

The spear slammed into the top of the wyvern’s head with bone-shattering force as the weapon pierced straight through its skull and deep into its core.

’Die, you motherfucker.’

The construct let out one final, dying screech before its entire body shattered into a brilliant shower of mana particles that rained down across the arena like glowing snowflakes.

There was silence for a moment

Then the entire evaluation plaza erupted into absolute chaos.

Cheers, gasps, and thunderous applause exploded from every direction.

Applicants, instructors, and evaluators stared at the young man standing in the center of the destroyed arena with disbelief and awe.

Klein walked back to the rack and placed the spear there before stretching his arms above his head.

In the adjacent arena, Julia stood completely still and gripped her sword tightly ’There is no doubt about it... He is one of them.’

’A damn prodigy.’

The examiner stared at him in stunned silence for several long seconds before finally announcing in a loud voice:

"Wave Five. Cleared. Applicant Klein Faress... you have passed the Practical Evaluation with exceptional results."

At that moment, a message popped up in Klein’s panel.

[The First Fallen of the Underworld congratulates you on your first victory.]

Klein: -_-

I’ve got a higher being stalker.