The examiner was shocked, thinking he had hidden his power and not brought out his full potential. But it was otherwise.
A brief silence, then murmurs.
"B-rank?"
"…but that pressure just now…"
"That didn't feel normal…"
Ji-Han stepped down quietly. No reaction.
But a few eyes followed him.
Those who were called Genius, who will either reach the S rank or surpass it to the ranks of the foundational master, were dumbfounded. Because the energy Ji-Han released was entirely different. Even among their guild-masters.
"…he's different." Se-ah admired him for that.
After the murmurs, the final announcement appeared above them.
[NOTICE]ONLY C-RANK AND ABOVE WILL QUALIFY FOR THE NATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM]
The crowd reacted instantly. Relief, excitement, and despair from those below the requirement.
Ji-Han looked at the screen.
"…so it starts now." He mutters.
Around him, the strong remained, and the weak were filtered out.
The training started after a week of rest.
After a full six months—
Preparation ended. That month had been intense, non-stop conditioning, mana control exercises, combat simulations, and dungeon theory.
Every selected awakener was pushed to their limit.
And now, the real training began.
The training camp stood like a fortress, surrounded by reinforced barriers.
Monitored by high-ranking officials.
A place meant for one purpose only-
To forge the strongest.
On the first day, all selected awakeners gathered at the central field.
Hundreds… now reduced to only those who qualified.
C-rank and above.
A massive digital board lit up above them.
Names.
Ranks.
Performance metrics.
And at the very top, five names stood out.
The ones everyone had already begun calling—
"The Five Geniuses."
Han Seo-jun – A-Rank
• Kang Ji-won – A-Rank
• Yoon Se-ah – A-Rank
• Lee Hyun-woo – B-Rank (Unstable)
• Park Min-jae – B-Rank
Whispers spread across the field.
"They're on another level…"
"No one can compete with them…"
But then
There was someone who followed their ranking. The one who stirred the hearts of so many awakeners. Though not among the five geniuses. Because he wasn't in any data or any information on joining a guild. But he was classified as one who would go head-to-head among the geniuses. Ji-Han.
After the intense training, the instructor gathered everyone at the central field.
"This phase is over," one of them announced.
"From today onward, you will operate in assigned squads of five."
Names were called, groups formed, and balanced.
Ji-Han stood quietly as his group was assigned, different from before.
Not the same team as his past life.
"…good," he thought.
The next phase began immediately.
Simulated Dungeon Raids.
C-Rank simulation gates were deployed across the training zone.
Artificial—but deadly realistic.
Pain registered.
Damage carried consequences.
Only death was prevented.
And it continued for three months as they fought again and again. Monsters fell and teams adapted, while some failed and broke, and some rose.
Ji-Han's barriers are no longer just defensive. They controlled the battlefield, protected, redirected, and created openings.
His teammates began to realize it.
"…as expected… he's not normal."
Across the field—
The Five Geniuses dominated as expected.
Seo-jun cut through enemies effortlessly.
Ji-won burned entire zones.
Se-ah moved unseen.
Min-jae crushed everything in his path.
Hyun-woo…
Remained unpredictable.
Three months passed.
The results were displayed, and only twenty awakeners passed; the rest failed, even the silver fang, and Kwon Hyun-Jin's group failed.
Levels increased, skills sharpened, and experience was gained.
During those three months of training, inside a secured observation chamber, they were being watched.
Multiple massive projection screens filled the room. Each showing a different squad, different battles, and different outcomes.
Seated within were the highest authorities.
The five top Guild masters, the four masters, and alongside them was Chairman Min Jae-woo, watching in silence. And the top officials, who were there too was in control of all.
"Squad 7—good formation.""Squad 12 is collapsing… pull them out.""That one… strong, but reckless."
Voices filled the room. Evaluating and judging.
Naturally, attention gravitated toward the strongest.
Han Seo-jun's precision drew admiration.
"…clean cuts. No wasted movement," Jin Tae-kyung noted.
Kang Ji-won's destructive power stood out.
"She controls large-scale output well," Kang Seung-jae added.
Yoon Se-ah—
Barely seen.
"…she disappears even from the system feed," Han Mi-ra murmured.
Park Min-jae's raw strength—
"Too aggressive… but effective," Go Tae-hyun commented.
Lee Hyun-woo—
Unstable.
The screens flickered when his energy spiked.
"…that one is dangerous," Kwon Mu-jin said calmly.
But then. Another screen caught attention. Ji-Han.
At first, nothing special. He wasn't overwhelming enemies, and he wasn't dominating the field. He was just supporting.
Barriers are placed at precise moments.Damage redirected.Teammates protected.
Every move—efficient.
Minimal.
"…he's holding back," one official muttered.
Min Jae-woo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…no, he's controlling." He said quietly.
On screen, monsters lunged toward one of Ji-Han's teammates. Before it could strike, a barrier formed. It was perfect timing.
Another attacked from behind. Shift and redirect.
Counter opportunity created.
No wasted energy, and no unnecessary movement.
But, to most watching, it wasn't impressive.
"…boring," one guild master said bluntly.
"No presence. No dominance."
Some nodded as they preferred power. Flash and impact.
But not all.
Han Mi-ra leaned slightly forward.
"…that flow…"
"…his mana control is abnormal."
Jin Tae-kyung's eyes sharpened.
"…he sees the entire battlefield."
Min Jae-woo remained silent.
Watching.
On screen—
Ji-Han stood behind his team. Calm and unshaken.
Inside—
His thoughts were different.
"…too slow."
"…too inefficient."
"…this isn't real combat."
To him, the simulations were predictable, repetitive, and boring. So instead, he focused on something else. Refinement, control, and growth without exposure.
"…no need to stand out yet," he thought.
Every battle, he played the role of support. But beneath that, he was sharpening something far more dangerous.
"All qualified awakeners—prepare."
A pause.
The atmosphere shifted.
"This concludes simulation training."
Silence fell.
Then—
"The next phase…"
"…will be conducted in real dungeons."
The air grew heavy instantly, no resets, and no safety.
Real monsters. Real death.
Some swallowed nervously, some smiled in excitement, and some stood in silence.
Ji-Han's eyes sharpened.
"…finally."
Because this was where everything truly began.