The testing officer, visibly embarrassed, looked at Daniel and explained nervously:
“Apologies… The result of your test can’t be determined. The magic array… it malfunctioned. I don’t know what caused it. Even the testing device exploded!”
His voice wavered with uncertainty. How could such a well-maintained array fail so catastrophically? Hoping for answers, he glanced skyward as a figure descended from above.
The testing officer lit up with relief.
“Vice Headmaster! I have no idea what happened. The magic array suddenly lost functionality, and the testing device… it just exploded!”
The vice headmaster, a man of middling power compared to someone like Hayes, nodded calmly.
“I understand. You’re dismissed.”
The testing officer exhaled a deep sigh of relief, quickly retreating.
Daniel observed the approaching vice headmaster, whose eyes betrayed keen interest.
“You there,” the vice headmaster said, addressing Daniel. “Are you a new student? If so, why don’t you become my disciple? You have promise!”
The vice headmaster’s voice brimmed with confidence.
As he approached, his gaze flicked to Hayes and the figure beside him.
While Hayes was familiar, the other man seemed vaguely recognizable.
The vice headmaster’s focus, however, remained squarely on Daniel.
After all, the chain reaction that rendered the magic array inert had only occurred after Daniel’s entry.
The academy’s magic arrays were among the most sophisticated, gifted by a great figure of legend.
That they should suddenly fail was unthinkable—unless the cause was an individual whose abilities far surpassed the array’s capabilities.
This could only mean one thing: the newcomer was a prodigy of unimaginable potential.
The vice headmaster was determined to claim Daniel as his student before anyone else could intervene.
Hayes, standing nearby, felt a cold sweat break across his back. He hurried forward to interject.
“Wait, Zeman! This individual…”
“I understand, Hayes!” Zeman interrupted, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “This must be the exceptional talent you found! No need to trouble the headmaster—I’ll take him under my wing instead!”
Hayes’s face darkened. Could Zeman not read the situation? This man wasn’t some prodigy Hayes had brought to the academy; he was something far more dangerous.
“Zeman!” Hayes snapped. “This person is no student. Show some respect when addressing him!”
Zeman froze, finally registering Hayes’s tone.
His excitement dissipated as he realized his error. This wasn’t a recruit.
This was someone far beyond the academy’s authority—a guest, perhaps even a threat.
Turning to Daniel, Hayes spoke quickly.
“Sir, let me escort you to the headmaster. He’ll handle this matter personally.”
Daniel nodded.
“Lead the way.”
The
headmaster of Karea Academy
, a stern-looking middle-aged man, greeted Hayes with a mixture of curiosity and authority.
“You’ve returned quickly, Hayes. How did the Battle for Dominance go?”
“Headmaster,” Hayes began, his voice steady, “we secured victory. However, there were… complications.”
“Victory is what matters,” the headmaster said, his tone dismissive. “I can now report our success to the patron. The young man with you must be the chosen candidate for the competition. Well done, young man.”
He addressed Daniel directly, his expression softening.
“You’ve helped secure a victory for the academy. Tell me, what reward would you like? So long as it’s within reason, I’ll grant it.”
Hayes stepped forward urgently.
“Headmaster, this individual is not one of ours. He is a guest here to meet… the patron.”
The headmaster’s demeanor shifted, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“A guest, you say? Few are qualified to meet the patron.”
The mana surrounding the headmaster swelled, radiating outward like a tidal wave.
Daniel responded with a simple gesture, pointing into the air.
In an instant, the overwhelming mana vanished as though it had never existed.
The headmaster froze, his expression shifting from shock to solemnity.
This wasn’t just raw power—it was control at an unfathomable level, reminiscent of the patron’s own abilities.
The headmaster immediately recognized that he was completely outmatched.
“I apologize for my earlier behavior,” he said, bowing slightly. “If you wish to meet the patron, please follow me.”
Daniel followed silently, his interest piqued.
The two arrived at the entrance to a
secret realm
.
The headmaster stopped abruptly, turning to Daniel.
“The patron resides within. I cannot go any further. Please proceed on your own.”
Daniel paused, studying the headmaster.
“Did this patron establish Karea Academy?”
The headmaster hesitated before nodding. Without another word, he stepped aside, allowing Daniel to enter the secret realm.
Inside, Daniel found himself surrounded by lush greenery, a stark contrast to the academy’s imposing architecture.
Bamboo forests stretched endlessly, their leaves rustling in the breeze.
At the center of this serene environment stood a small, simple house.
As Daniel approached, he sensed a powerful mind observing him—a presence that felt distinctly alien to this world.
The door to the house opened as Daniel neared, and a figure stepped out.
“Who are you, and what brings you here?” the figure asked, their voice calm but edged with curiosity.
Daniel stopped a few paces away, meeting their gaze.
“Riverside City. My name is Daniel.”
The figure’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I am Randy. Why have you come here to find me?”
From the moment Daniel entered the secret realm, he had confirmed his suspicions.
Randy’s presence exuded an aura of otherworldly energy, a trace of divine mana that didn’t belong to this world.
This was what Daniel had been searching for.
Though Randy’s power paled in comparison to Daniel’s, it was formidable by the standards of this world—enough to dominate most mortals.
Daniel’s purpose was clear.
Whatever Randy represented, his connection to the remnants of gods and devils posed a threat to the balance of the world.
This meeting would decide the next step in his journey.
“I’m here to destroy you,” Daniel said calmly. Though his tone was soft, his words carried an earth-shattering weight that echoed through the air.
Randy’s expression darkened immediately.
“That’s a poor joke,” he replied coldly. “If you haven’t come with good intentions, I suggest you leave at once.”
His voice, edged with anger, betrayed his irritation. Randy clearly regarded Daniel’s statement as nothing more than provocation, a mockery aimed at him.