'He's definitely crazy!'

  Asher stared at the sleeping boy beside him with a mix of disbelief and awe.

  To sleep through an event as important as this?

  This was the Stellar Nexus Academy. The apex of human civilization. The crucible where future heroes, generals, and Sovereigns were forged.

  It was the ultimate gateway to power.

  Over five thousand applicants filled the hall, survivors of a grueling initial screening, yet everyone knew only a fraction would actually make it through the gates as true students.

  Every single candidate was sitting on the edge of their seat, eyes glued to the stage, desperate to catch a single word that might give them an edge in the upcoming trials. They were hungry, starving for the high ranks, the exclusive resources, and the privileges that came with being an elite.

  And then...

  There was Ryn.

  Asher looked at Ryn's relaxed face, the gentle rise and fall of his chest.

  'Does he not care?' Asher wondered.

  Given Ryn's personality, that unbothered, almost lethargic vibe he radiated, maybe he really didn't aim high like everyone else.

  Maybe he didn't care about being a Top Ranker or a Hero.

  Maybe he was content with just passing, blending in, and living a quiet life.

  It was a mindset Asher couldn't understand, burdened as he was by the weight of his past and the apocalyptic visions haunting his sleep. But strangely, looking at Ryn... he felt a twinge of envy.

  'Well, someone has to pay attention,' Asher thought, shaking his head. 'He saved my life. The least I can do is be his ears.'

  He turned his gaze forward, his expression hardening with resolve. He would memorize every rule, every clause, and every hidden detail for both of them.

  Meanwhile, on the massive stage below, a figure stood illuminated by a spotlight.

  It was the Vice Principal, a stern man with sharp features and a monocle that gleamed with arcane data. Behind him, a colossal holographic screen hovered in the air, projecting rotating diagrams of the scoring metrics.

  Asher listened intently, waiting for the explanation about the "Train Incident."

  He expected a cover story. A moment of silence for the casualties. Or at least an acknowledgment of the delay that nearly cost them their eligibility.

  But there was nothing.

  The Vice Principal didn't even blink. He launched straight into the technicalities of the selection process.

  "....We have five thousand two hundred and forty-three applicants present," the man's voice boomed.

  Asher felt a strange sense of dissonance.

  On one hand, he wasn't surprised. In his fragmented dreams, the Entrance Exam had always proceeded on schedule. The "history" he knew didn't stop for tragedies.

  But on the other hand, the stark contrast between the bloody hell he had just escaped and this sterile, organized hall was jarring.

  'They aren't even going to mention the lives lost?' Asher thought, a chill running down his spine. 'Or maybe... they have a reason to keep it quiet.'

  He gripped his pen tighter. There was no point in questioning the Academy's methods now. If he wanted to survive the future he had seen, he had to play by their rules.

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  He pushed the thoughts of the train aside and focused on the speech.

  "The Entrance Exam is divided into three stages..."

  Time passed.

  The speech droned on.

  And on.

  And on.

  The Vice Principal went into excruciating detail about the calculation methods for the written score, the prohibition list, the code of conduct for the arena, the penalties for unauthorized potion usage, and the legal waivers regarding accidental injuries or even death during the practicals.

  Thirty minutes.

  Forty-five minutes.

  An hour.

  By the time the hologram finally flickered to a closing logo, the tension in the hall had evaporated, replaced by a heavy, stifling boredom. Even the most eager students were slumped in their chairs, eyes glazed over.

  Asher rubbed his stinging eyes, fighting back a yawn.

  'I take it back,' he thought, glancing at the still-sleeping Ryn with newfound respect. 'He had the right idea. This was torture.'

  Whatever "critical intelligence" the Instructor had warned them about turned out to be mostly bureaucratic stuff. He had taken notes, but half of them were just liability clauses.

  "That concludes the briefing," the Vice Principal said, adjusting his monocle.

  Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The boredom vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp spike of anxiety.

  "We will now proceed immediately to the First Stage of the assessment."

  The Vice Principal tapped the podium.

  "The Mandatory Written Exam will commence in exactly ten minutes, right here in this hall."

  Buzz!

  As he spoke, the armrests of every seat in the auditorium hummed. Small, glowing holographic panels unfolded in front of every candidate, locking into place to form individual desks.

  "Ten minutes to prepare your minds," the voice boomed. "Failure to achieve a passing score of 80 will result in immediate disqualification. Good luck."

  Asher stiffened, his sleepiness gone.

  "Ten minutes..."

  He turned to his left to wake his companion.

  Ryn was still snoring softly.

  Asher reached out to shake him, but his hand froze in mid-air, recalling something.

  A translucent, shimmering film of blue light had already materialized around Ryn's desk: the Anti-Cheating Barrier.

  The Vice Principal had been very clear: 'Any unauthorized intrusion into another candidate's designated workspace will be flagged as academic dishonesty. Penalty: Immediate Disqualification.'

  If Asher stuck his hand through that field to shake Ryn awake, the sensors would trip, and they would both be thrown out before they even picked up a pen. Thankfully, the exam hasn't started yet, or else he wouldn't even be able to speak!

  "Ryn!" Asher hissed, leaning as close to the barrier as he dared without touching it. "Hey! Wake up!"

  Ryn didn't move.

  "Ryn! Seriously!" Asher glanced at the timer floating above the stage. Eight minutes. "You're going to fail before we even start!"

  Finally, the boy stirred.

  He shifted in his seat, nuzzling his face deeper into his crossed arms as if settling into a soft pillow on a lazy Sunday morning.

  "Mmm..." Ryn mumbled, his voice thick with sleep and completely audible in the tense silence of the back row. "Just five more minutes, Mom..."

  Asher's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.

  "Who's your mom?!" Asher whisper-shouted, his voice cracking with sheer exasperation. "Wake up! The exam has started!"

  Ryn slowly peeled his eyes open.

  The first thing he saw was Asher's face, pressed uncomfortably close to the shimmering blue barrier, his teeth gritted in sheer irritation. The noble looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel.

  "..."

  Ryn blinked once, then twice.

  He then sat up slowly, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small packet of wet napkins. He took one out, unfolded it with agonizing slowness, and began to wipe the sleep from his eyes and the corners of his mouth.

  "Didn't you sleep yesterday?" Asher hissed, his voice muffled slightly by the energy field. "Why are you always sleeping? We just escaped death, and you treat this place like a hotel!"

  'And you sound exactly like my mom,' Ryn muttered inwardly.

  'If only you guys knew...'

  He didn't bother explaining; instead, he just tossed the used napkin into the waste disposal slot on the desk.

  "I'm awake now," Ryn said, stifling a yawn.

  "Barely," Asher shot back. He pointed frantically at the timer floating above the stage. "Look, we have less than five minutes. Listen closely because I'm not repeating this."

  Asher quickly rattled off the summary of the hour-long briefing Ryn had missed.

  "It's a cumulative point system. No cheating artifacts allowed. If the system flags your eyes wandering to another screen for more than three seconds, it's an automatic zero. The rest of the instructions are on your screen. Read them. Now!"

  "Thanks," Ryn said genuinely before turning his attention to the holographic desk.

  ________

  [Written Assessment - Phase 1]

  Time Limit: 60 Minutes

  Total Questions: 40

  Passing Score: 80 Points

  ________

  Ryn scanned the structure. It was a standard progressive difficulty curve.

  ________

  Section A: 10 Questions (1 Point Each) – Basic Theory.

  Section B: 10 Questions (3 Points Each) – Applied Logic.

  Section C: 10 Questions (5 Points Each) – Advanced Calculation.

  Section D: 10 Questions (10 Points Each) – Theoretical Abstraction.

  ________

  'Max score is 190,' Ryn calculated instantly. 'A passing score is 80. A top-tier score would be anything above 160.'

  Beeeeeeep.

  A sharp, digital tone echoed through the Grand Hall, cutting through the murmurs.

  [EXAM START]