The 3-Level Magic National Exam (3)

* Monica watched Hong Jiyeon's performance from the stands. On the surface, it wasn't much different from Isara's strategy. Overwhelm with firepower to halt regeneration, then finish. A classic method that might've been viable in America a decade ago.

'Well, it's that stable—and it's evolved over those ten years too.'

Whoooosh—

Unlike Isara, who disrupted regeneration, she seemed to sear it with fire to slow it down, then pour on even stronger firepower.

"Hmm, if she burns it all like that, she'll run out of ether for the finisher…."

The final moment, when her ether looked spent.

"Oh? Enhancement spell?"

Hong Jiyeon charged forward and hurled her staff with all her might. It tore through the air and embedded in the abyssal entity.

BOOOOM—

After the searing explosion, the sound of the core shattering rang out.

Crack—

"Oho… she squeezed max efficiency out of that final strike?"

The staff's specs could be an issue, but the granddaughter of a tower lord wouldn't use one below standard.

"Ah… kiddie's turn soon~"

Feeling the kid's turn approaching, Monica narrowed her eyes. They'd trained for the 3-level test the past few weeks, but her absolute practice volume was still lacking.

"Beating that ridiculous regen with battle mage style… gonna be rough…."

She eyed the toddling kid and calculated ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠win odds.

'Coldly speaking, impossible to shatter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a grade-3 core with her current battle mage skills….'

But Monica pushed her because she had faith.

'Can the kid break through the wall? Ah, but she might actually pull it off.'

Transcending personal imagery to enter the realm of essence. Only a rare few mages broke that wall.

Monica recalled the kid's oblivious expression. But that monster might just do it.

"If she breaks the wall, then…."

Her lovable kid might aim beyond 7-level. Monica's lips curved up slyly.

Novatech researcher Han Sungjin clutched his handmade Yu Eunha photocards, glued to the monitor.

"3-level test at 7… not even hiding anymore?"

He'd thought security requests meant she'd debut next year, but the sudden 3-level challenge news shocked him.

Glancing at coworkers, he snuck onto Inbang homepage.

'Isara passed 3-level.'

Broadcasts filled the screen, mostly focused on Isara's pass.

'Only one Eunha room? Nobody knows yet.'

He entered the ~300-viewer Yu Eunha room. The screen showed her stretching, prepping for the test.

Most saw it as symbolic participation. Even the room mod by the camera agreed.

Knowing her real power, Sungjin cheered tensely. Pride swelled—only he knew her true face.

Then a speculative chat dropped.

Reading that, Sungjin felt hammered. 'Right, foundation league end of year….'

If she passed 3-level and won MBS, she'd qualify for pro promotion.

'No way… that's why she's revealing now? Already?'

She might really intend to get 3-level. 'But battle mage… super tough…?'

Still, having seen her true form, Sungjin typed cautiously.

Some wavered at his words.

As Sungjin pondered more chat, her test began.

Half hype, half doubt. Then the casting hold girl vanished from view.

Sungjin clamped his mouth, slumping in his chair. Yu Eunha appeared behind the abyssal entity—its body half gone.

That scene—so brutally violent. Etched into every viewer's mind.

"Tch, still not dead."

Half its body gone in one hit, yet the abyssal entity didn't fall. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠It rapidly regenerated around the core.

'This wastes ether….'

Casting hold on a simple ether shot, I rolled aside from its charge.

BOOM—

A plain punch cracked my barrier.

Crack—

'Punch cracking 4-level ward….'

Any normal mage grazed would fail. I drew ether, blocking strikes repeatedly.

BOOM—

Sound unlike fists clashing. Ether inside me roiled.

'??'

'That twisted imagery feel.'

Familiar sensation soured my face. I recovered and retreated.

Now Monica's intent clicked. 'Fight shaking imagery in limited ether.'

Perfect training for ether control and imagery stability. My lips curved.

"Fun, very fun."

Long-lost thrill boiled. Babysitting brats grew dull.

'A man's heart races for fisticuffs.'

Fists met the giant again.

BOOM—

Ether waves bent wildly, snapping under strain. Solid imagery ground down on clash.

'Ether conversion harder than thought….'

Focus slipped—took punch clean.

Smack—

Large impact launched me airborne. Rolled on landing, no time for pain, tumbled aside. Onslaught continued.

'Must harden imagery to win this.'

To shield it, I dyed surrounding ether with my imagery.

'What's missing? Why does mine shake more?'

BOOM—

Fists clashed again, imagery rocked hard.

'Low ether left.'

No spell now, might lack for Abyssorium. Anxiety rose, mind cleared.

Focus sharpened, imagery shook—revealing the lack.

'Why's my imagery sparkling sea?'

Imagery is mage's root. Me and beaches? No seaside life, no fisher career.

'Thus, imagery ain't mere scenery.'

Starry night sky, black sea. Mere medium. Meaning ain't 'sparkly stars and black sea.'

True essence: fierce magic longing, hope for new life.

Guiding star shining for drifter in revenge's sea.

Power sustaining that scene through 50 hellish years, reason I wield magic.

'Infinite magic yearning, guidestar for driftwood. Hence sea and stars.'

That instant, a past spell surfaced.

'Yes, meeting him then—fate guided by stars….'

Recalling twinkling stars and black waves, I mimicked Im Gwangcheol's spell.

Hand extended naturally.