Ascension Tower 6th Floor Exam (2)

The sixth exam involved manifesting an orc, then infusing the manifested orc with a light spell.

"Hngh."

"Urgh."

Most of the remaining thirteen participants desperately tried to layer a luminescence spell onto their manifested orcs. But this wasn't something willpower alone could achieve. Without the skill, success was impossible.

'Pathetic losers. With that level of skill, they dare mock us?'

Jin Sihwan, who had successfully shaped an orc and overlaid it with a luminescence spell, sneered at the struggling participants. It was laughable that they accused him of buying his magic circles with money.

'What about Kim Jehyun?'

Jin Sihwan turned to look at Kim Jehyun—and his eyes widened like full moons.

'...!'

Jehyun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had manifested his orc even faster than him and already succeeded with the luminescence spell.

'And that level of detail?'

Unlike Jin Sihwan's generic orc, Jehyun's had striking differences in intricacy. His orc wielded a sword and exuded the dignity of a great general.

'He had this kind of skill...?'

Jin Sihwan shuddered. The gap in detail was irrefutable proof of the vast chasm between their abilities. Observers from afar might miss it due to the glow, but it was crystal clear to his own eyes.

'No way he has even finer mana control than my brother? No, how is this even possible?'

The Jin brothers knew Jehyun possessed exceptional magical talent. They couldn't deny his feats inside and outside the Magic Tower. They'd even thought of him as a prodigious genius.

But.

'I thought his strength was focused on destructive power and spirit affinity.'

It was nearly impossible for all stats to form a perfect hexagon. Even innate geniuses had one standout ability. Even the Tower Master had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a specialty when scrutinized. No one could excel perfectly in every area. That's why they'd assumed Jehyun lagged in precise mana manipulation. With their own superior mana accumulation and control, they'd figured he couldn't keep up.

But this? It seemed superior to theirs.

'Monster.'

That thought flashed through Jin Sihwan's mind.

'But... victory is still ours.'

Jin Sihwan smirked. The seventh exam was the final one, and they'd secured a massive advantage there.

Soon, the sixth exam ended, and the ten others besides Kim Jehyun and the Jin brothers were eliminated. It had been that grueling.

Yet the eliminated wore relieved expressions. They'd passed the 6th floor Ascension Tower exam, after all.

"This next exam is the final one for the 6th floor Ascension Tower trial. We will now summon the judging panel."

The final exam required participants to demonstrate the limits of their mana shaping. Its subjective nature demanded judges, and five entered at her cue— all near-6th Circle masters. One was a 7th Circle mage, like the proctor.

'They're here.'

Jin Sihwan's eyes gleamed. For this last exam, they'd bribed three of the five judges to secure high scores.

'Nothing money can't buy.'

Not all Magic Tower mages were paragons of justice. They were humans weighing personal gain. The brothers offered far more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than the minor score boost warranted—a temptation hard to refuse.

'Not just victory, but closing in on the Tower Master's record.'

Money was power too. They'd leverage their wealth and long-practiced skills to elevate their honor.

"Now, we'll proceed with the exam briefing. It will be one at a time, with order determined by drawing numbers."

At the proctor's guidance, Jehyun and the Jin brothers each drew a number. Balls bounced in a glass tube, and one emerged through the connected pipe.

"I'm first."

Jin Sihwan spoke upon seeing his number. The next ball followed, setting the order: Jin Sihwan, Jin Gihwan, Jehyun.

'Last.'

Jehyun gazed calmly at his turn. He focused not on order, but breaking the record for the reward.

'Tower Master's score was 9.6, so I need at least 9.8.'

The Tower Master had earned 10, 10, 10, 9, 9—average 9.6—the unbroken record. For victory, he needed four perfect 10s and at least a 9 from the fifth.

'The Tower Master depicted a snake hatching from an egg and ascending as a dragon.'

He'd manifested an egg cracking to reveal a tiny snake that grew into a dragon soaring heavenward—a mesmerizing scene still legendary.

'Perfect. That's my theme.'

Jehyun grinned, deciding his display. Unlike the Jin brothers' assumptions, precise mana control was his greatest strength. He was the inheritor of the dragons, masters of mana.

"Jin Sihwan, please take your position."

Jin Sihwan moved to the stage, and the exam began. He formed a mana orb in his hand, shaping it into a small puppy that frolicked on his palm.

"Ooh."

The eliminated participants outside gasped in admiration. It wasn't flashy, but its lifelike vivacity drew awe.

"The judges have revealed their scores. They are... 10, 10, 10, 8, 7. An outstanding score! Total 45, average 9.0. A rare 9-point score."

The crowd murmured slightly at the proctor's announcement.

"Impressive, but 9 feels a bit generous."

"Yeah, nothing standout, so 9 seems off... Wonder why three judges gave perfect 10s."

"Bribery?"

"Nah, no way."

Everyone knew judges were stingy, so the perfect scores raised eyebrows. Some called it excessive, but no time to dwell—the next exam began.

'Feels good.'

That was Jin Gihwan's thought as he took the stage. Sometimes life brought that rare day: everything clicking, a euphoric flow state connecting you to the world.

Now, Jin Gihwan entered it.

Flash.

A mana orb formed in his hand, splitting into two that shaped into butterflies. They chased tails in a spinning dance, wings fluttering realistically.

Everyone's eyes widened. Manifesting butterflies was notoriously hard—constant wing motion. A pair? Incredible.

And it didn't end there.

Whoosh.

A crisp sound accompanied the butterflies spiraling upward like a helix, as if twirling around an invisible pillar.

At his head's height, faint light emanated from the pair—he'd even nailed the luminescence.

"Whoa..."

Someone gasped involuntarily. The mystical sight demanded it.

Whoosh!

Flash!

The butterflies merged mid-air, bursting into light particles that drifted down like snowfall onto his palm.

"Insane!"

"Jin Gihwan was this good?"

"Thought he bought his circles... My bad."

Several even gave standing ovations. It was that breathtaking—a genuine wow after ages.

'Hoo.'

Jin Gihwan panted post-exam, heart pounding, sweat beading. Better than practiced. First true immersion. Achievement surged through him.

'Nailed it. Crushed it. Victory's mine.'

He was certain. He'd aced this. Win locked. Even dreamed of topping the Tower Master.

"Jin Gihwan delivered an astonishing performance. Judges' scores: 10, 10, 10, 9, 8. Incredible! Total 47, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠average 9.4!"

9.4—an epic score. One more point would've tied the Tower Master. Bribery helped, but still phenomenal. No one questioned it amid the hype; applause rained.

'Slightly disappointing... but satisfied.'

Jin Gihwan grinned. Record-breaking would've been ideal, but this sufficed. Jehyun couldn't top it. Victory was his.

The crowd agreed.

People didn't expect Jehyun to surpass it. A few fans voiced faith, but faintly.

In this atmosphere sealing Jin Gihwan's win, Jehyun's exam began.

"Final exam. Kim Jehyun, take your position."

Jehyun rose at the proctor's words. All eyes fixed on him—pitying glances: bad draw, even he might falter, pressure from Gihwan's show.

'Feels like they've already decided I lost to Gihwan.'

Jehyun chuckled inwardly. Fair—Gihwan had surprised even him. Predicting his win wasn't unreasonable.

Then.

'Oh, a sudden quest?'

Jehyun's eyes sparkled reading it.

'Dragon God's Shop...? What's that?'

As he pondered, Alkasha's choked voice echoed.

Alkasha trembled in mid-air. If visible, it'd be pale with shock.

'What's got you like this?'

Alkasha muttered dazedly, beyond conversing.

Jehyun shook his head slightly, refocusing on the exam. He'd learn about the shop upon completion.

"Hello. Participant Kim Jehyun."

He bowed to the judges and prepared.

And then.

A fantasy unfolded from Jehyun's hand.