Ascension Tower Exam

Alkasha's words were astonishing. It claimed that dragons ruled over numerous races, including dwarves and elves.

—If you inherit the dragon's power, you may even gain the dragon's authority. When that time comes, the dwarves will naturally submit to you.

"Is that so."

Kim Jehyun's eyes gleamed. After the Great Cataclysm, countless otherworldly races had poured into Earth. Among the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most powerful were the dwarves and elves. To have them at his feet—it was an incredibly enticing prospect.

"Guess I'll have to work even harder."

—Indeed. Hasten to claim all of Lord Arkanios's power.

Ending his conversation with Alkasha, Kim Jehyun turned to Jinhojang. Even in his unconscious state, the man's body trembled finely. It was a symptom of mana rampage. With his circles ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠destroyed, the mana raging inside him would all be expelled from his body.

Now, Jinhojang was no different from an ordinary person. No—given the devastation ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of his Mana Road, he'd live in a body worse than that, plagued by chronic illnesses for the rest of his life.

"What a pathetic end."

But Kim Jehyun felt not a shred of pity. Considering what Jinhojang had done to him, taking his life wouldn't have been enough. He refrained only because murder among Magic Tower mages would cause a huge fuss. Perhaps for Jinhojang, dying like this was for the best. Without his circles, mere survival wouldn't be living.

After that day, Jinhojang vanished from the Magic Tower. Having lost everything, he had bitterly returned to his hometown. What goes around comes around—he'd received exactly what his evil deeds warranted. Jinhojang disappeared as if chased away.

The day of the Ascension ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tower exam arrived.

Kim Jehyun had cleared as many dungeons as possible right up until the day before. The results were promising.

"Status window."

Level 6. He'd reached his target. Since he only had permission for F-rank dungeons, raising two levels had seemed touch-and-go.

—The battle with Jinhojang must have helped.

The fight had converted to experience points. An unexpected gift at the end. Thanks to it, his base mana stat had risen to 12. The mana felt even denser than when he'd first awakened his Mana Core.

"With this, I could spam 1st Circle spells no problem."

His mana reserves were unparalleled. No one at 1st Circle had ever wielded this much. The surge in power filled him with even greater confidence.

"Now, just the Ascension Tower exam left."

The decisive moment approached. It was relative ranking, so not everyone could advance, but with his current strength, failure was impossible.

'Dragon's Legacy.'

His goal was within reach.

"Hey! Jehyun. Heard the news—you're killing it lately?"

"You really soloed a mutant?"

"Golden mana affinity—is that really dual attribute?"

On the way to the exam hall, acquaintances greeted him. They were former classmates or juniors from his pre-1st Circle days. Back then, he'd lagged far behind in climbing the tower, and their paths had diverged. He'd answered their questions and parted ways.

"See you around."

"Yeah! Hurry up and climb—we'll be waiting."

They treated him warmly. They'd never ignored him before, but it hadn't been this friendly. A situation he'd never experienced in his past life. Proof of how much he'd grown.

He arrived at the exam hall entrance. The 1st floor Ascension Tower exam was held next to the Magic Tower.

'Finally... back.'

Memories surfaced of barely reaching the Magic Tower's 1st floor, thrilled to become an official mage. But the joy was short-lived—greater walls loomed inside. Still, he'd somehow reached 2nd Circle and passed that exam too. People had marveled at how he'd managed it.

'But this time will be different.'

Kim Jehyun steeled his resolve. A new goal formed: once on the 1st floor, shatter the fastest climb records layer by layer.

—With this body by your side, such feats are child's play.

True enough. With Alkasha, it was far from impossible.

And so, Kim Jehyun stepped into the exam hall.

"Ugh, I'm nervous."

"Why? If you fail, just take it next month."

"But I get exam hives."

About 300 mages gathered inside. All here for the 1st floor Ascension Tower exam. Held monthly, only around 50 passed the 1st floor test. Some grumbled it sucked points from failed mages to refill spots, but the Tower called it simple quota filling.

—What a rotten system. It really bleeds them dry.

'But for someone like me who lacked talent, it wasn't bad. At least chances came monthly.'

The 10,000 points for the exam accumulated quickly with minimal activity. Longer cycles with higher pass rates would disadvantage late bloomers like him—uncertainty loomed. Luck could carry the day sometimes, and he'd passed quickly thanks to it, without burning all his points.

"Whoa, he's hot. Who is that?"

"Who? Oh, you don't know? He's famous among trainees lately."

"First time seeing him..."

"You know, the guy who awakened attribute mana and hit 1st Circle after 10 years. And he just took down a mutant—it's blowing up."

"Oh yeah, I remember. That's him. Jealous—potential explosion and looks."

Whispers about Kim Jehyun reached his ears. Among the young crowd for the 1st Circle exam, he stood out. He'd drawn attention before, but negative. Now, it was positive—admiring, even envious glances.

'So this is what it feels like.'

His cheeks itched. After years of scorn, this was novel. Some eyes held aspiration. Unfamiliar, but not unwelcome.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Park Miyeong, proctoring this Ascension Tower exam."

A young woman in her mid-20s appeared on the platform, four embroidered circles on her chest—4th floor affiliation. Climbing that high so young meant prodigious talent.

"This exam follows the standard format. Top 42 advance, ranked by score."

Murmurs rose.

"Fewer spots this time."

"Sigh, last month went to the high 50s... Aim for next?"

"Feels like quotas shrink each time. What if it takes half a year?"

Fewer slots than last month drew complaints. The exam proceeded as usual: strike 15 moving mana disks 100 meters away, varying speeds testing speed, power, accuracy.

"You're Kim Jehyun, right, hyung?"

Kim Jehyun turned at the voice. A sky-blue haired kid looked up at him—around 10 years old, barely reaching his waist.

"Yeah. Who're you?"

The boy's face rang a faint bell: porcelain-smooth skin, sky-blue hair, pale complexion.

'Sky-blue hair... snow-white skin. Ah.'

A buried memory surfaced. One of the Magic Tower's major factions: Jupiter Faction, lightning specialists. Their leader's son had reached 1st Circle around now.

'Big genius hype.'

Jo Yeonho, 1st Circle at 10, 3rd by 20.

'It was this exam.'

Coincidental—monthly 1st Circle exam, and they'd cross paths. Likely his first try, as no tales of failure existed.

"Cool, nice to meet you. I'm Jo Yeonho."

Jo Yeonho beamed, offering his hand. From afar in his past life, a striking youth; now, adorably boyish.

Kim Jehyun chuckled, shaking it.

"Nice to meet you. Son of the Jupiter Faction leader, right?"

Jo Yeonho's eyes widened—like How do you know?—then grinned.

"Hyung, bet with me!"

"Bet?"

Kim Jehyun eyed him curiously. Jo Yeonho smiled innocently.

"Yeah. Who gets 1st in this exam."

"1st place bet, huh..."

Kim Jehyun stroked his chin. He figured no one would outscore him, Jo Yeonho included. The proposal intrigued—what prize from the kid?

But seeing what Jo Yeonho offered, no more thought needed.

"Deal, deal. If I lose, it's yours. You lose? Nothing."

In his tiny hand: a crimson stone.

'Flame Dread Stone.'

Its value was beyond Kim Jehyun's current means—high-circle mages only. Attribute enhancement stone, fire property. Mere possession boosted fire affinities.

'But that's not its true use.'

Future revelations skyrocketed its worth. Even now, pricey. Fitting for a faction heir's son—casual with rarities. The gap between haves and have-nots.

"That's pretty valuable for a bet—sure?"

"Ah, you know it. Yeah, fine. Got more."

He flashed a necklace pendant: deep blue lightning stone.

'Total chaebol vibes.'

Kim Jehyun felt the drama-like rich-poor divide. Burdensome for him, pocket change for the kid. He had the Golden Goblin's shop, but points weren't there yet for better.

No-brainer win.

"Alright, bet accepted."

"Okay, call!"

Jo Yeonho shivered with excitement.

—What's this kid so thrilled about?

'Lightning attribute side effect, probably. Genius with it, but craves thrills as a quirk.'

Worsened post-awakening, he recalled. Anyway, pure profit.

Then, upon accepting: