Ascension Tower Exam (2)
Word quickly spread through the exam hall that Kim Jehyun and Jo Yeonho had made a bet.
"Looks like the Jupiter Faction leader's son is joining in here."
"Whoa, a pureblood's shown up."
"I heard they're betting on who gets the higher score—Kim Jehyun or him?"
A thick wave of curiosity lit up the faces of everyone taking the exam. Could Jehyun really beat Jo Yeonho? All eyes turned to them in an instant.
"Jo Yeonho's a genius who hit 1st Circle at ten. He's gotta win, right?"
"Still, I hear Kim Jehyun awakened attribute mana and even took down a mutant. Might be worth watching."
Most leaned toward Jo Yeonho winning. The title of "faction leader's son" carried serious weight.
Amid all the buzz, the Ascension Tower exam began.
"The exam will proceed in ten groups. There are ten tracks available. Your task is to shoot down the mana discs that appear 100 meters ahead on the track as quickly as possible. We'll evaluate casting speed, destructive power, and accuracy throughout."
Park Miyeong explained the rules from the podium. Nothing special—just the usual format. This month's participants numbered 308, divided into groups of about 30 each.
"Track 6, number 27."
That was Jehyun's slot. Number 27 meant he was near the end.
"I'm Track 6, number 19."
Was it fate? Jo Yeonho had been assigned to the same track, number 19—ahead of Jehyun.
"I'm up first. Awesome. I'll show what I can do."
Jo Yeonho didn't mind his spot at all. Confidence in his own abilities shone through.
Assignments wrapped up in a flash, and the exam kicked off. Jehyun and Jo Yeonho took their seats in the waiting area for Track 6.
A massive scoreboard loomed in front of the stands, split into ten screens showing each track's progress.
"Whoa, check out Track 3. That guy's crushing it."
Standouts popped up now and then, steadily knocking down discs. Most cast one spell per disc, but some fired off two or three at once, slashing their times dramatically.
"Ooh."
"Whoa, three mana bolts at the same time."
"Holy crap! 56 seconds. Under a minute!"
Times that usually hovered around one minute thirty had dropped by over thirty seconds. Hitting three moving discs with three shots demanded exceptional control—which was why the crowd was stunned.
Seeing it like this, the real talents stand out right away.
Those casting and firing spells one by one were worlds apart from those unleashing multiples simultaneously. It screamed superior mana control and sensitivity.
Passing the Ascension Tower exam back then was a miracle in itself.
Jehyun chuckled bitterly, reflecting on his past self. It hit him again: he truly had no talent. He'd lucked into passing a lax exam. Without regressing, he might've stagnated forever. That realization sank in deep.
—Hmph. The past is the past.
I know. Revisiting it like this... it's helping me finally let go of who I was.
A weight lifted from Jehyun's chest. Until now, remnants of his old self had clung to him. Facing that pathetic version head-on, accepting it as part of him—it freed him. Back then, he couldn't admit it; it might've made him quit magic altogether.
"Ooooh."
"Whoa! 48 seconds!"
While Jehyun was lost in thought, the stands erupted. Someone had set a new record: 48 seconds. A replay showed the examinee mid-test—currents crackling from both hands, fist-sized orbs of lightning forming.
Lightning Bolt.
"Oho."
This one had conjured three Lightning Bolts. They were fast but tricky to handle, zipping erratically instead of straight like other projectiles. Even with focus, they often zigzagged to their target.
That's why their accuracy suffers despite the power and speed.
Sure enough, a few discs were grazed. Great time, but deductions loomed for precision and power.
"Still, that'll pass with flying colors."
The speed alone put them in the top ranks.
The exam rolled on, with more impressive runs drawing gasps.
"This month's got an unusual number of solid prospects," said Park Miyeong, the exam overseer, to her assistant, the young Lee Donggyu.
"Right? It's stacked this time."
Both 4th Circle mages, they spotted several who could reach their level soon.
"Among these kids, who do you think takes first this month...?"
Park Miyeong trailed off, then nodded toward Track 6's waiting area.
"Gotta be that one."
She meant Jo Yeonho. Jupiter Faction leader's bloodline. Rumors swirled that the legendary magic tool Thunder Spirit had chosen him already.
"Hmm."
Lee Donggyu glanced at the boy. Behind the innocent face pulsed lightning mana that could surpass 1st Circle.
But his pick for first differed.
"You think the little guy's taking it, Miyeong?"
"Yeah. Who else could match him?"
"Why not that one over there?"
Lee Donggyu nodded toward the kid behind Jo Yeonho.
"Oh... yeah, I've heard of him. Kim Jehyun, right?"
Park Miyeong nodded. His name had been popping up lately—attribute mana awakening, mutant kill. Even made the Nature Clan's heir owe him one.
"Impressive, right? Guy stuck below 1st Circle for ten years, then soars the second he breaks through."
Spot on. Jehyun was already pegged as a top prospect. Keep it up, and he'd climb to high mage in the Tower.
"Still... I bet Jo Yeonho takes first."
Preconceptions were a hell of a drug. Jehyun's decade of failure versus Jo Yeonho's pureblood pedigree? Easy pick.
"Hmm, fair enough. We see it differently, then. Wanna bet on it too? They're betting scores—why not us?"
"Huh? A bet?"
"Yeah. Loser grants a small favor. Deal?"
"Ooh, fun. If Jo Yeonho wins, you handle cleanup solo."
"Ugh, by myself? ...Fine, you're on."
Lee Donggyu looked a bit stunned. Exam cleanup—sorting scores, records, passes—took at least five hours.
"What's your favor, Donggyu?"
"...I'll tell you if I win."
"Hmm, that was a shady look. Nothing weird, or no deal."
"It's not! What do you take me for?"
He feigned offense, thinking inside: 'Ask her to grab a meal together.'
Park Miyeong had been his crush for ages. His love life now rode on Kim Jehyun.
'I believe in you, Kim Jehyun!'
* * *
Jupiter Faction leader Jo Inhu. A super-high mage who'd hit 7th Circle in his forties. His one son: Jo Yeonho.
Common saying: "Magic talent usually runs in the blood."
Not wrong. High mages' kids often exceeded average. Jo Yeonho? Exceptional even among them.
"Woooow!"
"Holy shit! How many at once?"
"One, two... seven!"
Jo Yeonho's first public showcase. The crowd went wild.
Lightning Bolt. Trickiest 1st Circle lightning spell. He conjured seven in a row.
"Casting speed's insane too, right?"
"Yeah, way faster than piecing them one by one."
"Seven in ten seconds. Average one-point-five each!"
"Crazy. Real deal talent."
Conjuring and holding seven was nuts—but in ten seconds? No jealousy, just awe.
"He won't hit all seven perfectly, right?"
"Nah, some'll miss."
The crowd watched skeptically. Casting was one thing; precision another. Lightning Bolts especially had shaky accuracy.
Crackle!
The seven orbs shot out amid sparks.
"Whoa, insane. All hits."
"No way... speechless."
"Goosebumps. For real."
Minds blown. Jo Yeonho shattered expectations.
And it wasn't over. Eight discs left. For all at once, he'd need eight.
He didn't stop at seven.
"Nngh."
Sweat beaded on his forehead. Pushing his limits. His freakish talent answered.
Sizzle. Crackle.
An eighth Lightning Bolt joined. Eight simultaneous.
"Ooooh!"
"Woooah!"
Gasps everywhere. Mad talent.
The bolts flew. Perfect finale. All discs down in 27 seconds. Crushing the field.
"Close to the Tower Master's record, right?"
"Yeah... his was 22 seconds, I think."
"22? Tower Master's a legend, but damn, unreal. 27's already nuts."
"Wait, you didn't hear? He hit 15 mana bolts at once."
"For real?? Total monster."
Jo Yeonho stunned, but Matapju's feat? God-tier. Only one ever did 15 in the 1st Circle exam.
"Hoo. Hoo."
Jo Yeonho wiped his brow, turning to the stands—straight at Jehyun. He mouthed: 'Your turn now, hyung.'
Then flashed a pure, cheeky grin. Made you wanna ruffle his hair.
Not bad.
Jehyun was genuinely impressed. Stable lightning control like that? The real deal.
"Next up: Track 6, number 27, Mage Kim Jehyun. Please take position."
Jehyun's turn arrived.
—Go show them. Those kids' magic is child's play compared to yours.
Yeah.
Jehyun grinned, rising. Feeling his mana core pulse, he stepped toward the track.