Ascension Tower Exam (3)

Thud. Thud. Kim Jehyun's footsteps echoed through the exam hall.

"A starting signal will sound shortly. Begin the exam then."

The assistant gave the preparation instructions. Jehyun nodded lightly and rolled his wrists.

This time, he needed to go all out. Jo Yeonho's record wasn't something he could beat half-heartedly.

—Smash even the Magic Tower Master's record while you're at it.

'That's the plan.'

As Jehyun nodded at Alkasha's words, the surroundings fell silent. It felt like everyone was watching him. And they probably were—many eyes fixed on his exam.

'Then I can't disappoint them.'

He closed his eyes and sensed his Mana Core. Mana surged from it, racing through his Mana Road across his body. He felt every strand circulating. A euphoric sense of omnipotence welled up.

Beep!

An alert sounded. Countdown imminent—exam starting soon.

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'How to approach this.'

He recalled the Tower Master's 1st Circle record: 15 Mana Bolts at once, all disks perfectly struck.

'Can I do it?'

Of course. With Alkasha's power and even a speck of dragon heritage, it was feasible. The Master's time was 22 seconds. Instinct told him he could shave off several more.

'Mana Bolt would break it comfortably.'

But.

Jehyun opened his eyes and spotted the kid watching from afar, face beaming with innocent optimism about his own victory.

A smirk tugged at his lips. Seeing that expression stirred his mischief.

Crackle. Crackle.

Electricity sparked in his hands.

'I'll break it with the same Lightning Bolt.'

Decision made. But there was a catch. Unlike Mana Bolt, Lightning Bolt demanded far greater mana control. Difficulty doubled with each additional bolt.

'That kid really is a monster.'

Jehyun chuckled. Controlling 8 simultaneously showed the brat's freakish talent. He could do it too—especially summoning just 15. But perfect control? Tough.

With Mana Bolt, he could've managed 15 under flawless control. But Lightning Bolt was the hardest lightning spell at 1st Circle.

'If I had lightning affinity, it'd be easy.'

Not now. So what could he do? The answer came.

His strengths: blistering cast speed and mana reserves dwarfing 1st Circle limits. Leverage both.

Beeeep!

Signal blared as his thoughts settled.

'Lightning Bolt.'

Crackle-crackle!

Bolts materialized in midair—faster than any examinee ever. They filled the space in seconds. Proficiency was middling, but implementation speed unmatched anyone here.

Onlookers stirred.

"W-what? Why so fast?"

"No way—Lightning Bolt in under a second?"

"Is that even 1st Circle?"

Absurd speed. Even for 1st Circle, this required two or three ranks higher. No 1st Circle mage had ever cast this fast—not even Jo Yeonho or the Tower Master in his youth.

"One, two, three... twenty, twenty-one... How many is he summoning?!"

"Whoa..."

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"Insane!"

Gasps and cheers erupted at the over twenty bolts stitching the sky.

'Not easy.'

Jehyun sweated internally. Past twenty, control wavered.

—You're a newborn babe who's just learned to flip over. You know what you want, but it'll be tough.

Alkasha was right. His power was hatchling-level—crawling at best. But.

'I planned for this.'

Not mindless summoning. Individual control for over twenty was impossible, but linking as one mass?

'Connect them.'

His will rippled. Bolts aligned at even intervals, forming patterns.

Full ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fusion was beyond him—dragon authority needed. For now, chain them loosely.

Crackle-crackle.

Lightning tendrils arced between bolts, weaving a massive sphere.

Onlookers gasped in shock.

"W-what the hell is that?"

"Is that... really Lightning Bolt?"

"Possible?!"

They reeled, common sense shattered. Proctor Park Miyeong was most stunned.

"Impossible! This can't be!"

She screamed. Theoretically invalid. Multi-summoning and stacking 1st Circle spells? Her senses confirmed: linked, power exceeded 1st Circle. Even the Tower Master, dubbed "out of spec," never did this.

"D-does this make sense? Donggyu?"

Park Miyeong turned wide-eyed to assistant proctor Lee Donggyu.

"..."

He gaped, dumbfounded, staring blankly at Jehyun's "Lightning Bolt—Chain."

"...Donggyu?"

She understood his shock—hers was overwhelming too.

Meanwhile, Jehyun's chain neared completion.

'Ngh.'

Still unstable, fraying. Linking wasn't easy.

Vrrr.

Mana Core vibrated. Summoning and chaining twenty-plus devoured mana. Without 12 mana stat, failure certain.

'Fun.'

Amid tension, his lips curled. Mana depleting, focus sharpened by peril.

Then.

Burden lifted instantly. Control eased.

'Possible.'

Jehyun's eyes gleamed. He thrust his hand forward.

Boom!

A faint thunderclap. The massive lightning sphere shot out—size to devour a track, speed like lightning.

Lightning Bolt—Chain hit instantly. No need for aim—its girth swallowed all gliding mana disks ahead.

Crackle-zzt! Crumble-crunch.

Disks charred black, plummeting with crashes amid sizzling.

"..."

"..."

Silence gripped the hall post-exam. Then the board lit up.

"N-nineteen seconds."

Someone murmured, entranced. It ignited the crowd.

"Woooah!"

"Insane! 1st Circle?!"

"What did I just witness?"

"No way..."

"He broke the Tower Master's record!"

The hall erupted in fervor. Mages witnessing the impossible flipped out.

One wept in awe at his dominance.

"Hyung!"

Jo Yeonho bounced madly. He sprinted first as Jehyun descended, hugging his waist and shaking wildly.

"Hyung! Hyung! What was that? How?!"

His eyes sparkled like lasers, promising eternal clinginess sans answer.

Jehyun ruffled his hair roughly.

"S-stop! Hyung, no!"

"Hahaha."

He laughed at the kid's horrified yet clinging grip.

"That was so cool."

"Amazing! Best magic I've seen!"

"Train together sometime?"

Friendly examinees swarmed, eyes full of awe and admiration. No jealousy—too astonishing.

"Hahaha. Jehyun, congrats. First place."

Lee Donggyu beamed, approaching.

Obvious result. Anything less would've been absurd.

"Thanks."

"Huh?"

Donggyu grabbed and shook his hands vigorously, overly excited.

—What's with this sappy guy? Why so thrilled?

Even Alkasha was baffled.

"Thanks for what?"

Jehyun couldn't resist asking.

"Hahaha. Thanks to you, I have a great dinner date tonight."

"...?"

Dinner? What did that have to do with him?

Jehyun's puzzled look drew Donggyu's fond smile. Long-crushed date with his dream girl—heart-fluttering stuff.

"Heh heh. Thanks to you, tonight with someone I really like..."

"You'll strip her bare, huh?"

"Y-yeah, strip her ba—huh?"

Sudden voice snapped him alert. Park Miyeong stood arms crossed.

"You know my wallet's light lately, yet planning to bleed me dry?"

"N-no, that's not—"

She jabbed; he floundered. She burst laughing.

"Hahaha. What's that reaction? C'mon, I'll treat firm tonight. Next one's on you."

"Y-yes... Huh?!"

Her parting words widened his eyes. Clear implication.

"Congrats."

Jehyun chuckled. Donggyu's face bloomed.

"Hahaha! Thanks! Gotta go. Oh, and you were incredible! Goosebumps all over! Best ever."

Thumbs up, he chased her hastily.

"Miyeong! Wait up!"

—Youth.

"Yeah. Youth."

Thus, Jehyun etched his mark on the 1st floor record, ascending.

* * *

Back on the 1st floor, emotions fresh. Then a window appeared.