Chapter 33: The Second Floor Ascension Tower Exam

Whoosh.

Flames erupted in midair. They were infused with spirit power and mana. Only Jo Heegyung, aside from Shin Yerim, noticed the difference.

'This kid too... just like Yesung!'

Jo Heegyung's shock was immense. Shin Yesung also summoned spirits based on mana. It was something no one else had ever done before, except him.

"Golden flames!"

Someone let out an exclamation. The flames Kim Jehyun had conjured were tinged with gold. Golden flames. They evoked a sense of holiness.

Whoosh! The golden flames took the shape of a small eagle. With every flap of its wings, golden fire whipped through the air. Murmurs spread among the Nature Clan members at the sight.

"What is that? A lower fire spirit?"

"Isn't it a salamander?"

"What the heck?"

Lower fire spirit. Salamander. That was basic knowledge everyone knew. There had never been an exception until now—this was the first different type of lower fire spirit.

"It looks more elegant than a salamander, at least."

"But it's only half the size of one."

"Maybe it's not lower—could it be the lowest grade?"

"Yeah... what is it, really?"

"Or is it not a spirit at all? Maybe magic?"

Confusion grew even more among the crowd.

'Can't blame them.'

Kim Jehyun understood their bewilderment. He'd been shocked too when he first saw Ifrit's soldiers. They weren't like any fire spirits he knew.

'And... even though it's called "lower," its power isn't.'

The Casa he'd summoned right now already surpassed lower spirit strength. It bordered on intermediate. That was because "Casa's" rank was lower, but it didn't fit the typical lower spirit category.

'This is just because my own realm is still low.'

As Kim Jehyun's realm advanced, Casa's power would grow even stronger.

"Whoa, hyungnim! Is this guy really a lower spirit?"

Shin Yesung approached with sparkling eyes. He stared at the summoned Casa like it was the most fascinating thing ever. Suddenly, Kim Jehyun felt the look was familiar.

'Ah, it's like Shin Yerim's eyes.'

He recalled Shin Yerim's gaze when she asked about dragons—full of desperate curiosity. The siblings ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠both had insatiable curiosity. A silly thought crossed his mind: must run in the family.

"Yeah. This is the lower fire spirit I just contracted with, 'Casa'."

At Kim Jehyun's confirmation that it was indeed a lower spirit, Shin Yesung and the other Nature Clan members gaped in astonishment. As spirit users themselves, this new form of "Casa," different from the norm, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hit them even harder.

"Oh, really a lower spirit?"

"So cute. Salamanders are kinda gross, but I'd wanna raise this one."

"Hey, don't say that. Our salamanders are plenty cute! Way cuter than undines."

"Pfft, what? Comparing that ugly lizard to our undines? You get burned or something?"

"Ugh, you're crossing the line. This is why water users don't mix with us."

Suddenly, the fire spirit users and water spirit users started bickering among themselves. Rumors said they were like cats and mice, and it sure seemed true.

But it didn't last long. The Nature Clan's spirit users turned their intense interest to the new type of spirit Kim Jehyun had summoned.

"Mage Jehyun! Did you learn spirit arts from the elves and contract this unique spirit?"

"The golden glow makes it look even holier."

"But it seems kinda frail-looking. Is it really not the lowest grade?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm wondering most. Is it really lower?"

The question about whether it was the lowest grade drew everyone's attention. After all, a spirit's value was determined by its power.

"Yes, it is."

"Then... could I maybe pit it against my salamander?"

Someone couldn't hold back and asked Kim Jehyun. They wanted to compare the lower fire spirit salamander with Casa. This was a common way to gauge a spirit user's proficiency by matching same-rank spirits.

"Sure, go ahead."

Kim Jehyun accepted readily. He wanted to see the difference with his own eyes too—perfect timing.

"Salamander, summon!"

The fire spirit user who'd asked summoned their salamander. The lizard-shaped spirit was at least twice Casa's size.

Whoosh. Rrrroar.

The summoned salamander raised its tail and reared up, asserting its presence right away, true to its fire nature. Its confident aura was palpable.

"Whoa, as expected from Suchan. At this rate, he'll be intermediate this year."

"Suchan really has talent."

The summoner was a promising talent in the Nature Clan. His salamander was at the peak of lower rank.

"But isn't this an unfair matchup? That guy's just starting out with spirit arts."

"True. Suchan, go easy!"

"Ah, yeah. I'll hold back."

The spirit user called Suchan smirked arrogantly. He didn't think his salamander would lose.

"Alright, Sally. Go over next to that spirit and... huh?"

Suchan called his spirit's nickname, but his face twisted in confusion. Everyone watching with interest reacted the same.

"W-What's it doing...?"

Whoosh. Fwoosh.

Gang Suchan's salamander. The moment it spotted Casa, it flattened itself to the ground. Gone was its initial bravado. Its tail even curled under its belly—a perfect posture of submission.

Incredulity spread across everyone's faces.

"This is..."

Even Kim Jehyun was surprised. He hadn't expected a salamander to submit to Casa immediately.

"What the hell..."

"Spirits acting like this... first time seeing it. Is this real?"

"Crazy. What about an intermediate? Sallyon, summon!"

Someone summoned a mid-tier fire spirit, Sallyon. The fairy-like form with two pairs of wings appeared imposingly. But upon seeing Casa, it flinched and wouldn't approach.

"Incredible."

Jo Heegyung, who had been observing, showed clear astonishment. Even she, the utmost authority on spirits, had never seen such a sight.

She openly displayed her shock and asked Kim Jehyun,

"Just what... did you obtain in the Elf Forest?"

* * *

Twinkle.

The seal in Kim Jehyun's palm glowed.

"Nature Clan's seal."

He'd received it from Jo Heegyung just before parting with the clan. It was proof of recognition as an external affiliate of the Nature Clan.

With this, he could enjoy mid-level executive privileges anywhere, without any obligations—just the benefits. In decades, only a handful had ever received it.

'Ma-Master! That is...'

'Why? Does Mage Jehyun seem unworthy?'

'...'

There was no opposition. What Kim Jehyun had shown shocked them that much. Some even welcomed it, hoping he'd bring fresh wind to their stagnant spirit arts.

"Not bad."

With this seal, his range of action outside the tower would expand greatly later. It was from a major guild, after all.

'Please contact us later. We'll definitely settle today's debt.'

Jo Heegyung's words before they parted. She'd learned that thanks to Kim Jehyun, Shin Yerim had mastered elven spirit arts. It paved the way toward their long-cherished spirit king—a massive debt on guild scale, too big to repay easily. She didn't even know how to compensate right away.

"Still, not sure if they can summon a spirit king."

Having seen Ifrit in person, Kim Jehyun doubted spirit kings would easily ally with humans. Though it depended on them, of course.

—Are you taking the Ascension ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Tower exam right away?

"Of course."

Kim Jehyun nodded at Alkasha's question. Thanks to this commission, he'd gathered enough points for the 2nd floor Ascension Tower exam in one go. He could take it on the upcoming exam day.

"Straight to the second floor Ascension Tower exam."

Kim Jehyun muttered, eyeing the door to the 2nd floor. Less than a month after the 1st floor, jumping right into the second. He'd update his circles at the Circle Measurement Room first, then register. Record-breaking speed. Even the Tower Master hadn't climbed this fast.

—Kekeke. The tower will flip once more at your growth rate.

Probably. From 1st to 2nd Circle took years even for geniuses. Yet Kim Jehyun had cleared the 1st floor less than a month ago. No one would believe it.

'But it's still not enough. I need to hurry more.'

Kim Jehyun resolved to inherit all of Arkanios's legacy as quickly as possible and fully assimilate its power. The purple orb from Arkanios's memories left no room for complacency—a gut feeling that time was short.

'Break through to the tower's pinnacle in minimal time.'

At that moment, as he steeled his will—

'This is...'

Kim Jehyun's eyes lit up. He'd planned to accelerate his growth anyway, even without a mission. And now rewards too? Great news.

'And... break records at every Ascension Tower exam?'

Kim Jehyun grinned at the condition. With dragon power inheritance underway, failing that would mean he didn't deserve the title. He wondered how far his records would reach now that he'd truly begun inheriting dragon power.

'I'll shatter them all.'

The corners of his mouth rose.

* * *

'Uncle... told me to recruit Kim Jehyun into our faction?'

'Yes, young master. The faction leader sees this as extremely important. We're counting on you.'

Grind.

Kim Hyeongjin gnashed his teeth at the message from the Ignis Faction's vice leader moments ago. Recruit that Kim Jehyun? Absurd.

'What does he think our relationship is...'

He couldn't fathom how things had come to this.

'That idiot Jinhojang couldn't even handle it.'

Stupid Jinhojang had failed his job. He'd risked everything, even giving him Nanik's Fang. And he couldn't take out a mere 1st ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Circle Kim Jehyun? Lost Nanik's Fang too. Worst-case scenario.

Bam!

"Damn it!"

Kim Hyeongjin slammed his fist on the desk in rage. Kim Jehyun. He'd been grating on his nerves lately.

'Gotta get rid of him ASAP.'

Kim Hyeongjin glared with malice. The longer he waited, the trickier it'd get. Even now, his uncle—the faction leader Kim Kangjin—was taking interest in Jehyun.

'One more time on that front...'

As he pondered dealing with Kim Jehyun, shocking news arrived.

'What? Already challenging the 2nd floor Ascension Tower exam?'

Did he get some insane stroke of luck? Unbelievable.

'What the...'

Kim Hyeongjin's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe it. The tower community was already exploding over the news.

"Fine. Better this way."

Regaining his composure, Kim Hyeongjin muttered. This 2nd floor exam was team-based. Time to use the circle members he'd assembled.

'Put circle members on Kim Jehyun's team... He'll fail this 2nd floor for sure.'

This team exam couldn't be soloed, no matter how skilled. Kim Hyeongjin smirked, satisfied with his plan.

* * *

The day of the 2nd floor Ascension Tower exam.

Kim Jehyun eyed the exam theme.

"Steel golems, huh."

Pair up with other challengers and face steel golems—that was the test.

'Steel is weak to fire.'

For Kim Jehyun, specialized in fire magic, this was an easy one.

'And it's not just fire magic this time.'

Spirit magic. A branch of fusion magic combining his new spirit arts and spells. Kim Jehyun smiled inwardly, recalling the destructive power of his newly acquired Spirit Magic (S).

'I can break the record solo.'