2nd Floor Ascension Tower Exam (2)
The day Kim Jehyun updated his circle measurement, the Magic Tower community lit up with chatter.
It was the expected reaction. Reaching 2nd Circle from 1st in a month? Absurd. Even the once-in-a-generation genius Tower Master took six months—and that was shockingly fast. The average was four to six years.
The post was riddled with mockery. Most dismissed it as cheap bait. But then, a hilarious twist.
Not long after, it turned out the claims were true.
Kim Jehyun's 2nd Circle Ascension Tower exam became massive news, shaking the entire Magic Tower. It drew interest from all corners.
"1st to 2nd Circle in a month? No way."
"Gotta spectate the 2nd floor exam. Need to see this guy myself."
"I'm in. Gotta confirm."
That was the vibe everywhere.
As a result, this 2nd floor exam had an unprecedented number of spectators. All to witness Jehyun's prowess firsthand.
* * *
The murmur of the crowd filled the air.
On the day of the 2nd floor Ascension Tower exam, an unusual throng gathered at the exam hall on the outskirts of the 1st floor.
"Whoa, so many spectators?"
"Yeah. Mess up now and it's total embarrassment."
"Public humiliation central."
"Heard they're all here for that Kim Jehyun guy."
"Damn... he's a full-on star now."
"Makes me nervous too."
"Right? Not even here for us, but I'm shaking."
The insane hype tensed up even the other participants.
Amid the tension, the exam briefing began.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Park Miyeong, overseeing today's 2nd floor Ascension Tower exam. And helping me out is Mage Lee Donggyu."
4th Circle mages Park Miyeong and Lee Donggyu took the stage.
—Aren't those the ones from the 1st floor exam?
'Yeah.'
They looked familiar. They were the proctors from the 1st floor. Apparently handling this season's exams.
Usually, it took years between floors, so you rarely saw the same proctors twice. But Jehyun's monster pace made it happen. Unusual, to say the least.
"We've got a huge crowd today. Never seen this much interest as a proctor—got me a bit nervous too."
Park Miyeong smiled brightly, easing the charged atmosphere with small talk.
"Participants, you're probably tense too. But this is your chance to shine, so give it your all."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The participants responded enthusiastically. Proof she'd thawed the stiff vibe. Seasoned hosting.
"Alright, time for the exam details. Same as always: form teams of five and fight the 'Steel Golem.'"
Golem. Magic Tower's war machines. Massive, high physical defense and magic resistance, brute-forcing with sheer size and power.
Today's was the weakest variant: small, slow, low damage, no built-in magic or energy source, slow self-repair. Only upside: steel durability. Bottom-tier golem.
Even so, soloing one needed at least 3rd Circle. Hence teams of five.
"You don't have to defeat it. Ranking's based on total cumulative damage dealt. Teamwork's key for high scores. Good luck to all!"
Park Miyeong wrapped up.
Teams were assigned days ago. Jehyun checked his tag.
'Team E-3.'
Mid-order. He headed straight to the team lounge.
Click.
Inside, the other four were already there.
"So first we'll..."
"Yo, he's here."
They'd gotten chummy quick, whispering casually. They stopped and turned as he entered.
"Uh... hi."
"Nice to meet you! Y-you're the hotshot Kim Jehyun, right?"
Freckle-faced buzzcut and shaggy-hair kid greeted him. But something felt off. Unnatural vibe.
"Yeah, hi."
Jehyun smiled back. Meanwhile, the other two exchanged glances and spoke up.
"Perfect timing—we're hashing out strategy. Wanna hear?"
"Strategy? What kind?"
"Hit-and-run base. We were picking a main DPS, and your name came up. Think you'd fit. How about taking that role?"
Jehyun stroked his chin.
"Why me?"
"It's high-profile, needs big firepower. That insane lightning from the 1st floor? Perfect fit."
"Yeah, we'll tank aggro. You just unload attack spells."
Mallet DPS. Spotlight role. Flashy firepower. Seemed reasonable they'd yield it to him.
"But if I'm the only one attacking, aggro bounces to me. And isn't passing based on individual contributions? I pass solo, you guys might fail."
"Don't sweat it. We're pros at aggro—we've all bombed 4-5 times already. Perks stack. Worst case, we pass next round. Haha."
Jehyun smirked.
'Now I remember.'
—What do you remember?
To Alkasha's question, Jehyun sneered inwardly.
'Those punks. Kim Hyeongjin's lackeys.'
—Oh ho. Intriguing.
At first, he wasn't sure. He'd barely crossed paths before. But the freckles and shag hair clicked—Kim Hyeongjin's bootlickers.
'Got a read.'
Jehyun grinned. Pieced it together from clues. Most logical: Hyeongjin's goons, flunking for perks, rigged teams. Two originals, two bought off post-assignment.
'Intelligence stat? Intuition's sharper.'
Now their scheme was obvious. Purpose clear once identified. Strategy revealed the trick.
'They planned to make me fail.'
Jehyun was baffled by Kim Hyeongjin. He'd always been the victim. Bullied relentlessly, even sicced Jinhojang to wreck his circles. Now sabotaging the exam? If exposed, even Hyeongjin's backing wouldn't save him.
'Crush me first, huh.'
Jehyun grinned. Wrong target. He wasn't the old him.
—So they pull aggro, then tank with you to fail together?
Alkasha got it instantly.
'Yep.'
—Heh. Absurd. What's your play?
'Play along for now.'
Jehyun grinned. Their assumption was flawed from the start: he couldn't solo the Steel Golem. Fair for normals—even Tower Master needed team help. So they figured solo impossible.
'But I can.'
He recalled his private training days ago.
'Summon Kasa.'
Whoosh!
Golden lower fire spirit Kasa appeared.
Jehyun fused it with 2nd Circle Fireball.
Fusing Ifrit's lower soldier 'Kasa' with 2nd Circle 'Fireball'.
Activating Spirit Magic: Kasa's Wrath.
Massive mana drain from his Mana Core nearly buckled his legs. A small golden sun formed in his hand.
He hurled it calmly at the target.
BOOM!
The training room shook, golden flames scattering. Defense and shock-absorption arrays glowed nonstop, barely containing it.
Insane power beyond limits. Jehyun shivered at his own spell. If it wowed him, imagine others.
Having tanked it himself, he knew: Steel Golem was no match for Spirit Magic.
'Downside: low proficiency means slow cast, low success rate—not great for combat yet.'
—But if they pull aggro first... in your terms, total jackpot.
'Yeah. Jackpot.'
Jehyun eyed the suckers and spoke.
"Sounds good. I'll take the DPS spot."
Their faces lit up. Knowing their game made their reactions hilarious.
"Haha, smart choice. Excited for this exam. Your role's key. Count on us."
They flashed meaningful smirks.
Jehyun beamed back brightly.
"You got it. Count on me too."
Internally: Can't wait to see their faces after.