One Minute to the Top

Entrance ceremony. New semester. Thrilling words heralding a fresh start. But to me, they were nothing less than the gateway to hell.

"This is gonna be a ride."

I let out a deep sigh and slumped onto the bench. The place was swarming with people—way too many. Fresh-faced boys and girls clustered in groups with their parents, relatives, or friends. All here for the Korea Hero School entrance exam, of course. And yeah, I was one of them.

"Hey, check that out. That's the prodigy from England, right? The one they already call a 'master'?"

"Germany's genius, Edvalen, is here too. Heard the Red Tower's prodigy, Hong Yuhwa, is coming..."

"Man, what the hell? This year's freshmen are insane. Even Paewang's kid is supposedly showing up."

Sighs echoed from all around. Korea Hero School. Sure, its reputation was the world's best—and rightfully so. Top-tier instructors and state-of-the-art facilities? Other countries had those too. What set it apart was one more thing: the Trial Tower.

A tower that issued trials and dispensed rewards based on performance. This entrance exam revolved around it, granting rewards proportional to your score. Which meant I had to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠take first place. No exceptions.

The competition was fierce. A boy who fully inherited the Thousand Swordless Veins and the world's strongest archmage's power. A girl hosting the soul of a transcendent from another world. A total loner who couldn't control her own strength and hid it. A psycho who collected limbs from demons on sight.

'Still doable.'

Thank god there'd been plenty of time to prepare. At least I'd had a chance to get my ducks in a row. And above all, I had my Reverse Heaven Body.

At first glance, it seemed utterly useless. A constitution that blocked mana use—even if mana wasn't everything, it crippled you in a mana-dominated world. The community vets had trashed it as worthless.

But for this entrance exam? Nothing could top it. Like a glitch exploiting the Trial Tower's blind spot.

'Single-use, though.'

I double-checked my plan as I headed into the auditorium.

-New students, please take your seats!

Showtime. Students shuffled in clusters, some tense, others brimming with confidence. I grabbed a spot in the back row.

Three thousand applicants for the exam. At least two-thirds would wash out.

Soon, the auditorium filled up. But maybe because I'd picked such a remote seat, no one sat next to me. As a vague sense of isolation crept in, I felt someone approach.

"Mind if I sit here?"

A bold female voice. I turned to see fiery red hair and eyes, like smoldering embers. She plopped down without waiting for permission, her haughty expression unwavering. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The kind of allure that made any guy do a double-take.

Hong Yuhwa. The Usurper of Crimson Lotus. Not quite on the level of those top rivals, but close.

I activated my starter gift, Viewing (—).

The status floated before my eyes. I compared it to her early-game stats from the game.

'No differences from the game.'

Relief washed over me, mixed with a sigh. Her talents and arts were stacked—embarrassing to even compare to mine. Stats screamed powerhouse. If we fought a hundred times, I'd lose every one.

...But that was no reason to grovel. I'd have the last laugh.

Hong Yuhwa stared off at one corner after sitting. There sat a sky-blue-haired androgynous beauty. The protagonist. Or more accurately, the boy chosen by this world.

Kim Seohyeon.

"That's the famous one?"

"Yeah, the kid who trained under the world's top mage and inherited the Thousand Swordless Veins from martial history."

Not just her—every student eyed him with envy or admiration, like fans mobbing a celebrity at school. Hong Yuhwa burned with rivalry. That would fester into jealousy, and depending on choices, she'd commit unforgivable sins later.

I glanced at him, then drawled to her slowly.

"Feeling competitive?"

"...You talking to me?"

Her crimson eyes flicked to me.

"Yeah. You were staring holes through him."

"What do you care what I do?"

"Kinda sad, actually. I think you could beat Kim Seohyeon."

"What?"

"If you truly master that Crimson Lotus you have, you can take him."

She gave me an incredulous look, then whipped her head away. Probably pegged me as some sycophant A buttering her up over her background. I shrugged.

Too soon for deeper inroads. Slow and steady, and she'd eventually listen. For now, a strong impression—positive or negative—would do.

-Attention, everyone.

His low voice rang crystal-clear in my ears. Up front, a muscular man grinned.

-We now commence the entrance exam to select the 35th class of Korea Hero School freshmen.

The auditorium buzzed. The Trial Tower stirring to life.

"Wh-what?!"

"It's finally starting! Korea Hero School's entrance exam!"

"Every guild will remember me, Na Ji-ryong from China!"

Who'd back out now? I smirked and nodded.

"Of course."

A brilliant light erupted from below as I answered.

'Better work.'

A flicker of worry. Reverse Heaven Body rejected all mana. But the tower's mystical transport—tied to its laws—should bypass that.

As expected, a floating sensation gripped me, whisking my body away.

***

The Trial Tower was brutal. Its monsters adapted to the challenger's level, yet were a nightmare to fight. Fire-types got water-resistant or anti-fire beasts. Martial artists with swords faced armored tanks.

Most students would take heavy damage or risk their lives to clear. Not that real harm came to them, so no big deal.

Point was, no one cleared this exam quick.

'Except me.'

A blue portal shimmered ahead the moment I arrived. Proof I'd cleared it.

'It actually worked.'

The tower "observed" entrants first, then assigned trials. But as Reverse Heaven ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Body's owner, unobservable, it skipped my trial ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entirely.

Good thing I'd prepped Plan B—just in case. No need now.

I pocketed my hands casually and stepped through the portal.

The same mechanical voice from entry. But "bonus rewards" nearly made me laugh.

Whoosh! A swirl of light dropped an ebony wooden box before me.

Korea Hero School's edge? Clear a trial, get a fitting reward.

'All-time record means it has to be that, right?'

Excitement bubbled. I tucked the box away.

"...Wait, didn't it just start?"

"What kind of speed... My god, cleared in just—one minute?!"

Murmurs erupted. Shocked gasps everywhere. Some dialing, others scrambling for my info.

"Get me every student file—now!"

"G-Guild master! You need to see this. A student cleared the Trial Tower in one minute—a record-breaker...!"

Chaos. I headed to the central podium. A man watched me with amused interest—the one who'd activated the tower.

"Impressive. Talent fully awakened already?"

I brushed off his curiosity.

"Am I in?"

"Yes. You're accepted."

"Can I go, then?"

"Of course."

"Oh, dorms available here?"

"Scouts and reporters, huh. No worries—head out that way to the flashiest building."

He pointed to one end. I bowed lightly and went.

"...!"

I couldn't hide my shock. Were they just printing points?