"Austin Carter! Step forward immediately, or your name will be disqualified from the selection!"The booming baritone voice from the loudspeakers at the end of the grand hall made Austin flinch. His eyelids, which felt as heavy as a ton each, lifted with great effort. All around him, thousands of eighteen-year-olds stood tall, their eyes sparkling with ambition, their faces radiating youth and vitality.As for Austin? He was slumped against a marble pillar, his breath shallow, his face as pale as a freshly dug corpse. Dark, heavy circles heavily shadowed the skin beneath his eyes."Austin! Are you even listening to me?!" A rough slap landed on his shoulder. It was Leo, his only friend from the same orphanage. "Don't embarrass yourself. Today is the Awakening! The registration for the Mythic Tower Academy, 'The World Tree'! If you fall asleep now, you'll be deported to the outer zones as a manual laborer!"Austin let out a massive yawn, not even bothering to cover his mouth. "I know, L

The sunlight pierced through the gaps in the foliage at the academy gardens, warming Austin’s body as he slowly began to stir from his nap. He stretched his muscles, which now felt far more elastic and vigorous, a remarkable anomaly for a body that had previously felt as though it might fall apart at any moment.Kring! Kring!A magical announcement echoed throughout the entire academy area. The voice was deafening and authoritative, shattering the tranquility Austin had only just begun to enjoy."Attention to all new students of this year's batch. Relaxation time has ended. Assemble immediately at the Main Gate of The World Tree Tower. The Floor 1 Elimination Trial will begin in exactly 30 minutes. Failure to attend will result in permanent expulsion."Austin groaned softly, staring up at the sky with an annoyed expression. "I was just starting to get a good sleep, and they're already calling again."Though he was lethargic beyond words, Austin knew he couldn't ignore this order. His

The rustling of leaves blown by the forest wind sounded incredibly loud in Sarah's ears. She remained frozen, sitting on the grass that was now damp with the splattered blood of monsters. Her mind was blank. The sight before her, four Mist Wolves that had been the most terrifying predators just moments ago, now reduced to nothing but piles of unidentifiable, mangled flesh, felt like a scene from an extreme nightmare.Beside her, Budi was still shaking violently. The chubby youth tried to cover his mouth with both hands, struggling to suppress his vomit from the pungent scent of blood piercing his nose."S-Sarah..." Budi finally managed to find his voice, though it was hoarse. "W-what just happened? Did you see anything? Something like... you know, high-tier magic or something?"Sarah swallowed hard with great difficulty. She looked toward where Austin was lying. The youth still had his eyes closed, his breathing remaining deep and steady. It was as if the burst of energy that had obli

The Main Hall of the Tower Academy was a magnificent architectural marvel, designed in a neoclassical style fused with futuristic, magical touches. Its vaulted ceiling soared thirty meters high, adorned with mana crystals that radiated a soft, golden light, projecting an oppressive aura of authority and grandeur. Thousands of seats were neatly arranged in concentric rows, and on the front stage, an obsidian podium stood firmly, awaiting the academy's top officials.Austin stepped into the hall, attempting to blend into the crowd. His grey uniform, which signified his low status in the "Support Faction," contrasted sharply with the pristine white uniforms of the genius students, accented with gold or silver. Even so, Austin didn't care. He kept scanning the room, searching for the darkest and quietest corner in the very back rows—the most ideal spot, in his opinion, to continue his afternoon nap."Look who it is," an arrogant, familiar voice shattered the chatter in the hall.Austin le

The atmosphere on the fifth floor of the academy library was dead silent, a tranquility usually enjoyed only by the handful of students who actually intended to study. To Selena Vance, however, this stillness felt suffocating. She stood tall, concealing her presence behind a massive bookshelf stacked with ancient tomes detailing the history of the tower. Her eyes remained locked onto the figure of the young man fast asleep on the worn leather sofa in the corner of the room.It was Austin Carter.Selena still couldn't shake the bizarre occurrence back in the Mist Forest. An energy burst so pure, so destructive, happening right next to Austin’s position. And now, seeing how deeply this youth slept, as if he were in his own private quarters rather than a space accessible to anyone, made her suspicions reach a fever pitch."What are you actually hiding, Austin Carter?" Selena whispered, her voice barely audible.She took a deep breath, trying to focus her mind. Selena was an S-Rank Valkyr