Void Absorption: Rise of the Martial God

6

The group exchanged bewildered glances, the absurdity of the situation sinking in.

Warren's sneer froze on his lips.

Lyra's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief, as if she couldn't trust her own ears.

Up on the high platform, the thirty-two recruitment officers from martial academies across the kingdom exchanged looks, each seeing a flicker of astonishment in the others' eyes.

At first glance, that young man had seemed utterly unremarkable, and rumors of his expulsion as a poor student had made them dismiss him outright.

But this result — how could it be so extraordinary?!

They were all well aware of the unspoken rules of the academy's assessments. In other words, that young man named Dorian Ash was nothing short of a genuine prodigy!

Let it be known —

These recruitment officers had years, some even over a decade, of experience under their belts. They had assessed countless students, yet —

Those who achieved a perfect score were rarer than one in a hundred!

Incredible!

To think that in this ordinary academy, they had actually encountered a rare genius who scored full marks!

What an unexpected delight!

Envoy Garek, the recruitment officer from Stormcrest Martial Academy, seated at the head of the high platform, leaned forward slightly, his composure slipping.

A perfect score of 99 — could that young man truly possess the strength of a peak Two-Star warrior?

As he pondered —

Click!

The door to the examination room swung open with a heavy push, and Dorian strode out, hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm and unreadable.

Whoosh!

In an instant, countless eyes locked onto him from all directions.

"What?! Only mid One-Star?!"

Envoy Garek, who had been scrutinizing Dorian intently, suddenly shot up from his chair the moment he accurately sensed the young man's cultivation level.

Bang!

The force of his abrupt movement sent the chair toppling backward.

But —

At this moment, Envoy Garek paid no attention to anything else. His gaze was fixed intently on Dorian, his expression one of utter astonishment!

In all his years as an enrollment officer, this was the first time he had ever been so visibly shaken.

A mid-level One-Star cultivation actually achieving a perfect score — this meant Dorian possessed strength at least on par with a peak Two-Star martial artist!

A leap of one and a half entire ranks!

The implications of this were staggering...

Envoy Garek's eyes gleamed with sharp intensity.

Meanwhile, the others also turned their senses toward Dorian's cultivation level —

And in an instant —

They were all thunderstruck!

Dean Aldren, the vice deans, and Elder Harwick stood frozen in shock.

Envoy Garek's realization had struck them as well...

A mid-level One-Star warrior with strength rivaling a peak Two-Star — this was a true prodigy!

In the six hundred years since the founding of the Ironveil Kingdom, such a genius appeared perhaps once in ten thousand!

Holy hell!

Did I just expel Dorian Ash?!

Dean Aldren stiffened, his face going slack with disbelief.

The more outstanding the students a martial academy nurtured, the more funding the kingdom allocated the following year.

But once expelled, the original academy would no longer reap any benefits.

The thought made Dean Aldren's legs wobble, his head spinning.

Then, remembering something, his expression darkened instantly as he turned his glare toward Elder Harwick.

You damn fool! Wasn't it your idea in the first place to expel Dorian Ash?!

Feeling the murderous intensity of Dean Aldren's gaze, Elder Harwick broke into a cold sweat down his spine.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak —

Suddenly!

An indignant roar erupted from below!

"No! This can't be! Dorian's results must be wrong! I refuse to believe this loser could possibly have such strength!"

The crowd turned to see Warren pushing his way forward, his eyes bloodshot and face twisted with resentment as he glared at Dorian.

"That's right, Dean Aldren," Elder Harwick chimed in eagerly, his eyes lighting up. "The testing chamber hasn't been maintained for years — we were planning to service it after this exam. It's entirely possible the equipment malfunctioned during Dorian's turn!"

Dean Aldren's stern expression softened slightly at this suggestion. The explanation wasn't implausible. After all, it did seem unbelievable that the perennial last-place student could suddenly leap to the top of the rankings.

A soft chuckle cut through the murmurs.

Dorian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his cool gaze sweeping over Warren below.

"There will always be those," he said with quiet amusement, "who think themselves superior. When reality doesn't meet their expectations, they question everything rather than face the truth."

His lips curled in a faint, derisive smile.

"At the end of the day, they are nothing but frogs at the bottom of a well — incapable of comprehending true strength."

"What did you say?!" Warren exploded.

Warren's face flushed crimson with rage as he thrust a finger at Dorian, his voice dripping with venom. "Dorian Ash, you worthless trash! Three years just to break through one minor realm? Quit putting on airs! If you've got the guts, come down here and face me one-on-one! So what if you scored 99? Watch how this 91-point fighter puts you flat on the ground!"

"Sorry, but you're not worth my time."

Dorian's response was calm and detached, his tone cool as he looked down from his elevated position.

What?!

Not worth his time?!

Warren saw red, completely forgetting his surroundings as he prepared to charge at Dorian in a blind fury.

"Dorian Ash, was it?"

A deep voice suddenly cut through the tension from the high platform.

The moment Warren recognized the speaker, it was like having a bucket of ice water dumped over his head. His boiling rage instantly cooled, though he remained rooted to the spot, fists clenched and glaring daggers at Dorian.

Envoy Garek, the recruitment officer from Stormcrest Martial Academy, had spoken. With an impassive expression, he took a few measured steps forward, arms crossed over his chest as he addressed Dorian.

"You. Spar with him."

Hmm?

Dorian's eyebrows arched slightly upon hearing this.

He understood — Envoy Garek must have had some doubts about his abilities. Now that Warren, the strongest third-year student, had stepped forward to challenge him, the envoy was simply letting things unfold naturally. If Dorian could win, it would prove his strength wasn't a fluke, and the issue wouldn't lie with the examination room.

Stormcrest Martial Academy was the most prestigious institution in the Ironveil Kingdom, boasting unparalleled combat techniques, martial arts manuals, and the finest instructors. Naturally, it was Dorian's top choice.

The academy was filled with elite talents — the best of the younger generation — where competition was fierce and no one remained the strongest for long, only constantly striving to grow stronger. Just the thought of it set Dorian's blood boiling with excitement.

"Alright, I understand," Dorian replied calmly with a nod.

Then, turning to face Warren, who wore a vicious smirk, Dorian leaped down from the platform in one swift stride, landing right in front of him. His voice was cool and composed as he spoke.

"Bring it on."

"Arrogant fool! Let me show you how to fall properly!"

Warren had been ready for this moment. With a furious roar, his body exploded into motion. His hand shot out like a viper, aiming straight for Dorian's throat!

Whoosh —!

The air itself seemed to tear apart under the force, releasing a sharp, ear-piercing crack.