By the time I arrived at Aether Academy, the entire entrance plaza was already overflowing with people.

Students wearing formal uniforms gathered everywhere while academy staff guided people toward different buildings. Expensive cars lined the roads outside the gates, some carrying noble family insignias I recognized from the novel.

I stood near the entrance for a moment while looking up at the academy itself. Even after reading about it for two years, seeing it in person still felt unreal.

Massive black gates towered above the entrance while silver mana barriers shimmered faintly around the campus. Modern glass buildings mixed naturally with medieval structures covered in glowing runes.

It looked less like a school and more like a city built for rich people. Students moved past me constantly while talking excitedly with friends or family members. Some looked nervous while some others looked overly confident. A few noble heirs practically radiated arrogance without saying a single word.

Typical noble behaviour. I hope I don’t meet those third rate villainous young masters. "Excuse me." A woman wearing an academy staff uniform walked toward me while holding a digital tablet. "First year applicant?"

"Yes. I am."

She blinked once and said. "...Right. Your identification card please."

I handed it over quietly. Her eyes scanned the card briefly before she nodded.

"Ren Valecrest. Examination Hall C, written evaluation first. The practical assessment will begin afterward. I hope you get into a good section"

"Thank you." I bid farewell to her and made my way towards Examination Hall C.

As I walked deeper into the academy grounds, I could already hear conversations spreading everywhere around me.

"I heard the Ashbourne heir is here."

"They said his Aspect is SSS ranked."

"My cousin failed this exam three times..."

"The combat assessment is apparently brutal this year."

The protagonist really was famous already. As expected of the one favoured by heaven and earth. How must he feel to be in the spotlight constantly since a young age.

Honestly, life must feel exhausting when everyone treats you like a celebrity.

Meanwhile nobody paid attention to me at all.

Perfect, this is how it should be. I must also avoid the main cast as much as I can to avoid dangers. I only want to cultivate quietly till I’m unbeatable in this world. While thinking this, I reached the examination hall.

The examination hall itself resembled a university lecture auditorium more than a classroom. Hundreds of students filled the seats while giant holographic screens floated above the stage displaying academy instructions.

I found an empty seat near the middle and sat down quietly.

The moment I sat down, someone nearby immediately spoke.

"...You’re alone too?"

I turned slightly.

A boy with messy brown hair smiled awkwardly while adjusting his glasses.

He looked nervous enough to collapse at any moment.

"Yes I am." I replied.

He let out a relieved sigh like my existence somehow comforted him.

"Thank god. Everyone here looks terrifying."

I glanced around the room.

Several noble students sat confidently while surrounded by groups of people. Some casually released small amounts of mana pressure without even realizing it.

One girl at the front had literal flames flickering faintly around her fingertips while talking.

"...Fair point. Everyone who got invited to take the exams is quite capable."

"I’m Daniel, by the way." Brownie introduced himself while reaching out his hand.

"Ren." I shook his hand and replied.

He immediately leaned slightly closer before lowering his voice dramatically.

"Do you think they’ll fail people immediately if their mana control is bad?"

"You’re asking the wrong person. I barely know what I’m doing."

"That somehow makes me feel better." Brownie or rather Daniel let out a small laugh.

Before I could answer, the entire hall suddenly became quieter.

A tall man wearing black academy uniform walked onto the stage calmly.

The pressure in the room changed instantly. ’That guy is strong.’ Even without cultivation, I could tell this man was dangerous.

"Welcome to Aether Academy." His voice wasn’t loud, yet it spread through the entire hall effortlessly. "The academy entrance examination consists of three stages."

A giant screen appeared behind him immediately.

Written EvaluationMana compatibility AssessmentPractical Examination"Your final rankings will determine your class placement, resource allocation, among other things." Murmurs spread through the room instantly. Of course rankings mattered. The higher the rank the higher the talent. This academy practically worshipped talent.

"Students ranked at the bottom," the instructor continued calmly, "will be placed into the F Section."

The atmosphere immediately became more tense. Nobody wanted to be at the bottom. Even Daniel beside me swallowed nervously. "I’m finished. My parents would disown me if I got into the D class."

"You’re giving up surprisingly early."

"I believe in realistic expectations."

The instructor raised one hand slightly. "Your written examination will be conducted now." The written examination papers appeared digitally across every desk instantly.

"Begin."

I took a look at the questions covered: mana theory, dungeon survival, monster classifications, political structures and combat scenarios. Nothing too difficult. Most answers already existed inside the real Ren Valecrest’s memories.

The problem wasn’t the written test. It was what came afterward. Practical examinations in this world were never simple.

About thirty minutes later, students began submitting the papers. Daniel looked half-dead.

"...I think I failed three sections." Daniel looked and me with a faint smile, "It was nice meeting you, I hope we meet again in our next lives."

What a dramatic person. I can’t help but shake my head,"You don’t need to worry so much. You just need to do well in the other tests."

"I guess." Daniel said dejectedly.

The next stage happened outside. Hundreds of students gathered near enormous crystal pillars lined across a massive open arena.

Mana compatibility assessment. This is where how much mana you have will be determined. And most people will be stuck with their initial amount because increasing mana quantity is very difficult, only few could do so.

One by one, students placed their hands against the crystals while numbers appeared above them.

Some people received average results.

Others caused visible reactions from the crowd.

Then suddenly, whispers spread rapidly through the arena.

"He’s here..."

"Ashbourne..."

Students instinctively moved slightly aside as the protagonist walked toward the testing area calmly.

Black hair, Straight posture, Calm expression. Exactly like the novel described. Even the instructors looked noticeably more attentive around him. The protagonist placed one hand against the crystal.

For a second, nothing happened. Then bright blue light exploded. Gasps spread throughout the arena. The rank on the crystal was rapidly increasing and stopped at SSS rank. Several instructors visibly looked shocked. Even Daniel beside me made a choking noise. "That’s insane..."

In the original story, the protagonist possessed one of the strongest Aspect compatibilities in the entire world. A natural born monster with fate on his side.

Meanwhile I quietly looked away from the crystal. Because unlike everyone else, I wasn’t using mana anymore. But still I should have some amount of mana, right? If I had no mana now because of the qi inside me. That would become a problem. I would be stuck at the bottom.

"Ren Valecrest." I walked forward calmly while dozens of students continued whispering about the protagonist behind me. Perfect timing honestly. Nobody cared about some random extra right now.

I placed one hand against the crystal quietly. The crystal flickered with a tiny light, not even clearly visible. One of the instructors looked down at his tablet. "...That’s odd, it always shines much more than that." Then the rank appeared. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Mana compatibility : F rankSeveral students laughed and some lost interest. ’Even a D would’ve been fine but an F.’ Seriously, my luck couldn’t get any worse. Even dogs had E rank mana compatibility.