Shadow moved.

Not like the others—struggling, forcing their bodies forward under invisible weight—

But since the pressure simply didn’t apply to him. He was moving fast, way faster than anyone else.

Wind curled beneath his feet, subtle yet precise, pushing him forward in smooth bursts as he weaved through the crowd effortlessly.

People didn’t just see him pass.

They felt it.

A gust brushing past their faces.

A presence that didn’t belong in the same test as them.

"...Was that someone?" one boy muttered, slowing down.

"...No way," another replied, breath uneven. "how could a participant move like that..."

Shadow didn’t pay them any attention.

His eyes remained forward.

His pace steady.

’This speed... isn’t bad.’

A slight pause.

’But I could be faster.’

His mind drifted briefly.

To the man who had controlled that flying ship.

The precision.

The control.

The mastery over wind that felt almost alive.

’If my mastery were at that level...’

His body surged forward slightly.

’...this wouldn’t even count as movement.’

Awakeners could fly using different elements—wind, anti-gravity, even more irregular abilities depending on their affinity.

But power wasn’t just about the element.

It was about mastery.

Shadow could copy abilities.

But copying wasn’t the same as understanding.

An A-rank spell copied without mastery...

Was still just an F-rank execution.

Weak.

Incomplete.

That was the difference between a novice and a veteran.

It was almsot impossible for a new awakener to be as strong as someone who was awakened way before.

Not just experience-wise but even the power itself.

And exactly why academies like Velmora existed.

To turn potential...

Into power.

Up ahead, several participants had already slowed down—some even stopping to catch their breath despite barely a minute having passed.

One person collapsed onto his knees.

"I... can’t... feel my legs..."

Another dragged him up.

"Get up! It’s only been a minute!"

"...Then I quit."

Shadow passed them without a glance.

Six hours... wasn’t an exaggeration.’ he thought.

Someone tried to copy Shadow’s method. He started using his wind magic but he fail miserably. He got thrown into the walls as he lost control due to the pressure around him.

Shadow seeing this, he shook his head.

’Copying a method without understanding...’

’...always ends like that.’

.

.

Jaden tried to recover from his early shock as he moved forward.

"I trained for this day for YEARS!"

"This level of pressure is nothing to me. Now is the time i use—"

He speech was interputed as he collapsed to the ground the moment he felt another wave of intense pressure weighing him down.

He tried to stand up,but then different footsteps sounds resounded in his ear.

Jane, Talia and other people came running from behind. All of them stepped on him before they continued moving forward.

.

.

.

Shadow continued passing everyone.

Then—

He noticed someone.

A figure ahead.

Golden hair.

Still moving.

Fast.

Not struggling.

Not stopping.

Just running.

Clean.

Efficient.

Every step controlled.

Even under pressure.

Footprints that are too light

Pressure distortion around his path

Shadow’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’...Someone else is cheating the system.’ he smirked

Then

He pushed forward.

Closing the gap.

Until—

He was right beside him.

"Someone here hasn’t missed leg day," Shadow said casually.

The golden-haired boy turned his head sharply.

For a split second—

All he saw was black hair flowing past him...

And wind brushing against his face like something alive.

His eyes widened slightly.

’Who... is this guy?’

No hesitation.

No strain.

Just movement.

Effortless.

Something about it—

Didn’t make sense.

His expression sharpened.

Then—

He accelerated.

Faster.

Ignoring the pressure.

Ignoring the cost.

Shadow noticed.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"...Take it easy," he said. "There’s no free food at the end."

"Actually," the boy replied, a small grin forming, "there is."

And then—

He shot forward.

Creating distance instantly.

Ten meters.

Fifteen—

Then he threw something behind him.

Small objects.

They hit the ground.

Runes flared.

The air distorted.

Then—

BOOM.

Explosions erupted in sequence.

Blocking paths.

Cutting angles.

"—Tch."

Shadow raised his hand.

Water formed instantly.

A thin barrier—

The explosions slammed into it and dispersed.

Steam rose.

"HEY WATCH IT—!"

"ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US?!"

Other people started Shouting since Lucians explosions damaged them, making them panic.

"...You started it," Shadow muttered.

Then—

He moved.

Wind burst beneath his feet.

His body surged forward—

But this time—

Something changed.

His movement twisted.

Spiraled.

Controlled chaos.

At the same time—

Fire ignited.

Not one.

Not two.

Dozens.

Fireballs erupted around him—

The fireballs shot in every direction. Not just aimed at the boy with golden hair, but also on his current path and possibly his next one.

All predicted.

Current position.

Next step.

Possible escape routes.

All covered.

The golden-haired boy’s eyes widened.

’What—’

He tried to react.

But there was nowhere to go.

BOOM.

One hit.

BOOM.

Another—

BOOM.

The third slammed into him, sending him skidding across the ground.

His defensive gear flared, barely holding.

He coughed, forcing himself upright—

Just in time to see Shadow pass him.

Without slowing.

Without looking back.

"...Yeah," he muttered under his breath.

"...I picked the wrong guy."

His mind struggled to process.

’Three elements...?’

Wind.

Water.

Fire.

Used together.

Seamlessly.

Like it was nothing.

’What kind of monster is that...? I’ve never seen someone do that before.’

Far away—

The professors watched.

Silence.

Then—

"...Are we all seeing the same thing?" Paul asked slowly.

Arthur frowned.

"...Who is that kid?"

Tess crossed her arms, eyes fixed on the screen.

"Speed is one thing..."

A pause.

"But three elements... simultaneously?"

Claire said nothing at first.

Her gaze remained locked.

Sharp.

Focused.

"...That level of control and talent..."

A slight narrowing of her eyes.

"...That’s not academy-level."

A pause.

"...Not even close."