Adam stood in front of the magic power measuring machine while hundreds of students watched him.
The ancient device in the middle of the hall was famous across the entire country… a machine that had never made a mistake since it was built decades ago.
One of the teachers said firmly:
"Place your hand on the crystal."
Adam stepped forward slowly, his heart beating hard. He remembered the words of the hunter who trained him:
"Don't try to release everything inside you… just let a little out."
He placed his hand on the crystal.
At first, the stones around the machine glowed with a faint blue light… then the lights began to flicker.
Whispers rose among the students.
"What's happening?"
The light became more unstable…
Then suddenly…
The machine completely shut down.
Everything in the hall fell silent.
The magical lights disappeared… the crystal lost its shine… even the engraved symbols around the device went dark.
One student shouted in shock:
"That's impossible!"
Another said:
"This machine has never shut down in the academy's history!"
The whispers slowly turned into suspicion.
"Maybe he broke it…"
"Or maybe he has no power at all…"
"A kid from an orphanage… what did you expect?"
Adam felt heat rise to his face.
He didn't understand what had happened… but he could feel the looks of contempt falling on him like swords.
One teacher said sharply:
"Perhaps the machine malfunctioned."
But a noble student laughed mockingly:
"Or maybe there's simply no energy for it to measure."
Light laughter spread among the students.
At that moment, the large door of the hall slowly opened.
The academy's director entered in person.
A tall man with silver hair and eyes as sharp as a blade.
Silence instantly filled the hall.
The director walked to the machine, touched the crystal for a moment, then looked at Adam for a long time.
Then he said calmly:
"This machine… has never shut down since it was built."
The students exchanged glances.
The director continued:
"But there is something even stranger."
He turned to the students and said:
"This boy arrived here… accompanied by one of the strongest hunters in the world."
Whispers filled the hall again.
"If that man brought him here personally… then there must be a reason."
Then the director looked directly at Adam.
"That is why… I will allow him to enter the academy."
The hall exploded with protests.
"What?!"
"This isn't fair!"
"He didn't even get a result!"
But the director raised his hand… and everyone fell silent immediately.
He said in a calm but firm voice:
"The academy is not only for the strong… but for those who have the potential to become strong."
Then he turned to Adam.
"Now… your fate is in your hands."
He paused for a moment before continuing:
"Either you prove that you deserve this place…"
"…or you will prove to everyone that you are just a weak child who entered by chance."
Adam felt the weight of those words.
He looked around.
The noble students stared at him with disdain.
Some smiled mockingly.
Others watched with curiosity.
But he remembered only one thing…
The hunter's words at the academy gate.
"Will you remain weak… or will you become one of the elite?"
Adam slowly clenched his fist.
This academy…
would be the beginning of his path.
But deep in his heart…
that strange feeling returned again.
As if something dark…
and extremely powerful…
had slightly awakened.