An Instant Sensation

Starlight gave the examiner a slight smile and replied, “My apologies, I don’t have a staff yet. But that shouldn’t affect the test results, right?”

“It won’t affect your score, but are you sure?”

The examiner frowned slightly. Looking at Starlight’s relaxed and at-ease manner, a hint of doubt couldn’t help but rise in his heart.

In his career as a teacher, he had encountered many geniuses who thought highly of themselves, but this was the first time he had seen someone as casual as Starlight.

Generally speaking, people like this didn't end up particularly well. Being overly arrogant was a fatal weakness for the strong, the examiner thought to himself as he secretly shook his head.

However, he was soon shocked by the scene before his eyes.

The black-haired youth simply reached out his hand gently. Without any chanting or preparation, a massive fireball appeared out of thin air in front of him.

The diameter of this fireball expanded rapidly, soon exceeding a meter. Compared to the firebirds summoned by the previous youth, it was a world of difference. The terrifying heat radiating from the fireball made everyone present feel a bit suffocated.

With a gentle push of Starlight’s hand, the massive fireball accurately landed among the cluster of targets in the center of the grounds.

The moment the fireball made contact with the targets, it let out a deafening roar. The intense white light and heat wave caused the people in the area to instinctively cover their eyes.

When the examiner and the three candidates opened their eyes again, more than half of the dense targets in the center of the testing grounds had been incinerated by the flames. Even a large patch of the ground had been scorched into a terrifying black color.

“...This... what level of skill is this!”

The examiner couldn’t help but gulp, his heart filled with shock.

A mere sixteen-year-old youth could actually release such a terrifying attack so easily? Even he, without any preparation, would find it difficult to achieve such a level, wouldn't he?

Starlight, however, didn't pay any mind to the dumbfounded expressions of the four people beside him. Instead, he looked at his own hands with some confusion.

The Fireball Spell he had intended to cast should never have been this powerful. No matter how abundant the elements were within the academy, it shouldn't have been possible for the fireball’s power to increase to this extent.

However, he had only cast the spell using his usual method, yet the fireball’s power had far exceeded his expectations.

“This is also one of the benefits the elemental mark brings you. You might not have noticed, but when you cast the Fireball Spell, you unconsciously incorporated the techniques of the Shadow Sphere, which is why it produced such a powerful effect.”

Noah’s voice rang out in Starlight’s mind at the perfect time, answering the doubts in his heart.

“But for a moment just now, I seemed to feel a slightly different kind of power... could it be related to the elements in the air?”

While Starlight was still reflecting on the sensation from just now, the doors to Area 4 were pushed open, and several mages from the academy arrived on the scene immediately.

The moment that massive noise occurred, it had drawn the attention of many people. An explosion of that level wasn't something a few freshmen could create by just messing around.

If someone with ill intentions had taken the opportunity to sneak into the testing grounds to harm the students, the consequences would be unthinkable.

But when the group rushed into Area 4, they found the examiner and the three young candidates staring forward with horrified eyes.

A black-haired young man stood straight ahead, looking at the mess in the center of the grounds with a thoughtful expression.

“What... you’re saying a freshman who came for the test did this? And with only one spell?”

The people who arrived all fell silent after hearing the examiner’s description. This had completely exceeded the academy’s expectations. Taking advantage of this gap, many onlookers also poured in from outside, with Po Kong’s group of three and Ivan Leon among them.

Seeing the group standing there as if petrified, Po Kong and the other two were the first to run to Starlight’s side and asked with concern.

“Little Star/Starlight, are you okay? That explosion just now... it wasn't caused by you, was it?”

Only after receiving Starlight’s confirmation did the three of them finally feel at ease. Wasn't this supposed to be just an ordinary test?

“Go notify the principal... this is something we cannot decide.” The examiners finally snapped out of their shock. After exchanging glances, they prepared to go invite the principal.

Unexpectedly, just as they were about to leave, a soft male voice drifted in from outside the door.

“I’m already here. I’ve already learned the gist of what happened. Leave the matter here to me.”

As soon as the words fell, a figure dressed in deep green robes suddenly appeared before Starlight.

The newcomer was a man who looked to be about thirty-four or thirty-five years old. Although his appearance wasn't particularly handsome, he exuded an air of composure that made it impossible to look away from him.

He first slowly surveyed the explosion site not far away, then carefully scrutinized Starlight. A subtle light flashed in his narrow eyes.

“Hmm... this isn't the place to talk. Come with me. Just relax and don't resist.”

The man’s gentle voice rang in the ears of the four. Starlight was surprised to find that at that moment, everything around them seemed to be fixed in place by something; he couldn't even move a single finger.

By the time they regained their senses, the surrounding scenery had completely changed. The five of them had gone from the testing grounds to a circular study in an instant.

After steadying himself, Starlight felt a faint wave of dizziness wash over his mind. He quickly shook his head, and after confirming this wasn't an illusion, he began to carefully observe his surroundings.

The room wasn't very large, only a few dozen square meters. The walls were covered by bookshelves filled with books, leaving only space for the door and windows. In the center of the room stood an ornate desk and a chair with a backrest.

At this moment, the middle-aged man had already walked to the desk. He elegantly picked up a cup from the table and was scrutinizing the four while taking a drink.

Po Kong and the others beside him were also astonished by the situation. Finally, Moen spoke up with a hint of uncertainty.

“That just now was... a Displacement Spell? Or Teleportation Magic... but why wasn't a magic formation required?”

The middle-aged man’s lips curled slightly as he smiled. “Not bad, young lady. Your intuition is quite sharp. Let’s start with introductions. Although you might have already guessed it, my name is Eventador, the current principal of the Central Spiritual Arts Academy.”

“You are the Archmage, Mr. Eventador?” Starlight felt slightly surprised upon hearing this.

Before coming here, he had imagined many scenarios for meeting this principal, but he never expected they would meet in such a manner.

“That’s right. Since you already know now, Starlight, I’ll speak plainly.”

Starlight was stunned. How did the other man know his name? Only then did he realize that the small identity badge with his information had fallen into Eventador’s hands at some unknown point.