The plaza teemed with people.
Applicants handed their completed forms to the examiners. After securing test eligibility, all that remained was a long wait.
Near the Stellar Abyss Plaza, atop a retro-style clock tower—
A middle-aged man leaned against the stone wall. His eyes half-closed, he lazily watched the ant-like crowd below. A faint smile lingered on his lips.
Soon, another figure appeared on the tower.
"That unpleasant aura... It’s you, Smorteg."
The speaker was a silver-haired man in full-rimmed glasses. His violet-red eyes held a trace of world-weariness. His tone made his unwelcome clear.
"Yo, long time no see, Seat Lord Will."
Unfazed, the middle-aged man waved with a smile.
"This isn’t your jurisdiction, Seat Lord."
"Don’t be so cold. We’re both Seat Lords. Checking on students taking the aptitude test isn’t wrong."
"Checking? Have you ever cared before?"
Will cut through Smorteg’s pretense. Truthfully, he was surprised by Smorteg’s visit. Seat Lords rarely attended these tedious tests unless expecting an exceptional student—or a gifted relative. Especially not Smorteg, who carried royal blood.
"So after Prince Leon, another direct royal bloodline enters Stellar Abyss Academy this year?" Will pressed. "And this one’s talent... is extraordinary."
Even during the prince’s test years ago, Smorteg hadn’t bothered to come. Yet now...
Will’s violet-red gaze pinned Smorteg uncomfortably.
Smorteg merely chuckled. "Who knows? Keep watching, Seat Lord Will. Oh, and a stone face doesn’t equal handsome. No teacher will like you at this rate."
"Do you want to die?"
...
The plaza filled steadily until arrivals dwindled.
*Onnnng—*
The bell’s toll marked the end of registration—and the test’s start.
"Time’s up."
The gray-haired elder seated at the plaza’s center slowly opened his eyes. A crushing pressure erupted from him!
The noisy crowd fell dead silent under its weight.
The pressure activated the plaza’s barrier. Pale blue circuits flared to life. An invisible shield sealed the perimeter.
Latecomers—Demons sprinting to register—slammed against the barrier. Their faces twisted in despair.
"Those who arrive late don’t deserve Stellar Abyss Academy’s glory," the elder declared, sweeping the crowd with cold eyes. "Before we begin: I am Prode. Current Seat of Dust’s Shadow. Master of the Umbral Erosion Hall."
"H-Hall Master?!"
"That napping old man over there... is a Hall Master?!"
Panic rippled through the crowd.
"I know some resent this suppression," Prode continued, his words hammer blows. "But remember: This is Stellar Abyss Academy. For a thousand years, it has forged counts, dukes—even emperors. It has seen countless prodigies. Compared to them? Most of you are nothing."
His truth shattered many spirits. Revealing his rank deepened their fear.
But Luyi felt nothing.
Louise merely sneered inwardly—
*Counts? Dukes?*
*Worthless.*
*If I’d claimed the Star Devouring Demon Emperor’s legacy instead of trusting my brother... the throne would be mine.*
"When my talent shines during testing," she whispered, a sinister smile curling her lips, "you’ll regret those words."
Most reacted as Prode hoped. He waved a hand. Testing instructors hurried to the crystal beside the hourglass.
"Now that you understand—let the first round begin. Surprise me."
He settled back into his seat.
The Six-Winged Behemoth’s eyes glowed. The crystal pulsed softly. A ranking screen materialized in the air.
"Testee #1."
The first applicant stepped forward, trembling under hundreds of stares.
...
"Testee #999."
"Result: Three stars lit. Medium-grade bloodline purity. Qualified."
...
"Testee #1235."
"Result: One star lit. Low-grade bloodline purity. Disqualified."
...
Applicants approached the crystal. Lights flickered above it. They left in silence, faces etched with varied emotions.
Bloodline purity and talent strength were measured by stars. Nine stars existed. More lit stars meant greater talent. Brighter stars meant purer bloodline.
Three stars was the passing threshold.
Six stars separated the excellent from true geniuses.
Lighting six stars would draw a Hall Master’s attention.
So far, no one had reached six.
...
Testing continued.
The strongest so far was #123: five stars lit, high-grade bloodline purity.
Decent—but Prode remained unmoved. To him, this was merely "excellent," not "genius."
"Testee #2144."
"Result: Six stars lit! High-grade bloodline purity. Qualified!"
As the screen updated, replacing #123 as top rank, Prode finally opened his eyes. His sharp gaze followed the departing figure—a tall, thin youth in lavish robes. The youth’s tense face relaxed into open disdain for the others.
"The emblem on his robe... Qixi Royal Family," Prode murmured, memory stirring. "Their current Grand General was once my student. He reminds me of the old days..."
Prode ignored the youth’s arrogance. He, too, held no regard for the ordinary.
Demons needed no weaklings. Stellar Abyss Academy was no charity.
Here, bloodline and power dictated everything.
"He’ll do for Umbral Erosion Hall’s core," Prode decided, his impatience fading into satisfaction. This year’s test wasn’t entirely dull.
"Testee #2145..."
The examiner called the next name—then froze.
"T-This..."
He stared at the roster, hands trembling with shock.
"Hm?" Prode frowned at the instructor. *Ill?*
"Testee #2145... Salros Heiaedis... Your Highness."
—Silence shattered the plaza.
"*What?!*"
Even Prode shot to his feet.
No one in the Abyssal Demon Realm could ignore this name.
Salros.
The Eighth Prince of the Dark Emperor. The undisputed strongest genius of the younger generation in a century.
