Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

Kael settled even more comfortably into his chair, the room still silent, with all the other candidates tense, their eyes fixed on the woman who had just explained the test. He wasn't worried. To him, it seemed more like a formality than anything else. A mana test? He had no doubts that he would pass without difficulty. His ability to absorb and manipulate mana had improved exponentially since his reincarnation. But out of curiosity, he watched the others, analyzing their reactions.

The woman at the front of the room began calling the names of the candidates one by one, asking them to approach and touch the mana sphere. Some were visibly nervous, their hands trembling as they neared the sphere, as if they feared something bad would happen. Others were calmer, but Kael could still feel the subtle fear in the air. He didn't quite understand this kind of anxiety, since to him, it felt like a simple guessing game. He had the sense that he could even fool the sphere if necessary.

"First…" The woman read the first name on the list, and a young man with black hair and a severe expression stood up, walking toward the table with firm steps. He looked at the sphere as though it were an enemy to be defeated, and with a tense expression, placed his hand on its glowing surface.

The sphere blinked, and Kael saw a golden light fill the room. The young man remained still, his eyes fixed on the object, while the process took place. Kael raised an eyebrow, curious. The glow in the sphere intensified for a moment before abruptly disappearing. The woman grabbed a piece of paper from the table and examined it.

"You have a considerable amount of mana, but…" She paused and looked the young man up and down, a look of distrust crossing her face. "Nothing too impressive when compared to other candidates."

The young man looked disappointed but accepted the evaluation without saying a word, returning to his seat with his head down. The room was even quieter now, with everyone waiting for their turn. Kael couldn't help but laugh internally. "Nothing impressive," he thought. It was like he was playing against children with slingshots while armed with an enchanted sword.

When Kael's name was finally called, he stood up with the same calm demeanor as always, smiling nonchalantly. "Here we go," he murmured before walking to the central table. The others looked at him with curiosity, but he didn't care. He was Kael, the soul hunter, and he wouldn't be stopped by a simple sphere.

As he approached, he extended his hand without hesitation and touched the surface of the sphere with his open palm. Immediately, the sphere glowed intensely, and Kael felt a wave of energy coursing through his hand. But instead of being concerned, he smiled, letting his mana flow effortlessly, controlling the energy with ease. He could feel the sphere analyzing his magic, sensing the vibrations forming as it absorbed the essence of his power.

However, instead of emitting a normal glow, the sphere began to pulse erratically, flashing with bursts of white and golden light. The lights seemed to expand and contract, as if the sphere was unable to process the amount of mana Kael possessed. Kael felt the test react more intensely than expected, and for a moment, he thought he might have pushed his energy too far.

The woman who had instructed him earlier watched closely, but as she noticed the strange behavior of the sphere, she furrowed her brow, almost as if trying to understand what was happening. The room was in absolute silence, with the other candidates staring at Kael with wide eyes. They clearly had never seen anything like it.

Finally, the sphere ceased its agitation and stabilized, glowing with a soft light, almost as if it had "woken up" after the brief shock. Kael withdrew his hand, still smiling calmly, as if nothing had happened.

The woman didn't seem as composed. She grabbed the stack of papers and flipped through them until she reached his name. "Interesting…" she murmured to herself, more to herself than to anyone else, before looking directly at Kael. "You have more mana than all the others here, by far." She paused. "But it's not just that. Your mana pattern… it's unusual. It doesn't match any known records."

"And what does that mean?" Kael asked, still with a smile on his face.

She looked at him for a moment, assessing him, before finally shaking her head. "That doesn't matter right now. Your magic is… strong. Unusual. But I can't fully determine your capabilities with just this test. Further analysis will be required."

Kael shrugged. "If you think that's a problem, just ask. I'll give you a demonstration if you'd like." He winked at her with a mischievous smile. This made the other candidates shrink back a little, as if they feared he might start a fight right there.

"You're free to sit down," the woman said, trying to return to her professional tone. "But we'll need more information before proceeding with the admission process."

Kael, keeping his relaxed posture, returned to his chair, and the other candidates' gazes followed him. Some seemed more fearful now. He knew what they were thinking: someone with such unusual energy couldn't be underestimated. But he didn't care what they thought. He was there for his own objectives and had no interest in making friends.

As he sat down, his eyes fell on some interesting figures in the room. There was a woman with long silver hair and an aura of authority around her. Her eyes were closed, but Kael could feel the intense concentration of mana she emitted. She seemed calm, but there was something fierce about her presence. He watched her for a moment, trying to capture more of her essence.

[Amelia Valroth is watching you]

'Valroth… where have I heard that…' Kael thought.

Soon, he noticed another individual catching his attention. A young man with dark green hair, calm expression, but an enigmatic smile. He was watching Kael from afar, clearly more interested in him than in the others. His eyes, almost golden in color, gleamed with curiosity, and Kael realized that he had picked up on something in his behavior.

[Leorak Tindrel is watching you]

"Interesting, this guy has a sharp gaze," Kael thought, while pretending to be uninterested in them. But in reality, he was quite intrigued. He always liked people who seemed capable of seeing beyond the surface.

The room remained silent, and a few more candidates were called up for the sphere test. Some seemed relieved to see that their results were more "normal" than what Kael had shown. Others, however, appeared somewhat discouraged. The woman continued to record the results, but Kael knew that there was nothing that could disturb his path through this.

Kael listened attentively as the woman spoke, and the atmosphere, which had once been tense and full of expectation, seemed to calm down a little. The test was finally complete, and now everyone would be evaluated by the professors. Kael didn't care much about this—after all, he already knew what was happening. But, looking around, he noticed that other candidates were visibly nervous. For many of them, this was a real opportunity. For Kael, however, it was just another formality to be overcome.

"Follow me," the woman said, gesturing for everyone to stand. She left through the door with quick steps, and all the candidates began to move, following her.

Kael stood up with his usual laid-back posture, still smiling casually. He observed the others as they walked. The man with green hair and golden eyes was a little ahead, but Kael didn't feel the urge to catch up with him. That evaluation by the professors seemed to be a more... interesting event. After all, he wondered what the level of those observing him would be.

As they walked through the hallways, Kael noticed that the surroundings were becoming progressively more... refined. The place seemed like some kind of grand academy, with wide stone walls adorned with tapestries, armor, and shields that seemed to be more than just decorative items. There was an aura of power in the air, as if those passing through were constantly being observed and evaluated. He didn't care. It was just a stage for another one of his performances. But this time, he knew the people around him were more than just spectators.

The group entered a spacious and well-lit room, with a large table in the center where several professors were seated, waiting. Each of them seemed to represent a different type of master. Kael immediately noticed an older man with long white hair, a stern expression, and an immense aura of discipline. There was also a woman with dark skin and braided hair, with a serene demeanor but eyes that seemed to perceive everything around her. Lastly, a figure who appeared younger, dressed in mage robes, with bright blue eyes and a calm but confident posture.

"Please, line up," said the woman who had guided them to the room, now more serious. "These are the professors who will be evaluating each of you."