Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Damon Chapter 27: Damon Elijah—no, not just Elijah, but every genius in the arena—stared at Noah. Not because his aura was overwhelming. Not because of his beauty. But because he looked too ordinary. No power emanated from him. No pressure, no presence—just a simple, unremarkable young man. The crowd, the mundane, dismissed him outright. But the geniuses? Their expressions hardened. Their instincts screamed. This one is dangerous. The thought echoed in every mind, like a silent whisper crawling through their bones. Elijah, however, was unfazed. He had expected this. His quest had already warned him—Noah was a threat. Still, not everyone cared. Eric, for example, yawned. "Let’s just get this stupid test over with. I need a nap." Meanwhile, Sophie smiled softly and stepped toward Noah. For years, Noah had cultivated their bond—letters, kind words, rare gifts, even ice lotuses. Not just because he needed to, but because he wanted to. He had taken a liking to this wife of his. Sophie’s voice was warm. "It’s been a long time, Noah." Noah, with Neko curled atop his head, grinned mischievously. And then—he closed the distance in an instant and pulled her into his arms. WELP! A startled sound escaped Sophie’s lips. Whispers erupted all around them. She hissed under her breath, "Have you no shame? Everyone’s watching." Noah chuckled, unbothered. "Isn’t this normal? Husband and wife, reuniting after three years?" "You are the one being cold." Sophie’s lips twitched. She knew him too well—Noah never did anything without a purpose. And indeed— "Oh my, oh my..." Elizabeth barely concealed her amusement as she glanced at Elijah beside her. His face remained unreadable. Emotionless. But Elizabeth knew him. The air around him had shifted. Warmer. Just slightly. He’s pissed. Because when Elijah set his sights on something—or someone—he considered it his. Sophie was meant for him. The Emperor himself had confirmed it. Their engagement was only delayed due to certain... complications. And yet, here she was. Wrapped in Noah’s arms. But Elijah didn’t move. He just watched. Suddenly, beside Noah and Sophie—without a sound—a figure appeared. Blood-red hair. A wicked grin. Rouge Bloodheart. Her voice dripped with amusement. "Didn’t know the princess was like this. Cheating on your boyfriend, The Chosen One?" Then, she turned to Noah, stepping closer—so close their breaths mingled. Her grin widened. "I knew you were special. You even were to steal from the chosen one." Her voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Even now, my instincts are screaming at me. They’re telling me to run. To not even get near you." Noah’s eyes gleamed. "Then why are you doing the exact opposite?" Her body shivered. Not from fear. But from exhilaration. Her lips curled into something almost inhuman. Teeth bared. "Exactly because my instincts are screaming." Her voice was hungry. "Let’s fight." With a flick of her wrist, blood surged around her, coalescing into a massive war hammer—twice her size. She raised it high, ready to strike. And then— "Stop." A voice. Deep. Heavy. Crushing. Everything froze. The war hammer vanished. Even Elijah. Even Noah. Stopped. A shadow loomed above them. High in the sky—a man stood, weightless. Black skin, white dreadlocks, eyes as dark as the abyss. A sword hung lazily at his waist. But his gaze. His gaze crushed them. Like the weight of the heavens pressing down. When he spoke, it wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. "I am Damon. Overseer of this year’s entrance exam." His stare swept over them. "You will not misbehave." His tone carried no room for argument. "I don’t have time for this." His eyes narrowed. "Anyone who displeases me—dies. Instantly." A pause. "Do you understand?" Before anyone could answer— "No. Shut up. I don’t want to hear your responses." Snap. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦 He clicked his fingers. Magic circles erupted beneath their feet, glowing violently. Damon’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "The first test begins. Now." And in the next breath— They were gone. ... Damon looked down at the remaining contracted beasts. His gaze lingered on Neko. "You stay here. Watch your dear masters." Then, his eyes landed on Ester—who had returned to her human form. "Interesting." He clapped his hands. And suddenly—a projection appeared. Not just here. Everywhere. The Emperor’s palace. The great families. The elven domain. The beast domain. All eyes were on the test. And what they saw— ... The participants reappeared in a forest. A vast, endless expanse of ancient trees. Noah stood alone. Damon’s voice echoed from the sky. "This test is simple." "There are monsters in this forest. The weakest is B-rank." "Reach the center. One you reach the center the first part of this test will be done. And for the second part, you will know it once there." "You each have a token. It will record your kills. Beast and humans alike." "If you kill another participant, their token becomes yours and so their kills." "Once two hundred people reached the center, the rest who didn’t will be automatically eliminated and will be sent out." "The test lasts 1 day." His voice was absolute. "And it starts now." Silence. Noah exhaled. Alone. Shadowless. He smirked. —End of Chapter 27—