Before a massive white door, Noah, Elijah, and Sophie stood in still, uneasy silence.

The air was tense—not from anything spoken, but from what awaited beyond.

They were about to meet The Dean of Apex Academy.

Noah’s eyes shifted to Elijah. Narrowed.

Something was off.

The boy who had sulked in silence yesterday was now standing taller—eyes focused, posture sharp, even slightly smiling.

Too calm. Too confident.

What happened?

Noah frowned internally. No one shifts that fast without a reason. He must’ve received something. A blessing? A power-up?

Fucking protagonists. Walking plots twists. Always unpredictable. I need to move faster. Leona must be brought under control before he gets another lucky break.

Noah said nothing aloud, but his silence was loaded.

Elijah caught the look and smirked quietly to himself. Just wait, Noah. You’re not ready for what’s coming.

Before tension could break into words, a familiar voice sliced through the air.

“Well, you’re on time. That’s perfect.”

Damon’s voice echoed behind them. Smooth, relaxed… but there was weight behind it. The kind of presence that crushed without trying.

“The Dean has decided to meet each of you alone. You should be honored. She rarely bothers with students individually.”

He paused, scanning their reactions.

“It means you’re seen as worthy in her eyes.”

Noah’s heart ticked faster. He stepped forward as Damon turned to him.

“As first-ranked, you’re up.”

Noah gave a respectful nod and approached the door.

The moment he stepped through—it was like entering another world.

No. It was another world.

The Dean’s office wasn’t a room. It was a realm.

Everything was white.

The walls, the air, the ground… it wasn’t simply colorless. It felt purified. Cleansed of distraction. Void of imperfection.

In the middle of the expanse, a lone table and a chair.

And there, seated with eerie calmness, was the Dean.

Her skin was pale. Her hair, white as snow. Even her eyes—completely white—lacked pupils or irises. A woman carved from moonlight.

What the hell is with all this white? Noah wondered before forcing himself to focus. This was not the time for stupid jokes.

He stepped forward and bowed with a firm voice. One that betrayed none of the nerves twisting inside him.

“I greet the Dean.”

“At ease,” she replied.

Her voice was like nothing he’d heard before. It echoed as if spoken by many—layered and vast—yet instead of unsettling, it felt… peaceful. Soothing.

But Noah didn’t relax.

He couldn’t.

He knew who he was facing.

For fifty chapters of the original novel, the Dean had remained a mystery. All that was known? She possessed mastery over space—on a level bordering divinity.

This realm? Likely created by her. Alone.

She gestured subtly, and the table between them shimmered.

“This meeting is your reward,” she said. “For your ranking. For your talents.”

“You may request something. If it’s within my reach, I’ll give it. If not, I’ll offer something equivalent.”

She paused.

“But…”

The atmosphere shifted. Pressure. Invisible yet immense.

“Do not overstep. I despise greed.”

Noah stood still, calculating.

This was an opportunity. A rare one.

And he needed to make it count.

I need a backing. A strong one.

Mother’s influence doesn’t stretch here. In Apex, I’m alone. And if I plan to pull strings, manipulate power, and go to war with protagonists… I can’t afford to remain alone.

What better choice than the Dean herself?

He smiled. Calm. Harmless.

“I want your support.”

Silence.

No games. No twisting words. Just truth.

There was no point trying to manipulate someone like her.

The Dean tilted her head slightly.

“Did I not just warn you?”

The words carried no emotion—but the realm itself reacted. Reality pressed down on him. Like his very existence was being overwritten.

This… this isn’t pressure.

This is suppression.

His memories, his confidence, even his name felt like they were crumbling.

His breath shortened.

His body screamed.

Death.

Not defeat.

Not injury.

True, soul-erasing death.

What the hell is this…?! he thought, instinctively unleashing his Aura of Limitlessness.

The pressure eased—just barely—but it was enough to remain conscious.

He stood straighter, refusing to bend.

First Damon. Now the Dean.

He was getting very tired of being tested by overwhelming forces.

But he didn’t back down.

Not this time.

The Dean observed him silently, her eyes unreadable.

“Oh… is that your fourth aura?” she finally asked, voice curious. “Fascinating. And this one… this one is special.”

She leaned forward.

“You’re fifteen, correct?”

She smiled faintly.

“Let’s test you properly.”

“If you can endure my aura for one full hour without losing consciousness—I will give you my support.”

Noah had no time to respond.

The pressure multiplied.

He dropped to his knees.

The floor cracked beneath him.

His vision blurred.

His consciousness bent under the weight of something ancient.

Across the room, the Dean—Elira Varnis—watched him. Still smiling.

Within her mind, voices echoed. Not one. Many.

‘Are you sure about this?’

‘This is too harsh. He’s only a child.’

‘Disciple, you risk too much.’

‘Granddaughter, you can’t take sides—not now. You know the rules.’

But Elira’s expression didn’t change.

‘If he survives, I’ll take him as my disciple.’

The voices fell silent.

Stunned.

‘You can’t mean that…’

‘You understand what that means.’

‘He has the talent,’ Elira replied. ‘Four auras by fifteen. One of them beyond what we’ve seen. Even our most gifted won’t compare.’

She paused.

‘If he can endure this… he has the will to match the talent. And that’s what matters.’

‘What about the Chosen One?’ one voice whispered.

Elira’s gaze didn’t flicker.

‘Let him be. He is the goddess’s champion. His time will come. But this boy… this one is mine.’

The voices went quiet.

Uncertain. But unwilling to challenge her further.

Elira leaned back, flicking her finger once. Time shimmered.

One hour in this realm would be ten minutes outside.

She rested her chin on her hand, eyes on Noah as he shook under the pressure, every second a battle to remain conscious.

She didn’t look cruel.

She looked… invested.

Come on, Noah…

Don’t break.

Prove it to me.

Prove me you have what it takes to be my protégé.

—End of Chapter 47—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel