Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 81: [Run Immediately]

Kael stepped through the portal with firm strides, ignoring the looks of shock, envy, and fear burning behind him. The sound of his boots echoed against the polished stone floor as he crossed the main entrance of Azalith Academy.

As he passed through the grand iron gate adorned with arcane symbols, the vision before him unfolded into something truly magnificent.

Azalith was not just an academy; it was an empire of knowledge and power. The campus stretched over a vast area, filled with towering buildings of white marble and gold, magical observatory towers, training arenas, and a massive library in the background, its gleaming dome reflecting the stars even during the day.

The corridors buzzed with students of different ages and backgrounds, clad in robes or armor that signified their houses and specializations. Some were young nobles seeking knowledge, while others exuded an aura of power and experience, likely veterans of the academy.

Kael smirked.

"Well, I think I'm going to have some fun here."

Following the engraved symbols on the ground, he soon found himself standing before a massive circular courtyard where hundreds of students had gathered. At its center, an imposing statue of a dragon with outstretched wings commanded respect from all who passed.

He quickly assessed his surroundings.

"So, this is the first selection?" he concluded, noticing the professors and academy knights lined up in front of the crowd.

An elderly man with graying hair and a navy-blue robe stepped onto a small stone platform, raising his hand to silence the audience.

"Welcome to Azalith Academy!" His strong, authoritative voice echoed, amplified by magic. "You are here because you possess potential, because you have proven your worth, or because you carry a name strong enough to be accepted. However…" His eyes scanned the crowd. "None of you are above the academy's rules."

Kael raised an eyebrow. Despite the elder's strict tone, many students around him displayed exaggerated confidence, some chuckling softly or whispering among themselves.

"The entrance exam will begin now! Wait for your names to be called and proceed to the evaluation gates!"

The murmurs grew louder. Some seemed nervous, while others mentally prepared themselves for the test.

Kael sighed.

"Let's get this over with."

The line advanced slowly. One by one, the students stepped onto a platform, placing their hands on a large crystal sphere that floated above a black pedestal. The sphere measured their potential by absorbing the mana they channeled.

Kael, however, paid little attention. To him, this was just a bureaucratic ritual before he could finally explore the academy. He still held his letter of recommendation, unaware that he didn't even need to be there.

When his turn arrived, one of the instructors—a tall man with dark hair and a robe embroidered with silver runes—looked at him with disinterest.

"Name?" he asked without lifting his eyes.

"Kael Scarlet," he answered casually.

The instructor froze for a moment, his eyes widening slightly before he quickly masked his surprise. His gaze shifted to his colleague beside him, who also seemed uneasy.

The professors and onlookers began murmuring among themselves.

"Scarlet...? Did he say Scarlet?"

"Wait… Is he related to Elion Scarlet?!"

"Why the hell is he taking the test?! He's literally a member of the Royal Family of Witches!"

Kael ignored the whispers and raised his hand to touch the sphere.

"Well, let's get this over with…" he muttered, not bothering to channel his mana properly.

As soon as his fingers touched the crystalline surface, a blinding flash engulfed the hall. A deafening roar echoed as the sphere began to crack, unable to contain the absurd energy it was absorbing. Rivers of purple and golden energy pulsed violently, illuminating the entire space like a miniature sun.

The instructors immediately stepped back.

"STOP THE TEST! STOP THE TEST!" one of the examiners shouted desperately.

But it was already too late.

The sphere exploded in a whirlwind of chaotic energy, sending raw mana blasts through the air. The impact was so intense that some students were knocked off their feet, while professors hastily conjured magical barriers to shield themselves. The explosion reverberated across the entire campus.

Kael blinked, confused, staring at the remains of the sphere.

"Was that supposed to happen?" he asked innocently.

Silence. Absolute silence.

A professor—an elderly elf with a silver beard—slowly stood up, his eyes wide with pure terror.

"This... this is impossible," he murmured, looking at Kael as if he were staring at a living calamity. "He didn't even channel his mana properly… and yet he broke the Evaluation Sphere?!"

Another instructor, trembling, grabbed his colleague's shoulder.

"This isn't normal. No human should have that much mana!"

A mage responsible for the exam checked his clipboard, swallowing hard.

"The last one to do something like this was…" His voice faltered before he could finish. "...The Witch Queen."

All eyes were now fixed on Kael. What had started as a simple magical aptitude test now felt like a public execution.

The silence was shattered by the rhythmic sound of boots clicking against the marble floor.

A woman emerged from the crowd. Fiery red hair cascaded over her shoulders, an immaculate military uniform emphasizing her rigid and commanding posture. Her aura was suffocating, as if the very air around her had grown heavier. Her sharp gaze scanned the scene before locking onto Kael.

Her mere presence was enough to make even the professors shudder.

"Why the hell is someone like you here?" Her voice cut through the air like a drawn blade—cold and sharp.

Kael blinked, slightly puzzled.

"Huh? Oh, hello." He replied casually. "I'm just taking the test. I'll be on my way soon."

As if nothing had happened, he turned to one of the instructors, letting out a sigh.

"My bad," he said with a laid-back smile. "I just wanted to scare those kids over there, but I guess I caused trouble for you guys. My apologies."

The entire hall held its breath. His voice carried such an effortless lightness that it was obvious to everyone—he wasn't the least bit sorry.

He shrugged and turned to leave.

Then, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.

The System activated.

[Alert: Run immediately.]

Kael raised an eyebrow.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"You..." the red-haired woman began, her voice devoid of emotion.

A chill ran down the spines of everyone present.

"...dared to ignore me?"

The entire hall seemed to shrink. The atmosphere grew dense, weighed down by an overwhelming pressure that made even the most seasoned professors break into a cold sweat.

"I... the Sword Demon..." She took a step forward, her eyes glowing an intense crimson.

"I was ignored?"

Kael slowly turned back to her, a crooked smile on his lips.

"Huh?"

The instructors instinctively took steps backward. The students watched from afar, trembling, not daring to make a single sound.

Stella Xerath's fists clenched so tightly that audible cracks echoed through the hall.

"You're going to die, boy," she growled, her voice laced with pure bloodlust.

[Alert: You have entered Stella Xerath's crosshairs.]