I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 3

EP.3 Entrance Exam (2)

The entrance exam was reaching its final stages.

Now, the remaining test components were willpower and luck.

Luck wasn’t a stat the examinee could control, so now, testing only willpower would conclude the entrance exam.

“Before the final test, the instructor will guide you through the test’s procedure.”

The atmosphere of this final examination was quite different from the previous ones.

Assistant instructors stood around the exam room at regular intervals. Several doctors in white coats were also waiting, and the instructor was wearing protective gear.

“Since this test involves using hallucinogenic artifacts, it’s crucial for the examinees to cooperate as it could lead to significant accidents if mishandled.”

The instructor solemnly explained the test procedure and how to handle emergencies.

Kang Seo-Jun wondered if there might be something different from what he knew, but there didn’t seem to be any new information.

The test method was simple.

Enter the glass chamber of the hallucinogenic artifact and endure.

Once the test began, examinees would experience trauma and pain induced by the hallucinogenic artifact, tormenting them.

However, every year, there were one or two cases of examinees panicking, unable to press the button and seizing during the test.

The mental and physical agony compounded over time, and when the examinee felt they had reached their limit, they could press the red button provided by the instructor.

Some instances involved casting spells in all directions or attacking the staff, which justified the staff’s guarded stance.

“I’m so nervous…”

“They say this drains you completely, tears, snot, everything…”

“The aftereffects last a long time… Some couldn’t sleep properly for weeks due to persistent hallucinations.”

“They say it’s excruciating both mentally and physically…”

“Many end up vomiting or wetting themselves inside the artifact. But without doing this, it’s a guaranteed F-grade in willpower, right?”

The notorious reputation in society made the examinees equally tense.

“Gosh… Gosh…”

Only Kang Seo-Jun harbored quiet anticipation to test the limits of his willpower at level 30.

“Alright, Group 1, please enter!”

The instructor announced the start of the test.

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“Ugh… Ugh…!”

Examinees who finished the willpower assessment were collectively vomiting on one side.

“Ughh….”

User

Even the relatively better-off examinees were slumped in their chairs, their faces pale.

“Assistant, clean the artifact and prepare for the next group’s entry.”

After examining the condition of the examinees one by one, the instructor spoke.

“Yes.”

– Shhhhh! –

As the assistant pulled the lever, debris and various fluids inside the hallucinogenic artifact were washed away by the cleansing solution.

A warm breeze followed, drying the moisture. The glass chamber, as if questioning its own dirtiness, gleamed clean again.

“Now, it’s the final group’s turn. Enter!”

Finally, the test was nearing its end.

“This group has quite a few prominent figures.”

The instructor scanned the list of examinees and remarked.

‘Jin Se-Rin, Park Shin-Hoo.’

The successors of the top two positions in Korea’s corporate world.

They say adversaries meet on the narrow bridge.

Coincidentally, these two ended up in the same cohort, competing for the Fruit of the Sun.

‘Overall, Park Shin-Hoo has higher abilities. However, no matter how good the abilities, without willpower, it’s all for naught.’

The instructor pondered while perusing the resumes of the two examinees.

‘If Park Shin-Hoo surpasses Jin Se-Rin even in willpower, their competition is practically settled.’

The instructor observed each examinee entering the glass chamber, making predictions.

‘As for the rest…’

Then, one examinee caught their eye.

Walking with a twisted leg, struggling with every step, as if about to collapse at any moment, gasping for breath as if even a few steps were overwhelming.

Neither the skin, skeletal structure, nor physique appeared normal in this examinee.

It was Kang Seo-Jun.

‘Most of this examinee’s stats were at level 1, F-grade. Intelligence is the only one at 8 points, but it’s still a low E-grade value.’

The instructor gazed at Kang Seo-Jun with a bitter expression.

‘The Academy’s admission test standard would likely require an average stat of 6 or above, or at least one A-grade stat of 26 or higher.’

The instructor shook their head.

‘An A-grade implies an elite level among active hunters. It’s inconceivable for this examinee, with stats averaging F-grade or below, to possess A-grade willpower.’

The instructor felt a pang of bitterness.

‘Such a pity. Yet they came here with a glimmer of hope for the test, nonetheless.’

While the instructor entertained these thoughts, each examinee completed their preparations and entered their designated glass chambers.

“Alright, is everyone ready? If you are, then concentrate.”

Every examinee inside the glass chamber concentrated without fail.

Kang Seo-Jun did the same.

The instructor, casting an uneasy glance at Kang Seo-Jun, spoke.

“Good. Let the test commence.”

– Whirrr! –

As the glass chamber turned crimson, the test began.

‘This sensation…’

Kang Seo-Jun savored the creeping, tingling pain that seeped in from his fingertips.

When he opened his eyes, the world spun around him. When closed, unsettling shapes replayed like images.

The noise grew closer in his ears. Drilling sounds, screams.

Even the smell, taste, and sensation on the skin distorted agonizingly over time, altering every human sense.

But what was stimulated wasn’t just his senses.

‘This is…’

What surfaced before Kang Seo-Jun’s eyes was his past.

Memories he didn’t want to recall.

Traumas from school, family, military, social life.

Memories that occasionally haunted Kang Seo-Jun vividly and exaggeratedly played out like videos.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Yet, it had no impact on Kang Seo-Jun.

Once he entered the game and started a new life, that past became nothing more than someone else’s past in the form of a video.

‘If it continues like this, it should go smoothly.’

Kang Seo-Jun was relaxed enough to even whistle.

But it wasn’t the same for the other examinees.

“Ugh…”

“Hah…!”

“Groan…!”

Each one’s complexion worsened in real-time.

“Gosh…!”

Suddenly, one began vomiting inside the glass chamber.

“Ugh…!”

The condition of Jin Se-Rin and Park Shin-Hoo wasn’t any better.

– Beep! –

“Ugh…! Gosh…!”

Soon, the first dropout emerged.

As soon as the door of the glass chamber opened, he collapsed to the floor, vomiting and kneeling.

“Assistant! Attend to the examinee!”

The instructor calmly controlled the situation.

‘They’re holding up better than I thought…’

The instructor thought, observing Kang Seo-Jun.

Even though it was a low segment passing from F-grade to E-grade, his demeanor seemed immensely serene.

It seemed like he could have been asleep right there.

However, occasional movements of his lips indicated he hadn’t yet lost consciousness.

– Beep! –

– Beep-Beep! –

– Beep! –

“Ugh…!”

“Gosh…!”

“Groan!”

As the artifact’s intensity passed from the E-grade segment into the D-grade, dropouts emerged one after another.

“Assistant!”

The assistants swiftly attended to the examinees under the instructor’s control.

Now, only Jin Se-Rin, Park Shin-Hoo, and Kang Seo-Jun remained.

The partially recovered examinees sighed as they looked at these three.

“Those three indeed have exceptional willpower. It’s natural they’d at least get a C-grade.”

“But who’s that with them?”

“Was there someone else?”

The examinees looked towards Kang Seo-Jun.

“Whoa, he’s there too. Didn’t expect that.”

“It’s a really mismatched combination.”

“He’s rated F-grade, right?”

“His intelligence is said to be E-grade?”

“Then the rest must all be F-grades too. Legendary.”

“He’ll drop out soon, too.”

Contrary to the examinees’ expectations, as time passed, Kang Seo-Jun remained composed.

By now, the artifact’s intensity was in the mid-range of C-grade, requiring a willpower level of around 18.

At this point, Jin Se-Rin and Park Shin-Hoo started to struggle slightly, grimacing or clenching their fists.

However, Kang Seo-Jun showed no signs of discomfort.

Rather, he appeared serene, as if lying in a warm flower bed, even leisurely stretching his neck within it.

“Is that artifact really functioning properly?”

“The red light is illuminating. The artifact is active.”

“Wow, so he’s enduring it?”

“When I entered the D-grade range, it was hell…”

“How can he be so calm? It seems even standing there would be difficult for him.”

While the waiting examinees admired Kang Seo-Jun,

– Beep! –

The dropout signal sounded, and Jin Se-Rin’s glass chamber door opened.

“Kuh…! Hah…!”

Unlike other dropouts, Jin Se-Rin didn’t vomit or lose control, but her legs seemed to lose strength. She staggered, unable to walk much and eventually sat down, glaring at the two still in the test.

‘In the end, Jin Se-Rin dropped out first.’

The instructor thought, marking a C-grade on Jin Se-Rin’s exam sheet.

‘This round’s top scorer will likely be Park Shin-Hoo.’

The instructor assessed the condition of the remaining two examinees.

Now, the artifact’s intensity reached the B-grade range.

Having persevered until this point indicated both their willpowers were 21 or higher.

Park Shin-Hoo, finding it increasingly difficult to endure, grimaced heavily and furrowed their brow.

Meanwhile, Kang Seo-Jun’s expression remained incredibly serene.

The instructor furrowed their brow in puzzlement.

‘Initially, it might be possible, but how can he remain this composed in the B-grade range? Especially with such a body?’

Inherently, willpower wasn’t a stat one could independently cultivate. Strong will was usually embedded in a robust physique, one of many beliefs the instructor had.

Approaching Kang Seo-Jun to check if the artifact was functioning properly, the instructor got closer.

‘The artifact is functioning normally. Mana flow hasn’t distorted. If it’s not resistance-type…’

Despite the dreadful physical condition that could lead to death the next day, Kang Seo-Jun seemed unperturbed, enduring the challenging B-grade willpower segment that even active heroes found daunting.

It was a moment when the instructor’s long-standing belief wavered.

– Beep! –

At that moment, the dropout signal sounded, and Park Shin-Hoo’s glass chamber opened.

“Phew…! Haa…!”

Appearing exhausted, Park Shin-Hoo took a few unsteady steps. Covered in cold sweat, he didn’t collapse but slowly opened his eyes, surveying his surroundings as if coming back to life.

As Park Shin-Hoo glanced back, seeing Jin Se-Rin still sitting weakly, a smirk formed.

‘I was the last one.’

With that thought, Park Shin-Hoo turned around.

However…

‘What? That guy!?’

There was still one more man taking the test.

‘Enduring the latter half of the B-grade range?’

Park Shin-Hoo pushed through until the very last limit before pressing the button.

But that guy, with a serene expression as if he hadn’t even reached the final stage, showed no sign of fatigue.

‘Unbelievable.’

Being this composed at this stage was incomprehensible.

Despite enduring countless hellish training sessions to boost his willpower.

Even with all that effort, he fell short at 23, only reaching the mid-range of B-grade.

Yet, what about that guy?

The intensity of his willpower test had surpassed the A-grade range.