Following the instructions, all five applicants stepped inside the circle, each maintaining a certain distance from the others at the edges.

Their postures were tense, eyes darting with vigilance.

The red-haired young man was already grinning.

Opposite him stood Raizel, wielding his damaged steel sword.

But the red-haired boy had no intention of targeting Raizel. His gaze was locked on the weaker contestants.

He gripped an expensive-looking spear, its edge sharp enough to pierce iron like mud.

"Begin!"

As soon as the thundering voice echoed, everyone moved.

Naturally, the red-haired boy lunged toward the weak-looking boy beside Raizel.

But then—a silvery blur with crimson eyeballs shot toward him at superhuman speed.

His pupils shrank in disbelief as he recognized who it was.

It was Raizel.

"Fu*k, why is he targeting me?"

He asked himself the most foolish question.

After all the provocations he had thrown, he now acted as if he were an innocent bystander.

"Puah!"

With a single, ruthless strike from Raizel's elbow to his stomach, the red-haired boy's mouth twisted open as if he were about to lay an egg.

Then, with a agonized groan, his body was launched backward, soaring through the air as he clutched his abdomen.

Thud!

In an instant, he was thrown out of the circle.

Silence filled the battlefield.

Everyone froze in bafflement.

Raizel stood tall, his crimson eyes flashing with mockery as he gazed down at the fallen opponent.

"Why… me?" the red-haired boy muttered, looking up at Raizel with an expression of pure incomprehension.

"Because your face annoys me," Raizel said simply, gripping his sword.

Bzzz..

Just then, a faint shiver ran down his spine.

Instinctively, he turned back only to see the black-haired girl stood without any expression.

But a sharp energy slash in shape of her dagger coming at with ruthless intention.

The sheer force behind it was overwhelming, enough to kill any ordinary man.

"Damn... Another version of Kierra?" Raizel cursed internally.

Without hesitation, he swung his sword, unleashing [ Nullifying Strike ], a dark crimson slash crackling with ominous energy.

The two attacks clashed in mid-air.

And when they did, nothing remained. Only faint wisps of magic particles dissolving into the air.

No explosion. No violent movement. Simply... nothing.

"....."

A moment of silence hung in the air.

What just happened?

Navarna's pupils constricted in disbelief.

Not just her—the Examiners, and even Sage Camilla, furrowed their brows in confusion.

What had they just witnessed?

How could magic dissolve like nothing?

What kind of magic did Raizel just use?

Their silence lingered—until the poor girl, taking advantage of the momentary distraction, shoved the other young man out of the circle.

And just like that, the final test was over.

The two male Examiners quickly finalized the results, officially recognizing the three new members.

Meanwhile, the red-haired boy and the silent young man were dismissed.

As they left, their shoulders slumped in disappointment.

The red-haired boy, however, cast a venomous glare at Raizel before storming out.

Sage Camilla, on the other hand, remained still, watching the recorded footage of Raizel's strange attack over and over again. Her expression was grave.

Even after decades of experience, she couldn't comprehend what kind of magic he had just wielded.

It was something new. Something unique. Something unheard of.

She had encountered countless forms of magic. Like elemental spells, curses, barriers, healing arts, summoning techniques, even necromancy, demon magic, Dragon Magic and Spirit Magic.

Yet, for the first time, she found herself at a loss.

What exactly was this magic that Raizel had just displayed?

"Congratulations! From now on, you three are official members of the Apex Guild.

A warm welcome to you rookies!" Thomas declared after completing the paperwork.

Then another male Examiner stepped in.

"I am Squad Leader Joshua, and this is Squad Leader Thomas from Branch 17. And as you all might already know, she is Golden Shield Camilla, a Senior Officer from the main branch," Joshua said with a smile as he formally introduced themselves.

The trio nodded, their eyes filled with pride and honor.

More importantly, they were waiting for the real news. The true rewards.

Joshua chuckled, as if seeing right through their anticipation.

"You're right to be eager, juniors," he said. "As stated in the agreement you just signed, you will receive high-class residences in the Elite District and a 20-million-dollar signing bonus. Spend it wisely..." he announced with a wink.

"T-Tw-Twenty million...?"

The girl beside Navarna stammered in utter disbelief.

For her, 20 million was nothing short of a dream. She never imagined she would not only have a safe home but also such an incredible sum of money in her hands.

Initially, she had little hope of passing, but against all odds, she had truly become a member of the Apex Guild.

Was this sheer luck? Or perhaps, the result of a certain someone's unintentional help?

Though she had worked hard for this, she couldn't deny that fate had played its part.

Navarna, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed, completely unfazed by the announcement. It was clear that wealth wasn't something new to her. She likely had plenty already.

Raizel, meanwhile, had seen his fair share of money in his past life, but 20 million and an elite residence were game-changers in his current circumstances.

This wasn't just about luxury, it was an opportunity.

With a secure home in the Elite District, he could finally ensure his new family's safety.

And once they were settled, he could focus entirely on his bigger goals.

"Yes, twenty million," Thomas confirmed. "Within three days, the money will be transferred, and our staff will assist you in moving your family into your new residence."

Just then, Navarna interrupted. "Excuse me, Squad Leader. I'll have to refuse the new residency you're offering. I already have a home in the Elite District, so I don't think it's necessary."

Joshua shook his head, rejecting her request with a calm smile. "I'm sorry, Junior, but for the first three months, you'll have to stay within the Guild Quarters to ne within arm's reach. We could have emergency missions at any moment. I hope you understand. Otherwise, there's always the option to quit."

Navarna let out an irritated snort but knew she had no choice.

Raizel and the other girl had no objections.

However, Raizel was curious about what kind of missions would they be assigned? And more importantly, how would they manage game time alongside their guild duties?

With those questions lingering in his mind, he and the other two stepped out of the Examination Room.

As soon as they left, Sage Camilla, who had been silently observing, picked up her phone and dialed a certain number.

"Hello..."

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