Kai’s body was currently undergoing a strange transformation. The entire right half of his body became covered in darkness.

His hair on the right side turned black, while his right eye transformed into a crimson-red pupil surrounded by a pitch-black sclera.

He continued maintaining his clenched hand posture as he struggled to sustain the summoning.

Meanwhile, Umbravore slowly walked toward him as though it intended to devour its own master.

Suddenly, the monstrous creature leaped forward, attempting to pounce directly onto Kai.

Kai immediately released his grasped fists, instantly canceling the summoning. The shadow spreading across the ground rapidly returned to him before merging back into his shadow.

Kai then dropped onto one knee while heavily catching his breath. After that, he slowly lifted his head and looked toward all the Grandmasters seated above.

"What a vile monster. I do not want something like that inside my house." Grandmaster Lexus of House Avaris said coldly.

Most of the Grandmasters and Vice-Grandmasters silently agreed with him. They were clearly hesitant to allow such an uncontrollable and dangerous monster into their houses.

All except one.

"It truly is an interesting monster. I have never seen anything quite like it before. It perfectly matches the reputation surrounding your name across the kingdom. I want to see what else you are capable of. So... come join my House." Grandmaster Zeon of House of Noctic said calmly.

He was an enigmatic-looking man with black-colored lips, dark shadows around his eyes, and long black hair flowing behind him.

Kai slowly stood up and gave a small nod before walking away from the platform and returning to his seat. The moment he sat down, many nearby candidates quietly moved farther away from him. None of them wanted to sit close to someone carrying such a terrifying monster.

But Kai did not care even in the slightest. He was already used to this treatment.

Isolation, fear and hatred.

Those things had long since become part of his everyday life. Then suddenly, Kai noticed someone staring at him.

He turned his head slightly and his pitch-black eyes met Oliver’s golden eyes. The two silently stared at each other for several seconds. Before Kai eventually closed his eyes quietly.

’That guy actually possesses an SS Rank monster. The highest rank monster I have ever seen. Where in the world did he even find something like that? I really want to test how strong that monster truly is. But judging from earlier, it seems he still cannot fully control it yet. That is actually very dangerous.’ Oliver thought deeply while staring toward the front.

"Next, Klade Azure!"

"AHHHH!!"

Suddenly, loud cheers erupted throughout the hall. The atmosphere was completely opposite from Kai’s earlier appearance.

It felt as though a celebrity had just arrived. And honestly, that was not far from the truth.

A handsome blonde young man with a tall figure calmly walked toward the stage. He possessed beautiful purple eyes along with a mole near the corner of his mouth, adding charm to his appearance. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Many female students on both the ground floor and upper floors immediately screamed excitedly upon seeing him.

"Ahh... I’m really jealous of him." Max muttered.

"Who is he? Why is he so famous?" Oliver asked in confusion.

Max stared at Oliver in disbelief.

"You seriously don’t know him?! What is wrong with you? He’s actually the nephew of the current king of our kingdom! He’s basically fifth in line for the royal succession. He’s a major noble!"

"I see." Oliver replied casually.

"What do you mean ’I see’?! That’s your reaction?" Max stared at him speechlessly.

Meanwhile, Klade continued waving toward all the cheering students while displaying a charming smile. Once he arrived at the center of the stage, he politely bowed his head.

"Klade Azure gladly greets all the esteemed Grandmasters and Vice-Grandmasters." he introduced himself elegantly.

He then slowly raised one hand upward before closing his eyes. A massive summoning array suddenly appeared beneath him.

"Arise! Ethilas, the Mighty Dragon of Terranova!"

Suddenly, Klade’s body was lifted upward as a gigantic dragon emerged from below him. The dragon fully revealed itself moments later.

It measured nearly five meters in size, possessed enormous wings, and its entire body was covered in hard volcanic rock-like scales. Meanwhile, Klade stood proudly atop the dragon’s head.

<Ethilas>

All the students throughout the hall were completely amazed. For many of them, this was the very first time they had ever seen a real dragon.

"A dragon!" Oliver instinctively stood up the moment he saw the majestic creature before him.

Riding atop a dragon had always been one of his greatest dreams. And after finally seeing one with his own eyes, his desire to obtain a dragon of his own only grew even stronger.

"Ahhh... so majestic! Is he actually the prince I’ve been waiting for all this time?" Gloria muttered dreamily while staring at Klade with sparkling eyes.

Even Kai showed slight interest toward the dragon before him.

Soon after, the selection process began. And instantly, every single House raised their hands without hesitation. There was absolutely no way they would willingly miss the opportunity to recruit a dragon tamer.

However, deep down, all of them already knew which house Klade would ultimately choose. After all, there was only one house within the academy that possessed the highest number of dragon tamers.

"I choose House of Mythragon. Please take care of me from now on." Klade said politely while bowing his head before stepping down from the stage.

After all the cheering finally died down, everyone’s attention shifted toward the final remaining candidate. All of them were curious about what kind of monster the last candidate would summon.

After all, every single year, the final candidate was always among the most influential, if not the strongest.

Back during Auron’s generation, he had been the second-to-last candidate called. Meanwhile, Aria had been the third-to-last.

"And finally... Oliver Overheart!"

"Come on, Oliver! You can do it!" Max shouted while slapping Oliver’s back encouragingly. But suddenly, Max realized something important.

’Oliver is actually the final candidate called. That means...is he actually the strongest among all of us?!’ Max’s jaw slowly dropped in shock. He had completely forgotten about that fact until now.

Oliver walked calmly forward before passing by Klade, who secretly stole a glance at him.

’Is he a commoner? A commoner is actually ranked higher than me, a dragon tamer?!’ Klade thought inwardly.

For him, dragon tamers had always stood at the very peak of the hierarchy. That belief had existed for generations. If Oliver was not a dragon tamer, then Klade would never truly accept it.

Soon, Oliver arrived at the center of the platform. At that moment, all eyes within the hall focused entirely on him.

Gloria. Kai. Klade. Auron. Aria.

All of them were staring directly at Oliver. Even many of the most talented and influential students watching from the upper floors had fixed their attention on him now.

"Pardon me."

Suddenly, the Vice-Grandmaster of House Mythragon stood up respectfully. Then, from behind her, another figure slowly arrived.

The moment this individual entered the hall, the atmosphere instantly changed. She emitted the most overwhelming aura within the entire hall.

The woman calmly walked forward before taking her seat at the center position among all the Grandmasters. She possessed long black hair and a pair of sharp golden eyes.

And the moment she sat down, her gaze immediately locked directly onto Oliver.

"Finally...you’re here." Oliver muttered nervously under his breath.