"I've been visiting this place too many times, and yet I'm still amazed by how big it is."
ATLAS ACADEMY.
The towering heart of the world's hero society, Atlas Academy was more than just a school—it was a symbol. A monument that stretched toward the heavens, with gleaming white towers and impossible architecture, like a palace sculpted by gods and engineers alike. It shimmered against the sky, untouchable, untamed, and intimidating.
And here I was, standing in its shadow, not as a tourist this time, but as one of its so-called Special Admission Students.
Admitted, but not exempt. I still had to pass the written exam like everyone else.
And for three days, I balanced an absurd life: nurturing a dragon egg like a first-time parent while cramming magical theory, monster classification, and Atlas law into my skull.
Sleep was a luxury I didn't have.
Stress was a luxury I couldn't afford.
But…
It was worth it.
Bi Hong—the last Cloud Dragon—had hatched. And not just hatched, but chosen me.as her father.
Cloud dragons are creatures of myth. Even in Atlas Online, they were only mentioned in scraps of forgotten lore or hidden behind vague achievements no one could unlock.
They were not beasts. They were illusions given life, wind given memory, and clouds given soul.
When they hatch, they don't look like dragons. No horns. No claws. No fangs. Just a floating cloud—milk white, soft and glowing, hiding their true form behind an illusion even the sharpest mage couldn't pierce. It is said only those who've reached the peak of illusion can truly see through them.
Or those they trust.
"Shall we go inside, Bi Hong?"
"Bibi!"
She bounced next to me in the air like a happy marshmallow spirit, her cheeks faintly glowing pink from excitement. I smiled. Even if no one else could see her, to me she was family now.
We made our way into the entrance stadium. The atmosphere was buzzing—an energy only youth, ambition, and anxiety could create. New students gathered in droves, sitting in their designated rows. Despite the size of the stadium, it was only half-filled.
Roughly 5,001 students were accepted into Atlas this year.
The last one?
The main character of the webnovel [I Entered a Romance Novel].
I remembered her.
Vaguely.
I only got through 13 volumes of that story before dropping it. Honestly, the pacing dragged, and the main character never really clicked with me. It was strange seeing it now in motion, all these "fictional" people walking past me, breathing and talking as if they were always real.
But the most surreal part of all?
I was one of them now.
i put Bi Hong at my laps and sit tight until the opening ceremony started.
[" I welcome you all to the opening ceremony of the Atlas academy, my name is Sora and I will be the one that will lead this opening ceremony."]
The voice echoed through the massive stadium—not through speakers, but directly into the minds of every student present. Calm, sharp, and authoritative, it carried the kind of weight that made even the most arrogant kids sit up straight.
Everyone turned their heads toward the center of the stadium.
A pillar of light descended from the open sky, and from it emerged a woman dressed in a sleek black uniform trimmed with silver. Her long white hair flowed effortlessly behind her making her seems more...
Majestic.
— I told you that it was Sora.
— I mean, how can I believe you when you said that one of the EX – Rank hero will be one of the teachers here.
— Ah.... Lady Sora truly befitting her title as the Sword Queen.
The second the instructor told her name the stadium are filled with a lot of ruckus, there was one who admire her, one who fell in love with her, and one who mock her for her beauty.
But the ruckus are mostly filled with praise.
["Now, I will explain the entrance test."]
A soft hum echoed throughout the vast stadium as a holographic panel flickered to life, hovering high in the air for all to see. Blue light shimmered across the vast dome, capturing the attention of every single student seated within.
The panel displayed a detailed rundown of the entrance test, section by section — how it would start, how it would progress, and most importantly, how it would end.
[ "As you all can se...,"] a calm yet authoritative voice echoed through the stadium, ["the first test is the written exam. The second is the aptitude assessment. And lastly, you will face the trial by combat."]
The air grew tense.
You could hear the silence, even in a room packed with thousands. Everyone sat still, wide-eyed and frozen, anxiously waiting for the worst.
Why were they so nervous? Well… there's a very specific reason.
This exam wasn't something you'd just sit at a desk for. No multiple-choice sheets or calm little aptitude puzzles.
No.
Before the exam even began, the instructor — a woman shrouded in flowing white robes and an aura of immense magic — would snap her fingers. And that simple gesture?
That was the signal.
The moment her fingers clicked, a portal would tear open beneath your feet, sending you hurtling into a mysterious place called The Cube.
It wasn't just some training room or simulation. The Cube existed between the real world and the infinite space — a pocket dimension that players of [Atlas Online] might recognize as the place where high-level boss fights usually happened.
But this wasn't a game anymore. This was real.
The Cube was a place created by the Principal of Atlas Academy, and the only known mage in history to have reached the true peak of magic.
Andreas Dunala — also known by the title The First Mage.
She wasn't just the school's principal she was a living legend. The woman who pioneered space magic itself, shattering magical limits and propelling technology forward to new heights — so much so that, by the year 2025, the world had already transformed.
[ "Well..."] her voice rang out once more, light and playful despite the heavy tension,[ "I think you've all understood enough…"]
Then it happened.
With a gentle snap of her fingers, the test officially began.
["I hereby start the entrance examination. I wish you the best of luck. Do try not to die~"]
The stadium shook for a brief moment. A blue-colored gate formed beneath each student's seat like a ripple in the air — then, without warning, it collapsed into itself.
And we fell.
All of us — myself included — were sucked downward, tumbling through the glowing portal and into The Cube.
To be Continued...