Field Seven.
One of the primary examination grounds of Aetherial Institute.
The field stretched across an entire valley.
Ancient stone platforms stood at regular intervals.
Massive runic formations glowed beneath the ground.
Protective barriers surrounded the area.
Several observation towers overlooked the field from nearby cliffs.
Thousands of applicants had been divided among different testing grounds.
Yet even among them—
Field Seven possessed a particularly notorious reputation.
Because its supervisor was Senior Instructor Varian Holt.
A man famous for impossible standards.
A man famous for failing students without hesitation.
A man whose name alone could make applicants nervous.
At the center of the field stood the instructor himself.
Tall.
Broad shouldered.
Gray hair.
Sharp eyes.
The kind of man who looked capable of turning military drills into torture.
Around him.
Nearly two hundred applicants had gathered.
Nobody spoke loudly.
Nobody dared.
The pressure surrounding the instructor was simply too great.
Meanwhile—
Kel calmly arrived.
His travel bag rested over one shoulder.
His spear remained strapped to his back.
His sword hung at his waist.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing remarkable.
At least—
Until his eyes landed upon the instructor's hand.
And immediately froze.
Inside his mind.
Seiren noticed first.
"...Kel?"
Silence.
"Kel?"
More silence.
The Guardian blinked.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then she followed his gaze.
And immediately started laughing.
Not normal laughter.
The kind of laughter that shook entire lakes.
Far away.
Scarder Lake experienced suspicious waves.
Because in Senior Instructor Varian Holt's hand—
Was a spoon.
A spoon.
An actual metal spoon.
Polished.
Perfectly balanced.
And clearly well maintained.
Kel stared.
The spoon stared back.
His soul suffered damage.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Seiren collapsed.
"THEY INFECTED THE INSTRUCTORS!"
Kel remained silent.
Because honestly.
Words couldn't describe his feelings.
Years ago.
One normal throw.
One completely normal throw.
That was all he had done.
Now—
Academy instructors were carrying spoons.
Civilization had failed.
Meanwhile—
The other applicants looked confused.
Because unlike Kel.
They didn't find anything strange.
In fact.
Several applicants immediately looked excited.
One noble whispered.
"Look."
His friend followed his gaze.
Then gasped.
"A spoon."
The first nodded seriously.
"Divine Spoon Art."
Several nearby applicants immediately became interested.
Stories spread rapidly.
Within moments.
Half the group was staring at the instructor's spoon.
With admiration.
With respect.
With awe.
Kel wanted to jump back into the ocean.
Meanwhile—
Senior Instructor Varian slowly stepped forward.
His boots echoed across stone.
The conversations immediately died.
The field became silent.
The instructor's sharp eyes swept across the gathered applicants.
One by one.
Every student instinctively straightened their posture.
Even nobles.
Then—
Varian spoke.
His voice carried effortlessly throughout the field.
"Welcome."
Silence.
"Most of you will fail."
The atmosphere immediately darkened.
Several students swallowed nervously.
The instructor continued.
"I do not care about your status."
His gaze landed on several nobles.
"I do not care about your family."
His gaze moved elsewhere.
"I do not care about your confidence."
Several arrogant applicants immediately became uncomfortable.
Varian crossed his arms.
"I care about results."
The field remained silent.
Then—
The instructor slowly raised his hand.
And everyone saw it clearly.
The spoon.
Polished silver reflected sunlight.
A strange smile appeared on Varian's face.
A dangerous smile.
The type normally seen moments before disasters.
Kel immediately sensed danger.
The students sensed it too.
Then Varian announced:
"Whoever loses."
A pause.
The spoon rose higher.
"Will face the Spoon of Punishment."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
The entire field erupted.
"What?!"
"A spoon?!"
"Punishment?!"
"Why a spoon?!"
The instructor remained calm.
Very calm.
Meanwhile—
Inside Kel's mind.
Seiren could no longer breathe.
"THE SPOON OF PUNISHMENT!"
The Guardian laughed so hard that nearby fish probably ascended.
Kel closed his eyes.
The pain was immeasurable.
Meanwhile—
One brave applicant raised his hand.
"Instructor."
Varian nodded.
The student pointed.
"Why a spoon?"
The instructor's expression became solemn.
Suspiciously solemn.
Then he answered.
"Because greatness deserves respect."
Several students nodded.
Reasonable.
Then Varian continued.
"The creator of Divine Spoon Art demonstrated a truth."
Kel immediately sensed disaster approaching.
"The truth that any object can become a weapon."
Several students nodded enthusiastically.
"The truth that creativity surpasses convention."
More nodding.
"The truth that greatness may hide within ordinary things."
The instructor raised the spoon dramatically.
The students became inspired.
Kel became emotionally damaged.
Inside his mind—
Seiren wheezed.
"They're making philosophy out of your nonsense!"
Kel wanted to disappear.
Meanwhile—
The students looked toward the spoon differently now.
Not as cutlery.
As wisdom.
As enlightenment.
As destiny.
The situation had become irreparable.
Then—
Varian suddenly swung the spoon.
A sonic crack exploded.
BOOM!
The air shattered.
The nearby ground cracked.
The students froze.
The spoon remained intact.
Perfectly intact.
Silence spread.
Then someone whispered.
"...Master."
Another nodded.
The instructor had genuinely mastered the technique.
The realization terrified everyone.
Except Kel.
Because Kel recognized what actually happened.
The instructor wasn't using Divine Spoon Art.
He was simply incredibly powerful.
The spoon merely happened to be the chosen weapon.
Unfortunately—
Nobody else realized this.
The myths would only grow worse.
Then Varian spoke again.
"Now."
The students immediately straightened.
"The first examination."
The instructor pointed toward several stone platforms.
"There are one hundred platforms."
The field shifted.
Runes activated.
The platforms began glowing.
Ancient formations awakened.
Pressure filled the air.
"This test evaluates."
Varian's gaze swept across the applicants.
"Combat judgment."
"Adaptability."
"Mental composure."
"Decision making."
Kel immediately became interested.
A practical examination.
Good.
Far better than simple sparring.
Then the instructor continued.
"You will be transported individually."
The runes brightened.
"Inside the formation."
Ancient power stirred.
"Every challenge will be different."
The applicants became nervous.
Very nervous.
One asked:
"How do we pass?"
Varian smiled.
A dangerous smile.
Then he pointed toward the spoon.
The students paled.
The instructor answered:
"Simple."
A pause.
"Don't lose."
The field became silent again.
Meanwhile—
Names started appearing above the platforms.
One by one.
Applicants were called forward.
The first student entered.
The formation activated.
He vanished.
The examination officially began.
Minutes later.
The student returned.
Covered in dirt.
Bruised.
Emotionally devastated.
And immediately—
BONK.
The Spoon of Punishment descended upon his head.
A clear metallic sound echoed.
The entire field froze.
The student collapsed dramatically.
Not injured.
Just embarrassed.
The instructor nodded.
"Failed."
The applicants collectively shivered.
Inside his mind.
Seiren laughed again.
"Kel."
"What?"
"You have created a religion."
The Guardian sounded genuinely impressed.
Kel watched another applicant get struck by the Spoon of Punishment.
Then another.
Then another.
The horrifying truth became obvious.
The instructor genuinely enjoyed this.
Far too much.
Then—
A new name appeared above one of the platforms.
The glowing letters shone brightly.
Aedon Flinth
The field grew quiet.
Several applicants looked toward him.
Varian looked toward him.
Even the spoon seemed interested.
Inside his mind.
Seiren laughed.
"Go on."
The Guardian sounded delighted.
"Face the consequences of your actions."
Kel silently walked toward the platform.
Because unfortunately—
She wasn't entirely wrong.
Somehow.
Somewhere.
His normal throw had evolved into this nightmare.
And now.
A spoon-wielding instructor awaited his performance.