Mind Space Awakening

"What is this? Where am I?"

Alex stared at the never-ending barren land, riddled with cracks. Confusion clouded his thoughts. He was taking the EE Academy test… how did he end up here?

Then he noticed—"Why am I flying? What is this? Where is my body?"

Alex was in mind space. He had awakened it during the academy test, a result of enduring immense pain and his desperate struggle to survive. Without realizing it, Alex had achieved the first stage of mind cultivation—The Awakening. A barren land was its manifestation.

Alex didn't know this, but mind space was something that even pseudo saints struggled to access.

Floating in that desolate void as a wisp, he drifted until another wave of pain slammed into his head. He gasped—and opened his eyes.

A white ceiling greeted him. Several single beds surrounded him.

Looking at his hands, he exclaimed with joy, "I'm back in my body!"

An instructor standing nearby blinked in surprise. "What? You're awake? You're fine now. Go to your room and rest. The second phase of the test starts after two days."

The instructor paused. "Your number is 4999, right? That's your room number too—on the fifth floor."

With that, the instructor turned and left.

"Let's go to my room first, then I'll think about that weird place. I still have a headache. And my clothes... they're ruined. I don't have any more. I should have brought extras."

Alex left the infirmary, quickly found the stairs—he was on the first floor—and made his way to the fifth. Room 4999.

"How do I open it?" He tried the handle. Locked. He pressed the number token hanging near it. A soft click—the door unlocked.

The room was luxurious. White sheets adorned the bed, thick drapes covered a large window, a pristine washroom lay in the corner, and a white sofa chair waited nearby.

Meanwhile, Rina Roarhart lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, torn by thoughts.

"What was Sister Emilia doing with that boy? Who was he? She never cares about anyone… except me, of course."

A smile tugged at her lips.

"Let's ask that boy."

Alex, now freshened up, lay on the bed again. Thoughts swirled in his mind.

"I'm really the weakest one here… there was no one else in the infirmary except me. I have to get stronger. If I knew you could use environmental elements, I wouldn't have gone through all that pain. And that place… that land, me without a body—was it a dream? No… it felt different. Let's try to remember that feeling again."

He closed his eyes.

He was there again. Bodyless. Floating in that barren land.

Then the pain returned—sharp and blinding.

He groaned, opening his eyes. "Back in my body… but this headache is killing me. Let's just sleep."

But before he could close his eyes, there was a knock on the door.

Grumbling, red-eyed from the pain, he opened it—

A girl stood outside. Wild, unkempt blonde hair down to her neck. Blue jeans. Black hoodie. A little shorter than Alex.

Irritated, he asked, "What?"

She smiled, unfazed. "Hello. My name is Rina Roarhart. Can I come in?"

Alex's eyes narrowed, red from pain and now rage. Gritting his teeth, he asked, "Do you know William Roarhart?"

Rina blinked. Caught off guard—but many knew William.

"Yes. He's my brother."

In an instant, Alex lunged—his hand gripping her neck, slamming her against the wall.

The physical strength granted by tempering his body with golden leaves was far beyond a normal human. Rina kicked and struggled, her face turning blue. She was moments from passing out—

Emilia burst into the hall. She yanked Alex's hand away from Rina.

Rina collapsed, coughing violently.

"What were you trying to do?!" Emilia shouted.

Still trembling with fury, Alex growled, "Getting my revenge."

"She didn't do anything to you!" Emilia snapped. "You don't even know her!"

"I know her brother. He tried to kill me. This is fair," Alex replied coldly.

Emilia sighed, voice sharp. "Let's talk inside. Rina, come with me."

Rina, pale but recovering, followed Emilia into the room.

Alex sat on the bed. Emilia took the chair. Rina stood nearby, glaring daggers at Alex.

"Now," Emilia asked, "tell me. Why were you trying to kill her?"

"I already told you!" Alex shouted. "Because of her brother!" His fury boiled over.

"I mean why? What exactly did her brother do?" Emilia pressed.

Alex took a long breath—and explained everything that happened in Romania City.

As he spoke, Emilia and Rina's eyes widened.

"You… you were the one who took out the Red-Bellied Toad's heart?!" Rina gasped.

Alex winced, pressing his ears. Her voice stabbed through his head like needles.

"Don't shout," he snarled, baring his teeth. "Yes."

"But—"

Emilia raised a hand to silence her. "Do you even know what the Red-Bellied Toad is?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah. It's a D-rank mission. E-rank monster. Poisonous—but not strong enough to kill a person."

Emilia slapped her forehead. "I thought you were clever. You're an idiot."

"That mission? It wasn't D-rank. It was A-rank, recognized by the EE Academy itself.

Even I can't handle the toad's poison. No Master-level has ever completed it. But William Roarhart did—and became famous. That's why he was chosen to be the next patriarch."

She paused. "You're lucky you weren't poisoned."

Alex held up his hand. "Stop. I was poisoned. By that heart. But it's nothing for me."

His voice dropped.

"I saved their lives. They betrayed me. Lied from the start. I was their sacrifice they prepared for the red bellied toad.

So tell me—why should I leave her alive?" He pointed at Rina.

"Because I said so," Emilia replied.

"No. I don't trust anyone from the Ten Clans."

Emilia sighed.

"You are not allowed to kill during the EE Academy competition. If you do, you'll be disqualified.

What will be your decision, Mr. Alexander?