The Cool Genius

"Next, Number 01. Come out!"

The audience suddenly became deathly silent the moment the white-haired boy stood. Even the weirdos who were going crazy for Violet and her teddy bear instantly fell into a lull.

No one spoke. They merely observed.

Everyone watched with anticipation as the boy in the blue winter trench coat walked to the stage. He had an aura of superiority, and he walked with a confident strut. His white hair swayed with each step he took, and his cold gaze stared unflinchingly at the stage, as though he was already visualizing his victory.

Cooly and elegantly, he stepped onto the stage.

And then, just as suddenly as the crowd fell silent, whispers and murmurs began to be heard from the audience.

"T-that's him, isn't it?"

"The genius, so it's finally his turn!"

"Ohhhh! I'm so excited!"

"I know, right? Hehehe! Looks like we've gotten to the climax of today's exam!"

"We're gonna see something good!"

More comments like these were made by the overexcited audience, and the entire hall was filled with cheers and obvious impatience as they couldn't wait for the boy to begin his match.

Even the examinees stared at him with awe and excitement. Well, almost all of them.

*

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*

"What's the big deal about this guy?" Matt murmured as he watched everyone get excited over the white-haired boy on stage.

Sure, he had the face of a model, and he was just as tall as Matt—though he looked younger—the boy couldn't understand why everyone was fawning over him so much.

'Are we all going to ignore his weird fashion sense? Ah, I forgot. Everyone here is weird.' Matt sighed to himself.

What irked him the most was that even Violet seemed interested in the overtly cool guy, and there was no way he could have that.

"What's so special about him?" This time, Matt murmured a little louder, drawing Violet's attention.

"I guess it's pretty normal that you don't know. I just found out recently when I was talking to Bee and Shadow." She responded quickly, as though she didn't want to miss a moment of the impending fight, and she didn't stop looking at the stage as she spoke.

"Found out what?"

"That guy, Number 01, he's supposedly a very powerful and naturally gifted person, even by Enlightened standards. I heard he's very overpowered, and that he is already stronger than most Novices in the Society"

As Matt heard this, he shuddered as he contemplated the extent of the boy's power. He suddenly recalled the chill he felt when both of them stared at each other.

It didn't take too long for him to realize what was right in front of him this whole time.

'He's just like me!'

Was he a Challenger too? Matt had no idea.

He asked Violet, but she was also uncertain. Everything she knew was hearsay, so there was no way to get verifiable evidence to back her claims. As a result, there was only one thing they could both do.

"Guess we'll have to see for ourselves."

"Indeed. I can't wait."

*

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The entire arena was tense.

The expectant watchers concentrated their gaze on the superstar on the stage.

Before him was his opponent—a seemingly powerful person who was dressed like a fireman. He was attired in his uniform, looking imposing as he stared at the white-haired examinee through his glasses.

The timer above them began the countdown, and both sides were prepared to clash the moment it told them to commence.

And soon enough, it did.

[YOU MAY BEGIN!]

>VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!<

As soon as the match started, the fireman doused himself in flames, causing the area around to be enveloped in flames as well.

The flames rose higher and higher, surrounding both he and the white-haired examinee in a ring of fire.

"Hehe. I know your attribute. Once I burn up all the moisture in the air, you won't be able to… uh?!" The Fireman ceased his gloating the moment he realized something was odd in the atmosphere.

Typically, the area around him ought to have been blazing hot at this point, yet for some reason, he couldn't feel the temperature rising.

'My fireman suit prevents me from getting burned, but…' Shouldn't he still be able to feel the temperature caused by his own flames?

Well, he wasn't!

Incredulously, not only was the atmosphere not getting hotter, it was actually turning cold instead.

"N-no way!" He gasped in surprise, looking around him to see his flames dying out.

Even the flames that shrouded him were flickering dimly. In moments, the flames would have died out completely.

'Like hell he would let that happen!'

Fiercely determined, the fireman produced an even larger wall of flames—this time all concentrated in his location.

This wall of flames was scorching hot, and he was satisfied that it would be enough to get the job done. Besides, it was right under the regulated limit of Magia usage.

'Kekeke! Why don't you eat thisssss! Straining his nerves to their limits, he sent this wave of fire soaring in the direction of the stationary examinee.

>VWOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

From the start of the exam, till this point, the white-haired boy remained in a single position.

Not only did he not move, his hands never left his pockets, and his face remained stoic. However, at this point, for the very first time, he lifted his legs.

For the first time since the fight commenced, he was going to move directly toward the blazing flames aimed at him?!

Everyone was on the edge of their seats, wondering what would happen next. And then….

>SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU<

As soon as he took a single step forward, the flames were extinguished by a gust of cold wind. Within seconds, not even a spark was left.

"... Eh…?"

Before the fireman could make a single move in retaliation, Number 01 removed one of his hands from his pockets and snapped his fingers.

And then—

>FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!<

Sharp icicles, quite large ones, manifested seemingly out of thin air, instantly surging in the direction of the fireman.

The boy exhaled white puffs of air, as though he was frozen, and he returned his hand to his pockets. He didn't bother looking at his incapacitated opponent, who—along with over twenty meters of the hall—was frozen solid.

It was no longer a contest.

After all, who could contest with a predator?

[WARNING!]

{Magia Limits have been exceeded.}

Unfortunately, the warning came a little too late. The deed had already been done.

Number 01 had achieved flawless victory.

"... PASS!"