First Phase

"Good luck." Rui wished them with a gentle expression. "Do your best and look out for each other. Good luck."

"We'll make you proud, big brother."

"Yeah, we'll definitely get in, just you watch!"

Rui smiled with pride and affection, hoping he did a good job hiding his anxiety.

"Off you go, then." He sent them towards the long busy line of applicants, inspecting their competition. As predicted, they were all taller and bigger.

His senses swept through the area examining them carefully. ('Any Martial Apprentice applicants...?')

His eyes narrowed after a moment. ('Just one.')

When he applied, there were five.

Well.

Technically four, since Nel wasn't a Martial Apprentice, but he was as strong as one without a doubt. This made the difficulty of the entrance exam much lower, something Rui was relieved about. In his senses across the entire area, he had sensed several Martial Artists of various Realms, including a Martial Senior.