The portal shimmered like liquid glass, and with one final step, Seth crossed the boundary that separated the pocket dimension from the real world.
The air on the other side was crisp and cool, buzzing with energy. The massive plaza beyond the portal had been constructed specifically for the exam’s conclusion—dozens of towering screens lined the space, all of them displaying live rankings and the names of every participant. At the center of the plaza, a colossal leaderboard hovered in the air, etched in golden light.
Seth’s name shone at the very top.
[Seth: 189,740 points]
The next closest candidate had less than a quarter of that.
Gasps erupted the moment he emerged. A wave of noise followed—cheers, disbelief, the clamor of hundreds of spectators who had been watching the exam throu
