The air crackled with nervous energy, a palpable buzz that hummed beneath the surface of forced calm. Hundreds of young people, barely out of their mid-teens, milled about the vast plaza in front of the imposing gates of the Hunter Academy. The academy itself was a formidable sight – a blend of modern steel and glass structures interwoven with older, stone buildings that spoke of a long history. It was the pinnacle of hunter education, the place where aspiring monster slayers were forged.

  For most of the applicants, this was the culmination of years of dreaming and preparation. For Jae-Hyun-Woo, it was a crucial checkpoint, a necessary step in a far grander, and more dangerous, game. He stood amidst the crowd, a face among many, observing.

  He recognized the types. The overly confident ones, posturing and boasting about their (likely exaggerated) monster encounters. The nervously fidgeting ones, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and hope. The quiet, focused ones, already assessing their surroundings and the competition. He had been a blend of the latter two in his first life, his quiet determination masking a deep-seated anxiety about his average talent.

  This time, there was no anxiety, only strategic observation. His eyes, aided by the subtle enhancements of the System, scanned the crowd, identifying individuals who held significance in his past life.

  There was the prodigy, a young woman with an aura of natural power that made others subtly shy away. In his past life, she had quickly risen through the ranks, her innate talent overshadowing years of hard work from others. He noted her calm demeanor, the focused intensity in her eyes. A future rival, perhaps, or someone he could potentially ally with later.

  Over by a fountain, a group of applicants were engaged in a loud, boisterous conversation. Among them was a young man with a shock of bright red hair and an almost aggressively confident stance. He remembered this one – a talented Brawler with a natural flair for close combat, but prone to recklessness. He had a strong sense of justice, though, and had been a reliable (if sometimes frustrating) ally in certain dungeon raids in the future.

  Near the registration booths, a quiet, unassuming girl with thick glasses was poring over a well-worn textbook on monster anatomy. In his past life, she had been a background character, academically brilliant but lacking in practical combat ability. He remembered her later contributions to research that had saved many hunter lives. He made a mental note to approach her later; her knowledge could be invaluable.

  He also spotted faces he didn't immediately recognize from significant events in his past. New variables. Individuals whose paths might diverge entirely in this timeline because of his actions. The thought was both daunting and exhilarating. The "story" was already changing.

  The initial stages of the exam were standard – identity verification, a brief orientation, and then the written tests. Jae-Hyun-Woo moved through them efficiently. His foreknowledge made the theoretical questions laughably easy. Monster classifications, dungeon ecology basics, hunter regulations – he answered them all with a speed and accuracy that drew a few curious glances from proctoring instructors, but nothing overtly suspicious. He deliberately made a few minor, seemingly careless errors to avoid appearing too perfect.

  The real test, the one that determined a potential hunter's path, was the aptitude assessment. Applicants were called in groups to a series of testing chambers. Jae-Hyun-Woo watched as others entered, seeing the nervous energy dissipate as they emerged, their faces displaying relief, disappointment, or quiet satisfaction based on their scores.

  He saw the red-haired Brawler emerge from a physical aptitude test chamber, a wide grin on his face as an instructor congratulated him on an exceptionally high score. His innate physical talent was undeniable.

  He saw the quiet girl from before exit a magic aptitude test chamber, her expression one of resigned disappointment. Her academic brilliance didn't translate to raw magical potential.

  The line for the aptitude tests moved steadily. With each applicant, the pattern was clear: a high score in either physical or magical aptitude, or an average to low score in both, determining their likely path as a Brawler or a Mage, or perhaps a less specialized general hunter. The system was designed to categorize and stream talent.

  Jae-Hyun-Woo felt a familiar prickle of anticipation and something else… a sense of defiance. They had their categories, their measurements, their game. But they had no category for what he was. No measurement for the potential granted by a benevolent goddess and honed by a life already lived.

  His name was called.

  "Jae-Hyun-Woo. Please proceed to Testing Chamber 3 for your aptitude assessment."

  He walked towards the designated chamber, his steps steady. He could feel the subtle hum of the testing equipment from within. This was it. The moment where his "average" past would collide with his mythic present. The moment where the System he carried would interact with the world's conventional measurements of power.

  He pushed open the door and stepped inside, ready to see just how the Hunter Academy's aptitude test would measure the immeasurable.

  Jae-Hyun-Woo stepped into Testing Chamber 3. The air was cool and sterile, a stark contrast to the bustling plaza outside. The chamber was a medium-sized room with padded walls and a few pieces of strange equipment. In the center stood a large, multifaceted crystal on a pedestal, humming with faint energy. To the side was a series of pressure plates and motion sensors.

  An instructor, a stern-faced woman with a neatly tied ponytail and the aura of a seasoned hunter, stood by a console, observing. Another, a younger man, stood near the physical testing area.

  "Applicant Jae-Hyun-Woo," the woman said, her voice crisp and professional. "We will begin with the physical aptitude assessment. Please stand on the marked pressure plate."

  "Yes, ma'am," Jae-Hyun-Woo replied, moving to the designated spot. He felt a faint energy wash over him as he stepped onto the plate.

  "This test measures your innate physical potential and current capacity," the younger instructor explained. "Perform a series of basic movements and exert force as prompted by the system. Do your best."

  My best in this body is still leagues below my past self, Jae-Hyun-Woo thought, a familiar pang of that old life resurfacing. But it's also far beyond what they'll expect.

  He followed the automated instructions from a speaker – basic punches, kicks, jumps, and short bursts of speed across the testing area. With each movement, he could feel the subtle assistance of the Adaptive Combat Physiology, optimizing his muscle output, accelerating his reactions. He wasn't just moving; he was moving with the ingrained efficiency of a veteran hunter, filtered through a younger, rapidly improving body.

  The numbers on the console flickered. The stern-faced instructor's eyes narrowed slightly. The younger instructor murmured, "His response time is... unusually fast for an applicant his age."

  They see it, Jae-Hyun-Woo thought, a sense of grim satisfaction building. They see the results of the training, the System's boost. He wasn't exerting his full, Mythic Potential, just enough to perform far above average, enough to be noticeable but hopefully not outright alarming.

  "Physical assessment complete," the woman announced. "Proceed to the magical aptitude test."

  Jae-Hyun-Woo moved towards the large crystal. This was the real test. The one that had labeled him "average" in his past life, effectively shutting him out of the Mage path.

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  "Place your hand on the crystal, Applicant," the younger instructor instructed. "Clear your mind and focus on the energy within you. The crystal will measure your latent magical potential and affinity."

  He placed his hand on the cool, smooth surface of the crystal. He closed his eyes, not clearing his mind, but focusing it. Focusing on the faint, warm current he had learned to sense within his body – his mana pool, nurtured by the System and the mana potions. Focusing on the Omni-Hunter class, the class that allowed him to embrace all disciplines.

  He pushed the mana within him towards his hand, towards the crystal. It wasn't a flood, not yet, but a deliberate, controlled flow.

  The crystal on the pedestal reacted instantly. The soft humming intensified, rising in pitch. The faint glow within it erupted into a brilliant, pulsating light that filled the chamber. It wasn't just glowing; it was flaring, cycling through colors with impossible speed – blue, green, red, gold, purple, a dizzying spectrum of energy. The light grew brighter, more intense, pushing against the confines of the chamber.

  The stern-faced instructor gasped, stepping back from the console. The numbers on her screen were flashing wildly, displaying error messages and values that were nonsensical within the established parameters of the test.

  "What in the...?" the younger instructor stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "The crystal is... overloading?"

  Jae-Hyun-Woo kept his hand on the crystal, his expression calm on the outside, but his internal thoughts were a torrent. Overloading? My potential is overloading their test? A wave of triumph, pure and potent, surged through him. This was the Mythic Potential. This was the Omni-Hunter class in action, a power that couldn't be measured by their limited system.

  The light from the crystal reached a peak, then abruptly died down, the humming fading back to a low thrum. The crystal itself looked… duller, somehow. Exhausted.

  The stern-faced instructor rushed to the console, frantically tapping at the screen. Her brow was furrowed in confusion and frustration.

  "Impossible," she muttered to herself, loud enough for Jae-Hyun-Woo to hear. "The readings are off the charts... and contradictory. It's showing... immense potential for both physical and magical attributes? That's not possible with current aptitude theory."

  She looked at Jae-Hyun-Woo, her gaze sharp and scrutinizing, as if seeing him for the first time. "Applicant Jae-Hyun-Woo. Your magical aptitude test... registered a critical error. The results are unreadable by our standard equipment."

  Unreadable, Jae-Hyun-Woo thought, a grim smile playing on his lips. Good.

  "However," she continued, her voice regaining some of its composure, though a hint of bewilderment lingered, "the sheer energy output... it was unlike anything we've ever recorded for an applicant. Your physical results were also... exceptionally high for your age." She paused, looking at the younger instructor, who simply shook his head in disbelief.

  "Your aptitude is... anomalous," the stern-faced instructor concluded, choosing the most accurate, if understated, word. "We cannot definitively categorize you based on this test."

  They can't put me in a box, Jae-Hyun-Woo thought, a sense of profound satisfaction washing over him. They can't label me 'average' or even just 'high potential Mage' or 'talented Brawler'. I'm something else.

  He withdrew his hand from the crystal. "Does this... mean I passed?" he asked, keeping his voice even, playing the role of a slightly confused applicant.

  The instructor blinked, momentarily taken aback by the mundane question after the extraordinary event. "Yes. Yes, Applicant. Your combined performance... even with the anomaly in the magical test... is well above the passing threshold. You will be admitted to the Hunter Academy."

  One step down, Jae-Hyun-Woo thought, the completion of "The First Step" quest flashing in his internal System display. Now for the rest.

  He bowed slightly. "Thank you, ma'am. Sir."

  As he turned to leave the testing chamber, he could feel their eyes on his back. He had come to the Hunter Academy as an average applicant, seeking a second chance. He was leaving his aptitude test as an anomaly, a mystery with immeasurable potential. He had successfully broken their initial system of categorization.

  The gods liked their game structured, with clear classes and defined limits. He had just shown them that their rules didn't apply to him anymore. The Omni-Hunter had arrived. And this was just the beginning.

  Jae-Hyun-Woo stepped out of Testing Chamber 3, leaving behind the bewildered instructors and the strangely muted aptitude crystal. The air in the hallway outside felt different – charged with a sudden, subtle awareness. He hadn't even reached the main waiting area before he felt the eyes on him.

  Whispers rippled through the clusters of waiting applicants. He overheard snippets of hushed conversation.

  "...You see that light?"

  "...Heard the instructors talking... something about the equipment failing..."

  "...Immense energy output? Who was that kid?"

  He kept his expression neutral, walking with a calm he didn't entirely feel. Inside, his thoughts were a whirlwind. Already? The news travels fast. He hadn't expected his aptitude test to cause such an immediate stir, but the sheer, unmeasurable nature of his potential, amplified by the Mythic System, had clearly been impossible to ignore.

  He rejoined the main waiting area. The atmosphere had shifted. The general hum of nervous chatter was still present, but now there were eyes following him, speculative glances, and hushed questions directed at those who had been near Testing Chamber 3 when the crystal had flared.

  He saw the red-haired Brawler he'd noted earlier, talking loudly with his group of friends. Their conversation paused as Jae-Hyun-Woo walked past. The Brawler's eyes, sharp and assessing, met his for a moment, a flicker of intense curiosity in their depths. Jae-Hyun-Woo gave a slight, noncommittal nod and moved on.

  He's noticed, Jae-Hyun-Woo thought. Good. Let them notice. Let them wonder. It's better than being invisible. Being average had gotten him killed. This time, he needed to stand out, to build a reputation, to attract the right kind of attention (and be prepared for the wrong kind).

  He also spotted the young woman who was a natural prodigy, standing slightly apart from the main crowd, speaking quietly with an older, distinguished-looking man who was likely her guardian or mentor. She glanced in his direction, her expression unreadable, but her eyes lingered for a moment longer than on anyone else.

  She senses something, he mused internally. Prodigies often have sharp instincts. She might not understand what happened in that room, but she knows it was… significant.

  He found an empty seat away from the largest groups, giving himself a moment to process and plan. The System remained silent, having delivered its notification about his successful admission. Its guidance was subtle now, present but not intrusive, allowing him to navigate the human element of the "game."

  Okay, anomaly status confirmed, he thought, a faint, grim smile touching his lips. They don't know what I am, but they know I'm not like the others. This changes things. I'll need to adjust my approach. His plan to subtly excel might need to be revised. His rapid growth would be under scrutiny from the start.

  The remaining parts of the entrance exam were less about innate potential and more about practical skills and theoretical knowledge – written exams, basic combat simulations against training golems, and teamwork exercises. Jae-Hyun-Woo approached them with focused precision, relying on his past life's experience and his Echoed Skills.

  In the combat simulations, he moved with an efficiency and tactical awareness that belied his age and apparent lack of extensive training. He used [Basic Dagger Mastery] and [Basic Spear Mastery] with a fluidity that surprised the instructors observing. He wasn't flashy like the natural Brawlers, or overwhelmingly powerful like the high-aptitude Mages, but his movements were economical, his strikes precise, and his understanding of the golems' weak points (aided by potential use of Systemic Insight: Combat Analysis – something only he could see) was uncanny.

  Just enough, he reminded himself internally. Show capability, not impossible power. Let them attribute it to good training or a surprising knack.

  He partnered with different applicants during the teamwork exercises, observing their strengths and weaknesses, subtly guiding them towards more effective strategies he remembered. He saw potential allies, individuals with good hearts and reliable skills, and noted others who were arrogant or self-serving – those who might become obstacles later.

  The written exams remained straightforward with his foreknowledge. He answered them accurately but without drawing undue attention, making sure his theoretical knowledge matched the practical skills he was demonstrating.

  As the day wore on, the initial buzz surrounding his aptitude test results lessened slightly, replaced by the general exhaustion and anticipation of the applicants. But the impression had been made. He was no longer just Jae-Hyun-Woo; he was the "aptitude anomaly," the kid whose test had broken the system.

  Finally, the last assessment concluded. Tired but resolute, Jae-Hyun-Woo joined the throng of applicants moving towards the academy's main auditorium, where the results would be officially announced. He knew he had passed. The System had confirmed "The First Step" quest completion earlier. But hearing the official confirmation, seeing his name on the list of admitted students, would make it real.

  He looked around at the faces of his soon-to-be peers. Some would become allies, some rivals, some… victims of the game the gods played. He carried the weight of their potential futures, the knowledge of the dangers that awaited them, and the burning desire to change it all.

  They entered the auditorium, the air thick with anticipation. An instructor stepped onto the stage, holding a data pad. The moment had arrived.

  Jae-Hyun-Woo stood tall, his gaze fixed on the stage. He had passed the first hurdle. He had entered the game. Now, it was time to start playing to win.