The Extra’s POV : I can only use Dash

"Huh…" 

"You beat it in less than a minute?" 

I asked, a little surprised. I had expected her to win easily, but not that fast. 

Sae-jin, on the other hand, was applauding Eve enthusiastically. 

"Yep! Amazing, right? That's the strength of a rising Ranker!" 

'Yeah… yeah…' 

The mannequin Eve had destroyed disintegrated and instantly reappeared in its original position as if nothing had happened. 

"Eve, I have a question." 

Sae-jin stretched his arms before looking at her. 

"Yeah?" 

"What's your best record?" 

"Hmm… I'd say… a [Dark Mage - Rank C, Stage 4] in seven minutes. Why?" 

"Alright, then I'll go for a Stage 5!" 

'Wait, what?' 

We stood frozen for a few moments after Sae-jin's unexpected declaration. 

"ARE YOU INSANE?" 

Eve and I yelled in unison. 

"Sae-jin, be reasonable! You're not even a Ranker yet, let alone a student at the academy! You don't stand a chance against monsters like that!" 

I circled around him, waving my hands frantically to illustrate the absurdity of his decision. 

"Don't worry, Sugil, I'll be fine." 

He grinned as he stretched again. 

"Sae-jin, right?" 

Eve's voice turned cold. 

"Yeah?" 

"Stop acting cocky. This is for your own good." 

She wasn't joking anymore. 

"You're indeed strong, I can sense that, but let me be clear—even the weakest Ranker could beat you without breaking a sweat." 

Sae-jin's relaxed expression didn't waver in the slightest. 

"If i struggle against enemies like that, your chances are practically zero." 

'She's… ruthless.' 

But she wasn't wrong. The Sae-jin from the beginning of the novel would have almost no chance against foes like this. At best, he could handle Rank E or low Rank D monsters. 

Yet, a small smirk crept onto Sae-jin's lips. 

"Alright, alright, I won't go for the Dark Mage Goblin… But give me a Rank D enemy." 

'Oh, that's more reaso—' 

"Stage 5." 

"..." 

'Wait… Was Sae-jin always this reckless in the original novel? My memory's failing me…' 

Eve smiled slightly, amused by his blind confidence. 

"Fine, then. Rank D enemy: [Axe-Wielding Skeleton - Stage 5]!" 

She walked up to one of the mannequins and activated it. 

The same process from earlier repeated as the mannequin came to life. 

<10 seconds…> 

<9 seconds…> 

A steel sword materialized in Sae-jin's hand. 

"But listen, Sae-jin, be careful. Skeletons aren't easy to defeat, even with a steel sword. Use your mana to find their weak points… That's the only advice I can give you." 

Eve's tone was firm. 

Sae-jin simply smiled. 

"Thanks for the tip!" 

Then, he turned toward me. 

"Watch closely, Sugil! I'll take it down with no problem!" 

<3 seconds…> 

"…I believe in you…" 

<2 seconds…> 

He gave me a thumbs-up. 

[Launching Simulation: Isolating Challenger] 

The same white cube that had surrounded Eve earlier formed around Sae-jin, enveloping his body before he disappeared. 

"Hey, Eve, where exactly did Sae-jin go?" 

I asked. 

"Right now, he's inside a mimic simulation of a zone inside the tower where [Axe-Wielding Skeletons] roam frequently." 

"I see…" 

'Will he make it?' 

'The Sae-jin I knew from the early chapters of the novel wasn't strong enough to face enemies like this. And even now, I don't sense any real difference between him and his novel counterpart.' 

"Alright, your turn, Sugil!" 

"Huh?!"

[Quest: Reach Level 5 during the entrance exam

Rewards: New card abilities of 1 or 2 stars, gain points in STR and END.

Failure to complete the quest within the time limit will result in penalties for the next 10 days. Quest difficulty: RANK F.]