Chapter 44 - The Test [1]
(Vael’s POV)
I took [Frost] and holstered it onto my waist, I was already wearing my clean, white uniform.
The sharp, dark wooden scabbard snapped into place against my leather belt, hanging comfortably at my side as I checked my appearance in the mirror one last time.
The sharp white collar was crisp and free of creases, and the academy emblem pinned neatly on my chest caught the bright morning light coming through the window.
The test was announced last week, a week before its actual date. But because Crystal and Cordelia, (Me too), knows about it beforehand—our group had more time to prepare and train.
While the rest of the freshman class was scrambling to form last-minute parties and digest the sudden news, our five-man squad had already spent weeks running tactical formations, memorizing layout maps, and building team synergy.
’I’m sure there are handfuls of freshmen, especially noble ones, who knew the test before it was announced just like us.’
I thought before leaving my room to go to the venue of the test.
High-ranking aristocratic families always had internal conduits, alumni contacts, or political connections inside the administrative board to pass down advance information to their children.
I locked my dorm room door, slipped the key card into my pocket, and turned to walk down the quiet hallway toward the central campus grounds.
*****
I navigated my way to the venue with the help of the map application in my phone—I also met up with Zion and Cindy on the way there.
The bright morning sun washed over the wide paved avenues, casting long shadows across the immaculate stone walkways as hundreds of uniformed students began converging toward the western district.
Zion was walking with his hands in his pockets, looking completely relaxed, while Cindy kept her small bag pulled tight against her side, her eyes scanning the crowds of gathering mages and combatants.
And around [9:00 AM]... We arrived in front of a massive dome facility.
The architecture was staggering, featuring reinforced metallic pillars, grand glass panels, and heavy mana-dampening runes etched deep into the surrounding outer walls to contain any residual magical leaks.
There are a lot of students going inside of it, so it was obviously the right place.
The main plaza outside the entrance was packed with hundreds of noisy first-year students standing in chaotic clusters, checking their gear, tightening their armor straps, and talking loudly about their party strategies.
"Let’s go in."
I said as I put my phone in my pocket.
I checked the battery percentage, tapped the screen off, and slid the device safely into my inner jacket lining to prevent it from getting damaged when I’m inside the dungeont.
Zion, Cindy, and I entered without hesitation... We’re actually excited for the test, if ever.
The massive double doors were wide open, letting in a steady stream of young combatants into the cool, echoey atmosphere of the inner waiting arena.
... ... ...
Once we got inside, we met up with Crystal and Cordelia.
The interior of the dome was enormous, lined with rows of tiered spectator seating above, while the main ground level featured a large central stage constructed from solid grey stone.
The two were waiting for us near a platform. We joined them, and as soon as we did—we started recalling our plan, to make sure none of us forget anything.
"I already have all the food we will need during the three days, I have it stored inside my spatial inventory."
Crystal stated.She tapped a small, ornate ring worn on her finger, which flickered with a faint spatial mana frequency that indicated high-grade dimensional storage capacity.
It would’ve been nice if I had a spatial inventory as well. But that artifact costs a lot of money... I’m broke.
Those specialized spatial rings and dimensional pouches were luxury items reserved for top-tier nobles, high-ranking adventurers, or extremely wealthy merchants.
I just get by everyday with the scholarship money I get from the academy.
The monthly stipend provided by the academy covered basic meals, standard dormitory housing, and low-grade maintenance for equipment, but it didn’t leave room for expensive magical items.
’I should find a way to make money once I get back from the dungeon.’
I thought to myself.
I tapped the sheath of [Frost] at my side, realizing that if I wanted to upgrade my personal gear or acquire convenient artifacts down the line, I needed a steady source of personal income beyond my basic allowance.
Then, at that moment—
TAP.
A quiet, but heavy step echoed throughout the area around the platform. It made everyone who heard it silent and turn to the noise.
The quiet footfall echoed clearly off the high concrete ceilings, carrying a strange, dense pressure that instantly silenced the chatter of hundreds of teenagers in less than a second.
There, we saw a man smaller than Professor Russel, but his presence was much more intense and larger.
He stepped slowly toward the edge of the central stone stage, his posture straight and immaculate as he looked down at the student body with complete composure.
He had slick back black hair, a pair of glasses hiding his sharp dark eyes, he looked really serious; he was also wearing a full set of dark suits, he looks really good, like a model or a celebrity.
His tailored black suit didn’t have a single speck of dust on it, framing his lean build so perfectly that he looked more like he belonged on a high-end magazine cover than a monster-slaying arena.
I know who he is... The head professor of [Z Class]—Cedric Percival!
He was a legendary figure within the academy’s faculty, notorious for his strict teaching standards and absolute authority over the specialized combat divisions.
And it’s not just me... Everyone knows him. Murmurs immediately began rippling softly through the crowd, though most students kept their voices down to a tiny whisper out of sheer respect and intimidation.
After all—he’s a professional hero that is ranked 11th among every professional hero!
Standing near the absolute pinnacle of global combat rankings, he was a living powerhouse whose battle records were studied by every aspiring warrior in the country.
He’s that famous and powerful.
The sheer density of the aura radiating off his quiet frame made the air in the dome feel noticeably heavier, forcing everyone to straighten up and listen attentively.
Anyway, he looked at everyone below the platform. He confirmed that every freshman was listening to him.
His sharp dark eyes swept across the vast hall, scanning room by room, party by party, until complete and total silence fell over the gathered crowd.
He nodded his head. He adjusted his glasses slightly with one finger, keeping his tone perfectly measured and carrying clearly across the entire facility without the use of a microphone.
"I will make this quick. I know you’ve already heard from your professors what will happen in this test."
He stated. His voice was deep, dry, and direct, cutting straight through the atmospheric tension in the room without wasting time on theatrical speeches.
"I’m just here to give a few reminders."
"First, you’re only allowed up to the second floor. Second, you can give up at any time and come out."
He held up two fingers, laying out the fundamental boundaries of the evaluation with absolute clarity.
"And lastly... You will be watched and protected by the staff, all of you will be graded individually as well—so do your best out there."
Professor Cedric said.
He let those words sink into the minds of the nervous freshmen, reminding everyone that while safety proctors were present, individual performance was being calculated every second.
Then looking behind him, he shifted all of our attention from him—to the massive wooden gates bursting with mana behind him and the platform.
He turned his body slightly, gesturing toward the back wall of the elevated platform where a colossal structure stood embedded into the concrete foundation.
The massive archway was made of ancient dark wood, reinforced with heavy iron bands, and swirling with a bright, iridescent vortex of dense magical energy right in its center.
"This behind me will be the venue of the place, it’s a portal connected to a different world."
"Once you enter, the test starts."
"You might experience some dizziness upon entering, so brace yourself."
He said. The spatial distortion hummed with a low, vibrating bass tone that rattled the stone flooring beneath our boots, sending ripples through the visible mana in the air.
Then looking back at us—
He folded his arms behind his back, casting a final glance over the assembled student body.
"Get with your group and form a line, it’s time to start the test."
He declared that.
*****
Since we’re already together, the five of me immediately lined up to get inside the dungeon.
The hall instantly erupted into movement as dozens of five-man teams scrambled into organized lines, shuffling toward the main stairs leading up to the portal stage.
Cordelia took the front position of our line, with Crystal right behind her, followed by Zion, Cindy, and lastly myself bringing up the rear to watch our group’s back.
We only waited for a few minutes, and after that—it was finally our time to enter.
The queue moved remarkably fast as party after party stepped into the glowing vortex, disappearing into the swirling curtain of mana with brief flashes of white light.
The four entered casually.
Cordelia stepped through the portal threshold without a single flicker of hesitation, followed closely by Crystal, Zion, and Cindy, who each faded into the luminous barrier one after another.
’My first dungeon experience, huh...’
I paused for half a second right at the edge of the ancient wooden frame, taking a single deep breath to steady my pulse as the raw magical pressure washed over my face.
I was at the very back... I gripped the hilt of [Frost] lightly with my left hand, locking my core muscles to resist the sudden pull of spatial transit.
I braced my stomach, and with that—
Tap.
I stepped inside the dungeon.
The surrounding noise of the giant dome facility instantly vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sensation of weightlessness as the blinding white portal light swallowed my vision completely.