Chapter 8: Screening
"Good day, everyone. My name is Charles Vanderbilt, and I am the principal of the Limitless Hero Academy." He paused, looking around the room. "I’m very glad that so many of you turned out today. Now, let’s begin with the introduction of the exam, shall we?"
Just then, a blue holographic screen appeared behind him, displaying an image of an island labeled ’Purgatory’ right above it.
"For this year’s entrance exam, you’ll be tasked with surviving inside a dungeon for six days."
As he said that, the auditorium immediately broke out in whispers. Even I could barely believe what he was saying. Would they really give us a six-day-long examination, inside a dungeon no less? The idea seemed too incomprehensible.
"But before any of that can begin, we must first conduct a screening of all individuals present. We need to ensure that you are capable of surviving in this harsh environment. If we find you unfit, consider it an immediate rejection."
He didn’t even bother to address their concerns; he spoke as if what he was saying was utterly normal. This only caused more loud chatter to erupt, and his ominous tone was enough to instill panic among the students. Everyone was visibly worked up.
Tap...
Tap...
Tap...
The tone in the auditorium shifted completely. Mr. Vanderbilt was slowly tapping the microphone with his finger. The sound drew everyone’s attention, and in that moment, a silent threat was made. The mana in the room suddenly thickened, making it increasingly hard to breathe—the source was the principal himself. The whole room became so quiet that if a pin dropped, it would have echoed.
When everyone quieted down, he gave a polite smile.