Chapter 373: Exam Begin!
{Phoenix Academy}
[Vedgard Kingdom]
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Students stood assembled in neat rows across the training grounds. They were hundreds in numbers.
All second-years preparing for the traditional assessment exam that marked the beginning of each new term.
Armor gleamed in morning sunlight. Weapons hung at sides or strapped to backs. Essence crystals pulsed with stored power. Everyone was equipped for combat, prepared for whatever the exam would throw at them.
Then, a professor stepped onto the raised platform.
He was a middle-aged man with greying beard and the weathered look of someone who’d seen real combat. His robes marked him as Combat Assessment Division.
"Students!" His voice carried across the grounds without amplification. "Welcome to your second-year assessment exam!"
Silence fell. Everyone’s attention focused.
"You’ve each been provided with a bracelet." He held up his own wrist, displaying a silver band that pulsed faintly. "These track your points. You begin with one thousand points each."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Students checking their own bracelets, confirming the starting value displayed in glowing numbers.
"In five minutes, you will be teleported into a specially created forest domain. You will arrive separately, scattered throughout the terrain. No pre-arranged positions. Each of you enters alone."
He continued.
"Within this domain are beasts of varying ranks. Your objective is to slay these beasts and accumulate points. And you’ll be ranked according to the points you’ve accumulated at the end of the exam, it’ll three say exam. And the rankings are as follows—"
He gestured, and a large board materialized behind him with glowing text:
D-Rank Beast: 100 points
C-Rank Beast: 500 points
B-Rank Beast: 150,000 points
A-Rank Beast: 1,000,000 points
The crowd erupted.
"A-rank?!" someone shouted. "How are we supposed to defeat an A-rank beast?!"
"B-rank is barely manageable with a full team!" another voice called out. "A-rank will slaughter us!"
The professor raised his hand and the silence returned gradually.
"There is ONE A-rank beast in the domain. THREE B-rank beasts. TEN C-rank beasts. And FIFTY D-rank beasts." He paused.
"The A-rank is meant to be a challenge. For those brave enough—or foolish enough—to attempt it."
"And if we work as a team?" a girl near the front asked. "To take down the higher-ranked beasts?"
"Then the point distribution will be calculated based on contribution," the professor explained.
"The bracelet tracks damage dealt, support provided, tactical coordination. If five students work together to kill the B-rank beast, points are divided according to their individual contributions. Someone who deals thirty percent of the damage receives thirty percent of the points."
He smiled slightly.
"Choose your allies carefully."
"There’s also a surprise waiting in the domain," he added. "You’ll discover what when you enter. Consider it... additional motivation."
Whispers spread. Speculation about what the "surprise" could be.
"One final rule." The professor’s expression became stern.
"Student combat is permitted. If you defeat a fellow student, knock them unconscious or force them to surrender, you receive thirty percent of their current points. Their bracelet will automatically transfer the amount and teleport them out of the domain."
That caused another wave of reactions, louder this time.
"So we’re not just hunting beasts. We’re hunting each other?!"
"This is going to be a bloodbath!"
The professor waited for silence.
"You have FIVE MINUTES to prepare. Check your equipment. Plan your strategy. And remember, this exam tests more than just combat ability. It tests adaptability, tactics, and survival instinct."
He stepped off the platform.
"Good luck."
Immediately, students’ broke formation. Some moving to last-minute equipment checks. Others forming loose alliances, making deals to team up once inside. A few standing alone, confident or desperate enough to try solo.
Elina sighed.
She checked the straps on her gauntlets. Made sure her daggers were secure at her belt. Rolled her shoulders to test her armor’s flexibility.
"I’ll win," she muttered to herself. "No matter what."
The training. The months of pushing herself. The determination to never be weak again. All of it led to this.
I’ll prove myself. Prove I’m strong enough.
She turned her head, just to look around—
And froze.
As a familiar figure stood several meters away. Dark hair that looked lank and lifeless. Head bowed. One hand clutching something at her chest.
Livia?
Elina’s chest tightened. She hadn’t seen Livia since... since before everything. Since the Academy attack. Since Alaric’s disappearance and Caleb’s death.
And she had heard about the rumors that what had been happening with her, but she never had gone to check on her friend and had some real talk with her.
How stupid I was?
She bit her lips and then approached slowly. "Hi."
Livia didn’t respond. Didn’t even seem to hear. Just stood there clutching whatever she held, lost in her own world.
Elina got closer. Close enough to really see.
Livia looked... terrible.
Pale and thin, like she’d lost significant weight.
Dark circles under her grey eyes suggesting she hadn’t slept properly in weeks, maybe months. Her academy uniform hung loosely on her frame.
Elina gritted her teeth. Reached out and tapped Livia’s shoulder gently.
"Livia."
Livia flinched like she’d been struck. Her head snapped up, eyes wide.
But as she processed who it was. Her shoulders relaxed.
"E-Elina?"
Her voice was barely above whisper. Raspy. Like she hadn’t used it much recently.
"Yeah." Elina tried to smile. Keep her tone gentle. "It’s me. I just... wanted to check on you—"
But before she could finish her sentence.
"Here you are, sweetheart!"
A mocking voice cut through her words.
Livia tensed immediately. Her entire body going rigid. The hand clutching the pendant tightened until her knuckles went white.
Elina straightened and turned her head to the source of it.
And then she saw him. Garret Steelwind.
He walked toward them with casual arrogance. Hands in pockets. Eyes gleaming with satisfaction that made Elina’s skin crawl.
"Livia," he said pleasantly. Ignoring Elina completely. "I’ve been looking for you. Thought maybe we could team up for the exam? Work together? Would be good practice for—"
He smiled. "Our future cooperation."
Elina immedietly stepped between them. "Back off."
Garrett’s attention shifted to her finally. His eyebrows rose. "I’m sorry, do I know you?"
"Elina Glimor." Her voice was ice. "And I said back off."
"Glimor?" He tilted his head. "Branch family, right? Heard you had some... tragedies recently. My condolences."
The false sympathy made Elina’s jaw clench. "Livia’s not interested in teaming with you. So leave. Now."
"That’s not really your decision to make." Garrett’s smile didn’t waver. He looked past Elina to Livia. "Is it, sweetheart? You can speak for yourself, can’t you?"
Livia said nothing. Just stared at the ground. Trembling slightly.
"See?" Garrett gestured. "She’s fine. We’re just having a conversation about—"
"She’s clearly not fine!" Elina’s voice rose. "And you calling her ’sweetheart’ like you own her is—"
"ONE MINUTE!" The professor’s voice boomed across the training ground. "Final preparations!"
Garrett’s smile widened. He leaned slightly to look at Livia around Elina’s protective stance.
"Enjoy your time with your little friend here, Livia." His tone was pleasant. "After all, we’ll be getting married in just three months. Plenty of time to get to know each other better then."
Livia’s face went even paler. If that was possible.
Elina opened her mouth to snarl something, but—
WHOOSH!
The world lurched.
Reality bent and twisted as the teleportation magic activating across hundreds of students simultaneously.
Everything went white—
And the exam began.