Kael looked down at the talisman. It pulsed faintly in his palm—warm and soft, like a heartbeat trapped in paper.
Once everything was packed and ready, Professor Sylvia raised her arm and pointed toward the Terminal Gate.
"It's time," she announced firmly. "We're heading to Elaris City. Beneath that Elaris city lies the place where your midterm exam begins—The Forgotten Arena of Trial."
A wave of whispers and excitement spread through the gathered first-year students. Some looked surprised, others curious. The name alone stirred tension.
Sylvia continued, her voice echoing clearly, "This arena isn't just some test ground. It's the entrance to a much larger region—a wild, untamed forest beyond. Before you even step into that forest, you must survive the arena."
She paused and looked over the crowd before revealing an important detail.
"Every beast, every trap inside the arena has been carefully placed. The royal family, the Arcadia Academy, and even the government worked together to create this space. It's controlled—but that doesn't mean it's safe."
At that moment, a soft hum echoed across the area. The large rune beneath the Terminal Gate began to glow, its ancient patterns lighting up with bright magical energy. It was ready.
Without delay, students began walking toward the gate. Some looked nervous, others confident. A few clutched their weapons tightly. Everyone understood this wasn't just a lesson—it was a true test.
One by one, they stepped through the shimmering gate.
As Kael walked into the magic portal with the Cecelia, he felt the space around him twist for a brief second—like walking through a curtain made of light.
And then, just like that, they were on the other side.
The sky was overcast, and they now stood on a massive platform surrounded by thick mist and cracked stone pillars. They had arrived.
The four professors—Sylvia, Kalden, Treneth, and Yulia—were there too, standing in front of the students once again.
Professor Sylvia stepped forward and glanced at the clock.
"It is now 10:00 A.M.," she announced clearly. "Your midterm exam begins now."
A quiet tension settled over the students.
"We professors will remain here at the gate," she added. "You have until sunset tomorrow to complete your task. Before that time, you must return and submit your final results—your report and beast scores."
She looked at them all seriously.
Then her voice softened slightly, "Best of luck to all of you."
The massive rune beneath the portal lit up again—its glow intensifying as the gate activated. A swirling field of magical light appeared in the center, humming with energy.
Without hesitation, the student groups began stepping forward.
First was Edwin's team, as they vanished into the light.
Then came Elysia's group, walking confidently. Elysia gave a brief glance backward—at someone—but didn't say anything.
Cecelia's team followed, then Jin's. One by one, they disappeared through the portal, swallowed by the radiant light.
Kael stood off to the side, watching them go.
He didn't rush.
He waited, letting the crowd thin out until most had already entered. His fingers curled around the strap of his satchel. The weight of his supplies reminded him of his preparations—his traps, potions, and scrolls.
("No one expects anything from me," he thought. "And that's good. That's exactly how I want it.")
With a final breath, he stepped forward and into the portal.
Elaris Terminal – Southern Trial Zone
The light faded.
He had arrived.
In the far distance, the roar of beasts echoed, low and guttural.
He could hear other sounds too.
He reached into his pouch and took out a folded map of the Trial Zone, lightly drawn with paths.
There were no markers for treasures or traps—only possibilities.
(I'm not here to fight head-on. I'm here to survive... and to outsmart.)
Kael took one step forward into the ruins.
"Lets focus, and wait for any beast to appear" he muttered to himself.
Kael moved swiftly.
Only fifteen minutes had passed since the students entered the trial grounds, but the chaos had already begun.
In the central ruins of the arena, Edwin and his team found themselves surrounded by three massive stone lions—each nearly three meters tall and carved from enchanted rock.
Rock lions stared down at them as the ancient constructs came to life, snarling with metallic groans.
"Spread out! Flank them!" Edwin shouted, taking charge without hesitation. "BREACH LEFT! Target the glowing runes on their backs! That's their weak point!"
Edwin already knew about their weak point.
With a flash of his sword, Edwin dashed toward the nearest lion. Stone shards flew as his blade struck clean, carving a glowing mark.
Edwin glanced at the beast.
(Do these things even have beast cores? Or are they just enchanted puppets...)"
(How are we supposed to abstract those cores?)
His teammates followed his orders like a well-trained unit—each movement calculated, precise.
They fought in sync, blocking attacks and striking back with expert timing. Sparks flew as magic clashed with stone.
Other part of the forest!
Elysia's team.
Amid the crumbling stone pathways of the forest ruins, Elysia stood at the frontline, as two mutated wyverns circled overhead. Their twisted wings beat the air with violent gusts, and their blackened, scale-covered bodies dripped with corruption.
"Incoming from above!" shouted one of her teammates.
The wyverns dived, one from the front and the other from behind.
But Elysia didn't flinch.
She slid backward, frost spreading instantly beneath her boots. With one hand raised her sword.
CLANG!
As the first wyvern lunged, Elysia spun to the side and slashed upward. A trail of freezing wind followed her strike.
The wyvern's wing froze mid-air and cracked, sending it spiraling into a broken stone column.
The second wyvern shrieked and tried to claw her from behind.
"Ice Veil," she whispered.
A shimmering dome of frost burst around her, deflecting the creature. Its claws scraped across the barrier, ice climbing up its limbs before it fell back, screeching.
While Elysia handled the aerial threats, her team was nearby, engaged in their own fierce battle.
Dozens of shadow minions—thin, shrieking beasts with glowing eyes—rushed at them from the tree lines.
A tall boy wielding a flame-coated halberd swung wide, clearing a path. "Push them back! Don't let them get close to the captain!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" said the lightning mage girl, her hands crackling as she unleashed a chain bolt that jumped between enemies. "These shadows are endless!"
One of the younger teammates—barely taller than his sword—stared at Elysia in awe as she danced across the battlefield with icy grace.