The week dragged.
Every day was the same: mock battles.
Tarse lost.
Again.
And again.
Emilia beat him every time. Her swords cut faster than his flames could rise.
Azmirack fought him once too — and crushed him flat. Trse challenged him again but this time he won.
Vee fared no better. He challenged Emilia. Lost. He fought Azmirack. Lost. Even sparred Tarse. Lost again.
By the seventh day, they were all sore, bruised, and exhausted.
That night, the speakers buzzed overhead.
Umari's voice:
"Attention, all you potential diamonds and failures. Tomorrow morning, get your asses to the examination hall (room T1 in building E2). The written test will begin. All the arrangements have been made. Study everything you've learnt since you were born and there might be chance that you failures will pass."
He grinned and laughed a bit but loud enough to be heard,"Looking at how only 19 examinees have ever passed. Your odds of passing couldn't be lower and Yes, this goes for everyone." He laughed in a dark room, his face illuminated by the light from the monitors.
The message cut off.
Murmurs spread across the dorm halls.
"Written test?"
"They didn't say there would be one!"
"I don't need to study. I'll pass anyway."
Tarse leaned on his bed. "You guys can't be more stupid than I thought."
The crowd responded in an angry manner:
"Who do you think you're witch boy!"
"We'll crush if you're not care!"
"Don't get cocky, I will kill you."
An examinee(Sorga Rayan) as tall as a tree looked down at Tarse, foaming from mouth, breath unrhythmic and eyes redder than the crimson moon that illuminated the night."Are...y..you...Tarse Vicks. I was told I should kill you for the Master's sake."
He smirked. "Guess I'll die then."
Hesmile back.
That night, he lay down. Sleep heavy, but not complete.
The air shifted warm.
"Sorry."
Her voice.
Evryli.
She sat at the foot of his bed, shadow and flame for a dress.
"I wasn't there for you this week. I should've been."
Tarse turned away. "Doesn't matter."
"It does," she said softly. "Tomorrow, you'll face something worse than swords and fists. You'll face yourself. I can't take that for you."
He said nothing.
"But… I'll give you something. Access. A little more of my power. Not all. Not yet."
Tarse rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling.
"I'll be fine either way."
She gave a sad smile. "Then prove it."
And she was gone.
Morning.
The exam hall was massive — wide marble floors, high arched ceiling, glowing lamps hanging like suns.
Each seat had a pamphlet the size of a book, and a pen glowing faint blue.
Examinees froze in place.
"What the hell—look at this thing!"
"Two hundred pages?"
"This is insane!"
"Does a witch-blood even know how to read?"
"He'll flunk for sure."
Tarse's eyes narrowed. Looking at the others. His gaze met their's and fear sunk deep inside their hearts.
" Am going guys."
"Me too"
"Me three"
The door swung open.
Gladial Fangrawl walked in, clipboard under her arm.
"Sit," she ordered.
Everyone sat.
"Today," she said sharply, "I'll be your examiner. That clueless idiot won't be back until tomorrow. Which means , this time there will be no theatrics, no nonsense. Just obey the rules."
She raised a hand and whispered. Black light pulsed across the room. Papers rustled.
Several students gasped as glowing books and cheat notes were yanked into the air.
Gladial snapped her fingers. The items burst into flames.
"No cheating. No copying. No hidden charms. Anyone caught doing anything not allowed will be dismissed."
She leaned on the desk.
"There are two hundred questions. With an additional one at the end. That one will determines your place here.Now, Begin!." She sat on her chair.
Silence. Pens scratched. Pages turned.
Some groaned. Some muttered curses.
One student—Number 380—flipped straight to the last page.*"What the hell is this, it's easier than I thought. Did they let a child write this."* He pondered.
He scribbled an answer.
The floor under him glowed—then split.
He fell but had a late reaction, his screams still audible as though falling through an endless walled abyss.
Everyone stopped writing except Tarse, Emilia and Azmirack who continued.
A massive, twisted bird of ash and flame appeared from the floor, voice echoing:
"Examinee Number 380 complete. Proceeding to Stage Two."
The bird vanished. The floor sealed.
Shocked murmurs filled the room.
"…Stage Two?"
"He skipped everything and still passed?"
"This is crazy."
"Does that mean we can pass without doing any of this."
Gladial shouted, voice echoing: " No discussion in the exam hall."
Tarse kept writing. Emilia too.
More names got called. More falls into darkness.
Vee bit his lip, sweat beading his forehead. He looked forwards Tarse and Emilia. "How the hell are they calm?!"
Tarse just sat there, he heard but did not answer.
Eventually, Vee reached the last question. His face went pale. He muttered something and scribbled fast. The floor opened beneath him.
"Examinee Number 002 complete. Proceeding to Stage Two."
Tarse stiffened. Vee was gone.
He glanced sideways. Emilia was still calm.
Finally—he reached question 201.
201. Below is a list of creatures that were present during "Fourth Singularity"
1. Dullahan
2. Demon Lord (Artificial)
3. Voiding Creation
4. Witch King (Replica)
5. Night Queen (Demon)
6. Nightmares
7. Cursed/Vengeful Spirit
8. Forgotten Phantom General
9. Pseudo God
10. Fused Lost Souls: Shadow Plague Soldier
11. Giant Snake
Tarse blinked.
"So they are going to have us fight them.But these are… all disaster class."
His thoughts spiraled. Replicas. They must be replicas. Just for the exam.
Behind him, a girl's voice whispered:
"What'll you choose?"
He turned. Cynthia.
"Shut up," he hissed.
"You don't want to be dismissed, do you? Just whisper."
She leaned closer. "Come on, tell me."
He ground his teeth. "Leave me alone."
But she didn't.
Her voice needled at him until he finally scrawled his answer:
8. Forgotten Phantom General.
The ground opened.
He fell.
Magic caught him midair, lowering him to a wide, dark chamber.
Azmirack stood there, already waiting.
They locked eyes. Neither spoke.
Then—another thud.
Cynthia landed beside them, brushing off her skirt.
"I saw your choice," she said brightly. "So I followed."
Tarse glared. "Idiot."
A voice boomed.
Gladial's.
"Everyone is done. The groups have all been arranged according to everyones individual choice. You will now face that choiceyou selected and this will help you reflect on life. Fight Or survive for thirty minutes. Then you pass."
"One more thing, if you're are about to die. Don't expect any help from us, this is a kill or be killed type of situation I hope that you know what's at stake here. Now begin."
The chambers rumbled.
Doors along the walls creaked open.
Shadows spilled out. Screeches filled the air.
Tarse clenched his fists.
Vee, somewhere else, was already in battle. Emilia was staring down her own monster.
And in front of Tarse…
The Forgotten Phantom General stepped forward.