Lythos, the Examination Square.
Sunlight bathed the granite-paved square, where two hundred students stood in neat lines.
Today marked the first round of Draconia's college entrance exam—the school-level assessment!
Only those who rank in the top 50 will qualify for the next round of exams.
"Attention students, the exam is about to begin. Please take turns to enter the stage according to the drawing order."
"This exam consists of two rounds, selecting the top 50 contestants to advance."
"Advancers must participate in subsequent competitions, and the final results will serve as an important basis for the comprehensive assessment of the college entrance exam. Everyone, please take it seriously and perform at your best level."
As the staff read the rules aloud.
On the large screen, the list of students began to scroll rapidly.
In the crowd, Bianca Shelby clutched the corner of her uniform tightly, her gaze flickering between the screen and the entrance passage.
In her class's formation behind her, there was a conspicuously empty spot.
"Class leader, why hasn't God Grant arrived yet? He won't miss the exam, will he?"
"Yeah, with God Grant's skills, taking first place should be a cinch. If he's disqualified for being late..."
"Class leader, can you contact God Grant and urge him?"
Those speaking were the students who were once saved by Aster Grant during the novice trial.
Upon hearing these voices, Bianca was also terribly anxious.
Since the trial ended, she has been searching for Aster's whereabouts, wanting to thank him in person, but has never found a trace of him.
"Everyone, don't worry."
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"I believe Aster will definitely arrive on time. Try to earn more time during the match later."
The others exchanged glances, ultimately nodding helplessly.
The battles of low-level Beastmasters often concluded swiftly.
On stage, the duels between two bonded beasts usually resolved within thirty seconds.
Despite Bianca's urging her companions to find ways to delay time, the matchup list on the large screen continued to scroll rapidly.
[Aster Grant VS Will King]
When this line appeared, Will King's face instantly turned pale.
Although Lythos has always rumored that Aster Grant's SSS-level ranking was bought with money, a skinny camel is still larger than a horse. As an Awakening Tier Three Beast Tamer, how could he dare challenge him?
"Aster Grant, please take the stage!"
The referee's resonant voice echoed in the square.
As time ticked by, the opposite side of the stage remained empty.
The referee frowned at the timer, raising his voice:
"Is Aster Grant here? If not present, it will be considered a forfeit."
No one responded on site!
The referee scanned the crowd again without finding a trace of Aster.
"As Aster Grant is not present, I hereby declare..."
Bianca was just about to stop him.
"Wait a moment."
A slightly mocking voice suddenly interrupted.
Mason Cheney sauntered in, arm around a seductive Succubus whose tail wrapped ambiguously around his waist.
"Referee, how about saving this match for the finale? After all..."
He purposefully dragged his tone:
"We're all eagerly awaiting this 'SSS genius's' performance."
In the past ten days, he practically lived in Alternate Space, fully enhancing the Succubus's level.
All to stomp the kid who stole his thunder today!
But now...
The main character is absent?
How could he possibly be satisfied?
Sweat beaded on the referee's forehead.
The rules explicitly state—lateness results in disqualification.
Nevertheless, this person...
"I'll explain the situation to Vice Principal Cheney."
Mason casually added, as his fingers stroked the Succubus's waist ambiguously.
Upon hearing Mason mention the Vice Principal, the referee instantly relaxed.
"Alright, then this match will be postponed! Aster and Will's match will be held at the end."
With the referee's announcement, the venue erupted into chaos.
"Aster isn't here? What's going on?"
"Didn't he get an SSS rating? Is he afraid of not passing the exam?"
"You guys don't know? Apparently, Aster spent 20 million to become the top novice in the trial!"
"Moreover, his contracted beast is even a Broken Angel. Perhaps he's afraid it'll be exposed, so he didn't dare participate in this exam."
Rumors spread like toxic fumes throughout the venue, Bianca's knuckles turned white, her nails digging into her palm.
How she wished to rise and declare to everyone—that the boy who descended like a god in the novice trial to save her was a true genius!
But ultimately, she loosened her fist resignedly.
Her words carried little weight, even if spoken, nobody would believe them.
Besides, in the interim, with The Cheneys deliberately spreading rumors.
Basically everyone in Lythos accepted Aster's SSS-level rating as achieved through cheating.
Coupled with Aster not appearing since the novice trial to clarify the situation.
This only solidified everyone's belief that this was the truth!
"Next match, Mason Cheney versus John Lawson!"
With the referee's announcement, Mason strode onto the stage, Succubus in tow.
His opponent, John Lawson, looked deathly pale. Awakening Tier Four was among the best graduates this year, yet now seemed like a lamb to the slaughter.
"Young Master Cheney..." John's voice trembled, "Please show mercy...."
Mason's lips curled into a cruel smile, as the red tongue of the Succubus delicately licked his fangs.
"Black-Shelled Turtle! Water Flow Impact!" John ordered with gritted teeth.
"Whoosh—"
A water column surged forth but bizarrely halted three feet from the Succubus.
The Succubus lazily raised her slender hand, causing the water column to shatter against an invisible barrier.
"Ah!"
Purple light flared up in the Succubus's eyes, an observable spiritual ripple swept out.
The Black-Shelled Turtle collapsed without even a chance to cry.
Under what seemed like a thunderstrike, John spurted blood and fainted.
"Hiss—"
Gasps echoed throughout the crowd.
"Wow, a Tier Four bonded beast was dealt with in a single move by Mason's beast?"
"What's his level now? Could it have reached Awakening Tier Six?"
"I think even higher! Maybe Awakening Tier Seven?"
"No way. Ten days after the novice trial, and already Awakening Tier Seven. How can we compete?"
Mason's cold gaze swept through the crowd, yet couldn't find the figure he most wished to see.
Could he have really fled?
If so, the "gift" he meticulously prepared for Aster would go to waste!
He deliberately spent a fortune hiring twenty professional training teams, just to elevate the Succubus to Awakening Tier Eight!
Paired with Epic-level talent bonded beast, he was confident he could dominate the scene...
Especially that Aster who earned his SSS rating through cheating!
Subsequent matches were lackluster until Bianca appeared.
This Awakening Tier Five girl intentionally didn't defeat her opponent, dragging the match for a full ten minutes.
Mason squinted watching her attempts to delay, a dangerous smile stretching across his face.
"Next match: Aster versus Will King!"
The referee's voice quieted the venue.
When Aster didn't appear again, Mason's smile grew colder.
This time, he wouldn't provide any more chances!
"Aster is forfeit..."
Yet, before the referee could finish his declaration.
"Boom!!!"
A golden comet suddenly descended from the sky, crashing heavily onto the center of the stage.
...
...