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Estimated read time: 17 min
[This story is entirely fictional and has no relation to real events.]
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As breakfast came to an end, following Chain's orders, everyone set off toward the second zone. Compared to the first, the first zone was small, yet walking its full distance would take seven days. There was no rush to reach the next zone.
The second zone was not as safe as the first. While hardly any Demonic Beasts appeared in the first zone, their numbers increased significantly in the second. Alongside them were some ordinary, yet fierce, predators. Although Chain had never been in this forest, he knew exactly how to survive here.
Everyone in their team was inexperienced. Among the three Mana users, one was a Dark Attributor, and the other two had unlocked two attributes. There were also two Aura users and a Life Energy user. Chain thought their team wasn't bad. Except for Alex, their combination was excellent. Still, if Alex could be taught a few sword techniques using a sword, their chances of survival would increase dramatically.
Chain carried a long sword. Although thin, it was quite long and difficult to wield with one hand; it was mainly used with both hands. Apart from this, Chain only had a small sword. He took it out from his bag and handed it to Alex. Essentially, it was more of a dagger—larger than a short knife, smaller than a long sword.
-->> "Alex, I don't have much for you, but this will help."
Chain said with a faint smile. Alex accepted the dagger happily. Its size was similar to the wooden sword he had been using. Perhaps due to his age, it felt differently. At just eleven, Alex was short, so the dagger felt like a long sword to him. He gripped it firmly, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"It's been over a year since I last used a dagger. Returning to my real weapon feels refreshing… but for now, I can only call it a long sword," Alex thought silently.
Seeing Alex's smile, Chain walked forward, pleased. Alex, lost in thought, tightened his grip on the dagger. This was his primary weapon in the previous tower. Among countless magical items, he had only managed to wield two ordinary daggers. He smiled slightly, remembering. His body was no longer ordinary; though previously unable to use magical items, his body had become three times stronger than a normal human's through survival battles.
"I need to increase my agility and strength quickly," Alex thought.
Another smile appeared on his face. He could use Mana for now. If he became an expert with daggers, no other Mana user could match him. His thoughts were interrupted suddenly. Four Demonic Rats appeared in front of them. The rats didn't attack immediately, but they were in formation, ready to strike at any moment.
Chain immediately shouted:
-->> "This is a perfect opportunity for you all. There are six of you, four beasts. Myra and Eva, prepare for chanting. Dufes and Jeab, be ready. Snira, stay behind for healing spells. Alex, take your dagger and stay next to Snira."
Like a true leader, Chain gave commands to his team. Normally, facing four Demonic Beasts, six people would struggle. But with Chain's leadership, the task became simple. First, Myra cast her Fireball spell:
-->> "Fireball!"
The Duke's daughter was incredibly talented. She didn't need a big chant, surprising everyone. Three fireballs emerged from her hands, hitting the four Demonic Rats. The sound of explosions rang out:
Boom, boom, boom!
Smoke rose, revealing two rats half-dead from the fireballs.
-->> "O Great Mana Lord, I am a Plant Attributor. Please, listen to my call and vanquish the Dark. Binding!"
Eva's chanting took some time. As soon as it ended, tree vines rose from the ground beneath the four rats, trapping them. Following Chain's orders, Dufes and Jeab delivered the finishing blows with their long swords. Both killed the rats. Meanwhile, Alex stood there disappointed, watching the others take all the experience points.
-->> "I could've reached level fifteen if I had killed even one of these four," Alex muttered softly.
Snira looked at Alex once, and he realized she, too, was irritated. Standing at the back, he wasn't having any fun—the real thrill was at the front.
It took only a few minutes to eliminate the four Demonic Beasts, boosting the morale of the entire team. Everyone was eager to hunt more, but luck wasn't on their side. With few Demonic Beasts in the first zone, they had to move toward the second zone.
---
Elsewhere in the first zone, within another team of fifteen, only two were handling all the Demonic Beasts with their Lightning and Ice attributes. They didn't need any help. These two were Edward and Myra von Uexcul, siblings competing to eliminate beasts efficiently. Their team leader struggled to coordinate them. All siblings usually got along well, but the leader felt trapped between two kingdoms' conflicts.
Other teams weren't faring much better. If Nobel and commoner were in the same team, issues were inevitable. No leader expected so many problems. All team leaders were supposed to teach teamwork but failed. Overall, except for two groups, the others weren't doing well. Still, the teams remained suspended under the leaders' supervision, but their chances of reaching the next zones were uncertain.
---
At Mefas Academy, two guests from Fire Empire Academy had arrived to observe the test. They were here to see if the test was being conducted properly. Their power was equivalent to Mefas Academy's principal. Therefore, the other teachers treated them respectfully.
All responsibility fell on three teachers: Sir Azro, Madam Diara, and Madam Helen, who monitored the teams via a large screen made with valuable stones capable of projecting images of anything. Each team leader had an Image Stone embedded in their body, capturing movements and projecting them onto the screen. Since the team leader was each team's Life Energy user, the Image Stones were given to them.
-->> "The Duke von Uexcul's children—what are their names?"
A guest asked Diara. Being of rank equivalent to the principal, Diara answered politely:
-->> "Sir, the Duke's son is Edward von Uexcul and the daughter is Elin von Uexcul."
The guest exchanged quiet words with another standing beside him, unnoticed by the teachers. One was younger, female; the other older, male. Both wore the academy's standard black attire. Teachers' ranks were displayed on their chests. One star represented a new position; five stars were needed to become principal. Even though the current principal was five-star, he couldn't disrespect the four-star guests. Sir Azro felt a shiver thinking about this.
-->> "These two won't need to participate in the next test. They've passed," said the female guest.
The elderly man nodded:
-->> "Giving them an advantage causes problems for others, but we cannot do otherwise. Otherwise, the academy will lose credibility."
-->> "But then we can't observe the team performance properly," she countered.
Two-star Azro was mainly responsible for observing the guests. He received support from the other two teachers. They thought Azro's rank might allow the guests to disrespect him, but their presence prevented it. The old man asked Azro directly:
-->> "Azro, what do you think?"
Azro was confused:
-->> "Sir?"
-->> "What should we do with these two?"
Azro deferred to Diara:
-->> "Sir, Teacher Diara can answer this better."
The old man's gaze shifted to Diara:
-->> "These two siblings don't get along well. So they are placed in the same team to learn cooperation."
Diara's answer was met with urgency from the female guest:
-->> "But you see, if anything happens, the whole team will fail."
Diara couldn't respond. The elderly man suggested:
-->> "Alright, if this team encounters another, one of them will join the other team."
Though the advice wasn't bad, each team's principal had already decided, and teachers hesitated to change it. Still, Azro quickly sent a letter via eagle to the team leader with the news.
---
Night had fallen, marking the second day of survival. Chain's team rested in their tents, exhausted but having replenished their energy. Energy could be restored in three ways: meditation, absorbing energy from pills, stones, or medicine, or a calm night's sleep. Everyone chose sleep.
However, Alex remained awake, staring at the projection from his ring. He had been waiting for this moment for days. On the screen floated:
Choose a job:
Knight | Mage | Healer | Assassin
Alex pondered deeply:
"I've waited so long. According to my program, I could choose a job at level fifteen in Nightmare. In the game, jobs are determined not by weapons, but abilities. Knights fight with swords, Mages with magic. Since I can already use spells, Mage isn't interesting. I don't need to be a Healer either. I'm confused between Knight or Assassin. Knight suits those who like to command, boosting defense, stamina, and health—not my preference. Even though it allows Aura energy use, I still don't want it. I'll choose Assassin."
As soon as he made the choice, the screen confirmed:
You have chosen Assassin. Your sub-job is confirmed.
Current Job: 1) Host of Giduri
2) Assassin (Sub-Job)
He wasn't surprised. After so long, it felt normal. He had been focusing on increasing agility, but now he didn't have to worry—his current job doubled both strength and agility. He checked his stats:
Name: Alex (Hridoy)
Job: Host of Giduri
Sub-Job: Assassin
Level: 15
Stats:
Strength: 26
Vitality: 14
Agility: 28
Stamina: 20
Intelligence: 33
Luck: 11
"Strength and agility have doubled. My stamina increased a lot. With this, I can kill one or two Demonic Rats with my dagger without expending energy."
-->> "Congratulations, Master. You have acquired two new skills. 'Assassin's Aura' has been added. This skill can intimidate living creatures below your level, paralyzing them for one minute."
The ring paused, then added:
-->> "'Info' skill has been added. Master can now see information about objects and creatures up to your level."
The ring's explanation was simple. On a projection screen, Alex could see all details. He was intrigued, asking:
-->> "Ring?"
-->> "Yes, Master!"
-->> "Am I truly gaining these skills through you?"
He had wondered if the ring alone granted them or someone else. Memories of his earlier dream hinted at a connection—he once wished for life to feel like a game. Now he wasn't sure if the dream or the ring made it real.
-->> "Master's will activates the Ring of Bilzabub. The more you understand its power, the better it serves you."
(A note: Bilzabub pronunciation may vary, but we'll use this.)
He suspected the ring was hiding something but chose not to press it for now. Sleep was necessary.
---
(Inside Alex's ring)
In a small black room, a girl lay on a white bed. Human-like but with a left horn, her eyes yellow, resembling a crocodile or chameleon. One leg was chained by a black shackle. She seemed like a prisoner.
Above her, a small projection screen showed a sleeping boy—her new master. She had no memories of the past, except for her former master and her own identity. She only remembered her final order from her previous master, Demon Prince Bilzabub:
"Whoever holds this ring is your master. Help them achieve their goals."
Her name was Giduri. She recalled Bilzabub's fondness for the name. She felt sorrow and confusion.
-->> "Master told me to help my new master, but what am I doing? I'm only reading words from a paper. That's not how it should be."
Giduri threw the paper, which vanished before touching the wall. She was furious.
The ring worked automatically for the new master. Giduri, once in control, now had no command over its functions. Over time, she realized the ring had a new function—the 'game' her master controlled.
-->> "Perhaps Bilzabub never told me, but this proves I no longer serve my master's will directly."
She cried. From day one, she had not truly assisted her master. She merely read words on paper, projecting them to Alex. She knew it appeared as a projection, but reading it spared her master the trouble.
Giduri feared her master would forget her if she did nothing. Memories of the past, like Bilzabub's extended hand saving her from masked villains called Hero, surfaced. The word Hero made her body tremble with rage, despite partial memory loss.
---
Three days had passed. Every team was performing well. Some teams reached the middle of the first zone. Because all ten teams started from different locations, none had encountered each other yet. Each team leader had a map, and by following it, they could potentially meet another team near the border of the second zone.
Chain, observing his team, noted their numbers were low. Though it would help against strong Demonic Beasts, could they enter the third zone? The third zone contained the most powerful Demonic Beasts, along with hybrids. Some hybrids were even in the second zone, but Chain felt no fear.
The team's morale was high. Killing first-zone Demonic Beasts easily had everyone confident in their abilities.
-->> "I thought Demonic Beasts were terrifying, but now one slash with a sword can decapitate them," Dufes said proudly.
-->> "Maybe it seems easy because it's the first zone," Jeab added.
-->> "Still, it feels easy. Alex can kill one rat with his dagger. The second zone will be a piece of cake," Dufes continued.
Dufes hinted at yesterday's event with ten Demonic Rats.
Yesterday: Eva bound five rats with her Plant Attribute spell "Binding." Myra killed three with her Fireball spell, leaving the rest critically injured. Dufes and Jeab finished them off with swords. Snira stayed behind, protected by Alex with a small dagger. Chain, Mio, and Lubar watched the others. No one noticed a rat attacking Snira from behind. Alex pulled her away just in time. The rat's sharp claws missed by a hair. Snira stumbled onto Alex's chest, her eyes blushing.
After the first attack, Alex moved Snira safely behind, gripping his dagger tightly, eyes fixed on the approaching rat. He didn't blink, waiting for an opportunity. As the rat lunged, Alex slashed with his dagger, splitting it in two.
Being a Life Energy user, Snira held immense pride but never flaunted it. Yet today, after being lifted by Alex, she felt a spark—like finding her prince. Meanwhile, Alex, exhilarated at reaching level fifteen, noticed none of this.
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To Be Continued…