At present, no entrants had passed the second stage of the entrance exam. However, four individuals were currently in the process of undertaking it.
Meanwhile, most of the entrants were still stuck in the grid maze.
Rather than struggle with the maze's distracting monsters, most entrants found finding the right way to be the real challenge. Entrants that lacked in observation particularly had a hard time.
More than half an hour had passed since the exam began. Professors monitored entrants from their assigned sections and multiple screens, coordinating with the academy's retinue for rescue operations.
Surprisingly, Carmillia wasn't the only one experiencing threats to her life. Plenty of households and powers schemed in their own way to take down their rival's potential heir. Especially if they showed promise.
…
Atop the academy's spire, a large man giggled as he looked at the display before him.
"Hehe, that was fun!"
"…" Vica sighed at the old mans statement. What they had just witnessed was an entrant narrowly escaping death at the hands of an unexpected assailant. From a well known family who sponsored them with a lot of funds.
The daughter of Montagne's duke.
The academy had a list of known threats they intended to intercept, but exceptions still appeared from time to time, like that mind controlled attendant.
"Whoever his family is, give them double the reparations." He spoke, with a smile still plastered in his face. "Tell them that he's a secret agent who served the academy honorably and died in service."
Vica nodded silently at his side, continuing to observe the exam unfold.
She is well aware that giving the entrants something to ensure their safety was more than within the academy's capabilities. However the headmaster stubbornly refused to do so.
'Threats are always lurking around humanity. Let them experience it, and if they fail, they fail. We can't be blamed for deaths due to incompetence because they were admitted too easily.'
As an institute for the sake of raising the standard capabilities of humanity all around the world, Vica despised it, but she couldn't deny it's effectiveness. The sole academy of several nations have a reputation to maintain after all.
After all, what is the academy fighting against?
They were fighting against ignoble threats far from human understanding and capabilities. Not to mention, there's still the historical war with the demon race who wrestled against human for the world's resources and other minor races.
"That kid's got some obsessive protectiveness. How did he know that his master is in danger?" He somewhat understood why Renedon wanted that Xian guy to be by Carmillia's side.
To the point of pushing his admission to the same class as Carmillia, the Golden Boughs, where only students with special and impressive backgrounds took lectures.
"Was this your plan from the start? A greater outrage to conceal a lesser one?" Vica remarked as she habitually nudged her glasses.
"What are you talking about? I had no idea he's that guy! Hahaha!" Spoke the headmaster as he brushed off Vica's question.
At the time of her conversation with the headmaster, she hadn't expected Xian to be assigned to the Golden Boughs, but rather to be placed in one of the two considered lower but still prominent classes.
He had been listed as a special individual at Duke Renedon's request, thanks to his 'donations' to the academy, which her father had readily accepted without even verifying Xian's identity.
"Right, all of their attention will be directed at that poor guy. He kind of fits the role too, just look at his face, hahaha!" He laughed heartily imagining the trouble coming for the student, "He need's to show results if he's planning to stay in that class though."
Astor Vitorre Ellios. The headmaster of the academy, and just like his predecessors is a legendary figure in the world, known for his feats of strength to overturn mountains and bury cities deep underground.
He is now leisurely living his life as the headmaster of Rozenfall, an axis of humanity dedicated to realizing the potential of young bloods in order to face threats to mankind. They were not here to be pretentious heroes, but to be powerful individuals capable of leading people and protecting their self and lands against outside threats.
There is a reason behind his hearty laugh. He enjoyed watching students struggle with the challenges presented before them, as if witnessing a heroic story unfold.
"Ohhh! The orange girl is heading towards the mimic minotaur, Vica!" He exclaimed like a child and leaned over from his seat, as if about to see something amazing.
The Mimic Minotaur was the product of an Agrind Beast, one capable of copying appearances and even combat abilities. Still in its infancy when it was killed, its core was extracted and processed into a summoned mimic, modeled after a standard minotaur species.
Vica could only sigh. Ever since her old man had retired from the frontlines, he'd been like this during every examination, competition, and school events, filling the curriculum with frequent duels, tournament-style trials, and expensive facilities designed to present bizarre and often theatrical challenges.
But it wasn't without purpose. Dealing with Agrind Beasts required the rare and invaluable ability to observe and analyze their 'habitats.' For that, a calm and analyzing mind is a requirement.
Each Agrind Beast shaped its environment to its advantage. The longer they remained in an area, the stronger they became and the more unpredictable and hostile the terrain around them grew. This made certain parts of the world entirely unsuitable for civilization, unless reclaimed by humanity.
Furthermore, they contaminated the native monster species within their territory, infecting them with unique traits and turning them into even greater threats. That's when the a real disaster begins, when Agrind beast start hoarding monsters they've infected and established a lair.
Because once their lair grew enough, they will almost always try to expand it, like an instinct, due to the influx of monsters. Giving birth into disaster class lairs that could potentially wipe out a city, a region, or even a country off the map.
Vica turned her attention to the display, almost half blocked by her fathers large figure.
'They've made contact.'
The mimic minotaur isn't an existence designed to be defeated by the entrants alone. However, one girl stood her ground with astonishing speed and a simple rapier in her hands. It can be seen that she carried two extra rapiers, probably loot's from encounters or other entrants.
While killing is prohibited, it wasn't explicitly stated that looting and fighting each other is not allowed. The headmaster had deliberately withheld protective restrictions, allowing a degree of conflict and scheming to take place, an experience he deemed essential for the entrants' growth even if they fail the exam.
The student they're watching was of special descent, scouted by the academy and headmaster himself.
Fahnaela del Alinde, descendant of a legendary figure known as The Sword Saint, Lorean del Alinde. An orange haired girl who always kept a confident smile and clear gaze. According to her profile, she got along well with almost everyone, enjoyed helping others, and always appeared fresh and full of energy.
Multiple suitors from various nobles were sent daily in their elusive 'clan' because of the beauty and personality she had. Vica's eyes twitched as could almost see her shining through the display, jumping around with tightened expression, sneaking stabs and cuts on the minotaurs body. But then, two other Entrants came.
Carmillia and Xian had reached the mimic minotaur. Fahna had a startled expression, but was quick on her feet to head towards them. This led the minotaur chasing her, charge towards the new arrivals.
"Hey! You two, lets work together!" Her scream can be heard through the rooms display, her smiling face reflected as she proposed cooperation with Xian and Carmillia. It was so casual as if she's inviting a friend over for some food.
"Oh! What a shameless girl, she's not giving them a chance to refuse!" Exclaimed the headmaster with a big smile on his face, excitedly hitting his legs with his fists.
The minotaur silently followed Fahna.
Carmillia waved her hand as vines protruded in the ground around her and Xian raised a longsword.
…
Xian used a longsword this time, knowing he wouldn't need a hammer anymore. Fahna had cleared the way better than he expected. They hardly encountered steam golems and even if they did, he dispatched it with ease.
There was also the reason that he wanted to practice. Once he felt that his movements are good enough, he planned to spar with Lucinelle. Xian haven't forgotten the clean and cold slice he felt on his neck, something that caused him two regressions.
'Besides, it might pave the way for her route.' Serika was already on the [Green] level and it wasn't increasing yet, likely due to need of event's to advance her affection level. But Lucinelle stayed at consistent [Gray] level of affection. Spending time with a heroine is one of the fundamental strategies to encounter events and raise affection.
In this case, since Xian knew nothing about Serika and Lucinelle's activities or routes, he needed to pay closer attention, compared to other heroines, with whom he already knew how to respond.
"Tsk, what a two-faced bitch." Carmillia cussed Fahna who came at them with a smile, as she prepared her magic.
Xian silently took a stance. He felt heat rush into his head and whole body, excited to finally face the minotaur the he couldn't fight before.
"Oh? He's clashing it head on?" Fahna sneered inwardly and somersaulted out of the minotaur's way. The minotaur, blindly charging to his newly found target let out a silent huff.
'[Defiance] and forty-two strength. That should work… No, it must!' Although Xian was excited, he still had lacking endurance, but with enough strength, he's confident to stop the charging minotaur.
'A level 20 at best and a mimic with reduced stats…' If he didn't know, he'd never dare to try at all, evading instead and scooping Carmillia out of the way.
As for the reason… He didn't need a particularly good one. He just wanted to exert his strength and enjoy the moment. Xian himself didn't expect to be like when it came to battle. He hardly fought with anyone as a normal human back in his world.
Now, he gets to fight as someone beyond that normalcy, relishing in the rush and thrill of combat.
He ran forward, swinging his weapon in a arc, meeting the minotaur's charge.
Clang!
A steep metal sound of collision rang as he left a trace in the ground beneath him. The sword had stopped the minotaur, hitting the sturdy handle of its axe, but not before pushing him for several meters.
Xian let himself stepped back using the force that the minotaur exerted to further push him. Then he raised his sword in preparation to exchange blows with the enemy.
Although Xian planned to exchange blows, as the mimic minotaur swung its axe, he found his hands numbing from each strikes, reminding him of his sparring days with Serika. However, it was lacking compared to her.
'I've had worse, you fucking cow!' He redirected another strike to the ground. Luckily, the monster only used brute strength and he redirected it with ease.
While Xian is helpless to counter, Carmillia didn't idle around. Although used to ordering subordinates at her behest, she had her own means to employ.
Thorned vines restricted the monsters movements and it rained down darkness on the monster as it seemed to let out a roar. But as mimic's are unable to produce any sounds of whatever they copied, it only resulted to a scream of silent agony.
Fahna took the opportunity, swiftly piercing its joints in quick succession, narrowly avoiding a counterstrike as the Minotaur back-swept its axe. Xian didn't miss the opening and he delivered a clean slash, slicing through one of its legs.
The monster fell in one knee, locking gazes with Xian.
Empty orbs made of blue flames was reflected into Xian's blood red eyes. Without hesitation, he swung again, this time severing the minotaur's dominant arm, its axe crashing to the ground with a heavy clang.
He could've beheaded the monster right then and there but instead, he looked at Carmillia and gave her a faint smile. She frowned at first but soon realized the hidden meaning beneath that smile.
Suddenly, Xian thrust his sword towards the minotaur. But instead of killing the monster, his longsword parried a rapier.
"I'm gonna have to ask you to back off" Xian spoke, without holding back his rough and somewhat raspy voice.
He knew that Fahna, would take this opportunity to kill the minotaur. That couldn't happen, since it was a rare starting enemies with exp as a reward.
"Hey, ever heard of finders keepers?" Fahna quipped, her smile twitching slightly.
"No," Xian replied coldly. "I've only heard about winner takes all." He replied coldly.
Fahna didn't expect this dangerous looking stranger to predict and even block her rapier. But thanks to that, she knew that both of them had the same intentions to get the first kill.
She took her rapier back and distanced herself from Xian.
"Well... It's two against one." Dealing with a mage wasn't an issue, since her speed is the very counter against them but the dangerous looking stranger was also fast, if not faster than her.
"I guess I'm just going to take first place then." Realizing her disadvantage, her eyes turned to gaze to the passage before her. However she found it sealed with vines instead.
"Ugh… What's the deal with you two?" Frustrated, her smile turned into a pout and lightly stomped the ground with her feet.
Thorned vines suddenly sprouted from where she stood, making her flinch she narrowly avoided it's lethal spikes.
'That gloomy girl!' Fahna stared at the mage, shock and anger concealed beneath her troubled expression.
Meanwhile, Xian was thinking to himself. Although he made the decision to not let Fahna get the kill...
'What now?' He was torn between giving it to Carmillia to perhaps gain affection level or taking it... But then, she might get angry if he took it for himself.
While rivalry is one of the ways to start Fahna's route... He's not the protagonist, but instead, a butler bound to a villainess.
And it seems that villainess who just attempted to attack Fahna had other plans.