Chapter 36: Simulation Exam (7)
The mana core floated quiet above its cracked stone pedestal, pulsing like a heart you could see, its soft blue glow washing over the trio's faces in the dim chamber. The light made their shadows stretch long and thin across the broken tiles, flickering like ghosts on the walls carved with old runes. The air still carried that sharp, rusty smell of ancient mana, heavy enough to make your chest feel tight, like the ruins were holding their breath, waiting for something to break the silence.
A faint chime cut through the quiet, sharp and clear, like a bell in a fog. Then a holographic projection blinked into life in front of them, gold letters glowing bright against the dark stone: [Commencing teleportation to the Battlefield for Part 3 in T-minus 10 seconds.]
Christopher groaned loud, slapping a hand to his forehead, his voice echoing off the pillars. "Oh, come on! We just got out of a fight, can't they give us a damn break first?! My arms are still sore from punching those beasts!" He shook his head, muttering under his breath, "This simulation's trying to kill us, I swear."
Celestia let out a soft sigh, her silver hair catching the blue light as she shifted her weight, sword still in hand but lowered. "Looks like the simulation won't let us rest. It's one thing after another," she said, her voice calm but tired, like she was bracing for the next hit.
Lucian stayed quiet, his deep black eyes flicking to the Wraith King hovering beside them. The towering specter's blue fire eyes flickered wild, like it was caught between staying put and fading away. Then, out of nowhere, it spoke again—in English, voice cracking with a raw, almost human plea. "{Please, my Lord… don't abandon me. Please, I beg of you. Don't leave me alone in this cursed darkness again!}"
The Wraith King's tone broke, sounding less like a monster and more like a kid scared of being left behind. Its ghostly hands shook, and it lowered its hollow skull. Transparent tears fell, hissing as they hit the stone floor, burning tiny craters that smoked faintly in the dim light.
Celestia and Christopher froze, their eyes going wide like they'd seen a dog start talking.
Christopher blinked hard, his mouth half-open. "Uhhh… is it… crying? Like, actually crying?" he said, his voice a mix of shock and trying not to laugh.
Celestia covered her mouth with one hand, a giggle slipping out despite herself. "It… it looks like it's having a breakdown," she said, her voice muffled but shaking with amusement. "This thing scared us half to death, and now it's… what, lonely?"
Christopher couldn't hold it in anymore—he laughed, loud and rough, shaking his head. "This is insane. A Wraith King crying because it seems it doesn't want to be left alone? What the hell are we even doing anymore? This simulation's gone nuts!"
Lucian sighed deep, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, his ashen-white hair falling over his eyes. "Fine, fine… you can come with us," he said, sounding more annoyed than anything. "But how the hell am I supposed to hide you? You're massive, and if anyone sees me walking around with a Class SS-level monster, I'll be in prison before lunch. Or worse, expelled." (Speaking in English Language).
The Wraith King's flames sparked with excitement, its mood flipping fast like a kid who just got told yes. "{You need not worry, my Lord. I can change my form—something smaller, more subtle. How about… this?}"
The air shimmered, a low hum filling the chamber as the Wraith King's huge body started to shrink. Shadows twisted and pulled in tight, like water swirling down a drain, until all that was left was a small band of black metal, glowing faint with a purple light that pulsed soft. The transformation ended with a quiet buzz, and the bracelet hovered in the air in front of Lucian, waiting.
Lucian caught it, his fingers closing around the cool metal. A faint pulse ran through it—like a heartbeat, steady and alive, vibrating against his skin. "{You may wear this, my Lord. Through this form, I can support you. If you ever face grave danger, summon me with your intent. I can also amplify your Hybrid Blade Demonic Arts,}" the Wraith King's voice echoed from the bracelet, playful but sure.
Lucian blinked, caught off guard, his fingers tightening around the band. "Wait—how the hell do you even know about my Hybrid Blade Demonic Arts?" (Speaking in English Language) he asked, voice sharp with suspicion, his mind flashing back to the fights in his first transmigration where he'd used those moves.
The bracelet glowed faintly, and the Wraith King's voice came again, teasing. "{That's a secret, my Lord.}"
Lucian scowled, his eyes narrowing. "Don't mess with me. Tell me how—" (Still speaking in English Language) he started, but the holographic projection flashed again, cutting him off.
[Teleportation sequence commencing.]
A new countdown flickered in front of them, gold numbers ticking down fast:
3…
Lucian frowned, slipping the bracelet onto his left wrist quick, the metal cool against his skin. "We'll talk later," he muttered, half to the bracelet, half to himself.
2…
Celestia steadied her sword, her hair fluttering as the air started to hum with building energy, her gray eyes sharp and ready.
1…
The world bent—light swallowed everything, a rush of white that drowned out the chamber and the ruins.
---
The next moment, they stood on scorched earth, the smell of smoke and hot iron hitting their noses hard. The battlefield stretched out wide, pocked with craters like the ground had been punched over and over. The sky above shimmered, warped with mana distortions that made it look like the air was melting, red and gray clouds twisting together. The sound of distant booms rolled in, low and heavy, like a storm that wouldn't quit.
Lucian scanned the area, his expression darkening fast. Bodies were everywhere—students, mostly from Class C and Class B, sprawled out unconscious or barely standing, some leaning on broken weapons, others slumped against rocks. Blood and dirt mixed on their uniforms, fake wounds from the simulation that still looked too real. Only a few figures stood tall: the elites from Class A and Class S, locked in fights with each other, blades flashing and mana sparking in bursts of light and sound.
Celestia drew her sword instinctively, her eyes narrowing as she took it in. "This isn't how the simulation was supposed to go…" she said, her voice low, like she was piecing together a puzzle that didn't fit right.
Christopher clenched his fists, his usual grin gone, replaced with a hard frown. "What the hell happened here? It's like a damn war zone… this isn't just a test anymore," he said, his voice rough, glancing around at the chaos.
Lucian stayed silent for a moment, his deep black eyes glinting faintly under his bangs as he took in the mess. The bracelet on his wrist pulsed once, a soft thump against his skin, like it was reacting to the chaos around them. 'Something's not right,' he thought, his mind sharp and racing. 'This is supposed to be a controlled simulation—there shouldn't be this much mana interference. And if the Wraith King was right about the prophecy… then something far beyond this exam is already starting to move.'
He took a slow breath, letting it settle deep, and muttered soft, just loud enough for the others to hear, "Get ready. This is no longer a test."
The battlefield shook as explosions burst in the distance, flashes of light and smoke rising like signals. The real fight—Part 3—had just begun.