The morning bells tolled several times, but Mark and his friends did not hear them.
The test was about to begin soon, and five students were still missing from roll call.
Professor Draker, flanked by Professor Belinda, set out to find them. When every corner seemed empty, Belinda had a hunch:
âThe gymnasium!â
The two ran without wasting time and found them there: asleep on the floor, sweating and still with their weapons beside them. No spell was necessary: Belinda's voice was enough to shake even the walls.
âWake up!â
Mark and the others rose suddenly, bewildered.
âYou fell asleep while training, you bunch of wretches! The rehearsal starts in THREE minutes...and it's on the other side of campus!â
For a moment they looked at each other bewildered, but the look quickly turned serious. They retrieved their weapons, caught their breath, and sprinted out of the gym, leaving the professors behind.
Mark, Aaron and Nayra began to run at full speed. Their strides were light, precise, and within seconds they were gaining meters upon meters. Leo and Vanessa, on the other hand, exploited magic: âTornado of the Windâ lifted them off the ground and âFire Cannonâ launched them forward with a controlled explosion.
âVanessa, Mark, go up high! Guide us from above!â shouted Aaron.
The two nodded and took altitude, floating above the rooftops.
âRight!â
âLeft!â
âRight again!â
âStraight!â
The main avenue was now visible. At the end, the rector was already speaking surrounded by the other students.
âGood morning, my dear students...â
His voice echoed throughout the area.
âWe must hurry!â shouted Aaron.
âWe're almost there!â exclaimed Mark, out of breath.
âToday you will face your first official test.â
The five arrived silently, breathing laboredly but with dignity. They stopped just before the crowd.
âWait...the teachers are next to the rector,â whispered Nayra.
The two teachers exchanged a satisfied look as if to say that they had won the race of who came first.
The rector continued:
âThe exam will be conducted as follows: the dungeon in front of you has been prepared for you and consists of 10 levels. Every 15 minutes a new group will enter, in a predetermined order. Each floor contains a boss. Get through all ten and exit the final portal to complete the test, do not go any further or the bracelets will not work... If you wish to retreat, simply use the return bracelet you will be given: you will be teleported outside, where the Healers will immediately assist you and the test will be counted as failed. You have a 3-day time limit, past that the trial will be counted as failed â
âDuring the last two weeks you have been training in teams of five. The same groups will be used.â
The dean paused briefly, then announced:
âThe first group consists of: Mark, Aaron, Vanessa, Leo and Nayra.â
The five stepped forward, grabbed the survival kit in their backpacks, their armbands, and approached the entrance.
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Their steps were slow, heavy, but devoid of hesitation. They walked like shadows in the sunset, each charged with thought and determination.
The crowd opened as they passed, as if propelled by an unseen force.
The entrance to the dungeon loomed before them: a pitch-black membrane, vibrating, pulsing, as if alive. It was liquid anxiety. A silent horror.
Mark paused for a deep breath. Then he was the first to enter.
The others followed him without a word.
Behind the group, the dean turned to the professors and asked under his breath:
âHow come they were late?â
âThey fell asleep in the gymnasium ... while training,â Draker replied, in a neutral tone.
The dean burst out laughing:
âAHAHAH! The youth of today...I just don't understand them!â
Then he turned serious.
âDraker...do you know why the group scheduled first was moved to enter after them?â
âIt wasn't me. Maybe they asked one of the other professors,â replied Draker.
The dean stroked his long beard, thoughtful.
âHmm...do you think that's a problem?â
âOnly if they want to make him.â
âWe'll see...â murmured the rector, staring at the entrance to the dungeon as if he wanted to read its future.
-Break-
The second floor was rather small and populated by simple level 8 goblins, easily defeated by the group.
The second and third floors housed higher-ranking goblins: knights and assassins, more agile and dangerous level 21 but still within their reach.
In just three hours, Mark and his friends completed the first three floors.
The clock was ticking. After another three hours, the fourth floor was also passed. Here they were faced with red orcs: creatures of D grade, level 30. Their faces were very human-like except for the large nose and the two fangs protruding from the lower part of their mouths. A more challenging obstacle, but one that did not stop them.
Then they reached the fifth floor. Immense, labyrinthine, full of traps and lurking monsters.
âAccording to the map in the kit, the boss of this floor is a Red Orc Squire. We have to be very careful: it's close to grade C,â said Nayra, checking her backpack.
They opened the huge door that led to the boss arena. In front of them, silence. The room was empty. But suddenly, from the dark ceiling, a head fell: that of the Orc Squire.
They made to back away, but the door closed behind them, imprisoning them.
Blood began to pour from the ceiling, until a colossal creature landed with an impact that made the ground tremble.
âTh-that's...a Dragon!â cried Vanessa, falling backward.
The creature was mammoth: scales as red as embers, paws that cracked the ground with every step, and fiery predatory eyes. The accompanying stench of burnt flesh took their breath away.
They had no choice. They had to attack.
One after another, they tried to hit him, but the dragon would not move. It seemed to be... enjoying himself.
Then, suddenly, he got tired of the game. He inhaled deeply.
He was about to cast the Breath.
The Breath, one of the dragons' deadliest spells. Not even the Champion Grade Protectors could survive such a blow.
Vanessa flew into the air, activating as many skills as she could to block it. Leo followed her soon after.
âWe don't do anything to him!â shouted Aaron.
Mark, desperate, looked upward.
âUp high! Aim for the ceiling! If it collapses, tons of stone could stop it!â
Leo and Vanessa hit the ceiling with all their remaining strength. The ceiling collapsed, overwhelming the dragon...but the floor also gave way under their feet.
Everyone tumbled into a very deep chasm.
Nayra grabbed Aaron and Leo, while Mark picked up Vanessa, unconscious from the effort.
They fell for a long time. Leo managed to use Tornado to slow their descent, but the falling boulders interfered with the spell, lessening its effectiveness.
The five crashed to the ground. Mark, still with Vanessa in his arms, lost consciousness.
[Warning: a huge amount of damage was undone.]
[Warning: Thick Skin evolved to the intermediate degree].
An unspecified time passed.
Mark awoke, stunned, and tried to call his comrades. No response.
Only darkness.
Just him-and Vanessa, still unconscious.
[System:
Name Mark lv 4 Apprentice
life: 65/175 hp
mana: none
Fatigue: none
Uniqueness:
- Aberration of Perseverance (Usage unknown)
- Ardor (allows the user to ignite his or her soul, increasing each statistic for every second it remains active)
Skill
- Agile Sword Technique lv 2 (His sword skill)
- Consciousness Basic lv 5 (Thinks logically, ignores emotions, passive)
- Thick Skin Intermediate lv 1 (Reduces damage and pain received)
- Perfect balance base lv 6 (Increases the subject's balance)
- Ultra focus base lv 10 (Increases concentration, speed and thinking and accuracy)
- Berserker Base lv 1 (Subject enters a state of chaos that allows for increased damage)
- Longevity Base lv 3 (reduces physical, mental pain and accelerates regeneration)
- Somatic Change Base lv3 (The body learns and shapes itself in real time, storing and absorbing any kind of stress, condition or physical trauma).
Character points: 0
- Strength: 19
- Dexterity: 16
- Sense: 12
- Stamina: 20
- Intelligence: 8