The echo of footsteps resounded in the wide quartz room, several teams of students walked out in different exits. The team of students varied in expressions — some were tired and ragged, while a few others seem to be cautious and prepared.
'Huh... Only one team walks out in one exit..how about the others? That's strange... there's also that green light that pops up on the top of the exits when a team enters the room.'
Arcuied raised his brows, curious. Although he didn't know of the total amount of teams in the exam, he was sure that there should be more teams in the room. However... It doesn't seem to be the case.
"Huh...?"
"Why are you people here...?!"
"What...? What is this?!"
Countless alarmed voices of the students resounded. As soon as the new teams realized that there were other people in the room, their relief instantly turned to into shock and fright.
"Calm down, don't panic."
A calm, soothing voice resounded in the room. In the corner of the room, a beautiful green haired woman stepped forward, making all attention directed at her.
"A lot of us don't know about the situation either. Try to relax for a moment, panicking isn't going to do a lot in here. We aren't going to hurt you guys... jeez."
"Hey aren't you..." One of the students shouted, familiarity and recognition in the tone of the person. "Crystal Griasai?"
"Correct," The green-haired woman, Crystal replied, her hand crossed over her chest as she stared at the student that called her out. "You can trust me on it that I wouldn't attack any of you here. So calm down for a moment."
"...Who?" Arcuied muttered, his brows furrowing in confusion... It was another name he didn't know of.
"I'm not surprised anymore but...Crystal Griasai is..." Sophia answered, noticing her team leader's confusion. She paused, staring at the green haired woman for a while. "A member of the Grisaia Family — a family of sorcerers focused on the research of earth and wood magic. They recently just skyrocketed in fame because of helping out cities and towns in regards in agriculture."
Arcuied slowly nodded, internally thanking Sophia. Huh, another Miracle Family that helps the common folk... that's a bit surprising to hear.
Arcuied pursed his lips. After this exam, he would try to learn about the famous...and good families whatnot. He didn't bother to learn it in the past because he found it pointless — but now that he was in the academy... remaining ignorant would just backfire.
"...Then what are you doing here?" The student asked, suddenly wary. "I saw you and your team enter a different entrance from ours. You didn't follow us, did you?"
"Don't be a stupid mongrel. The same question could be applied to anyone here," Crystal sighed, her head shaking. "Look, none of us have no idea why we are here. I'm sure most of the teams here just want to continue the test...but,"
Crystal paused, her hand raising as she pointed at the deepest end of the room.
Everyone followed the direction she was pointing towards. As soon as their eyes landed at the ends of the room, their eyes widened in confusion.
'The entrances or paths are....locked?'
Arcuied furrowed his brows, confused. In the deepest ends of the room, several paths lay — all locked up, barring anyone from entry. No wonder the teams were forced to stay.
"Huh? Why is it locked?"
"Are we going to be trapped here or something?"
"Maybe this is a resting area? We've been fighting non-stop for several hours afterall..."
The mutterings of the students resounded, confusion bubbling over their voices. The last sentence was related by many. The few hours exhausted them mentally and physically, there should be a break for rest...
While they were thinking about resting, before relief could even gush inside them — a loud chuckle suddenly resounded, shattering their hopes as all the teams felt an ominous sensation crawl over them.
[Hahahahahahahahahahaha!] In the student's smartwatch, a small hologram suddenly projected itself — displaying a burly blonde haired figure. [Rest you say...?]
"Huh? Professor Guile?" Arcuied muttered, his eyes widening in surprise. How is this possible...? There was no signal in a demon dimension, communication from outside should be impossible!
[Oh, I can imagine the confusion... Take it easy with your assumptions.] Guile sighed, his arms crossed over his chest. [No, this is not a live video. This is a recorded video that would automatically play once you enter the second phase of the test.]
The students went silent, momentarily staring at the hologram in disbelief. It took for a while for the others to process the news as soon as they did, however — countless shouts rang out in the room.
pαпdα Йᴏνê|,сòМ "Wait...what?! There's a second phase?!"
"There's nothing that was said in the explanation..."
"Damn... I don't think I can go on..."
"It seems we were right, Arcuied." Eugene frowned, his eyes staring at the hologram intently. "I figured that getting a thousand and more points on the first day was too easy and too much... It would over bloat the Volund Rankings. If I'm right, then the following tests should give fewer points...or even minus them. If on the first day it was about gathering points, then it's probably time to defend them."
"... You're right, but missing a lot more things." Arcuied replied, his eyes focused. "For example, if that was all the second phase of the exam is — why are the students grouped together in this room? It shouldn't be necessary to gather us in one room for the second phase to be announced."
"Huh? I'm confused." Sophia suddenly asked, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Isn't it better to announce the second phase once all teams gathered together?"
"Not really. If it was just about the difficulty of the test rising and announcing the tests will be much harder... It shouldn't be necessary to gather all the students, especially if it's just playing a recorded video. They could have just set the time for the video to play out on the second day." Arcuied answered concisely.
"But... the video can only be activated at this place, no? That's why all teams are gathered together." Sophia asked once again, her head tilting.
"That's true... but you didn't notice. The video can only play out in this place, but it didn't activate because of the place." Arcuied shared.
"...That seems to make it more confusing." Sophia pursed her lips. "The video played out because we arrived here, no?"
"Not exactly. If it was about the place... then it should have activated the moment one entered this place. But obviously, it didn't. If you noticed, the video only activated... once the teams gathered together." Arcuied replied. "Look at the top of the exits we've gone through, a green light is highlighted. I noticed that the video only activated once all the exits have a green light on top of them."
"...And your point is?" Sophia frowned, her brows knitted together in confusion. "It needed all the teams together to activate the test. I don't see anything wrong with that?"
"I didn't say anything was wrong. I'm pointing out that... the test isn't just about defending the points or making the tests harder. The second phase of the exam would include and need every team in this room to participate..." Arcuied chuckled. "If at the first phase, we had gone out separate ways. In the second phase, we gathered again. That meant the second phase of the exam involves every team in this room."
".... You're right." Sophia blinked, realization dawning her. She widened her eyes, utterly amazed. "...So all the teams are gathered together... by that logic, the following second phase must include and involve every team in the room. It either means we're going to fight each other or team up with each other."
"Correct. But also...." Arcuied shifted his eyes, staring at the wide room as he glanced at the students in the room. "It's not 'all the teams'."
"Pardon?" Sophia tilted her head, confused. There was more...?
"Astute observation, Arcuied." Eugene chuckled, suddenly intervening in the conversation. "What Arcuied meant is that... it's not 'all the teams' inside here. There are still some teams that had not yet arrived at this place. We are not complete yet."
"But the test...already...started..." Sophia slowly said, realization dawning on her. "That means..."
[Ehem, the second phase of the exam should start quickly. This video playing out means all the qualified teams are finally inside the room.]
Guile's voice cut her off.
[Some of you might have noticed — or not. But some teams are missing, correct? Well... they were not qualified to take continue. They're probably either too injured to continue or too late to enter the room.]
Sophia grimaced. As she thought, there were already teams disqualified in the first phase of the exam.
The news alarmed the teams, their expressions turning grim. They shifted their eyes on the exit. If another team had gotten ahead of them... they wouldn't even qualify for the second phase.
[I'll explain the second phase of the exam quickly.] Guile continued. [The rules are simple and short. In the room, there are only twenty-five entrances to continue with the exam. And in one entrance, only one team is allowed to enter. As for who's going to enter...]
All the students widened their eyes in disbelief.
[Well, not me. You guys decide that. Do whatever you want as long as all the twenty-five entrances gets filled. Lottery, rock paper and scissors, or even coin flips.] Guile shrugged. [In short, it's a battle royale to enter the third phase of the exam.]
[This isn't the rest you thought at all. There's no rest in an exam. And especially in a battle. It's either you preserve and win it all, or tire out and get disqualified from the test.] Guile waved his hands in farewell. [The academy is watching. Not only the academy, but even the most famous people. Good luck, kids.]
The hologram fizzled out as Guile's last words lingered in the room, engraving in the minds of the students. A heavy silence descended. At that moment, every student turned to each other in wary.
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