Chapter 429

Book 1 Chapter 429

Lunia surveyed the surroundings with her arms folded across her chest.

‘Avard of Lumerne, Rwen of Azonia, Digness and Ameran of Demian.’

Lunia holds the position of class representative for Seirun.

Furthermore, she is currently a frontrunner for student council president.

Though she possesses an intense, passionate temperament, her status as the absolute top honor student of Seirun remains undisputed.

Because of this, she was intimately familiar with the background data of the gifted individuals from rival hero academies, who stood as her direct competitors.

‘Every single one of them is a highly acclaimed mage student from their respective institutions.’

Describing them as the elite mages among all second-year students across the various Hero Academies would be an understatement.

‘Luca and Chloe Müller of Lumerne are nowhere to be seen… but they must have been positioned in a different zone.’

She hadn’t grasped the situation clearly during the tumble down the precipice, but upon regaining consciousness, she found that their forces had been split up.

“It appears the exercises commenced the exact moment we stepped into the training grounds.”

As Avard spoke, a gentle, characteristic smirk gracing his features, Rwen offered her perspective,

“That seems to be the case. The fact that the five of us materialized together implies we have been designated to the same unit, wouldn’t you say?”

Digness broke his silence, his gaze fixed on Rwen as she stroked her elegant fox tail.

“Gathering a group comprised solely of mages indicates that the upcoming trial is tailored specifically to test our particular capabilities.”

“Indubitably. I just performed a quick inspection, and retracing our steps up the precipice is impossible. A magical seal is blocking the path.”

Ameran of Demian offered his own observation, joining the discussion.

“It seems we are all arriving at identical deductions.”

A subtle grin crossed Lunia’s lips.

True to their training as mages, everyone’s situational assessment was swift and precise.

“Very well, so our objective lies past that dense thicket, correct? I am curious to see what sort of test awaits us… Wait, what is that?”

Lunia, whose focus had been directed toward the thicket, abruptly snapped her gaze upward as a surge of magical resonance rippled from above.

Thud-!

Blades, polearms, and bulwarks plummeted from the crest of the precipice, embedding themselves firmly into the earth.

“Armaments?”

“What is the purpose of providing these to us?”

Approaching the pile with perplexed expressions, each individual selected a tool that suited their preference.

It was precisely as Lunia gripped a polearm, a look of profound reluctance painting her face.

Rumble-! Rumble-!

The earth beneath them trembled violently.

Gleam-!

Crimson irises flared within the obscurity past the thicket.

“It appears the evaluation has commenced.”

Rwen extended her index finger, her expression remaining entirely unbothered.

Swoosh-

A miniature sphere of fire sparked into existence at the tip of her digit.

The intensely blazing orb of concentrated heat shot straight into the thicket.

BOOM! Craaack-swoosh-swoosh!

Accompanied by a violent detonation, waves of fire erupted outward, incinerating the immediate vicinity.

Thump-! Heavy step!

Yet, the unidentified beast did not retreat a single inch.

Rwen’s eyelids twitched slightly upon witnessing the outcome.

Heavy step! Heavy step-!

A massive, chestnut-colored silhouette entered their field of vision, elevating both of its upper limbs and unleashing a ferocious bellow.

“Kya-ho!”

“What sort of creature is that?”

“Giggle.”

“…A stuffed bear?”

Lunia’s face went completely blank with bewilderment, while Avard could not contain a burst of amusement.

Digness, meanwhile, displayed an expression of deep distaste.

“It is an incredibly adorable plush bear.”

Ameran voiced his astonishment.

“I anticipated a formidable monstrosity, making this rather anti-climactic.”

Rwen let out a dismissive scoff as she materialized a magical array upon the surface of her palm.

Without hesitation, she discharged a spell directly at the plush bear that still held its upper limbs aloft.

CRASH-RUMBLE-BOOM-!

A devastating tempest tore through the clearing, obliterating everything along its trajectory.

As the dense cloud of pulverized earth began to dissipate, Rwen recoiled.

Simultaneously, shock washed over the countenances of the remaining students.

Snap-!

A chilling click resonated from the tips of the plush bear’s paws, as razor-sharp talons extended outward.

“What?”

The instant Rwen let out a stunned exclamation.

“Kyaaaah!”

The plush bear, its features contorted into a malevolent expression, brought its paw downward with immense force.

BOOM-!

Rwen threw her weight to the side with absolute urgency to evade the strike.

The plush bear’s massive paw slammed into the precise patch of earth where she had stood moments prior.

Leaving horrific gouges behind, the ground fractured violently, sending clods of dirt flying in every direction.

The entire group became momentarily paralyzed by the brutal spectacle, which stood in stark contrast to the creature’s otherwise innocent look.

“This creature! How is it entirely unaffected by spellcasting?!”

“It appears to be a variant of a sentry operated via magi-tech engineering. Its resistance to magical arts is exceptionally high, meaning standard spellcraft will not faze it.”

In response to Rwen’s panicked shout, Avard strode to the forefront.

Lunia took up a position directly alongside Avard, commenting,

“If that is the case, our only option is to incinerate it using overwhelming, concentrated destructive power right from the jump, correct?”

Swoosh-

Blazing torrents erupted from Lunia’s form.

“Shall we bear witness to the capabilities of Seirun’s top student?”

“You will not be disappointed.”

Lunia offered a cold smirk and unleashed her magical reserves.

Flash! EXPLOSION-!

A towering column of pure fire erupted directly beneath the plush bear’s position.

“It did absolutely nothing?”

Lunia muttered, an expression of utter disbelief creeping onto her face.

Avard completed his own incantation simultaneously.

EXPLOSION-!

A colossal cyclone ensnared both Lunia’s raging inferno and the plush bear within its vortex.

Whoosh-!

Yet, as if completely impervious to such elemental forces, the plush bear sliced through the swirling vortex of fire and wind using its talons, charging forward blindly.

“Retreat for the time being!”

“What on earth is the deal with that plush bear?!”

The quintet of mages let out frantic cries as they sprinted away in sheer panic.

As Digness invoked terramancy, the terrain buckled upward, forming a massive barricade of solid stone.

CRASH-!

The plush bear shattered the dense barricade without a moment’s hesitation, swinging its front limbs aggressively as its momentum surged.

Seizing the moment, Ameran utilized hydromancy to transform the terrain ahead into a vast, muddy quagmire.

Splish- Splash- Splish-!

Nevertheless, the plush bear sprinted across the surface as though it were solid pavement, relentlessly pursuing the five academy students.

“Kiyooooh!”

The plush bear contorted its skull manically, saliva spraying from its maw.

At this stage, the spectacle had transitioned from bizarre to a display of absolute dread.

“Look at that plush bear! It just stumbled over a boulder and its lower limb tore open!”

“What did you say?!”

“It implies that actual physical strikes are effective, whereas magical arts are useless!”

Following Avard’s frantic revelation, Lunia focused her gaze intently on the pursuing plush bear.

Sure enough, internal cotton stuffing was leaking from the ostensibly delicate fabric, which had split apart after snagging against a protruding branch and a jagged stone.

Observing this development, Digness barked an order at Rwen, who shared an exclusive pact with him.

“This confirms we must neutralize the plush bear utilizing the armaments provided! Rwen! Step up!”

“For what reason must it be me?!”

“You belong to the beastkin race!”

“Dispel the absurd stereotype that every single beastkin is a master of physical combat!”

Rwen shrieked in a state of high agitation.

“If anything, you, the robust dwarf, ought to confront it! Or perhaps Lunia El Rundah, who possesses the capability to command mythical beasts! You should take the lead!”

“Not every dwarf is endowed with monstrous physical power! I am a refined mage craftsman!”

“I have been attempting that exact action for some time now, but my ability to invoke mythical beasts is completely sealed!”

It was precisely during this frantic exchange of arguments.

“KEEEEEK!”

“Kyaaaaaah!”

The trainees, detecting the plush bear’s roar vibrating directly at their backs, shrieked in terror and pushed their bodies to move even faster.

“Do you happen to perceive a wailing sound echoing from somewhere?”

“Hmm, I cannot say for certain.”

Chen Shia inclined her head in response to Chelsea’s query.

“It sounds as though some faint-hearted individual is weeping in the distance.”

“Bormann-kun appears to lack any concept of fear.”

“Naturally! This physical vessel belongs to an Azonian combatant brimming with primal ferocity, a direct line descendant of the legendary champion Arion!”

Bormann roared, flexing his prominent musculature with immense pride.

Driana, who had been observing his display without a word, remarked,

“You there.”

“What is it? Dwarf maiden with the unusual manner of speaking!”

“Your physical frame is exceptional.”

“Oh? Do you truly comprehend the aesthetic appeal of my muscle definition?”

“Indubitably. Would you be inclined to serve as a subject for artistic rendering?”

“What does the task entail?”

“Strip down.”

“Excellent! Feast your eyes, dwarf maiden! Upon the sculpted, exquisite anatomy of a beastkin!”

Bormann, who relished any opportunity to display his raw power and physical development, shed his upper garment without a second thought.

Bormann struck a series of poses, flaunting his impressive muscle groups.

Chelsea, who had previously shared a squad configuration with him, grimaced in annoyance.

“He is indulging in his usual antics again.”

“Chelsea! If you claim the title of a combat mage, you must never neglect your physical conditioning!”

“I possess zero desire to transform into a walking mass of dense muscle like yourself.”

“If you commit to regular physical training, you might find that not only do your muscles develop, but your diminutive stature might actually improve!”

Just as an exasperated Chelsea prepared to strike Bormann utilizing her catalyst staff, Chen Shia intervened to hold her back.

“Splendid, absolutely magnificent!”

Regardless of the chaos around them, Driana offered a radiant grin and applauded, causing Bormann to puff out his chest with self-satisfaction.

“Remove the remainder of your garments.”

“No, that pushes the boundaries a bit too far.”

Even the overly bold Bormann slumped his shoulders at Driana’s demand, which far exceeded any reasonable expectation.

“Ought we not cease these absurdities and locate an exit from this area immediately?”

A male trainee representing Seirun interjected, readjusting the positioning of his eyewear.

The destination they had tumbled into was none other than an isolated subterranean vault constructed of stone.

Within the boundaries of the expansive, rectangular chamber, the solitary illumination emanated from integrated magical fixtures.

“We are entirely unable to locate a point of egress, are we not? Thus, we were simply engaging in a productive endeavor.”

The Seirun trainee exhaled a weary sigh at Driana’s justification.

“I fail to see how a public disrobing qualifies as productive.”

Rumble-

At that precise moment, the masonry beneath them flashed with a brilliant crimson radiance.

Whirrr-!

The trainees rapidly retreated from the zones illuminated by the red light.

“Hey! Bormann! What are you doing! Vacation that spot immediately!”

Bormann stood defiantly within the center of the crimson-glowing sector, which appeared highly hazardous even to an untrained eye.

“Hmph! Whatever this mechanism may be, evading it contradicts my personal code! I shall simply absorb the impact and deal with…”

Crackle-crackle-crackle!

“Ugh-ugh-ugh-ugh?”

Bormann’s entire frame convulsed violently as though high-voltage currents were surging through him.

Sizzle-!

As the illumination across the floor receded back to its dormant state, the distinct odor of scorched skin permeated the air.

Bormann reeled on his feet, barely managing to anchor his stance.

“Hmph, a mere prickling sensation.”

Once more, the section of flooring directly beneath Bormann’s boots commenced its radiant glow.

“Hey! Displace your body this instant!”

“Negative! I refuse to capitulate to a basic mechanism of this nature, and I shall demonstrate my ability to triumph over… Agh-!”

Thud-!

Chen Shia closed the distance to Bormann in a flash, burying her boot into his flank.

Bang-!

Bormann was launched through the air, colliding heavily against the perimeter wall.

Crackle-crackle-crackle!

Violent electrical discharges erupted across the exact coordinates where Bormann had just been standing.

As the discharge ceased, Chen Shia let out a subtle smirk.

“My actions were intended to preserve your life.”

“Attempting to preserve his life a second time might actually result in your demise.”

Driana, her arms remaining crossed, shook her head in disapproval.

Flash-!

Crimson-illuminated sectors materialized simultaneously across the entirety of the vault floor.

“It appears this exercise is designed to test our ability to evade these specific floor segments.”

“Do you suppose a passageway will reveal itself once we successfully navigate every single configuration, similar to a standard puzzle mechanism?”

Chen Shia tilted her head curiously at the Seirun trainee’s speculation.

Chelsea lowered her center of gravity, declaring with supreme confidence,

“Please, this should prove trivial.”

“It will not remain trivial for long.”

Following Driana’s warning, the configurations mapping the floor began to glow in a far more intricate arrangement.

“The initial phase is proving to be quite demanding.”

Leo remarked casually, keeping his gaze fixed upon the magical projection screen suspended in midair, eliciting a faint grin from Melina.

“I structured the regimen specifically to maximize the inherent capabilities of each trainee or to address their primary flaws.”

It was Melina who had drafted the curriculum for this inaugural day of registration.

“I reached the conclusion that prospects possessing the capacity to completely dismantle enemy forces on the front lines, much like Lord Arion, remained physically deficient. Consequently, I suppressed their internal energy channels and applied gravitational weight formulas to their physical forms to compel them to train past their standard thresholds.”

Melina gestured toward the screen depicting the trainees scaling the steep cliffside, before shifting her indicator to the group fleeing from the animated plush fabric constructs.

“My objective for spellcasters like Lady Luna was to foster their capacity to formulate solutions during high-stakes scenarios.”

“Indubitably, Luna demonstrated exceptional versatility even during instances where standard spellcraft was rendered impossible.”

Luna did not find herself incapacitated when confronting adversaries possessing immunity to magical forces or when environmental factors impeded her casting.

‘Whether transforming her blade into a projectile weapon… she went so far as to bludgeon her targets using a blunt implement.’

Having endured an array of severe tribulations, Luna possessed formidable capabilities in hand-to-hand engagements despite her primary classification as a mage.

In reality, during critical dilemmas, she maintained the individual capacity to extricate herself from danger, independent of the defensive interventions of Leo and Dwayno.

“Yet, what dictated the choice of animated plush fabric constructs?”

Ursines, lagomorphs, canines, felines, and the like.

In response to the query regarding the bizarre choice of aesthetics for training sentries, Melina offered a bright expression.

“They possess an endearing quality, do they not?”

The animated fabric constructs, salivating profusely while emitting horrific screeches as they stalked the retreating trainees, were anything but endearing.

‘Her artistic sensibilities can be remarkably eccentric at times.’

Leo shook his head in silent commentary.

“Trainees whose primary responsibility is the preservation of others, such as Lord Dwayno, require a high degree of tenacity above all else, correct? Furthermore, they must possess the psychological fortitude required to withstand physical trauma.”

“Hence, the solution you engineered was an ordeal of electrical shocks?”

“It does not equate to electrical torture. It is a structured, repetitive exercise designed to cultivate their capacity to endure over extended durations.”

Should they commit a singular misstep regarding the shifting floor configurations, their progress resets entirely to the baseline.

Furthermore, the configurations steadily escalate in complexity, and the corresponding electrical discharge administered upon a failure intensifies proportionally.

‘This method will undoubtedly sharpen their reflexes and mental focus.’

The most unfortunate reality for the student body was that the current schedule represented merely the introductory phase of the grueling training slated for the future.

Leo produced a clicking sound with his tongue.

“Everyone is enduring a grueling experience. It is supposed to be a period of recess, yet they are granted zero opportunity for leisure.”

‘The individual responsible for plunging these youths into the depths of this absolute inferno is none other than yourself, Lord Leo.’

Melina possessed far too much discretion to give voice to her internal thoughts.

She had no desire to share in their physical torment by making an unnecessary remark.

‘Subjecting oneself to physical exertion alongside youths of this demographic feels somewhat inappropriate regardless.’

Melina massaged her shoulder area, exhaling a profound sigh.

Snap- Crackle- Pop-

The gathered timber was systematically turning to ash.

The dwarf utilized his foot to extinguish the residual embers, organizing the campsite layout.

The elven spellcaster let out a low groan, extending her limbs as she rose from her resting place.

The dragon had already broken its slumber, staring fixedly at the dark inferno consuming the horizon past the peak.

The beastkin combatant assumed a seated posture, unsheathing his blade and staring intensely into the polished surface of the metal to observe his own reflection.

A human companion, positioned upon a nearby boulder while masticating on a piece of preserved meat, initiated conversation.

“Arion.”

“…”

“Arion?”

“Ah, yes? Were you addressing me?”

Arion, snapping out of his deep contemplation, focused his attention on Kyle, who had uttered his name.

“Are you functioning adequately?”

“Yes, I am perfectly fine.”

“Do not hesitate to articulate if anxiety is overtaking you.”

“I am perfectly fine.”

Arion offered a grin, shaking his head to dismiss the concern.

Luna, who was finishing her physical extensions, widened her gaze significantly as she monitored Arion’s demeanor.

“How unprecedented! A major conflict looms directly on the horizon, yet Arion exhibits zero tremors! Is this not the absolute first occurrence of its kind?”

Luna made a grand spectacle of the moment, swiftly plucking the baked goods Kyle had been preparing to consume.

As Kyle scowled and attempted to reclaim his meal, Luna crammed the baked goods entirely into her mouth, consuming it in massive gulps.

“You insufferable elf.”

While Kyle applied pressure to Luna’s facial features using both hands, Luna responded by restricting Kyle’s airway.

“Simpletons possess an absurd excess of vitality during the early hours of the day.”

Dwayno made a clicking sound with his tongue, directing his attention toward Arion.

“It appears you have fortified your resolve.”

“Yes, I cannot allow myself to tremble indefinitely.”

Arion provided a spirited affirmation.

Lisinas, who had been analyzing Arion’s expressions with great care, inquired,

“Arion.”

“Yes?”

“Are you truly composed?”

“Without a doubt.”

Arion renewed his hold upon the hilt of the blade designated as Courage.

“Banish all anxieties.”

Flash-!

The edge of the blade reflected a sharp radiance.

“I shall… without fail, ensure the survival of every individual here.”