Chapter 51 The Entrance Exams Begin!



"He should be able to remember that punch whenever he sees me from now on," Lyrian paused, looking toward Leonidas, "Leon-"

ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm Before Lyrian could continue, Leonidas tried to cut him off, "Hey! I said don't call me that-" But he was completely ignored.

"How did you manage to stumble here?" Lyrian asked.

"Well, truth be told, I too had to pee when I suddenly heard this commotion here."

"Hey, you guys! Thanks so much for saving me! Lyrian, you are my savior!" The nerdy kid from before suddenly cried, getting up onto his feet.

"Looks like he's awake," Leon said.

"Wha-? I'm not even the one who saved you. If you want to thank anyone, thank him," Lyrian said, looking at Leon, "And how about you introduce yourself as well so that we also know your name instead of you just knowing ours."

"You're right! My apologies," The nerdy kid stood up and put his hands flat on his legs before bowing his head deeply, "My name is Alten! Alten Velos. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance and forgive me for my rudeness earlier. I recognize now that you don't even know who I am when I know your names," He loudly said before looking back up.

"Leon! I want to thank you for saving me, and Lyrian, I want to thank you as well for beating up Bardon, you have fulfilled a long-term wish of mine." He gleefully spoke as he stared at the two as if they were some sort of gem.

"Uh... right," Lyrian said, slightly weirded out by the boy's awe-filled stare.

After this, Lyrian and Leon went back to their open area to practice, and Alten joined them, saying he had nothing else to do and wanted to hang out with them anyways.

As he looked at them from afar, Lyrian decided to pull out his obsidian sword and train it.

He didn't get to use his sword in the preliminary rounds, and he barely even knew how to wield it.

With some help from Leon, he figured out some of the basics of swordsmanship such as striking your opponent.

He tried to parry some of Leon's attacks, but only to miserably fail as he quickly learned that parrying was an entirely different level of difficulty that would take him much longer to master.

By the end of their training session a few hours later when it started to become darker, Lyrian had managed to feed Garmr and also learn a few things about the sword.

He also got to know Alten a bit more as well, but not to his will. Finally, the three returned to the camps where Alten went his own way.

After arriving at their camp, Leon and Lyrian went into their own separate rooms as well, both wanting to rest for the night.

Without anything else to do, Lyrian quickly slumped into bed and fell asleep, only to wake up again the next morning via the magical horn.

This time it was a bit less abrupt, but forcefully being awoken from his sleep was never something Lyrian liked to do.

After getting ready, he left the camp alongside Leon who happened to be leaving at the same time, and the two followed the rest of the kids to their destination.

After walking a while, Lyrian saw that today's destination was the stage. As the seats slowly filled in with students, Julius finally showed himself behind the opening curtains.

Again, teachers sat behind him similar to the first time Lyrian witnessed the curtains of the stage opening, and the representative guests from the other schools were also present this time.

"Welcome once again, examinees!" Julius announced, "I hope you all have gotten your fair rest, as today we will begin the long-awaited magic entrance exams!"

With this, a roar of cheer and applause sounded from the crowd of students who seemed lively and excited for the exam, a mix of nervousness also brewed into the atmosphere.

"Before we begin, I will take this time to explain this year's entrance exam, something that as you know is ever-changing," He said, everyone's attention now focused on each and every one of his words.

"This year's entrance exam is called... Survival Of The Fittest!" A buzz of whispers and wow's waved through the crowd as they heard this name that immediately intrigued everyone.

"When the exam begins, all of you will be transported into the Tasnan Wilderlands! What are the Tasnan Wilderlands you ask? A giant expanse of wild land that is purposefully uninhabited by any humans for the purpose of training use." He said, walking across the stage for his voice to reach all corners of the crowd.

"The Tasnan Wilderlands consist of vast and glowing plains to harsh and thick forests, containing a wide array of beasts and monster creatures within. Normally, only creatures that exist within places of high mana density have beast cores, but note that each and every magical creature inside of the Tasnan Wilderlands possesses a beast core for the purposes of this exam."

As he said this, another wave of surprised and impressed expressions waved through the crowd.

"Throughout the beast-cores of the creatures, there will be a total of five different tiers of core which you can attain by hunting them down. A tier 1 core; worth 1 point, a tier 2 core; worth 5 points, a tier 3 core; worth 10 points, a tier 4 core; worth 20 points, and finally, the tier golden core; worth 500 points, or in other words, an automatic pass. Within the entire exam grounds, there exists only one golden core which belongs to the most fearsome creature. If you manage to retrieve the golden core, you will also be permitted to a grand prize of a high grade spirit pet. Dare to take it on if you wish, but know that all consequences will be placed upon you, and no one else!"

"What!? 500 points!?" A kid said from the crowd.

"That core must belong to the Diamond-Crest Tiger!" Another kid eagerly said, trying to flex his knowledge of Tasnan creatures.

"No! It has to be the Ember-back Ape!" Another blurted, as arguments between kids about what creature held the golden core continued.

"Your goal inside of the Tasnan Wilderland in order to pass this exam is extremely simple! Receive 500 points via way of beast cores, and return to the epicenter of the Tasnan Wilderlands within 30 days! Know that you will not be permitted to enter the epicenter, or the finishing point of the entrance exam if you do not possess 500 points. Along with this, also keep in mind that the way in which one retrieves a beast-core is not taken into account, meaning no matter how you get points, you will pass regardless!"

"I, along with the heads of the royal magistrate and school board will be watching over and judging all of your performances! For now, that is all that you must know about the exam, soon there will appear in front of you a transportation device. Once the exam begins, you will not be able to leave the Tasnan Wilderlands, so do not attempt to!"

Julius finally said his ending words as small devices appeared in front of everyone's faces that looked like a metal trinket of sorts.

"Now, before we begin the exam, are there any questions?"

As his gaze swept through the crowd, not a single hand raised up.

"Then, let us begin!" He said, swiping his hand in the air as everyone disappeared from their seats at once.

From Lyrian's point of view, one moment he was sitting down in front of the stage below Julius, and the next, he was traveling through a white vacuum of extreme speed!