Chapter 107 107: Prelude To Finale

At the deepest ends of the magnificent quartz room — Arcuied and the rest stood on front of the entrances, watching the unfolding chaos occuring among the students.

Crack—! Boom—!

The crackling sounds of fire along with the explosive thunder of lightning resounded; aligning with the rhythmic clanging sounds of blades clashing against each other.

"Get over here!"

"Haaaaa.....!!"

"No! No!"

"Yeppity yep, yep, yep!"

It was utter chaos. Every team assaulted each other without rest, holding nothing back as each launched attack after attack at one another, shattering the walls and grounds of the room.

Woosh—!

Some teams were blown away to the walls, unconscious as a blue solid barrier suddenly erupted and covered around their body — protecting them from harm.

"Hm.. It shouldn't take them long to decide who should stay and advance." Eugene commented, his body leaning against the walls. "In another note, I wonder what's going to surprise us at the end of this entrance?"

Eugene shifted his eyes at one of the entrances, gazing at the deepest ends of the paved path. Darkness covered the whole lane, leaving no hint nor clue for the destination beyond.

"I have a feeling it's going to be tough..." Kojiro said while sitting on the ground. He leaned his head against the wall, yawning. "...I'm waiting for it... especially since the first phase and second phase of this exam was quite lackluster."

"Don't jinx fate too much, leader." Xiao suddenly reminded, his hand patting Kojiro's shoulders. "Those who wait for danger are always the ones who fall first."

"...You're just overthinking stuff. Don't be like Fallio now, Xiao." Kojiro chuckled, his hand waving in dismissal. He closed his eyes. He paused before continuing. "...Besides, it isn't that bad to fall first. It would say volume about how great the academy is."

Hearing that, Arcuied nodded in agreement. Likewise, he didn't mind losing and failing. In fact, he preferred to lose and fail while he was in the academy — he was not here to show dominance over others, but to improve and learn continously to have a better chance at achieving his 'goal'.

If there was anything he knew of since he had started — it was that failure was a man's guide to success. Only when one loses could one know how to win.

If the case that this was all mere child's play... Arcuied mused silently. He would drop himself out by choice.

He would rather return to his old routine of entering demon dimensions and risk his life continously than to waste a year of... nothing. Sure, fun is nice and all... but he could never have fun with that ominous nightmare stuck in his mind.

Arcuied shook his head.

...Granted, he wasn't going to drop out any time soon, anyway. He can't. Well... it was due to one single reason.

—His current professor, Rio Salem.

The enigma that daunted his mind ever since that day in the club.

Arcuied lowered his head, deep in thought.

The professor... was a mystery in itself. The man seemed to pose himself as if he knew something about the truth he was searching for. Usually, he would doubt that, but in the case of — Rio Salem? there was just that omniscient air around the man.

Arcuied suddenly shook his head.

'In any case, I can't confirm anything yet... I'll just focus training and bid for time for now... However, while I'm in the academy, I'll try to watch for him.'

Arcuied thought, his head raising. For now, he had no actual basis for his suspicions except for that moment in the club. But that wasn't enough. He needed more evidence and basis before he would proceed to act.

'Good grief, what if It's all wrong then..?'

Arcuied sighed. Even if his suspiciouns would be proven wrong — it wouldn't matter. In fact, it would be a better outcome.

Professor Rio was currently training him and giving him free techniques with no strings attached, that was in itself a huge opportunity. Granted, with his "extraordinary" talent there were a dozen of teachers in the academy that would love to keep him as a student, but... in the end, he preferred Professor Rio more.

It was only due to three simple reasons.

One, the professor was excellent at teaching. Two, the professor gives away legacy techniques like snacks. Lastly... In order to watch the professor more clearly, he needed to be closer to the man in the first place.

Arcuied mused silently.

In addition, despite being a Sorcerer, the professor was also proficient in close combat. That was definitely a surprise on its own. In fact, just from the short spar they had — he already felt himself improve slightly.

That was mystical — considering he enrolled in this academy because he couldn't improve by himself anymore in the first place. But with just a spar...? Mystical.

Now, imagine if that improvement continued until the end of his time in the academy? It would simply eclipse every self-training and practice he had previously done.

Arcuied nodded. He would stay in this academy until he could no longer learn anything anymore. That was the best case scenario.

Beside him, Sophia noticed his odd actions. She raised her brows, curious as she asked: "Are you thinking of something, leader?"

Arcuied snapped out of his thoughts, his head shaking as he stared at Sophia. He replied: "It was nothing. I was just thinking how easy this test is for an academy labeled as... greatest."

"Now, that's where you're wrong, leader." Sophia chuckled. "The first part of the test is already as hard as is it is. You and the others are just too freakish."

"Is that so...?" Arcuied tilted his head. "I know I'm quite strong and talented for my age, but it really isn't anything much."

"Haa... I guess it's inevitable you think that way," Sophia sighed, her head shaking. "Unlike you, most students here have not even yet stepped foot inside a demon dimension. And certainly, even those who did enter demon dimensions — they weren't fighting demons leagues above their standards like you either."

"I guess... you have a point?" Arcuied said, unsure. He shook his head, shifting his eyes back to the room. "In any case, the others should be finished right about now."

At that moment, a loud explosion resounded in the room, blowing away the smoke that covered the battle royale of the students. The smoke slowly drifted apart, revealing numerous students approaching the entrances.

"One, two, three and four..." Xiao counted, his hand pointing at each student. "A total of twenty two teams. Since we're three teams here, it should add up to twenty five teams. It just fits perfectly... how bizarre."

"Of course, It would fit perfectly." Eugene suddenly chuckled, straightening his back as he stood up properly. "Amber was one of the teams that stayed. She probably already counted the amount of teams and students needed to be eliminated."

"Ah, that makes sense..." Xiao nodded in understanding.

Arcuied stared at the numerous students. From a distance, he could see that the Grisaia noble student that got called out earlier was also one of the students advancing.

"..Alright," Arcuied nodded, his eyes shifting to his other teammates. "Sophia, Elise and Thomas. Get ready."

The other three nodded, their eyes turning resolute as they stood beside him, staring at the numerous students approaching.

—

Inside the observation room, countless teachers wore satisfied smirks as they watched the ending of the short, abrupt battle royale.

"The top ten didn't disappoint," an Arcane Teacher commented, satisfied. "Well, that's as expected — most teams in the top ten are nobles. If they were to flop and fail, they would become a laughingstock among others. A disgrace to noble blood."

"What a surprise. The rest of the top 25 besides the top 10 seemed to filled with civilians." a Combat Teacher said in light surprise. "The second phase of the exam was fairly short... It probably felt underwhelming for the best students."

Brandon suddenly clapped aloud, directing all attention towards his figure.

"They don't have to feel underwhelmed no longer," Brandon replied, his smirk widening. "Its time for them to enter the third phase of the exam... I have to say, they should've just stayed in the second phase than to advance."

"Oh? Why is that?" a Combat Teacher asked, curious.

"Its gonna be fun to watch this one~" Brandon chuckled. "Ooh boy, just this third phase extends several days. I sure do hope they are able to hold themselves for this one."

"Hold? Not win nor lose?" an Arcane Teacher suddenly asked, interested.

"Winning? Hahahaha. That would be amazing if they could!" Brandon answered. "Well, losing is not an option, unfortunately. If they get disqualified in the third phase of the exam — all of their points will vanish."

The teachers widened their eyes, shocked.

"Ho-hold on... vanish?! does that mean if one of them gets disqualified earlier then they would get removed from the rankings!?" a Combat Teacher suddenly shouted.

"Indeed." Brandon let out a muffled laugh. "Thats a way to put it. If any of these teams gets disqualified then... they would get removed from the points rankings at the end of the exam results. Ah~ I really pity those who put on bets so big... and end up getting nothing."

At that moment, countless teachers in the room broke into a cold sweat. They immediately shifted their eyes on the hologram, staring at the teams they picked with anxiousness and desperation.

"Haa... good thing I didn't join the bet," Samantha sighed in relief, her head shaking. "It would've been a disaster. After all, I'm very unlucky when it comes to gambling and betting... how about you, Mr. Rio?"

Samantha shifted her eyes beside, staring at the expressionless brown haired professor.

Rio's face suddenly grimaced as he stared at one of the holograms.

Samantha took note of this, her brows furrowing in confusion as she asked:

"...Mr. Rio?"

Hearing that, Rio snapped out of his thoughts. His face returned to the old expressionless visage he previously wore. He shifted his head, staring at Samantha as he asked:

"I'm sorry... did you say something?"

"Ah..." Samantha mouthed out, struggling to form an answer. In the end, she eventually shook her head and gave up. "It was nothing. I was just talking to myself."

"...Alright." Rio nodded, his eyes immediately returning to one of the holograms — specifically Eugene's hologram. He sighed, watching Eugene's Team enter one of the entrances.

...In the end, he has to face the consequences of his actions, huh?