Chapter 257
Chapter 257
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 257
Chapter Title: Matchless
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Raheln Academy Entrance Exam, Round 3.
Following the first and second rounds, a massive crowd of talented hopefuls had gathered once more at the testing grounds.
The entrance exam began anew in one of the venues: the Martial Arts Department Arena.
The first test was the same as always—a measurement of one's level using the Aurora Stone.
A ruthless exam that weeded out anyone whose aura reserves fell short.
Last year, the Aurora Stone had cracked or shattered a total of two times during this test.
One was Mary Diana, and the other was Krash.
Krash Valheim was now one of the brightest stars Raheln Academy had ever produced.
As such, the students remembered every legend he'd woven during his entrance exam.
"They say Lord Krash Valheim shattered the Aurora Stone."
"I'm gonna shatter it too. No matter what."
And so, every student was laser-focused on cracking the Aurora Stone.
Because the moment they did, they'd etch a new legend into Raheln Academy's history.
Then, the moment the first round began...
Countless children were plunged into despair by harsh reality.
Hundreds of kids took the test, but not a single one cracked the stone—not even a scratch.
"Heh, looks like everyone's under the impression the Aurora Stone breaks easily."
Vice Professor Lightly, in charge of this Martial Arts Department exam, let out a hearty laugh as he watched the disappointed faces.
"Must be that student Krash's influence, the one who beat Senior Kairan, right?"
The comment turned heads toward Kairan, who had been standing silently with hands clasped behind her back.
Pirate Empress Kairan.
The woman who once ruled the Golden Forbidden Sea glanced sidelong at the new vice professor.
Lightly was one of the new hires from the recent recruitment drive.
He had solid skills but a habit of picking fights with others.
"Yeah, just like you said. It's all because of that student Krash."
"Well, with all the hype around him, if a vice professor lost during this entrance exam, it'd be a total scandal."
Still, Lightly waved it off as if there was nothing to worry about.
"Don't sweat it, Senior Kairan. I'm handling the elite class selection test this time. I'll show these kids reality."
Lightly flashed his teeth in a provocative grin.
Kairan watched him for a moment before slowly mirroring his smile.
"One thing I should mention."
"What's that?"
"Don't underestimate the students."
The moment Lightly's brow furrowed in confusion, Kairan tilted her head forward.
He followed her gaze, and soon a brilliant flash erupted before their eyes.
A fierce beam of light burst out from the tent where the Aurora Stone was placed.
Crack!
A splitting sound echoed through the air.
As Lightly froze, Kairan curved her lips in a faint smile.
"Because everyone gathered here is a genius."
The one who emerged gracefully from the tent was a girl with pale golden hair.
Dalea Junon.
Granddaughter of Heavenly Emperor Dalpiron Junon, from the empire's famed sword clan.
A hint of regret tinged her face.
"Hmm, looks like it fell a bit short."
She'd hoped to shatter the Aurora Stone.
But it had merely cracked.
Still, she clenched and unclenched her fist in mild disappointment while holding her head high.
All the students were gazing up at her in awe.
She was the first applicant this round to crack the stone.
Admiration filled their eyes.
Just as smug satisfaction crept onto her lips...
Crack!
The splitting sound rang out again.
She turned slowly, and there a girl strode out.
A beautiful girl with flowing silver-white hair.
Bianca Hardenharts.
She'd cracked the Aurora Stone just like Dalea.
Now, two people had managed to crack it.
The moment Dalea locked eyes with Bianca, she twisted her lips upward.
"Not bad."
"I've been training."
Bianca gave a flat reply and kept walking.
In the meantime, Kairan patted the shoulder of the stiff Vice Professor Lightly.
"Well then, I hope you don't end up losing to the students like I did."
Because if he did, he'd better start packing his bags.
"Your fiancée's got some moves."
While Bianca was in the thick of the first round, Krash turned at the voice beside him.
There stood Astria, arms crossed under her chest.
"Yeah."
Krash was more surprised by the situation than he'd expected.
He'd known Crimson Garden had trained Bianca.
But he hadn't imagined she'd amassed enough aura to crack the Aurora Stone.
'Guess talent like what it took to kill the Poison King doesn't just vanish.'
Back during the Hundred Ghosts era.
Bianca hadn't just slain the Poison King—she'd defended House Hardenharts right in the heart of the empire-Staron war.
Her talent was proven even then, but he hadn't anticipated this much growth in a year and a half.
'Maybe...'
She really could claim top spot in the Martial Arts Department.
[I helped her, you know. This is only natural, isn't it?]
Crimson Garden chimed in smugly.
He wished she'd stop peeking into his thoughts.
'More importantly...'
Krash waved back at Bianca, who was waving at him, then shifted his gaze.
He was quietly observing one of the applicants.
A black-haired boy huddled in a corner, cloaked in a robe.
The red glint in his eyes gave off an unsettling vibe.
'Never seen his face before...'
But this feeling...
It was pure instinct.
Something was off about that guy.
Krash glanced toward the trees.
Right on cue, Crimson Garden's crow was preening its feathers there.
[You want me to check him out?]
The crow flapped its wings at Krash's subtle nod.
[I'll scan the applicant info for Raheln Academy.]
He could leave this to Crimson Garden.
As Krash pondered, the first round wrapped up.
The results crushed the students' spirits.
Half the applicants had been eliminated midway.
Just like before, the failures lost their right to stay.
In the end, half the aspiring Martial Arts students had to leave Raheln Academy.
Tears streamed down some of their faces as they departed.
But reality was unforgiving.
Before the remaining half, Kairan took the podium once more to conduct the next round.
"Now, we begin the second round."
With that, she displayed the second test on the screen.
"The second round will take place elsewhere, not in this arena."
Teleport gates materialized in front of the students all at once.
Prepared specially for this exam.
"The moment you step through the teleport gate, a bracelet of one of seven colors will appear on your wrist."
The screen then showed the seven bracelet colors.
"To pass, you must steal a bracelet matching your own color and hold onto two until the end. Losing your bracelet doesn't mean elimination unless you're too injured to continue. So proceed carefully, keeping track of your status."
The applicants began murmuring as Kairan's explanation ended.
The second round was designed to cut at least half—no, more.
If two matched colors, one would inevitably end up with zero.
Kairan flashed a smile as she announced the brutal test.
"Good luck passing the second round, everyone."
She stepped down, and proctors guided the students to the gates in order.
A massive projection appeared over the arena sky.
The test site was a mysterious region blending plains and mountains evenly.
Screens split to show how the students were scattered.
A courtesy to the current students in the stands and the exam overseers.
"Bianca Hardenharts."
Just then, Bianca's name was called.
As she headed to the gate, Dalea Junon was visible ahead, already in position.
Their eyes met briefly.
They'd crossed paths at the entrance hall too—quite the entangled pair.
"Bracelet."
Dalea spoke first.
She flashed her wrist and smirked.
"Hope it's the same color."
If it was, she'd come snatch it immediately.
That was her declaration.
"Yeah."
Bianca gave her usual curt response.
Then she strode calmly into the teleport gate.
Her vision shifted in an instant, and she slowly raised her head.
Trickle, trickle...
The first sound in her ears was running water.
A forest surrounded her.
It looked peaceful, but her senses picked up presences scattered nearby.
Other students, no doubt.
Bianca glanced at her wrist.
A yellow bracelet gleamed there.
That was the color she needed to steal to pass.
Ding!
Fireworks exploded overhead, signaling the start.
Bianca stared up at the sky briefly, then began walking through the forest at an unhurried pace.
No trace of bewilderment on her expressionless face, despite the unfamiliar woods.
A group appeared ahead, blocking her path.
They were fellow applicants.
They should have been rivals fighting over bracelets.
Yet even with matching colors among themselves, they didn't fight—instead, they confronted her.
And their bracelets weren't yellow.
"Our bracelets are different colors, so why block me?"
Bianca asked if they had business with her.
They drew their weapons.
"No rule says different colors mean no attacking."
True enough.
But she wondered why target her specifically.
"Better to eliminate the strongest threats early."
Raheln Academy's exam had four rounds total.
Originally three, but the elite class addition meant an extra for passers.
In last year's and the year before's third rounds, most matchups had been one-on-one.
So they formed groups to preemptively knock out powerhouses and boost their odds.
Bianca realized she was surrounded.
A fair number of applicants were in on it.
"Got it."
She nodded shortly, satisfied.
"No yellow here anyway, so I'll be going."
"Like hell you are!"
The applicants charged at once.
But they halted almost immediately.
Their feet and bodies wouldn't budge.
Every one of them was frozen solid.
"Urk!?"
"W-what is this?"
"M-my body!"
"It's freezing!"
When had she frozen them all?
Confusion filled their eyes.
Then they noticed the shadow over their heads.
As they slowly looked up...
A colossal dragon coiled around the entire forest, dominating the space.
Bianca's summoned familiar dragon.
Ice Dragon Crima.
From the moment she'd teleported in, her ice dragon had enveloped the forest.
Its invisible chill had clung to their clothes and skin.
The moment they moved, it activated, binding them all.
The applicants gaped at Bianca in stunned silence.
The aura from Ice Dragon Crima was on another level.
This gap was too vast to call them fellow applicants.
Overwhelming.
The word suited her perfectly as she walked away leisurely.
Bianca Hardenharts.
This was the debut of the Ice Princess, destined to forge another legend as a third-year student.