Better to Break Than to Bend

"Haaah…."

A long, weary sigh escaped me as I flopped down. After cutting through the illusion beasts surrounding me like a shield with the people I'd gathered, an even deeper sigh followed.

"I really almost died there…."

The island's landscape had been neatly obliterated, the illusion beasts crumbling away, and the examinees vanishing one by one as their bracelets glowed. Seeing it all made me freshly realize the terrifying power of Sidus's unique skill.

To reduce an entire island to rubble like that—something no ordinary bomb could dream of. If there was any consolation amid the devastation, it was that I'd escaped the blast radius. Things had aligned pretty perfectly for me.

"Urgh… What the hell… happened…?"

Right on cue, one of the people who'd made that possible groaned as he pushed himself up.

"Ah, you're lucky to be conscious. You must've been at the very back of the group, huh?"

"Group…? What are you—ugh, my head…."

He staggered to his feet, clutching his head and complaining of a headache. I watched silently as memories from before he passed out slowly returned to him amid the pain.

"I was definitely running from those stars falling from the sky…? And then… and then… Right! You! Everything went blank the moment I saw you!"

Once it clicked, he pointed at me dramatically, like we were supposed to watch the sunset together.

"Sorry, but I like women. That kind of talk is kinda awkward."

"That's not what I meant, you lunatic! I'm asking what you did to me!"

He'd said something totally misinterpretable first, then snapped at me for it. Anyway, his foggy memory was thanks to the upright Hanged Man.

The card's meaning: 'self-sacrifice' and 'endurance'. Its effect, born from that, was a taunt that redirected all malice aimed outward straight to the user. A perfect match for the card's essence.

"If you'd been scattered, you wouldn't have made it out in one piece. I pulled you all together so you could at least walk out, and you call me a lunatic? Should've just left you then."

"What kinda bullshit is that?"

If it'd just been the upright Hanged Man, neither I nor the examinee in front of me would've been fine. But me, him, and all the others had only minor to moderate injuries—nothing debilitating.

The reason? The upright Devil card.

Simple effect: Summon chains that bind all the target's movements. Thanks to the upright Devil, the group following me got chained up en masse—starting with the faster-moving illusion beasts, then the slower humans.

I maneuvered the chains to position the front-line beasts toward the star's impact zone, then stood safely behind my excellent human-and-beast barricade.

"That's how I saved everyone's precious lives."

"So you used everyone else as meat shields except yourself… What kinda psycho does that?"

"But no one got seriously hurt, right?"

"Urk…."

He griped about me using them as shields, but couldn't deny the results, so he shrank back a bit. Technically, I'd saved him too—he had no grounds to complain more.

"Anyway, I've got unfinished business, so I'll be off. Stay here or go look for any stragglers—your call."

I turned away; no more reason to stick around. Having survived Sidus's unique skill, I needed to confront her at the impact site. Sure, with most examinees out, I could just wait out the exam—but something felt off about ending it like that. Even if I got into the academy, no guarantee I'd never see her again. Better to settle things cleanly now, avoid future headaches.

That said…

Whack!

"Guhk…!"

"If you're gonna sneak attack, be less obvious. Even a total noob like me noticed."

Grateful ingrates get the mace first. I pulled the mace from his side and turned.

"A little less greed, and you might've passed."

I gripped the mace two-handed and swung with my full body. It smashed toward the side of the guy aiming for my head.

Crack!

It caved in his ribs with a satisfying crunch, launching him away.

"Tone down the greed next time."

I muttered as he teleported off the island, bracelet glowing.

*

The clearing where the star had fallen still radiated faint heat from the aftermath. A single figure—no, a dragon—sat slumped on the dirt, groaning in exhaustion.

"Hngh… haa…."

Sidus de Sidereus, youngest princess of Dracapolis, the empire where all dragons gathered. She'd poured out massive mana for her skill and was now too drained to twitch a finger.

Drained, but safe. The starfall would've wiped everything on the island— including that infuriating man who'd truly enraged her.

Beep!

A sharp alert rang from the bracelet on her recovering arm. The function had glitched during her skill but recovered with time.

Sidus laboriously lifted her arm to check the updated info.

The instant she saw it, Sidus's eyes widened in shock as she ripped off the bracelet. Sure, prolonged separation meant disqualification—but who cared? The info was unbelievable.

"How… how…?"

The total participant count decreased with each elimination. It boldly showed one other survivor besides her.

"Impossible…."

Her unique skill, Nox. Few could withstand that output. Only saints, heroes, or those with comparable skills—and she'd scanned the examinees before the exam; none qualified.

"It should've been that way, so why…!"

Yet the bracelet confirmed someone had survived her skill. A chill ran down her spine—her dragon senses beyond mortal limits rang alarm bells. The display was real, and that survivor was approaching from behind.

Step.

"…!"

Sidus whipped around with wide, rabbit-like eyes. And locked gazes.

"Why so surprised? You should've gotten used to it by now."

The one person she'd hoped never to see again.

"Or maybe you're happy to see me?"

The sharp-featured boy with navy-blue hair: Lerven.

"As if I'd be happy to see trash like you…!"

'How?' flooded her mind, but she prioritized caution over questions. Fresh off her skill, she was weaker than ever. If he attacked now, she'd lose without a fight.

"Fair enough. Highnesses like you are always a pain to deal with."

Lerven chuckled casually at her words. Unable to read his intent, she heightened her guard.

"Th-then just leave already! I don't know how you survived, but that attack was nothing to me!"

She stood, feigning full recovery—uncharacteristic, but desperation left no better options.

"Impressive skill, no doubt. I only survived thanks to luck. A few more like that…? Can't even imagine."

Did her bluff work? Lerven recalled the starfall and looked slightly daunted. Internally, Sidus cheered—her act had landed.

"Right? So if you don't wanna get wrecked, get out of my sight."

She doubled down, projecting more bravado to widen the distance until she recovered.

"…."

Lerven's brow furrowed faintly, but his expression remained unreadable. Growing strained, she growled low.

"Last warning. Scram."

Step.

Her beastly warning only made Lerven step forward—not back.

"Weird. Weren't you trying to make me kneel and submit? So why push me away now?"

"That's…!"

Step.

He kept advancing. As he reached her, Sidus sensed the end and squeezed her eyes shut.

Step.

"…?"

But he didn't stop in front of her—he passed by. His footsteps continued, then paused… and returned, drawing closer.

Against expectations, Sidus cracked her eyes open.

"Your Highness, you can't move right now, can you?"

He stood just ahead, staring down—piercing her hidden truth effortlessly.

"H-how did you—urk!"

Flustered, she accidentally confirmed it.

"I've got a unique skill too. Figured yours had a backlash."

His was just a hunch—but her reaction turned it to certainty. She'd blundered into her own trap.

"…."

Sidus bit her lower lip. Pushed back by the human she'd scorned—the one who'd insulted her—it cracked her ironclad pride. But she had no moves left; she could only stand helplessly as he dominated.

"…I'll get you next time—"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

She ground her teeth, vowing revenge—staking her dragon name on crushing him.

"Knew you'd say that."

Click.

Lerven cut her off, snapping something onto her arm.

"…?"

Her slender wrist now bore the bracelet she'd tossed.

While she blinked in confusion, he walked to where it'd landed, plopped down, and sat.

"No hobby of attacking the defenseless. I'll wait till you can move. Can't have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you disqualified before then."

No malice from his casual words—but his motives stayed opaque, so she narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Trying to trick me now?"

"You could think that, but I'm serious. Ending it half-assed sucks for both of us. Better to settle it at full strength, clean."

"…Serious?"

"Up to you whether to believe it."

Absurdity welled up as she watched him spout nonsense without batting an eye. She couldn't fathom why he'd forfeit his advantage so easily. He was incomprehensible from start to finish: rejecting a princess's offer, rude words, then mercy.

"…."

And none benefited him. Even fully recovered, a fair fight wouldn't favor her—she sensed he'd manipulated everything. That sparked a burning ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠desire to humiliate him.

"Fine. I've decided."

"Yeah? How long do you need—"

"No. I reject your offer."

"…Can't be helped, then. At least I'll take you out in one go."

Lerven looked regretful, stood, gripped his mace, and approached.

Facing elimination, Sidus smirked instead.

"No. I won't even let you eliminate me."

"Pardon…? What do you—"

Reject his offer. And not get eliminated by him. The contradictions finally cracked Lerven's poker face. Spotting it thrilled her—satisfaction enough, even before what came next.

"Exactly that. No favors from you, no attacks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from you."

It sounded like denial, but she'd decided: for the first time, bend her pride and dignity.

Just to screw him over.

Whoosh—

Her folded wings unfurled wide. Realizing her intent, Lerven lunged—but

Thrust!

Sidus had already summoned every ounce of strength and soared into the air.

Moments later, Lerven's bracelet chimed.

"Huh…."

The shortest academy entrance exam in history. To end.