Artina Academy Entrance Exam (2)
A full moon hung in the night sky. Smoldering ashes still hazy with red embers. Darkness so thick you couldn't see an inch ahead.
The silver-haired boy lay on a wooden bed, lost in thought.
Act 1, Scene 1: Artina Academy Entrance Exam.
Even without a full database from game overs, I remembered the details of Act 1, Scene 1.
The first wave of monsters numbered around fifty or so. Fifty low-grade beasts and one mid-grade.
You'd think the sheer number of low-grades would be the problem, but no. The real mid-boss of this episode was that single mid-grade monster.
Mid-grade monsters. Mutated beasts living beyond continent-wide no-entry zones and the northern barrier of the Masa mountains. They were divided into low, mid, high, and beyond, with hierarchies based on species. These were the most commonly encountered ones.
As far as I knew, it was a wolf.
Wolf variants were among the top predators. They hunted in packs, making them tricky opponents.
Pretty damn tough.
That was my initial assessment. A single mid-grade wolf had enough power to wipe out an entire village. But factor in the special Nightmare difficulty buff, and even gathering all the main characters at this point in the story wouldn't cut it...
I recalled dragging it out and struggling when I played on Nightmare. As an ordinary knight, my strategy had been timeout.
It crashed.
I kept the battle state going all day until the game shut down. When I reloaded, the wolf variant boss fight was cleared. Only possible because it was still in development. Even that was pure luck exploiting a bug—if I'd slipped even once...
I'd have gotten game over like anyone else.
For a possessor with only one shot, caution was key. So I ruled out repeating that stunt.
Even with Clairvoyance, the spec gap with the wolf was a mountain.
External intervention...
Next, I considered the faculty.
Rejected.
Quick decision. It'd be nice if a professor spotted the mid-grade and helped, but academy tropes didn't work that way. When shit hits the fan, faculty shows up late. The barrier blocked detection from outside. Mana signals inside couldn't leak out. Sure, if it dragged on too long, they'd intervene—but by then, key good guys would be dead or crippled, derailing the story.
If Siel dies... No, can't even imagine it.
Siel Dunhart facing a monster straight-up led to a bad end. Ugh, no choice but to handle it somehow. It'd be a grueling ordeal, no doubt. Knowing that, all I could do was cheer on tomorrow's me.
"Fight-ooh!"
I muttered the casual pep talk and closed my eyes.
Chirrr— Crickets chirped. The night deepened.
"We've arrived."
I opened my eyes to deep woods. Professor Mason's teleport must've wrapped up.
Act 1, Scene 1 of the Artina Academy exam kicked off immediately.
Gathering intel first. I scouted around.
"No one's nearby. Lucky."
Good—no other students dropped with me. Bad luck could've meant instant combat.
"Everyone plays it safe at first anyway."
The Artina entrance exam was survival. No need to hunt people if you just wanted in. Grab enough points, hide, wait it out—that was the plan for most.
But there were predators stalking groups for points. Siel Dunhart and the top contenders. They burned with ambition for the top spot. Best to run if you spotted Siel. Assuming you could even escape.
"Head there first."
I aimed for the mountain peak to hole up. Five hours into the exam, the mid-grade would spawn there. The demon's doing, to avoid student casualties. I'd take care of it.
"Phew... Made it."
Three hours to the summit. The real issue? This damn sniper's pathetic stamina. Sweat poured, legs shook. I slumped against a summit rock and scanned.
"There it is."
One spot screamed unnatural. Tombstones in a hexagram, enclosing a magic circle of tangled straight and curved lines.
Normal difficulty had no such thing. Maybe an Easter egg like "A great soul slumbers here" hinting at Act 1, Scene 4's underground cavern. But this?
I approached. Read the inscription on the stone.
The liberation of the great soul is near.
Yeah, basically "You're all fucked."
Could I smash it? I sighted the rifle.
Clang—!
"No dice."
A cubic particle shield blocked it. Summoning the mid-grade was inevitable.
Two hours till it spawned. Needed passing score, so low-grades had to go down.
Summit offered clear sightlines on everything.
Shrrrr—! Fwoooosh! Kuuuung!
Real combat kicking off—noise everywhere. Most eye-catching: an ice-particle storm. It swept the area, flash-freezing everything nearby.
"Got Siel's position."
Other students hard to spot visually. I infused mana into my eyes.
Blue markers popped up everywhere. Hundreds. All people? Some heading this way too.
"Not the summit, hopefully."
I shifted focus to low-grades. Monster hierarchies followed food chains—mid-grades made low-grades frenzy. Better thin the herd early.
Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!
I picked them off one by one. Low-grades were low-level, so minimal stat investment needed. Mid-grades would take everything, but these? A fifth of my power sufficed. Doable for exam-takers too. And best of all...
"Delish..."
EXP tasted sweet. My level lower than low-grades meant solid growth.
"Just mop 'em all up?"
Main cast already maxed growth—barely any EXP from low-grades. Better I snag it.
Sighted the next.
Bang—!
A lakeside prowler's torso exploded. Panned view—someone climbing toward the summit, closer now. Looked purposeful.
"No helping it."
Planned to ignore students. But heading here? Different story. Just enough damage to wreck her magic tool...
Sighted her. Silver hair in twin tails... a girl?
"Not an exam-taker?"
She wore a "Exam Supervisor" armband. Young face suggested student staff worker.
"Can't shoot..."
I lowered the rifle. Attacking an official? Instant DQ.
But letting her come up? Obstacle. She was just admin—no real power. Even if she spotted the circle "anomaly," no action possible. Barrier blocked signals long ago.
Best to turn her back. I descended the ridge, toward her path. "casually."
"Ah!"
We bumped right into each other.
Her reaction was intense. Mouth agape, pupils dilating cat-like, face pure shock. Trembling finger pointed at me.
"H-how are you...?"
Huh...?
"How'd you pass the first exam!?"
We know each other?
I kept a straight face, eyed her. Same silver hair, same blue eyes. No way.
"Not up to any tricks, right? And what's that wooden box on your back? D-don't tell me, me!?"
No, not what you think.
Apparently we had history. Blood-related, from the looks.
Tricky. Didn't expect to run into Kyle's kin here.
I knew zilch of Kyle's past. Just that he was from a fallen noble house, and they were a bit unhinged. No clue on his tie to her, so I stayed mum.
She hugged herself, like a spiky hedgehog.
"Ever since the family kicked you out, everyone's changed. You must hold a grudge, showing up like this... I'm telling you now, you're not my brother. Touch me and I'll call faculty to boot you. So..."
"Stay put?"
"You get it."
Kyle and her? Rocky. Makes sense—he got exiled solo. Original story had him picking fights with players too. Bad rep.
I nodded along, then asked,
"Why're you here?"
"Why ask? Suspicious. Got nothing to say to you. You're the sketchy one. Planning to force through round two, huh."
She glared with contempt. Cute, really.
"That a problem? Smart move."
"Hmph, hate to burst your bubble, but magic department spots are limited. Nobles snag most— they duel for points instead of hiding like commoners. Fail minimum score? DQ. Luck-chasers never make it. Got it?"
"Oh, really."
"Taking it well? Planning to quit? Smash your bracelet. Want help?"
"Nah. Pass."
Pitying look. Then her chest badge caught my eye.
"Ibel Adford?"
"Ugh, don't call me."
Ibel, huh. Adford—the villain house I knew. Knew the name, wrecked ties. Fix later. I set down the box.
Blue cross markers behind us. Three low-grades. Her EXP escort.
"Wh-what're you doing!"
She panicked, fiddling her bracelet. Trying to report—but blocked.
I drew rifle, sighted behind her. Markers closing fast. Speedy. Recoil lag made it tight.
Decision made, I charged Ibel.
"Wh-why won't it work! Kyaaah—!"
Thud—!
Pushed her back mid-scream, opened fire.
Bang—!
First shot vaporized a head. Bang—! Next burst a torso.
Last one right up close.
EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY!
Proximity flashed crimson. Crisis Sense, huh.
I rolled to safe ground. Beast burst from woods, claws raking ahead.
Kept my aim steady kneeling. "Bye."
Bang—!
Final round pierced head and body. It crumpled.
"Whew, that's it."
My score just cleared passing.
"You okay?"
Checked Ibel. No injuries on staff.
"How...?"
She stared, stunned. Didn't expect strength from me. Fair—Adfords knew Kyle as a wastrel. Title like "Prime Delinquent."
I offered a hand.
She stood alone, wiped tears.
"Th-thanks for the save. But round two's no joke! Need at least 13 points, right?"
Face red, words rushed.
"Gonna head elsewhere. Been here too long. Ugh, if not for you, I'd have summited!"
Muttered "Won't pass anyway!" and descended.
Stopped her summit run? Good enough.
I looked skyward.
"Spawn time soon. Move."
No azure sky. Dusk blanketed all. Around 5 PM—demon spawn hour. No delays or it'd be a bloodbath.
I bolted down the path.