...
{3rd Pov}
It was finally time for the practical examination.
The school conducted this practical exam specifically to evaluate and grade students based on their performance in real outdoor scenarios rather than controlled classroom conditions.
Unlike written tests or simple demonstrations, this exam was designed to test a student's ability to react, survive, and apply their magic effectively in an environment that closely resembled actual field situations.
The importance of this exam could not be overstated.
The marks obtained here made up a full twenty percent of the students' total graduation score.
This meant that even a single mistake or poor performance could significantly affect their final results.
Only students who achieved good scores in this practical exam would have a realistic chance of being admitted into better universities and advanced magical institutes in the future.
Because of that, the practical exam mattered immensely to everyone involved.
For students in the Elite Classes especially, the pressure was enormous.
They were expected to perform well, and anything less than excellence would be considered a failure.
Once everything was prepared, the students boarded buses arranged by the school.
Under supervision, they were transported toward the outskirts of the city.
The area chosen for the exam was not a safe urban zone—it was a controlled but dangerous environment.
Military forces were stationed around the perimeter, ensuring that the testing grounds were secured and that no unexpected threats entered the area.
As the buses moved farther away from the city, the atmosphere inside grew increasingly tense.
Everyone understood that this was no longer just a test of knowledge, but a true test of capability.
Once the buses arrived at their destination, the students stepped down one by one.
Teachers and armed soldiers immediately began guiding everyone, directing them to gather at a single designated area.
The presence of military personnel alone was enough to remind the students that this was not a simple school outing, but a serious and potentially dangerous exercise.
After everyone had assembled, a military commander stepped up onto the podium.
His name was Fan Xian, and his rigid posture and sharp gaze instantly commanded attention.
"I would like to welcome all the students and teachers present here today," Fan Xian began, his voice loud and authoritative.
"As you should already know, outdoor experience is extremely important—not only for your entrance examinations, but also for your future careers as mages."
He paused briefly, scanning the crowd before continuing.
"A true mage does not rely on flashy tricks performed safely inside the walls of a city," he said bluntly.
"A true mage uses their power against monsters, in real environments, under real pressure. That is exactly what you are here to learn."
Murmurs spread among the students as they listened.
"All of you will participate in a practical hiking assessment," Fan Xian continued.
"You will traverse the outskirts of the forest ahead. While the danger level in this area is considered low, do not make the mistake of letting your guard down. Monsters may still be lurking in the area."
His eyes hardened as he delivered the final instruction.
"You are required to reach a designated checkpoint. Only after successfully arriving there will you be awarded a satisfactory score for this exam."
His strict tone caused many students to tense up.
Several of them exchanged uneasy glances, clearly shocked by the difficulty of the task and beginning to realize just how demanding this practical examination was going to be.
One of the teachers stepped forward hesitantly, unable to hold back his concern.
"Sir," he said carefully, "I think this task might be too difficult for the students. Hiking through the outskirts, even if they are relatively controlled, still carries a real risk. There is a genuine possibility of encountering Servant-level monsters, which could be extremely dangerous for students at their current level. Perhaps it would be better to assign them the same task that last year's students were given?"
The moment he finished speaking, Commander Fan Xian's expression hardened.
"Let me ask you something," Fan Xian replied sharply.
His voice rose, carrying clear irritation.
"Does the elite class of the most elite school in this city not even dare to explore the outskirts that we have already cleared of most major threats?"
He gestured broadly toward the forest beyond.
"You have well over a hundred students here," he continued.
"The probability of encountering a monster is already very low. At worst, you might encounter a single Servant-level monster."
His gaze swept across both the teachers and the students, pressing down on them with his words.
"Are you seriously telling me that hundreds of students—supposed elite students—cannot even deal with one Servant-level monster together?"
The question hung in the air like a heavy weight.
Neither the teachers nor the students could find a response.
Their throats felt tight, and no one dared to argue further.
"You students of the current generation have no idea what real hardship looks like," Fan Xian roared, his voice filled with anger and frustration.
"Do you know the horrors students faced during the Great Depletion?" His sharp gaze swept across the group.
"Have you already forgotten that during the Great Depletion, every student from second year onward was required to participate in voluntary military enlistment?!"
His words echoed heavily in the air.
Most of the students instinctively lowered their heads, shame written clearly on their faces.
They didn't dare meet the commander's eyes, fully aware that they had grown up in a far more protected and comfortable era compared to those before them.
Except for a few individuals.
Astreo, for one, let out a lazy yawn, looking completely uninterested.
To anyone else, it might have seemed disrespectful, but the irony of the situation was almost amusing.
After all, he was practically one of the main reasons behind the Great Depletion itself, even if no one here knew that fact.
As for Mo Fan?
His reaction was entirely different.
Rather than feeling shame, Mo Fan looked utterly confused.
His lack of historical knowledge immediately betrayed him as he stared blankly ahead, his mind struggling to process what was even being discussed.
The Great Depletion?
Why did that name sound like some ancient, world-ending catastrophe straight out of a prehistoric history book?
Was this something that happened centuries ago or something more recent?
And why did the name sound so dramatic?
Did the government seriously adopt the same naming sense as archaeologists when labeling disasters?
Mo Fan frowned deeply, wishing Zhang Xiaohou—Monkey—was standing beside him right now.
If he were, Mo Fan would have already grabbed him by the sleeve and demanded an explanation.
'What the hell is the Great Depletion supposed to be?'
Unfortunately for him, there was no Monkey nearby, and his confusion only continued to grow as the commander's lecture went on.
"Compared to what they endured back then, what you have now is nothing but luxury," Fan Xian continued in a blunt, no-nonsense tone.
"You are living at the tail end of the Great Depletion, not at its peak. Right now, you are standing at a golden opportunity—to become capable mages and serve the nation properly."
He did not give them time to respond.
"Every single one of you must complete this task," he said firmly.
"Anyone who fails will receive a failing grade. There will be no exceptions."
The finality in his voice made it painfully clear that arguing with him was pointless.
No teacher or student dared to protest any further.
With that, preparations began immediately.
The students were organized into multiple groups for the trekking portion of the exam.
Teachers and soldiers oversaw the arrangements, calling out names and assigning teams in an orderly manner.
Mo Fan and Mu Bai were surprisingly placed in the same group, a pairing that drew a few curious glances.
Zhang Xiaohou, on the other hand, was assigned to a different group entirely.
Meanwhile, He Yu, Astreo, and Xu Zhaoting were placed together in the same team.
As Astreo glanced at the group list, his eyes briefly rested on He Yu.
He couldn't help but consider her again, his thoughts drifting back to the idea of recruiting her into the Star Clan once this exam was over.
Astreo couldn't help but feel that he had developed something close to a hoarder's mindset.
Despite possessing practically infinite resources in terms of wealth, cultivation materials, artifacts, and knowledge, there was one thing he could never have an unlimited supply of—manpower.
Because of that limitation, he had gradually become obsessed with gathering capable people under his command. In a sense, he had turned into a manpower hoarder.
And honestly, what was an Emperor without his people?
Power alone meant very little if there was no one to enforce one's will, manage territories, execute plans, and hold the structure together.
Astreo understood this better than anyone.
Strength at the top required a solid foundation beneath it, and that foundation was built entirely out of people.
Because of this, his attention was often drawn toward individuals who appeared in the original story.
These people were significant not just because of their potential, but also because he had read the story through their perspectives.
He knew their struggles, their growth, and the roles they would eventually play.
That familiarity made them ideal candidates in his eyes.
It was precisely for that reason that he personally approached and invited many of them to join his clan rather than leaving things to chance.
That said, his recruitment efforts were never limited only to those who appeared in canon.
Over the years, Astreo had recruited countless geniuses who were never mentioned in the original story at all.
Some of them were even ordinary people with no magical background at the time.
Their lack of talent did not matter to him, because he possessed the means to change that.
Shadow and Yi Ze were perfect examples of this.
Neither of them had been mages before joining him. In fact, they hadn't even awakened magic at all.
It was only after Astreo recruited them—and not long after he awakened the Star Element himself—that their paths truly changed.
Under his guidance and resources, they became powerful figures who would never have existed in the original timeline.
That was precisely why Astreo valued people so highly.
Talent could be cultivated.
Power could be granted.
Loyalty, however, had to be earned—and once it was, it became far more valuable than any artifact or resource he possessed.
...
After all the students were arranged into their respective groups, each team was handed a map and a compass to work with.
The instructions were clear—they were all heading toward the same final destination, but each group would be taking a different route through the outskirts.
This was done deliberately to prevent overcrowding and to test their ability to navigate independently.
Naturally, every group needed a leader.
Astreo stepped forward without hesitation.
"Oi, I'll lead you all," he said bluntly as he looked at the members of his group.
"As long as you follow my orders and don't do anything stupid, I'm pretty sure all of you will make it through alive."
His tone left little room for argument.
No one in the group objected.
After everything they had already witnessed during the Annual Assessment, his strength and authority were beyond question.
Challenging him would have been pointless.
Without any further discussion, the group accepted his leadership and began their trek.
The first day passed without any major incidents.
They followed the map carefully, avoided unnecessary detours, and maintained a steady pace.
By the time evening arrived, fatigue had begun to set in, and it became clear that they would need to set up camp for the night.
Astreo led everyone to a suitable clearing and immediately began organizing the camp.
"Everyone, move quickly and set up your tents around the campfire," he ordered without hesitation.
"We'll establish a night watch rotation. Ten students will stay awake at a time while the rest sleep."
His gaze swept across the group as he continued issuing instructions.
"If anyone notices suspicious movement during the night, do not act on your own. Don't do anything stupid like wandering off to investigate alone. Call out immediately and alert the others."
Hearing how efficiently and calmly he handled the situation, everyone couldn't help but feel surprised.
They had initially followed Astreo simply because he was the strongest among them, but it was becoming clear that his strength wasn't the only reason he deserved to lead.
His commands were precise, logical, and clearly based on experience rather than impulse.
Many of them slowly realized that Astreo wasn't just powerful—he was also an excellent analytical leader.
Under his guidance, the group worked smoothly and without confusion.
The camp was set up quickly, the watch rotations were followed properly, and everyone remained alert.
As a result, they passed their first night without encountering any danger at all.
The next day, they packed up camp and continued trekking deeper along their assigned route.
Along the way, they faced multiple obstacles—uneven terrain, narrow paths, and areas that required careful coordination to cross safely.
At one point, they encountered aggressive wild vines that began spreading toward the group and attempting to entangle them.
Astreo reacted instantly.
To prevent anyone from getting trapped or injured, he quickly ordered all Fire Mages to step forward and burn the vines before the situation could escalate.
The response was swift and effective, and the threat was neutralized without any casualties.
Just like that, day after day passed under his steady leadership.
The group moved forward cautiously but efficiently, handling each situation as it came.
After nearly a full week of trekking through the outskirts, they finally arrived near a massive cliff, marking the next major challenge of their journey.
"Our checkpoint should be somewhere just beyond this cliff," He Yu said hesitantly, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"But how are we even supposed to get across something like this?"
As she spoke, she cautiously walked closer to the edge to check the height of the cliff.
The moment she looked down, her face instantly went pale.
She let out a sharp yelp and stumbled backward in panic, nearly losing her balance as fear took over.
Several students nearby couldn't help but burst out laughing at her reaction.
"Seriously? You're scared of heights?" one female student said mockingly, crossing her arms.
"This is a practical exam, not a picnic. If you're afraid of something this basic, you really shouldn't have come here in the first place."
The words were sharp and dismissive, clearly meant to embarrass her.
Astreo glanced toward the student who was mocking He Yu and, strangely enough, felt a hint of appreciation.
He cast her a brief, almost grateful look before shifting his attention back to the He Yu.
After all, it was always people like this who unknowingly opened the easiest path straight into the heart of the victim.
Basically free wingman.
Ahem.
Astreo walked over and stopped beside He Yu, deliberately ignoring the laughter around them.
He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Startled, He Yu let out a small yelp and instinctively flinched, only to relax when she realized who it was.
"A-Astreo…" she said softly, looking up at him.
He smiled at her, his expression calm and reassuring.
"Don't worry," he said in a gentle voice.
"Feeling fear is completely natural. It doesn't make you weak."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"In fact, fear just means your survival instincts are functioning properly. People who acknowledge fear usually survive much longer than those who charge forward without thinking."
His words were sincere and steady, not mocking or patronizing in the slightest.
Hearing him speak like that, He Yu felt her heart skip a beat.
A faint blush slowly spread across her cheeks as she stared at him.
She hadn't expected this side of him at all.
Until now, she had always thought of Astreo as nothing more than an arrogant and overbearing foreigner, someone powerful but difficult to approach.
She hadn't known he could be this gentle—or this mature.
Her thoughts immediately became conflicted.
'N-No… I like Monkey,' she told herself internally, trying to regain control.
'I shouldn't be thinking like this…'
But before she could stop herself, another thought slipped in.
'…But Astreo is really hot.'
The blush on her face deepened, and she quickly looked away, embarrassed by her own thoughts.
Astreo noticed the reaction and smiled faintly to himself.
From his perspective, the result was clear—he had successfully eased her fear and, at the same time, drawn her a little closer.
With that settled, he shifted his attention back toward the rest of the group, ready to deal with the next problem in front of them.
"I want all Earth Element and Wind Element students to cooperate," Astreo said firmly as he pointed toward a massive boulder nearby.
"That boulder over there is large enough. We'll move it here and use it to create a stable bridge across the gap."
Everyone followed his gesture and looked at the boulder.
It was enormous—its size was more than twice the width of the ridge they needed to cross.
Just looking at it made several students feel tired already.
"Why don't we just use a tree as a bridge instead?" Xu Zhaoting asked after a moment, unable to hold back.
"Moving a boulder that big is possible, but it's going to be exhausting and take a lot of time."
Astreo turned to him and replied without hesitation.
"First, a tree can break under weight," he said calmly.
"Second, if you're not careful, someone could easily lose their balance and roll off while crossing it."
His explanation was simple and direct, but the impact was immediate.
Everyone fell silent for a moment, stunned.
They hadn't expected him to consider the risks so thoroughly over what initially seemed like a straightforward problem.
Most of them had been focused only on what was easier, not what was safer.
As the realization settled in, admiration began to appear in their eyes as they looked at Astreo.
His decision-making wasn't just about strength—it was about minimizing risk and ensuring everyone made it across safely.
Without further objections, the Earth and Wind Element students stepped forward, ready to carry out his plan.
Soon, everyone got to work under Astreo's instructions.
Using Novice Tier One Earth magic, the Earth Element students displaced the ground beneath the massive boulder, slowly shifting it forward.
At the same time, others helped stabilize its movement, making sure it didn't crack or roll unpredictably.
With everyone cooperating and following directions carefully, the process went far faster and smoother than anyone had expected.
Before long, the boulder was firmly positioned, forming a solid and stable bridge across the gap.
Once Astreo confirmed that it was safe, the group crossed one by one without any accidents.
After successfully passing the cliff, they continued forward and soon reached their destination.
The checkpoint turned out to be a cave entrance surrounded by several naturally formed ponds.
At first glance, the area looked calm, almost peaceful.
However, Astreo immediately noticed something was off.
The water levels in the ponds were noticeably lower than they should have been, as if something had been drinking water away for a period.
Activating his psychic senses, Astreo quickly scanned the surroundings.
Within seconds, he detected the presence of three One-Eyed Rats lurking inside the cave.
Their movements and mana signatures were unmistakable.
'Hmm… looks like the Black Vatican was testing things here,' Astreo thought to himself.
There was no doubt in his mind about who was responsible.
This kind of setup—isolated, controlled, and close to a developing city—was classic Black Vatican behavior.
They were more than happy to use a mid-sized, growing city like Bo City as a test subject for their experiments.
After all, Salang was completely unhinged.
She didn't care about the potential risks involved in targeting a more developed city. I
n fact, she welcomed them.
Her ultimate plan had always been to destroy one of the largest cities in China and use the resulting disaster to spread her notoriety across the world.
Compared to that ambition, Bo City was nothing more than a testing ground—a preliminary experiment before the real catastrophe.
Soon, the other student groups arrived one after another.
When they saw that Astreo's group had already reached the destination ahead of them, many of them were visibly surprised.
Some sighed in frustration, while others complained quietly among themselves about being slower.
As the discussions continued, Mo Fan suddenly spoke up.
"The water level in these ponds has clearly dropped," he said seriously.
"I suspect there might be monsters inside the cave."
The moment his words left his mouth, the atmosphere shifted—but not in the way he expected.
Instead of taking him seriously, several students burst out laughing.
Zhao Kunsan was the loudest among them.
"You're just scared of going inside, aren't you?" he mocked openly.
"Our final task is simple—go into the cave, retrieve the flag, and we're done. That's it. Just because you're afraid of dark caves, you're making excuses and trying to scare everyone."
More laughter followed, and a few students nodded along in agreement, clearly siding with Zhao Kunsan.
Mo Fan didn't respond.
He remained completely silent, not bothering to defend himself or argue back.
By this point, he had long since become numb to being insulted.
Being mocked and ridiculed on a daily basis had effectively made him immune to it.
Even when he demonstrated his talent and showed moments of genuine brilliance, the reactions never truly changed.
Because of his open hostility toward the Mu family—and especially because of how he publicly mocked Mu Zhuoyun during the Annual Assessment—most students were unwilling to support him.
No one wanted to risk offending the Mu family or attracting their wrath by standing on Mo Fan's side.
So Mo Fan simply stood there quietly, watching as his warning was brushed aside once again, fully aware that being right didn't always matter when politics and fear were involved.
However, just as the students were still joking and arguing among themselves, a sharp squeaking sound suddenly echoed throughout the cave.
The noise was shrill and unnatural, instantly cutting through the chatter.
Everyone froze at the same time, their expressions stiffening as they slowly turned their heads toward the cave entrance.
What they saw made their blood run cold.
Several One-Eyed Rat demons began crawling out from the darkness inside the cave, their grotesque bodies scraping against the stone.
Their single eyes locked onto the group of students, filled with hunger and hostility.
"Ruuuun!" someone screamed at the top of their lungs.
"Ahhhh!"
Panic erupted instantly.
The orderly groups collapsed into chaos as students began running in every direction, their fear completely overwhelming any sense of coordination.
Some tripped over rocks, others shoved past their classmates, and a few screamed incoherently as they fled.
Not everyone could move.
A handful of students were so terrified that their bodies refused to respond.
He Yu was one of them.
Her legs felt like they were rooted to the ground, her mind going completely blank as she stared at the approaching monsters.
"He Yu!" Zhang Xiaohou screamed in absolute horror.
He desperately tried to form a star path, attempting to cast even the most basic Novice Tier spell, but his hands trembled too much.
His thoughts were a mess, and his fear completely disrupted his focus.
All he could do was watch helplessly as one of the One-Eyed Rats closed in on He Yu, its claws scraping against the stone with each step.
Then, a calm voice cut through the chaos.
"Spirit Ripples: Pacify."
In an instant, invisible psychic energy surged forward.
The One-Eyed Rat demon froze mid-step, its body locking in place as if time itself had stopped.
Its single eye lost focus, its aggressive posture collapsing into stillness.
Before anyone could even process what had happened, a magical sword flashed through the air.
The next moment, the rat's head was cleanly severed from its body.
The corpse collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, sending a chilling silence rippling through the battlefield as everyone stared in shock at the sudden turn of events.
The one who had slain the One-Eyed Rat was none other than Astreo himself.
He stepped forward calmly and moved to He Yu's side as if the surrounding chaos did not concern him in the slightest.
"Are you alright?" he asked in a steady voice.
He Yu was still trembling violently, her face pale from shock and fear.
For a moment, she was unable to speak, but she nodded weakly after hearing his words.
The next instant, her composure completely collapsed.
She threw herself into Astreo's arms and burst into tears, clutching onto him as if he were the only solid thing left in the world.
Astreo allowed it, placing a hand on her back to steady her, his attention already split between comforting her and monitoring the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the remaining two One-Eyed Demon Rats had already shifted their focus to other students.
One unlucky student failed to escape in time.
The rat lunged forward with terrifying speed.
In a single brutal motion, it tore the student apart.
Flesh was ripped open, bones snapped, and his internal organs spilled across the ground in a horrifying mess.
Blood splattered everywhere, staining the rocks beneath him.
The scene was far too much for the students to handle.
One person immediately vomited upon witnessing the carnage.
Two others screamed once before collapsing to the ground, fainting from sheer terror and shock.
Panic spread faster than the monsters themselves, and the remaining students scattered without any sense of direction.
In the midst of all that chaos, only two students—aside from Astreo—managed to react properly.
Mo Fan forced himself to calm down.
Gritting his teeth, he formed a star path and released his spell.
A Novice Tier One Fire spell—Scorch—shot forward and struck one of the One-Eyed Demon Rats directly.
Flames exploded across its body, causing the creature to let out a piercing shriek as it thrashed in pain.
At the same time, Mu Bai acted.
Cold Ice mana surged outward as he cast his spell, instantly freezing the other One-Eyed Demon Rat in place.
Frost spread rapidly across its body, locking it mid-movement and stopping it from advancing any further.
"Everyone! Stop running and attack the demons!" Mu Bai roared at the top of his lungs.
His voice was filled with urgency and desperation.
"If we don't fight back, we'll all die here!"
Unfortunately, his words fell on deaf ears.
Not a single student listened.
Panic had already completely overtaken them.
The students continued running blindly, fear driving their legs faster than their minds.
None of them even dared to look back, let alone turn around and face the monsters chasing them.
At that moment, the One-Eyed Demon Rat that Mo Fan had previously injured let out a furious screech and lunged straight toward him.
Its claws slashed through the air with terrifying speed. Mo Fan reacted on instinct alone, throwing himself to the side and rolling across the ground.
The attack narrowly missed him, the wind from its movement brushing past his face.
As Mo Fan scrambled to his feet and turned around to counterattack, a calm voice cut through the chaos.
"Spirit Ripples: Pacify."
In an instant, invisible psychic energy struck the demon rat. Its movements froze completely, its body locking in place as its mind was forcibly suppressed.
Before it could recover even for a fraction of a second, Astreo stepped forward.
A magical sword formed in his hand, and with a single clean motion, he severed the demon rat's head.
The corpse collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Meanwhile, Mu Bai gritted his teeth and focused entirely on the remaining One-Eyed Demon Rat.
He quickly cast another Ice spell, reinforcing the frozen bindings already holding the creature in place.
Thick layers of ice wrapped tightly around its body, preventing any chance of escape.
Just as Mu Bai prepared to follow up with another attack, a terrifying fire spell descended from above.
The flames engulfed the immobilized demon rat instantly, incinerating it completely.
Within seconds, nothing remained but charred remains and fading heat.
Mu Bai instinctively looked up toward the sky.
Descending rapidly from above was Fan Xian, using a pair of Magical Wing tools.
His expression was tense and strained as he scanned the area below, clearly expecting to see a battlefield far worse than what greeted him.
Only after he surveyed the surroundings and confirmed that no other monsters were present did he finally let out a long breath of relief.
The immediate danger had passed—but the cost had already been paid.
Meanwhile, all the teachers who had been secretly monitoring the entire situation through surveillance cameras nearly fainted when they realized what had actually happened on site.
Watching the events unfold in real time, especially the moment a student was killed, left many of them pale and shaken.
Some had to grab onto nearby desks or walls just to steady themselves, their faces drained of all color.
One by one, soldiers and teachers quickly arrived at the scene after receiving confirmation that the danger had been neutralized.
Their first priority was not discipline or assessment anymore—it was damage control.
Teachers moved among the students, offering what little mental support and reassurance they could.
Many students were still crying, shaking, or sitting in stunned silence, unable to fully process what they had just witnessed.
At the same time, soldiers efficiently cordoned off the area around the corpse of the fallen student.
They formed a perimeter, blocking the view from the other students to prevent further psychological damage.
The scene was already horrific enough without forcing everyone to stare at the remains.
"W-What was his name?" one of the soldiers asked quietly, his voice steady despite the brutal sight in front of him.
Years of experience had taught him how to suppress his reactions, even when standing before a body that had been torn apart so violently.
Another soldier stepped closer and checked the student's identification device.
"Zu Miamao," he replied after a brief pause, reading the name out loud.
Xue Mueshang, the teacher responsible for the group, heard the name clearly.
He stood there in silence, staring at the lifeless remains without saying a word.
His eyes were hollow, unfocused, as the reality of the situation slowly settled in.
In his mind, a single thought kept repeating.
What was he supposed to say to the child's parents?
No explanation, no excuse, and no official report could truly soften the impact of their loss.
And standing there, surrounded by soldiers and shaken students, Xue Mueshang realized that this was the part of being a teacher he would never get used to—facing the consequences when the danger of the magical world finally claimed someone too young to understand it.
"What was that?!" Tang Yue roared, her voice sharp and furious as she confronted Fan Xian.
"You said there would be no danger! Then how do you explain three One-Eyed Demon Rats appearing at once?!"
Her anger was barely restrained.
Fan Xian stood there with his head lowered, unable to meet her gaze.
The outcome of the practical exam had already crossed a line, and he knew it.
"It appears that the natural ponds in the area became the issue," one of the soldiers stepped forward and answered after a brief but thorough analysis.
"The One-Eyed Demon Rats likely turned this location into a temporary base. They must have moved in after our previous inspection."
The soldier continued in a calm, professional tone.
"The cave itself had been checked earlier. All monsters detected in the surrounding area were cleared out by the military beforehand. There were no hostile entities present at the time."
That explanation made sense—at least on the surface.
However, none of them realized the real reason behind the sudden appearance of the monsters.
The One-Eyed Demon Rats hadn't wandered in randomly.
They had been drawn from miles away by the lingering scent of Nether Dew Water, a substance the Black Vatican had been secretly researching and experimenting with in the area.
That hidden factor had completely invalidated the military's earlier clearing operation.
Because of that unknown variable, the danger had quietly returned—and no one present, aside from Astreo, had any idea that this tragedy was not an accident, but a consequence of something far darker operating behind the scenes.
"The military will take full responsibility for this oversight," Fan Xian said solemnly as he bent forward in a deep bow. His expression was heavy, and his voice carried genuine remorse.
"We will provide compensation to the family of the deceased student, as well as to all students who were involved in this practical examination."
The moment those words were spoken, a sharp voice cut through the tense silence.
"Do you really think compensation can bring Zu back to life?!" a student roared, his voice breaking with grief and rage.
It was clear that he had been close to the deceased.
"Tell me—can your money bring Zu's life back?!"
His words struck everyone present like a blow.
No one answered.
The teachers stood in silence, their expressions grim.
The soldiers remained motionless, fully aware that no amount of responsibility-taking or financial compensation could undo what had happened.
The air was heavy with grief, guilt, and helplessness.
Then, in stark contrast to the mourning atmosphere, Astreo let out a faint smirk.
"So what?" he said flatly.
"He was stupid… so he died."
The words were cold, blunt, and completely devoid of sympathy.
For a split second, the world seemed to freeze.
Then—like a powder keg ignited by a single spark—Astreo's words detonated the suppressed emotions of everyone present.
Shock instantly turned into fury.
Faces twisted in anger, disbelief, and hatred as students and teachers alike stared at him.
"Shut up, you foreign bastard!" the student screamed, completely losing control of his emotions.
His face was twisted with rage and grief as he pointed at Astreo.
"Do you foreigners have no feelings at all?! Or do you just see us yellow-skinned people as nothing more than monkeys?!"
The words were venomous, filled with raw hatred.
Astreo, however, did not react the way anyone expected.
Instead of shouting back or lashing out immediately, he remained perfectly calm.
Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face—not a friendly one, but a sharp and unsettling smile.
"Any more insults you want to throw out?" he asked casually.
He began walking toward the student, his steps slow and deliberate.
Each footstep echoed heavily in the tense silence, making everyone instinctively hold their breath.
No one moved to stop him.
"Go on," Astreo continued in an even tone.
"Do you have any more creative 'foreign bastard' insults lined up?" His eyes locked onto the student's.
"Maybe you want to insult my dead parents next? Or mock my nationality?"
He tilted his head slightly, as if genuinely curious.
"By the way," he added calmly, "I'm Chinese. I was born here."
That single sentence caused murmurs to ripple through the crowd.
Several people stared at him in disbelief, clearly not expecting that answer.
Astreo stopped directly in front of the student.
The student, trembling with rage, suddenly grabbed Astreo by the collar and yanked him forward, glaring at him with pure hatred.
His breathing was heavy, his knuckles white from how tightly he was gripping the fabric.
Astreo clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tell me something," he said quietly, his voice still completely steady.
"How many monsters have you killed?"
The question landed like a slap.
The student froze.
Astreo's eyes bored into him as he continued, his tone cold and unyielding.
"How many lives have you saved? How many people have you protected?" He leaned in slightly.
"Before you scream about justice and emotions… answer me that."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
He continued glaring, only to meet Astreo's eyes—cold, sharp, and completely unyielding.
"Tell me," Astreo demanded again, his voice rising suddenly, "HOW MANY MONSTERS DID YOU KILL?!"
The shout exploded through the area like a gunshot.
The student instinctively released Astreo's collar and stumbled backward, letting out a startled yelp as fear finally replaced rage.
His legs shook as he barely managed to regain his balance.
Astreo didn't give him time to recover.
"I killed two One-Eyed Demon Rats by myself," Astreo said loudly, spreading his hands as if presenting undeniable facts.
His voice carried clearly to every corner of the area, making sure no one missed a single word.
"And you should know this—my element can't even physically harm them directly."
He paused briefly, letting that sink in.
"I had to use a magical sword," he continued.
"Which meant I had to get close. Close enough that one mistake would've meant getting torn apart."
The atmosphere grew heavier with every sentence.
"Do you really think fighting monsters is some kind of game?" Astreo asked coldly.
"Do you think you'll always win just because you stepped onto the battlefield? Do you think being a mage is just playing around with magic inside a classroom?"
His gaze shifted away from the single student and swept across everyone present.
"Look at yourselves," he said bluntly.
"You panic, you run, you scream—and then you cry when someone dies."
No one answered.
Students lowered their heads.
Teachers remained silent.
Even the soldiers stood still.
Their eyes refused to meet Astreo's—some out of shock, some out of fear, and others because they already knew the truth behind his words.
"Listen carefully, every single one of you," Astreo said coldly, his voice carrying clearly across the area.
"The moment you choose to walk the path of a mage, your fate becomes very simple."
His gaze swept across the stunned students.
"You will either rise by standing on the corpses of monsters, or you will die somewhere by the roadside and become nothing more than food—excrement—for some beast."
His words shocked everyone.
Several students flinched visibly, while others looked as if they had been slapped across the face.
The atmosphere turned heavy, oppressive.
Even so, the teachers—and more importantly, the soldiers present—could not bring themselves to refute what he had said.
Deep down, they knew it was the absolute truth.
This was the reality of the magical world, no matter how ugly it sounded.
"There were more than a hundred students here," Astreo continued, his tone merciless.
"And what about the monsters?" He scoffed.
"They were the weakest of the weak. If none of you had panicked, if you had simply stood your ground and attacked together, then not only would no one have died—no one would have even gotten so much as a scratch."
His eyes hardened.
"It is because of your cowardice," he said bluntly, "that a student died today."
The words cut deep.
Some students clenched their fists.
Others began trembling.
Guilt, anger, and fear mixed together in their expressions.
"Shut up!" a female student suddenly cried out, tears streaming down her face.
"We're not geniuses like you! Not everyone can fight like you can!"
Her voice cracked as she shouted, desperation clear in every word.
Astreo turned his gaze toward her.
The moment his cold eyes locked onto hers, her voice died in her throat.
She instinctively shrank back, unable to withstand the weight of his stare.
No anger, no sympathy—just an icy, judging calm that made it clear he had already heard that excuse countless times before.
And he wasn't buying it.
"I'll admit this much," Astreo continued, his voice steady and unwavering.
"Yes, I am a genius when it comes to cultivation."
His words alone were enough to surprise many people.
However, he didn't stop there.
"But understand this—this was not my first time hunting monsters."
The crowd stiffened.
"I've felt my guts spill out," Astreo said calmly, as if he were stating an ordinary fact.
"I've felt my limbs being torn apart. I've felt my flesh being ripped away piece by piece by the very same rat monsters I killed just now."
Every word hit like a hammer.
"That was the kind of training I was subjected to," he continued, his tone flat and unapologetic.
"So if you think I'm strong just because I was born talented, then you're wrong."
He looked straight at the students, not averting his gaze.
"I fought for this strength," Astreo said firmly.
"I paid for it. And the only reason I'm still alive today is because I had someone who could heal me—someone who dragged me back from the brink every time I should have died."
Silence fell over the entire area.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The certainty in his voice, the complete lack of exaggeration, made it impossible to dismiss his words as boasting or lies.
He wasn't trying to inspire them.
He wasn't trying to intimidate them.
He was simply stating facts.
The students stared at him in disbelief.
The idea that someone their age had endured that level of pain and survived was horrifying.
Even the teachers felt a chill run down their spines.
The soldiers, many of whom had seen real battlefields, looked at Astreo with expressions that mixed unease and respect.
For the first time since the incident began, everyone truly understood something.
Astreo wasn't fearless because he was gifted.
He was fearless because he had already been broken—and put back together—more times than any of them could imagine.
Tang Yue couldn't help but clench her fists as those words echoed in her mind.
'Of course,' she thought bitterly.
'Clans are the same everywhere.'
No matter where you were, even if you were labeled a genius, you were still required to repay the clan's investment—often with twice the effort, twice the risk, and sometimes with your life.
With that realization, her view of Astreo changed significantly.
What she had previously seen as arrogance now felt more like the byproduct of someone who had been pushed far beyond normal limits.
His calmness, his cold logic, and even his cruelty suddenly made more sense.
They were not traits born from privilege alone, but from repeated exposure to suffering that most people would never survive.
After that, no one spoke.
Silence settled over the area, heavy and suffocating.
Grief lingered in the air, mixed with fear and shock, as the students slowly processed everything that had just happened.
The death, the monsters, Astreo's words—it all hit far harder than any lecture ever could.
For many students, the decision was already made.
Some would undoubtedly give up on the path of a mage entirely.
After witnessing the reality of combat and death firsthand, they knew they were not prepared to continue.
Others hesitated, torn between fear and ambition, unwilling to accept an ordinary life yet unsure whether they could endure what lay ahead.
Regardless of their individual choices, one thing was clear.
This practical exam had accomplished something no classroom lesson ever could.
It had shown them the brutal reality of the world far earlier than expected, tearing apart their childish fantasies about magic, heroism, and effortless strength.
They had learned the truth the hard way.
Strength was not something given freely.
It was forged through suffering—and only those who endured it were able to rise.
To be continued...
(A/N: Important notice! Since we didn't maintain top 10 last week, I will no longer upload daily. You can join my Patreon for advance chaps though, currently have five in stock from previous 12, a lot of things happened, I couldn't write but I didn't wanted my momentum to stagnate so I kept uploading on free websites anyway. But I think i have reached a respectable audience who stayed to read and have fun.
I will restock chaps in Patreon so again higher tiers get more.
Also I have an idea about ghost fanfic, anime ghost fanfic. It will have Dark Gathering, Kaya Chan isn't scary, Five Nights at Didd*Ahem* Mieruko chan etc. Can anyone recommend me any good manga with same themes? First it must not have Yokai stuff, or stuff like Bleach and JJK. Purely ghost and horror, even if it isn't explained what they are unlike Dark Gathering.
So yeah, any recommendations?)