The rising sun spilled countless strands of golden light across the horizon. Soft shades of orange and red gradually spread through the sky, like a painter's palette layered with delicate colors.
Sunlight illuminated the world and, with it, the hopes and dreams in people's hearts. In this fleetingly beautiful moment, everything seemed filled with possibility and vitality.
Several principals from Old Shipyard Port stood atop the city walls, gazing down at the examinees below, a group as vibrant and full of life as the morning sun itself.
"The college entrance trial is finally about to begin. If the novice trial was just warming up, then this is truly ten thousand soldiers crossing a single plank bridge."
"Take a guess. How many students from Old Shipyard Port do you think will get into Imperial Capital Academy this year?"
"Five made it last year. I say at least seven this year. Just those two SSS tier students from that bastard Gao's school alone are basically guaranteed spots, as long as nothing goes wrong."
"You flatter us, you flatter us." Norton waved it off modestly, though the joy on his face was impossible to hide.
"Kai from School Number Three, SSS tier Prism Blade. That kid is locking down a spot for sure. And Evan from your Redwood High School, SSS tier Shadow Dragon Lancer. He should also secure a place at Imperial Capital Academy."
"That's already four. Add two or three dark horses, and seven slots sounds completely reasonable."
As someone voiced their prediction, Omar smiled faintly.
"Evan's goal isn't just Imperial Capital Academy. He's aiming for first place in all of Old Shipyard Port."
The other principals were not surprised. In recent years, the top scorer of Old Shipyard Port had almost always come from Redwood.
Still, their gazes soon shifted to Norton. After all, Old Shipyard Port High had produced not only Nia, who broke multiple records, but also Zayne, a monster who had already reached level sixteen.
Omar glanced at Norton and spoke calmly.
"A transfer class's combat strength isn't determined by level alone. Equipment and real combat experience matter too. If level decided everything, why even hold a college entrance trial? We could just rank everyone by level."
"Hmph. Ever heard of brute force breaking all techniques?" Norton snorted. "When the level gap is big enough, nothing else matters."
The two principals refused to give ground, their rivalry quietly intensifying.
At that moment, a heavy creaking sound echoed out as the massive city gates slowly parted, like two towering walls sliding away from each other.
The college entrance trial had begun.
Beyond the gates lay ten kilometers of uninhabited wilderness. Crossing it was the first trial.
The instant the gates opened, many examinees charged out impatiently. Zayne and Francis were among them.
Determined to defeat Zayne, Nia chose to stay in the wilderness to grind levels. She was part of the first wave as well, even sprinting ahead of most.
More examinees remained behind, waiting calmly and without haste.
Those who rushed out first would not necessarily reach the trial entrance sooner, but they would certainly encounter powerful monsters earlier. Anyone lacking confidence in their strength generally dared not be part of the first wave.
Leaving later meant far less resistance.
The moment they stepped beyond the city walls, a foul stench hit them head on.
It was the odor of monsters, mixed with the fermented smell of blood. Many examinees vomited the instant they caught a whiff.
This was their first time outside the city. They had never imagined that the world beyond the walls would be so utterly different from the one within.
After living inside the city for so long, many had almost forgotten that the world was surrounded by countless monsters.
Before they could even process it, a beast's roar tore through the sky.
The appearance of monsters shattered the tense but orderly atmosphere.
A gigantic hyena warrior stood over three meters tall, its body covered in hard silver scales. Bloodthirsty light flickered in its eyes. It looked like a demon crawling straight out of hell, terrifying at a single glance.
"It's a Giant Hyena Warrior. Level eleven Giant Hyena Warrior."
Panic erupted instantly. Examinees scattered in all directions, desperate to avoid the monster.
But the Giant Hyena Warrior was unbelievably fast. Each leap covered several meters. In the blink of an eye, it caught up to several fleeing students. Its claws were as sharp as steel blades. One swing sent blood spraying everywhere.
Screams echoed across the open field.
The sudden, brutal carnage stunned many examinees into paralysis. Some even forgot to run at all. None of them had expected to witness something this bloody the moment they left the city.
The principals on the wall, however, remained calm. Only those who had been tempered by blood could truly grow. Otherwise, they would forever remain flowers raised in a greenhouse.
Unless a monster above level twenty appeared, they would not intervene.
Watching students flee in panic or freeze in terror, one principal could not help but shake his head in disappointment.
"This batch isn't very promising. A single level eleven Giant Hyena Warrior has them in shambles. With this many people, everyone throwing one skill would be enough to kill it."
Just then, a dark figure charged against the fleeing crowd straight toward the monster.
It was Zayne.
Expressionless, he gripped Starfall Skytrace and rushed forward.
Slash. Slash. Slash. Slash.
Sacrificial Blade Technique activated. Four brilliant streaks of starlight flashed in succession. In an instant, the Giant Hyena Warrior that had sent everyone running had all four limbs severed, reduced to a writhing slab of flesh on the ground.
"What a terrifying blade. That weapon is at least rare grade," one principal exclaimed.
"So that's Zayne, the Forbidden Spellcaster. Level sixteen with a rare grade weapon. Dealing with a level eleven monster is effortless for him. But why didn't he kill it?"
As the others wondered, Zayne waved a hand behind him.
"Francis, come finish it."
"Coming, boss."
Francis rushed over excitedly, sword in hand. The Giant Hyena Warrior no longer had any strength to resist. One strike was all it took to end its life.
Team kill: Level eleven Giant Hyena Warrior. Reward: 50 experience points.
A level eleven monster should have granted 120 experience points. Because they were in a team, the experience was split, reduced to 50. The remaining 70 went to Francis.
"Hurry up, there are two more over here."
"There's another one over there."
"Don't waste time, this one too."
The scene left everyone staring in disbelief.
Only then did they understand why Zayne had merely severed the Giant Hyena Warrior's limbs instead of killing it.
The monster that had terrified them into chaos had become nothing more than a leveling tool for Francis in front of Zayne.