"Chast.i.ty Beverly? Are you serious?" Anakin sarcastically quipped. How in the world did that girl who was simply a daughter of a low viscount defeat the hermit? No—how did she encounter THAT hermit? But then again, Faustina Feuerlon, that girl—was with her!

Anakin took a deep breath. He still got his chance. Curving his lips to a smirk, Anakin slides his hand to his pocket. The crystal wasn't there anymore.

"I win."

**

"Congratulations, examinees!" Moderator Yusha said from the projection. They were now into the Great Hall, regaining their stamina from the race. Faustina glanced around the entirety. The race finished with ten students barely getting into the finish line.

"Now let us display the rank from the first one to finish the race to the last!"

Faustina scanned the projection which showed the faces of the examinees next to their names. And then that's when Faustina noticed their last names weren't stated, nor their t.i.tles. At this rate, it was hard to tell whose ranks were above or below you.

1.   Chast.i.ty

2.   Claire

3.   Anakin

4.   Violet

5.   Sheljek

Faustina glanced down.

6.   Todd

7.   Faustina

8.   Nana

9.   Lexie 

10. Kimberly

"Notice that we didn't show your last names." Said Moderator Yusha. "Here in Magierstadt, we have to let you know that your ranks back at home means nothing here. You will only go with your names, and in here, you ten—are equals!"

Anakin Disfiegro narrowed his eyes. 'Equals'? There is a ranking system being used. How in the world is that called equality? He then glanced towards Chast.i.ty, whose eyes are s.h.i.+ning as she stared at the list presented in front of them. Anakin scoffed quietly, and then he caught in his eyes Claire's clenched fist.

"Now then, there's no time to waste. We are proceeding to the third level of the exam!" Said Moderator Yusha. "Since your thirty - minute break is done; we are beginning with the third level!"

"Wait, starting already? What about the planning? Strategizing?" Todd, the number six to finish the race, asked. 

"Good question~" The moderator said. "The first level requires strategy, the second level required endurance, but the third is a little similar to what you have done before when you were searching for the right door leading to the first level. But there is a catch. This time, everything would be spontaneous!"

"Spontaneous?"

"The third level is integrated with the fourth and fifth!"

"The third level is what? They combined the three? What?"

The moderator laughed. "No, no, no! As I've said before, it's a little similar to before. Searching the right door leading to the corresponding level. Why is it integrated with the fourth and fifth? Let me explain the instruction first."

"She's going in circles; it's making my head hurt." Violet, the fourth place in the race, mumbled.

"The batch who came here before all of you have minimal failing examinees. I believe they only lost about four or five,"

"That little?"

"Those commoners? How—?"

"They already advanced to the third level, which is the Dark Castle itself. Inside the dark castle, you can find the Undead Royals. Earlier, I said you ought to avoid them at all cost—now, the circ.u.mstances changed a bit. You still have to avoid them, but you have to find them at the same time!"

"Avoid them . . . and find them at the same time?"

"This is where what I said about the fourth and fifth level being integrated in. The undead are not completely indestructible, but they aren't that weak either. Engaging in battle is inevitable, but you must avoid them at all cost. After all, mages are supposed to be refined!" Moderator Yusha said. "The undead have a certain weakness, as you all remember. That is the seal—the firefly insignia—found in their body that you can strategically destroy. That way, you can win."

"The first instruction said by Professor Yoan is to find the Undead King to win, right?" Said Yusha. "That doesn't change. All you have to do is to find him and then destroy his seal."

"How is the fourth and fifth level integrated in it? I really can't understand."

"Ah. That's where the other Undead Royals comes to the picture. The third level is to advance to the fourth level. The fourth level is to find the fifth level. And the fifth level is to destroy the undead king's insignia."

"In short, we only have to remove the seal and we'll pa.s.s, huh?"

"How many undead kings are there? Considering there are many examinees, it isn't possible to have multiple undead royals."

"That is right, which is why a team play is necessary."

"How confusing." Anakin said. "First they divide us, now they want us to team up?"

"Finding the undead king is harder than any of you think. Right now, the first batch haven't even gotten a clue on how." Said Yusha. 

"Isn't this unfair? They started ahead of us?"

"It is unfair because you all chose to divide yourselves into two groups from the start." Yusha clarified. "But this exam searches for the students who can outs.h.i.+ne the others. We are searching for mages with real potentials!"

"I don't get it. First we're divided, then—" Kimberly started.

"There is a catch, I said," Said Yusha with a cold voice. "You are all going to be scattered at different starting points. And from there on, you can either find each other first or you can destroy the undead king your own."

"THERE is only ONE Undead King!" Yusha beamed. 

"Th-then . . ." Todd murmured.

Sheljek smirked, Violet closed her eyes as she gave a nod. At that moment, all of them realized one thing. Faustina thinned her lips. They were right. This exam wasn't fair from the very start.

"IF one student is able to defeat the Undead King alone," Moderator Yusha smirked. "Then that student will be the only one to pa.s.s, leaving all of you to fail!"

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