With unprecedented speed, his muscles bursting, he leaped into action, weaving around the branches that protruded from the plant monster at various angles and intervals. However, the thorns surrounding the branches limited the space he had to maneuver.
The numerous contenders employed a diverse range of spells, including flame and lightning, to inflict damage, earth and ice magic to create barriers and earthquakes to restrict the monster's movement, and nature spells that granted immunity and provided healing.
Individuals and teams fought together seamlessly, coordinating their efforts to generate waves of attack, defense, and support that created a spark.
Their attacks left charred marks on the monster's thick skin, weakening its vitality even before Dante could unleash his own set of skills.
However, the pink-haired girl continuously fueled the monster with terrifying amounts of mana, and within minutes, the scorch marks and slash marks had receded as they were healed by a glowing light.
The main issue was that even if the girl was a prodigy, she shouldn't be able to keep up with the monster's mana consumption, and this was the crux of the problem.
It was evident from the monster's level of regeneration that even if they managed to incinerate the monster into ashes, the fight would not be over. The monster would continuously regenerate as long as it had a constant supply of mana.
It was more like a race, but it had nothing to do with physical strength or activity. It was nearly impossible to defeat a being that continuously regenerated based solely on mana consumption.
The situation required a more technical approach rather than physical activity, with the key to winning this "race" being intellect and perception.
It was evident that the pink-haired girl, despite being a prodigy, should not be able to maintain the level of mana consumption required.
Considering her age and status as a student at the academy, it was highly unlikely that she possessed such vast reserves of mana.
The sheer intensity of the mana being used suggested that it more likely belonged to someone at the level of a teacher. Not just any teacher, but one who was truly at the pinnacle of the mage craft.
The situation raised a despairing question of how they could defeat such a skilled and intelligent being. However, since it was an entrance exam, there was likely to be some leniency and clues that could help them pass.
After discussing intelligence and strategy, the ultimate goal was simply to pass the exam. Winning against the plant monster seemed unlikely given the factors involved, and passing the exam was more important.
Despite analyzing the complex variables and deductions that arose from his brief observation of the thread binding the girl to a cold, powerful mana that seemed to halt the world's movement to match its haughty presence, the only viable solution that came to mind was to simply keep slicing.
Although he attempted to suppress his fiery passion for battle, a barbaric instinct took hold of him. He found that he would continue cutting down whatever fell under his blade.
With his katana unsheathed, Dante charged towards the plant monster's core located at the left side of its thick, thorny body, aiming just below its greenish head.
He moved with swift and precise bursts of speed, traversing the entire distance in a matter of moments, while dodging several spells aimed at the core.
Despite the danger, Dante arrived dangerously close to the core. It was noteworthy that his Basic Pulse: Rapid Rhythm caused no visible changes in his muscles.
The power was generated inwardly, without bursting outward, allowing him to take periodic bursts of speed while maintaining the integrity of his muscles. This enabled him to last longer while using Oppressive Control.
Without hesitation, Dante charged forward and struck the core with the same momentum he had before. He muttered, "Fiery Eclipse: Smoky Trail," and exhaled an illusion of burning breath from his mouth.
The illusion of a dragon wreathed in black flames descended, in a radius of 5 meters around him. The constant heat emanating from his body in his new form seemed to propel the violet smoky trail that followed the draconic illusion, painting the tip of his blade.
Suddenly, an explosion mixed with violet ash shattered the previously mysterious silence that had fallen over the stadium. Faint sounds of cracks echoed throughout the stadium.
While a few participants were astonished that someone of a lower rank could accurately obtain information about the creature and carry out a plan with such a significant impact, the majority of the thousands of entrants, who possessed less experience and intelligence, held their breath, hoping that shattering the core would bring an end to their troubles.
In the meantime, Dante's Fiery Eclipse skill left a smoky trail that swirled around the burnt remains of the creature, wreaking destruction in its path. The participants observed in wonder as Dante emerged unscathed, his sword still blazing with flames.
The assault shattered the creature's core, causing it to crumble into a heap of smoking debris. The entrants murmured, astonished by the sight of Dante's swordsmanship.
The levitating remnants affirmed that focusing on the source of the mana was the most effective strategy for overcoming the predicament.
Destroying the monster alone would trigger its regeneration and perpetuate a cycle of battles, resulting in excessive mana consumption and an inevitable defeat.
The magnitude of the objective had decreased, as the debris from the colossal plant creature transformed into smaller plant beings with diverse evolutionary characteristics that were now scattered across the stadium.
Although their circumstance remained unchanged, this represented a minor triumph. The fleeting victory proved to be short-lived, as one person after another succumbed to death.
Dante found himself facing a humanoid plant creature that matched his stature, but what unnerved him the most was the uncanny resemblance to him, even down to the tiniest facial details.
The creature's right hand extended into a long blade, indicating its skill as a "swordsman."
Despite the disturbing similarities, there was one notable distinction: the plant lifeform's greenish skin and features, which made it unmistakably different from a human.
This phenomenon wasn't exclusive to Dante, as other individuals were also encountering humanoid creatures that bore an uncanny resemblance to them.
The most disconcerting aspect of this situation was the creatures' ability to replicate some of their opponents' abilities. This strange phenomenon was the cause of the sudden and massive loss of lives among the participants.
It was perplexing how one could defeat themselves with their own abilities, particularly when the opponent had regenerative and limitless stamina capabilities.
Clang!!!
The clash of metal echoed throughout the arena as the two blades collided. The plant creature's "sword" clashed with Dante's katana, and a surge of energy rippled through his body, drawing blood. In that instant, they engaged in a deadly dance, their swords emitting powerful bursts of flames that illuminated the area.
The creatures had already demonstrated remarkable abilities, but they continued to astonish Dante with a sequence of customized elemental waves that were perfectly suited to each opponent they encountered in the trial.
As Dante faced the creature, it unleashed a barrage of orange flames that blazed and coalesced around their swords. However, it failed to replicate Dante's Hellflame - a manifestation of his unique fire mana signature that had evolved after he formed a pact with the little wolf.
Thankfully, there was a limit to how much the creature could imitate, offering a ray of hope for Dante and the other participants who confronted the plant's lethal onslaughts.
Meanwhile, the little wolf was contentedly nestled in Dante's consciousness realm, relishing the occasional strokes of Theia's hand on its fur. Despite its urge to cause mayhem in the entrance exam, it was constrained by the rules of the trial and had to remain a mere observer.
But the comforting touch of Goddess Theia's hand pacified it, extinguishing any notion of assisting its master. While Dante battled the plant creature, his attention kept flickering toward the far-off figure of the pink-haired girl.
Even in the heat of combat, he couldn't help but envision numerous scenarios that would allow him to surmount the challenges and approach her. He was aware that this was the most favorable outcome he could aspire to, given the extent of his remaining strength.
Despite the opponent's impressive elemental powers and adaptive abilities, Dante refused to yield. He darted and swerved, his movements were graceful and exact as he sought out an opening in the creature's defenses.
During their struggle, Dante sensed the burden of his exhaustion and wounds impeding his movements. His muscles throbbed, and he gasped for breath, but he refused to let his pain defeat him.
Since his evolution into an Absalom- a blend of human and abs- he had acquired a level of physical endurance and stamina that put his former self to shame.
Furthermore, he had become somewhat insensitive to physical pain, both physically and mentally, after experiencing multiple deaths in the Abyss Dimension.
Dante surged forward with a sudden burst of energy, his katana ablaze with fiery mana. In response, the plant creature unleashed a wave of orange flames that threatened to engulf him.
However, Dante was well-prepared, channeling his Hellflame to infuse his sword with an intense heat that sliced through the flames like butter.
The plant creature let out a piercing shriek as Dante's blade tore through its defenses, carving a deep wound in its side. The creature stumbled backward, its movements becoming slow and sluggish as it struggled to cope with the injury. Seizing the opportunity, Dante pressed forward to finish the creature off.
Just as he was about to deliver the final blow, a startling turn of events occurred - a green flame suddenly engulfed the plant creature, healing its wounds in an instant.
The deep gash in its side quickly closed up, but what was most disturbing was that the creature had gained the base destructiveness and ignition capabilities of Dante's Hellflame, even though it had not acquired its seemingly undying properties.
Dante was filled with fear and apprehension as he witnessed the plant creature's remarkable adaptive abilities. He gasped for air and hesitated, stopping his intended strike midway before quickly stepping back. The danger of this trial was becoming increasingly apparent.
Despite risking exhaustion, Dante pushed himself to his limits, calling upon Rapid Rhythm to enhance his speed and strength. His tattoo spread across his chest, and his skin glowed with the intensity of his energy.
With lightning-fast movements, he suddenly appeared in front of the creature, the force of his momentum extinguishing the flames that had engulfed it. The tough, trunk-like skin of the creature was briefly exposed before it was engulfed once more.
Dante unleashed a flurry of attacks, using Fiery Eclipse to repeatedly strike the creature with flame-based techniques. His sword was coated in flames, intensifying the power of his attacks. The creature grew weaker with each strike.
As the creature attempted to recover its strength and heal itself, a resounding clap of thunder echoed throughout the stadium. The sudden sound caught the attention of everyone, including the entrants who turned their heads toward it.
Dante, aware that even small disruptions on the battlefield could have a significant impact, was no exception.
Dante observed and discovered a golden Mana Sigil underneath a small lightning cloud hovering over a specific kid, whom he recognized as the one who had attacked the plant giant earlier. Dante had recently learned the kid's name as Rai from some entrants muttering nearby.
Despite the creature's massive blow, Rai appeared to be in good condition, with only a few scratches and dirt from his encounter with the customized plant creature.
The Mana Sigil powered the lightning burst from the thundercloud, striking the clasped hands of the young boy who bellowed, "God's Descent: Thunderclap!"
The lightning surged and struck the plant creature, tearing it apart into splinters. However, the splinters gradually coalesced and formed a seed, but this time regenerating at a slower pace.
With a proud smile, the young boy known as the "Lightning Titan" Rai taunted his opponents, "Good luck, suckers. I'm outta here."
He kicked the ground, and a Mana Sigil appeared beneath his feet, propelling him toward the pink-haired girl. He scooped up the regenerating seed as he went.
Taking inspiration from the young boy's display, several intelligent contestants confidently charged forward, obliterating their plant creations with ease. They quickly snatched up the regenerating seed and raced toward the pink-haired girl with incredible speed and power.
Dante observed the scene with a thin smile, impressed by the creature's regeneration and the destructive abilities of his competitors. He finally understood the adage that "all plots were useless in the face of absolute power".
However, he couldn't help but feel limited by his current level and signature points, knowing that his destructive abilities were not yet at their full potential.
In truth, the majority of contestants in this trial were at least mid-level 40 or higher. Dante knew that without going the extra mile at the cost of corruption, he would have to bow out of the competition.
Without his enhanced physical stats from his final evolution, he wouldn't have stood a chance against his opponents.
Ever since becoming an Absalom and fully acquiring the Curse of Theia, Dante had gained unlimited access to Abyssal Energy. However, he now found himself in the middle of the race spectrum and couldn't use the same amount of energy he did before he met Theia.
With Abyssal Energy powering his Origin Eyes, there was very little he could draw out from the endless pool of energy.
Fortunately, Theia had tailored a technique for Dante that allowed him to use a small amount of Abyssal Energy before becoming completely unable to use it. However, this technique came with drawbacks, and Dante had been cautious in his minimalistic use of it throughout the trial.
Snapping out of his reverie and focusing on his weaknesses, Dante reacted quickly to the plant creature's sword strike. Utilizing his physical strength and the Earthen Slice technique, infused with hints of earth elemental mana, he sent the creature flying backward with overpowering force.
With his intentions successfully achieved, Dante quickly stepped backward, putting more distance between himself and the plant creature.
He sheathed his sword, and as he stepped back, the tattoo across his chest receded to the left side, covering his left chest and arm.
His heated skin began to cool, and the solar emblem on his right eye briefly gained a blue hue. In contrast, his left eye shone with a dangerous intensity, its red hue intensifying.
Dante muttered to himself, reciting a plan of action. "Psycho Rhythm for cognitive boost... then a quick switch to Rapid Rhythm for a speed boost, and then finally..." He paused, entering a state of complete dominance over his mental faculties.
His concentration was at its peak, and the chaotic sounds of spells and cries for help were muted out of his senses. The only sound that remained was his breathing, a reminder that he was still alive and not petrified at the thought of his dreams being crushed at the first hurdle.
Suddenly, Dante's eyes snapped open, returning to their usual appearance as the tattoos covering his chest receded once again. A dark hue coated his right arm, and then a trail of darkness mixed with golden hues blazed as he followed the arcane path.
"I will grow in this battle," Dante declared, pausing just after uttering the words "Cursed Ordnance: Devil's Right."