"The illusion is phenomenal," Z admired as he stepped on the mountain. In the blink of an eye, the entire vicinity around him changed. He clearly knew that he was on the mountain, but the scenery was green and full of trees. The entire snowy body of the mountain was nowhere to be seen. It was as if he went into a whole new world.
"It seems like we are all teleported randomly around the mountain," he murmured after analyzing the situation. 'I guess, I should go up.'
Meanwhile, the other students were certain about what they were going to do. They had all been briefed by their families and clans for this moment. The plans they made date back to the time when they opted to enter The Celestial Academy. With calculated steps, they located the treasures that were previously located in the area and tried their luck.
Z, however, was caught up in the strings of fate, wandering around the mountain, waiting for anything to happen. Soon enough, as he climbed and climbed, he saw several Stelle Beasts that would put those that he fought before to shame.
"Oh? Curious, child. I feel a strong bond with you," a giant reindeer with translucent horns and fur said while gently approaching Z.
"I happen to have that effect on Stelle Beasts," Z said with a smile.
"Fascinating. It is not every day you see individuals like you," the reindeer said. "Come, child. Receive me as your Celestial," it added.
'You are worthless compared to those that are already mine,' Z thought but before he could respond to the offer, a quiet shadow quickly moved in the darkness of the night and merged with him.
Seeing this, the look on the reindeer's face immediately changed as it slowly walked away with embarrassment and fear in its eyes.
(Why were you talking to such a low creature?) Strix's voice echoed through his said.
(Just tell me what you found.) Z respond as he continued to traverse the mountain.
(That elf is dangerous, indeed. His senses are heightened that it is unnatural even for a High Elf. If you wish to kill him, it is better to do it now, here, where he does not expect it.) Strix warned.
(Aside from the warnings, I do not have any reason to kill him. If I did kill him, it would shame the memory of Master Feng.)
(Ah, that old man from Zen. What happened to you, Z? You were such a devout assassin, alas. Do not let morality sway your judgment. This bomb will explode on your face if you do not detonate it now.) Stix argued.
(You know, you sound like a devil--) Z could not finish his thoughts as he saw a set of twelve flying daggers shaped like "S". It was made from Silver Meteorite Alloy and was radiating the glow of the cosmos.
(See? That is already a sign to murder him. That is better than the flying daggers you are currently using. A true weapon of a killer in the night.) Strix urged.
Z was about to reply when another voice reached his ears.
"Oh? If it isn't the caveman from The South Celestial Academy," Byron said with a disgusted look on his face. "Forget about this treasure, kid. Thea cannot save you now," he continued in anger. As he approached, his hair changed its color to blood red and his eyes glowed in crimson light. His skin turned pale and two fangs surfaced on his lips.
"You are an odd vampire. I was told that they are noble and brilliant, but you look like a peasant from your lineage," Z said with his signature mockery.
"How dare you!" Byron shouted while leaping toward Z.
[Hear me, Hemog!]
Byron chanted while summoning a crimson orb the size of his palm.
{Hemog, open!}
A fury of blood gushed out of his orb, surrounding Byron. The blood wrapped around his body, arms, shoulders, legs, and head, and even gave him wings. Soon, his fingers were covered in claws made of blood that made his previously leisurely rich-kid appearance completely disappear under the terror of his power.
"Children these days, alas. I talked to four other talents from The Stellar 12. Why is it that you are nowhere at their power level?" Z sighed before calling upon the Celestial Flying Daggers he just found.
"You idiot! Do you think the Artifact will just follow you? They are sentient and have a great ego--" Byron could not even finish his statement as shock already filled his heart.
'My connecting with the Shadow Law provided me with more benefits than I thought,' Z thought while looking at the 12 daggers floating around him.
Byron immediately tightened his look and created a shield out of the blood around him. In the beginning, he could still fend off Z's attacks but as the fight went on, it started to encircle him, forcing him to create a large dome to shelter him from the barrage.
'This is humiliating!' Byron cried in his thoughts. His face is now red in embarrassment, "How could a peasant from a lower branch of the academy be more powerful than me?" he murmured.
"Why are you hiding? Since when are vampires afraid of getting hurt?" Z continued to mock. His words were not unfounded, though, as the strongest feature of vampires is their uncontested vitality that triumphed over that of Titans. They were known to be almost unkillable, making them a pain to fight with.
In the end, Z eventually broke through his dome of protection, leaving Byron with wounds all over his body. Z could only sigh and shake his head after seeing Byron's situation.
The latter was crying over the pain caused by Z's daggers, but his wounds were healing at a visible pace.
"A sheltered plant like you would never grow to become a tree worthy of your lineage. Shameful," Z said with disgust before continuing to rise up the mountain. 'Is this the potential of my fellow youths? If he had an even slightly decent mentality, he would have been able to put out a good fight. Alas, he surrendered due to pain. Pathetic. We might as well let the world be conquered by Abyssals now. What is the use of my master's sacrifices if it is all to save people like this, alas,' he lamented in his thoughts as he stoned his heart.