Deep within a D rank dungeon a party was battling the boss monster. One of them used a peculiar weapon and weird style of combat that had easily torn through the flesh of the boss monster. The adventurers looked in awe as the unknown adventurer that had joined their journey destroyed some of the limbs of the boss, however exhaustion was clearly wearing on them, Their Grey hair was matted to their skin by sweat and their purple eyes behind a black skull mask had slightly dimmed from exhaustion . The adventurers taking note of their unease used the situation and pushed the advantage to kill the boss monster without losing a single team member all thanks to this mysterious stranger they had run into while dungeon diving.
As the stranger propped himself up using a Pitch black sword with a silver luster as a crutch showing off his tolls from the battles he limped towards the others.
"We *haah* did it *haaah* it's finally over!"
"It is isn't it?"
Suddenly a blade was swung at the unsuspecting individual by the leader of the group.
To the shock of the adventurer group the individual easily dodged the surprise attack from their leader like it was nothing. The pale and crumpled visage of the unknown adventurer instantly straightened out and their deep purple eyes narrowed.
"You shouldn't talk so loudly about your plans to kill me, not like you will have the chance to pull something like this again. "
Instantly the black sword disappeared just to be replaced with a Vibrant red scythe with green lines and black metal twisted around it. In an easy sweep he cut through the leader before moving onto the others. The group used to battle, calmly got to their positions before engaging the masked individual. The group were made of humans so his initial distrust of the race had deepened.
The archer and mage managed to create a great combo stopping his advances while their brawler used close combat techniques to wear down the individual. Each of their moves were meticulously planned and the exhaustion that had worn on the adventurer that made his movements sluggish especially after dodging their leaders attack.
He continued to persist, Performing each action like a dance he moved gracefully as he threw small red needles that formed in his hands all while evading the low rank adventurers advances. It had become a battle of attrition but it was a battle he was losing.
Suddenly The scythe was covered in a thick layer of aura that was densely packed before the assailant disappeared into the nearby shadows. The brawler who had been on guard heard a gasp and scream from behind followed by the sound of something being pierced. Turning around they say the scythe sticking out of the mages chest before they were thrown into a wall, their consciousness fading.
~Noir~
Fuck that was irritating. I didn't want to join them but apparently they had the floors mapped out and I was lost in the maze that the dungeon held. While we were heading to the boss room I managed to pick up faint whispers from the group, they conspired to use me to kill the boss and then kill me and take my weapons and artifacts. Looking at the archer girl I took long strides, she had long run out of mana and arrows so she was basically useless. As I stepped forwards she would retreat until her back met the wall.
"P-please leave me alone I never wanted to!"
This girl! Does she think I was stupid. I heard what she wanted from me and it made me sick.
"I highly doubt that, Now tell me all you know about the academy and the academic city's adventurers guild."
"W-were low level adventurers I don't know much I swear! "
"I really don't care I just want information no matter how basic you might think it is. "
Stepping closer she let out a smile, pulling out a dagger she stabbed it into my chest with all her strength. Blood started pouring over my cloak as it stained my clothes. Deciding to humour her I looked at the wound in 'terror' before falling back convulsing.
After I was 'dead' I felt her straddle my body. She was a necrophiliac, she took a sick sense of pleasure fucking dead bodies.
Grabbing her wrist as it was about to take off my shirt I broke it. A satisfying crunch and a scream was elicited from her lips.
"I told you, you helped the others because you wanted something from me you sick bitch!
Now tell me everything you know and I'll make your death painless."
"Y-you! How are you alive I stabbed you!" She scrunched up her face in anger and dissatisfaction
"Never mind that answer me NOW!"
Sliding the blade ok the scythe under one of her legs I pulled with all my might severing her leg from the rest of the body
Aaaaargh
"Ready to talk now?"
~~~
Walking out of the dungeon an androgynous looking man with his face covered in blood let out a satisfied sigh upon smelling the fresh air. He began to run towards a hill nearby to the academic city. Upon reaching the centre of the hill he jumped and fell through with no resistance where he landed in a stone brick room with wooden accents. The place was more of a laboratory than a home as pieces of scrap materials and books were splayed everywhere. On the walls multiple blueprints were pinned and workbenches were filled with unfinished projects.
It's good to be home.
~Noir~
Over the months I had made a small room where I had been working on all the projects that me and Mishia had finished. It started off with the Thorium sword that I had been using in the dungeon and then I managed to create various kinds of armour based on the type of situations I had been in, I had also created a carbon mask that subtly made it harder for people to see my features. It just looks like a skull and an abyss behind the mask with eyes. It has been very useful so far. I had made little to no progress in my stats however my swordsmanship and Scythemanship had been developing nicely along with my shadow powers.
Looking towards one particular table I looked at the item on top of it with fondness. I managed to create some parts of my gun however I was missing a majority of the materials... Until now. In the dungeon the boss rewards were good substitutes for the necessary parts until I could purchase them. Sitting down I got to work while thinking over what the woman had said, Although most if it was useless parts were genuinely useful if I wanted to meddle with the guild or enter it after the academy. The big shots of the guild had close ties to the academy and knowing what makes them tick could prove useful in the long run.
I had a couple of days before the entrance exam began so I decided to work on my precious gun and finally finish this weaker version.
~~
Leaving through the same hole I had entered through I began walking up to the woman who seemed to be a secretary for the academy I noticed that the line had reduced by the time I actually made it to her.
"Hello I would like to sign up for the entrance exam please."
Using her best customer service face to hide her evident boredom she looked up to me.
"Sure sir, Do you have the entrance fee of 4 Platinum coins?"
4 Platinum just to gain entrance to the exam, it's lucky that I had a decent amount of wealth.
"Sure here you go" Putting my hand in my pocket I used my dimension magic to pull out 4 Coins with a unique mana signature before placing them on the table.
Without hiding her surprise at the money she handed me a ticket and told me to head towards the large group of students. Well over the thousands and maybe into the 10's of thousands students of all walks of life were mingling with each other creating cliques. I could see mixes of different races, nobles in groups and some students sitting alone while waiting for the exam to begin.
I had some knowledge of the first test as it was not a secret after all if you wouldn't take part in this test there was no point in even trying to attend.
I was gaining a lot of attention from my features as narcissistic as it sounded, Mishia had given me an identity and I didn't want to hide it just to stop some people looking at me. I could feel some envy and hostility but no one approached as it would not be wise to cause trouble under the eyes of 'them' but I could practically feel the target on my back.
I was planning to go for the higher end of the ranks but still place myself as average so that I would have more freedom around the academy without as many eyes on me. The only issue would be what my residence would be.
Most buildings were flats or apartments but those who were in the top 25 got a small residence closer to the academy and held all the amenities that I would need once I picked some specialized classes but since I was going to hide in the background I would probably receive a high end apartment.
"Attention all potential cadets! The first test is about to begin so do not resist the magic being cast on you."
A large runic circle engulfed every person who was attending the entrance exam. The raw mana that was being exuded turned me loopy as a clash of different mana particles came into my view. Damn my mana blessing passive skill!
Feeling a wave of nausea I could tell we were being teleported and a second spell was being weaved along with it. I could neutralise the teleport with my mana but that's only because it was so weak due to the mass teleportation, that's why the staff warned us not to resist.
As I opened my eyes I was in a field with multiple students around me and a single figure in the centre in a podium.
"Attention all cadets welcome to your first trial. Above you is a number", Looking into the sky a number 10,256 was visible,
"This is the number of cadets currently present! Your task is to eliminate the other cadets until only you remain. There are only 4,000 places available in the academy thus if you die before 4000 people remain we will not resurrect you after the first trial. So survive because your life is in your own hands."
A malicious grin etched her face creating unease In most of us.
"Good hunting!"
She and the podium disappeared and all that was left were students. Most looked on in confusion and horror while some had their minds broken by their fight or flight response while others prepared for battle.
Me meanwhile, I called out a pitch black sword and spun on my heel killing the first group of people. Blood splattered on my face giving me a crazed look as I smiled with all I had. This was the perfect stress reliever after all my issues during the dungeon.
Some looked like deer in headlights while others lunged at me becoming prey to my blade. I reveled in the screams of agony from the young teens. Each and every student was 18 including myself but it seemed that most had been sheltered from actual combat. The inexperienced children among me were but prey to me as I weaved through their attacks that were too heavy or had no substance at all.
It was a slaughter but I noticed others that were similar to me, those that had experienced actual life threatening battles. It was obvious in their stances and movements but none had actually died and resurrected just to fight again like I had giving me the advantage. None of them even had the amount of experience to get close to me even with my low proficiency in swordsmanship. Each step, each swing was filled with exploitable gaps perfect for my style and each movement created excess exhaustion.
I would savour them for last. If I didn't have to pull back that is. The academy advisors would look over every part of the battle and if I killed too many my rank would increase too much and bring forward unnecessary attention. However as there were still around 9000 people left I could go let loose a little but I must not use my bloodline powers or I would become a research subject for sure after all even the staff are at the minimum C rank individuals and the teachers were insurmountable for the current me even with the strength I had gained during my journey.
After hacking and slashing and chopping at the flesh of my foes beautiful ichor dripped off my blade painting the area around me it would have been a field day if I could have actually drank their blood and I may have even ranked up if I knew this wasn't all an illusion. I hoped that each person I killed would cause a chain through the others so that they would avoid me causing me to kill less and create a balance.
It was working as we reached the last 600 positions, most avoided me and those who did charge at me I just redirected into another person's blade making the kill theirs and not mine. And thus we were left with a group of 401 people each one had definitely seen a conflict or two however I didn't see the person I had my sights in earlier. He must have died or backed out but how or why? He was definitely stronger than most others, he should have been at least 15th place. Never mind I'll look into it later.
It was an equal split between girls and boys and then there was me who had no gender and was irregular to begin with. I had been watching them all battling as I tried to grasp their magic and movements ever so slightly as I couldn't look over every battle perfectly even with my eidetic memory and observation skills. It was getting close to the time where I needed to back out of this battle if I dint want my position to be too high.
I looked at the person who was running towards me and decided to fuck with him. As he ran towards me with his sword hung high I jumped and impaled myself on his blade.
Student.exe stopped working!
As he stood there in confusion. I pulled the blade further in until my body met the hilt, I was trying to create as much damage to myself as possible as I spit blood onto his face. His eyes shook as I stood there grinning from ear to ear, I definitely went too far but it was so good to see the lost look on his face. I couldn't wait to see what place he would hold and how he would react next time we see each other.
The cooling sensation of death embraced me once more. Ah how I missed this feeling after all this time.
~~
~Observation room~
A black haired beauty with big dark eyes studied a specific screen amongst the countless monitors, she seemed amused by the ongoings of that screen in particular.
"Did that student just commit suicide by jumping on another students sword?"
"Yes he did vice-head "
"I see"
...
...
...
"When he awakens check him for any mental abnormalities and keep a close eye on him."
"Yes vice head!"
~~
Waking up I was met by a white room filled with other students we were all seated on a chair with a desk in front of us. On the desk was a paper however I didn't touch it after all we don't know the rules and maybe touching the paper could be a reason for expulsion.
"Good afternoon class!"
The same woman as last time wearing a shit eating grin was standing before us.
"Congratulations on passing the first test. I'm sure you all have questions but before any of you ask the other 6256 candidates failed the test but they didn't die. We wanted to test you when you thought your life was on the line. They have signed an NDA over the fact that they weren't killed and you have to as well. This does not mean you can't tell others the theme of the test like we had told all others you just can't say that the student candidates don't actually die.
As for those candidates they will be moved to other academies under our names to be nurtured while misinformation is spread that the candidates failures. "
Her smile widened at the look of horror on some while others broke down. She was truly one sick vindictive fuck but it wasn't too bad. Who wouldn't want to have fun in their job.
"Please sign the paper in front of you and then move on to fill out the test. You will have 2 hours to complete it and then you will stop. A second more and you will be escorted off the premises and your paper will be destroyed.
Have fun~"
The test would be easy for me if our time studying in her domain meant anything so I could at least look at the increase in strength I had gained since I set off on my adventures.
=========================================
STATUS
=========================================
Name: Jacob Fyre [Noir] Age:18
Race: Primordial Vampire
Title: Blooded Primordial Vampire [Dragon]
LVL: 32/?
STATUS:
Str: D-
Agi: D
Sta: D+
Int: S-
Mana : C-
Aura: C-
Skills:
Hypnosis
Blood control {3/10} ---->{5/10}
Blood hardening {Derivative skill}
Space control {2/10} ----> {3/10}
Creation magic {Derivative skill (space)}
Time control {1/10} ----> {2/10}
Constellation magic {4/10}
Shadow magic {5/10}
Dimensional space MAX {10/10}
Hide presence MAX {10/10}
Regeneration {1/10}
Mana Sonar {3/10}
Passive skills:
Weapon proficiency C
Gunmanship- G- (SS+ Locked)
Swordsmanship G- (B Locked)
Scythemanship D+(SS+ Locked)
Calm Mind
Cold Blooded killer {Derivative skill}
Parallel processing
Mana Blessing
Passive Mana channeling (New)
Dragon scales 0.1% ----> 2%
=========================================
I had made a lot of progress throughout my dungeon exploration and travels even if it didn't look like much. I had gained new space oriented skills since my proficiency had increased along with skills related to my bloodline that allowed the things I created out of blood to be much stronger.
I was heartbroken that my gunmanship had been left behind since I hadn't created my gun until yesterday and thus I couldn't acclimate to it. I would have to push myself extra hard once I was able to.
I learnt the creation magic that Mishia had used to build my weapons and it was more versatile than I had ever thought even with my low proficiency.
But it was all overshadowed by my stats which I had been able to painstakingly increase during the killing of the boss monsters of the low rank dungeons. I wasn't a protagonist blessed with luck and I couldn't just beat high rank dungeons due to plot armour. I had to painstakingly train myself and I even lost some limbs to the bosses that were the same rank as me.
I met some people from other races who weren't complete assholes and even a noble or two who didn't abuse their power. It was a decent time although I doubted I would ever see them again as they were all older than me. It seemed that I had an easier time talking to those older than me since they weren't childish and filled with enough hormones to cause me issues.
The more I killed the easier it had become and eventually my mental state was classed as a skill.
I was truly strong, at least compared to those my age I should be just behind the geniuses of the generation. I just needed my equipment and to finish a few experiments once I was granted access to my new home. I was that confident in my strength and knowledge especially since I had reached S rank in intelligence. I was able to maintain my parallel processing for 3/4 of an hour which gave me plenty of time to monologue to myself and finish the test.
"Time is up stop writing and leave the hall. You will receive your results in an hour!"
Leaving I couldn't spot the people who were in the top anywhere. They were really melding into the crowd. I wonder who won after I died? I would learn once the results were given anyways so there was no point in caring.
I was being looked at but I needed to get used to it. I couldn't wear a Mask and cloak anymore so I would have to wait for these people to lose interest in me.
Haah- What a first day in the academy.