~Noir~
Waking up I felt lightheaded. My bones ached and my body felt sticky. Looking down I was in my bed however my bedsheets were covered in viscous blood of who knows how many monsters and humans. I could feel that my hunger had been satiated to the point that as long as I get no severe wounds I could probably live without eating for a few weeks.
Getting up I had a brisk shower before putting on my uniform and combing my hair. I wasn't very good with long hair as I had no idea on how to care for it but Mishia had given me this body and it's characteristics and I would cherish them.
Walking out of my house and making sure the door was locked i started my tech to the academy. I weaved through the marketplace and took some detours that were faster before making it to the gates. Maki g my way my classroom I was met by my entire class staring at me. They were all early and some had large bags next to them. Before I could ask I was interrupted-
"You're late"
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"All students were sent a letter yesterday to their homes about the upcoming test and how you were required to arrive early."
Thinking back I did notice a letter near my door but I paid it no attention since I was in a hurry to reach the academy.
"I apologise for my tardiness and I will never do it again."
"Take a seat student Noir and I will fill the class in on the details of the test."
Sitting down at the back I got comfortable however slight unease permitted my bones. Nothing like this ever happened in the Game as far as I could remember. The only test that happened was in the second year where the character you play (the heroes in this case) would have to fight against a hidden organisation that wanted to kidnap and indoctrinate the characters and the students for worldwide power.
Walking up to a small platform Sephardim cleared her throat.
"Due to the changes in the structure of the academy the Principal has decided to test the students to make sure that they are all in the correct place. Now before you complain about how we already tested you in a mock battle against me, you should know that was just for us to gauge your one in one combat abilities and strength. Thus we will be sending you on a team battle to deepen your teamwork skills and rank you according to your merits during the exam.
We have cleared a dungeon and placed tokens and low ranked monsters on each level. Your task will be to collect these tokens and eliminate the teams opposing you. The last team standing will gain a large number of tokens and other benefits upon your sucsess.
You have an hour to make up your teams, you may make a team of up to 5 people but it is not mandatory and you may join with other classes, However you are not allowed to use artifacts and all personal effects will be stored in the academy.
Meet in the assembly hall...Dismissed"
Looking around many of the students started chatting to each other or moving from their seats and leaving the class. Looking around I thought of who I could have as my teammates. Evelyn could be one and the elf princess was another possible choice depending on if she chose another team or not but after that I wasn't sure.
Luckily it seemed another member had walked right up to me.
"Hey Noir! Can I join your team? I don't know anyone here and you seem pretty strong?"
It was Kira. I pondered on why he would choose to join my team however I decided that it would be fine. If push comes to shove I can always kill him if he tries anything funny.
"Hi Kira. Sure you can join my team although as far as I know we may only have one other member. I guess that makes our team unless you have any ideas on other people who could join us?"
"Ah sorry as I said I don't really know anyone. Who else is on our team by the way?"
"Probably just Evelyn but there may be someone else who may join but I'm not so sure anymore."
Looking across the room the rank 1 student was being swarmed by a horde of students asking for her to join their team's.
Standing up I walked to Evelyn before asking. Her if she wanted to join to which she naturally agreed however as I was walking out of the room I was halted by someone calling out my name.
"Noir wait for me. Don't leave a teammate behind!"
Walking up to me was the elegant elf princess however her eyes seemed distressed from all the team proposals. Turning to the othera in the room she gave them an apologetic look.
"Sorry guys but I already agreed to be on Noir's team. I'll join next time though~"
"Life seems tough for a prim and proper princess."
Giving a deadpan look that basically screamed 'you think!' She just silently walked towards the Hall. Following her the team of eccentric characters I had gathered joined me.
~Kiera~
Sitting in the hall the room eventually filled and the principal appeared on the stage.
Good morning students! Soon you will take on a trial that has never been seen before in the academy. In an orderly fashion each team will walk through the gateway after giving their personal effects to one of the staff nearby upon which you will be given a pin that will protect you from a lethal injury and a locator. You will then be teleported to the entrance of the dungeon where you will wait for the rest of the students.
Once all students have arrived you will enter the dungeon, Be warned you must all hold onto your teammates as you will be transported randomly to an area of the dungeon and if you don't hold onto one another you will be transferred without your teammates guaranteeing your 'death'.
Once all students enter the dungeon the locater will glow announcing the begining of the test. That is all! Good luck and may the godess watch over you!"
Walking over to one of the multiple gates spread out around the hall I looked at my team. Each member was someone I had never seen or talked to all with the exception of Noir who I had only properly met yesterday. I would have to put my life in their hands and their lives in mine, I just hoped that we would make it through with a good rank.
~
Walking through the gate we were met by an expansive field that was barren of most life. Infront of us was what looked like a massive indent in the ground that had 12 pillars surrounding it reaching out to the sky. There on the ground was what looked like a pool of liquid however upon closer inspection it was tangible, A semi-solid matter that acted as a dungeon gate. A purple miasma seeped out of the gate corrupted the land around the landmark turning it a pitch black. Strange fruits that glowed an ominous orange hung off the corrupted bushes and vines providing a dim light and a creepy vibe.
After looking around and waiting for a while the rest of the students arrived and it was time to enter the dungeon. Each of us had our standard uniforms and a weapon provided by the academy for the test. Looking over at my teammates, Evelyn held a silver staff that increased her casting speed. Kira held what looked like a Greatsword but it had a slight curvature and I had a pair of twin-blades. Looking over at noir I saw he was using his custom cane unlike the rest of us. It was unlike the rest of us with our academy provided weapons however I was more confused on his choice of weapon. Why did he not use a scythe when he is so proficient with it? When I asked about his choice of weapon he told me that the academy didn't stock canes so he was allowed to use his custom one however it had been restricted with an artifact that rendered the runes useless. When I asked about the scythe he told me to mind my own business.
Waiting for our turn we watched as other groups held onto each others shoulders and formed a circle standing on the the soldif form of the gate as it liquified dragging them into its depths.
Soon it was our turn and we had been called, following in the others steps weformed a circle and held each others shoulders. however I noticed that Noir held Evelyn's arm and that Kira didn't hold onto her shoulder. I knew the reason why as I had been told of her circumstances by the information broker guild my grandfather had built however I was more surprised that Noir was easily holding onto her and that he was perfectly fine. As far as I could tell the miasma wasn't affecting him at least he wasn't showing the telltale signs like necrosis or bleeding out of every orifice.
Slowly my vision blurred as we were sent to the depths of the dungeon, As we arrived we were met by a room made of bones and stone. Each hallway looked like a ribcage and the floor had a springy feel that I didn't want to dive into the details of.
All dungeons were the perverted machinations of whoever of whatever built them. Some dungeons were built by great sages and covered in marble and gold while others were built by necromancers and reflected their dark desire for immortality and some were built by corrupted mana that took many forms from the holy to not so holy visages but they all had the same layout.
Multiple rooms followed by a boss room and a core with an artifact that powered said core. The greater the artifacts power the larger dungeon could grow to be by absorbing the mana of the inhabitants and the ambient mana in the atmosphere.
Soon enough the locater glowed it's subtle hue marking the beginning of the exam and we all prepared for battle. Who knew when a monster or another team would be near us. Walking through Noir and Kira took the lead as a vanguard while Evelyn and I took the rear, We were met by a few weak monsters but they were nothing that we could handle even if we were seperated. Each monster had a token secured to them that we had to take but that was about it. That was until noir stepped forwards and the floor sunk deeper than normal.
The sound of a pressure plate underneath the ground was heard as darts shot out of the wall. Using my blades I swatted the darts away making sure that I didn't allow them to touch me and Evelyn. The boys did the same but with more precision as they launched attacks at the holes where the darts were coming from blocking them with rubble.
After the trouble was over we turned to Noir who had a faint blush and an guilty look on his face. He may be strong but he is still prone to faults and failiures. If he was a perfect being I would truly be scared.
Before I could react Kira moved from his place and parried a mana-enhanced arrow that would have pierced my skull without me knowing. Turning around another team had launched an ambush attack on us. Evelyn flared her mana and created ice spikes that tore the ground between us before finally hitting their mark piercing one of their members thigh's eliciting a scream of pain.
In a instant Kira and Noir pushed the advantage, Noir used his cane spinning it in a wide arch allowing the handle to catch the guard of one of the opposing teams swords before pulling it away from them while Kira battled a greatsword user who used destructive pulses of mana that destroyed small areas with each swing.
Using one of my shortswords as a catalyst, I infused plant magic into it before throwing it at the opposing team, unfortunately it missed and their leader gave a mocking smirk. However soon the magic I had inplanted in the sword took effect and roots started growing from the ground ensnaring the feet of our opponents.
~
Soon the battle was coming to an end and most of the enemy team were wiped out however the leader in one last ditch attempt lunged at Noir. Some thing unexpected happened and a bright light filled the corridor making me avert my eyes. When I managed to look back the leader was collapsed on the ground and Noir was... Missing.
In a panick we all looked around however we couldnt find any signs of him.
~
"Noir where are you!"
"Noir!"
Soon a group of teachers arrived to collect the group of passed-out students.
Miss Sephardim do you know where Noir is!? One of these students did something to him and he's missing.
The look on Sephardim's face was grim to say the least. Looking over to us she announced.
"The exam has been cancelled, there has been a breach and student Noir has gone... missing."
Chucking us a set of crystals she turned to us a silent fire burning in her eyes.
"You are to return to the academy with these teleportation crystals. Whatever is going on here was meticulously planned. We have lost contact with numerous staff who were to overlook the dungeon. All students have been accounted for except student Noir meaning this attack was planned for him."
A gasp of horror came from Evelyn as she shook like a leaf. Turning to her I had a suspicion that she knew something about what was going on.
~omnipotence~
While the staff and mercenaries searched for a student said student was in an unknown room as he continued to cough up blood and flesh torn from his throat his jaw dislocated, His body barely resembled that of a human skeletal structure as bones escaped the confines of flesh with some being broken while others were just exposed. Some of his limbs were going in directions they weren't meant to ever go lacking him look like a twisted piece of art.
"I'm sorry Mishia I've failed. I won't be able to leave a peaceful life after all. Forgive me."
"Heave *heave* F..uc-"
The young man passed out and soon a hulking figure emerged from a solid 4ft thick metal door with runes.
"Interesting"