I contemplated the situation for a moment. I didn't necessarily have to play the villain; becoming a rival who shattered the main character's ego was another way to spin this story. All I needed to do was push him to his limits.
"Since we're all here, let's keep pushing forward. Alaric, your group is now in the rear, and I'll lead the front line with mine," I stated, issuing orders.
Alaric, clearly surprised that I knew his name, could only respond with, "Yes, sir!" Both groups rushed to engage another beast that was under attack by other students.
Looking around the field, I heard screams and saw more students fleeing in fear toward the back. Some had limbs torn apart, while others carried their fallen friends, crying in shock at the consequences of joining this academy.
We arrived at the next beast, only to be met with a horrifying sight. A student had been impaled through the stomach and was still alive, hanging on the horn.
Despite this being a simulated reality, I couldn't help but feel pity for the student. I watched him struggle, trying desperately to free himself, even resorting to grabbing a dagger. Before he could do anything drastic, I shouted, "Stop!"
"Alaric, go for the feet. Dorian, mount it, and hold the student!" I ordered.
"Yes, sir!" they responded, swiftly moving to fulfill their roles. "Tiberius, boost me up in a moment!"
I sprinted toward the beast and addressed Angeline, "You with the bow," I called out, "Aim for the left eye on my signal!"
"Got it," she murmured and prepared an arrow. I jumped onto Tiberius's mana shield, concentrating mana in my right foot before leaping and shouting, "Now!" Angeline shot the left eye just as I drove my sword through the beast's right eye, ending its life.
The creature fell, and with it, the student impaled on its horn, held in place by Dorian's spell acting as a trampoline.
We all gathered around the student, listening to his last words.
"It's no use, I'm done for," he said, and there was nothing more to be said. In different circumstances, this would be the end of his life.
"It seems like you didn't get off easily either," the student chuckled, glancing at my left arm.
"No, but we will survive. What's your name?" I asked, still aware that this was a simulation.
Everybody silently looked at my, before nodding. It was better to lie than to tell this student the truth.
"I will not burden you with my name, but I do know you, Julian Este. Thank you for trying to save me," he replied, knowing his time was over, before addressing his group.
"You'll now be under his leadership," he told them, coughing in a fit of rage, his wounds growing heavier.
I could only nod, and everyone else watched in pity as he took his final breath.
"This is not right! We didn't sign up to die. More than half of us have already met our fate!" Alaric shouted, his anger genuine.
"I, too, believe this is far from being a fair exam," I admitted, glancing at Alaric.
"An exam? You still consider this an exam? This is a purge!" Alaric cried out, then decided to hold back his words as he glanced at my arm.
I didn't respond, but I thought about the situation. Even if it was a simulation, it was clearly still cruel. I couldn't help but agree with the sentiments of the others, after all, the oldest one here was only fourteen.
"We need to help everyone. We must unite and work together if we are going to get through this," Alaric declared, urging them to set aside their differences and prioritize mutual assistance.
I agreed, realizing that this was the path laid out in the novel. "Follow him!" I shouted to my group. Swiftly, we closed in on the menacing creatures, bringing together every student on our side.
Surprisingly, in the midst of this chaotic ordeal, only thirty minutes had elapsed.
In a cavernous room, a congregation of a thousand onlookers stood, each person riveted to different screens displaying the actions of individual students. Among this assembly were the academy's top four teachers, their attention fixed on the display featuring Julian.
"What an extraordinary student! You might say he's the reason behind the student alliance, even though Alaric is the leader," a female voice exclaimed, admiration ringing through her words.
"Indeed, and his readiness to sacrifice his own arm... remarkable! How did he know the beast was feigning weakness? Was it sheer instinct? He even attempted to withdraw after shoving his fellow classmate to safety," a man marveled, his surprise evident at Julian's uncanny battle instincts.
"I want him to start in my class!" the female teacher declared, her wish clear. However, she knew that they wouldn't commence their studies in her building until the second semester. The top 400 students in every year would be taught by the academy's strongest teachers and rotated every semester.
The male teacher laughed and responded, "You know very well he will be starting in my class."
"It's not fair that you get to start with the top 100!" she pouted, her hair standing on end as electricity crackled from her body.
Each teacher was a master in their respective domain. Ji Yeon, a master teacher in the magic building, and the male teacher, Mandla Ndlovu, held the prestigious title of cultivation master.
Among them stood the body strengthening master, a paragon of physical prowess. In the heart of this esteemed assembly, encircled by his colleagues who held him in the highest regard, was the academic teacher. A figure of commanding authority and profound wisdom.
More than just the academic instructor, he bore the titles of headmaster and the most formidable individual on this planet, the one who had initiated the establishment of the academy.