"There's only one goal you lot have to do: 'accumulate points' you're overall ranking for this specific exam will be based on that one single fact" Leto's booming voice echoed in the enclosed room, cutting through the uneasy silence.
After expelling what little food remained in my stomach, I hastily reached for a handkerchief to clean my mouth.
The murmurs that followed were unmistakably filled with disgust, as nearby students swiftly distanced themselves from me, avoiding eye contact altogether.
How shameful...
Whether it was triggered by my PTSD or not, vomiting in such an important setting was not befitting of a butler of House Kraus.
"Are you okay?"
A sudden voice broke through my self-reproach.
Turning to my left, I found myself face to face with the same cute boy with brown hair whom I had seen back at the entrance earlier.
His concern was evident in his eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine…"
"I-is that so?" he responded nervously, taking a cautious step back.
Did I come off too harshly?
Shifting my focus away from the awkward encounter, I began to survey the room, searching for an exit.
To my dismay, there was none in sight.
Was I left with no choice but to participate in this test?
'Shit…'
"Remember, your goal here is to survive and accumulate points with whatever means you deem necessary," Leto's voice boomed through the enclosed room, sending a shiver down everyone's spine, though it waws a different reason for my case.
"It doesn't matter if you're weaker or not. Once you're out there, anything can happen. Trust me, luck is a factor that everyone neglects. Just because you think you're strong doesn't mean the others around you are not. Each and every one of us has certain strengths and roles that we need to fulfill, but here, all of you have the same goal: prove to us that you have what it takes to be a part of this great academy!"
As Leto screamed in excitement, twelve magic circles enveloped our bodies, and beneath us, seats suddenly rose up from the ground.
"Now, all of you, sit down and enjoy your brand-new world!" Leto commanded.
Without even needing to comply, our bodies moved on their own, forcing us to sit down on the metallic chairs.
"Remember, only those at the top can change the world..." With Leto's words ringing in our ears, the scenery in front of us immediately changed, signaling the beginning of the test.
As I opened my eyes, I found myself suddenly transported into a dense forest, with towering green trees surrounding me and a gentle river nearby. I took in my surroundings with a sense of bewilderment.
They say the Moon Sphere was capable of recreating terrains and biomes with such realism that it becomes indistinguishable from reality.
'But this... this felt too real'
The wind rustling through the leaves, the warmth of the sun overhead, and even the pain I felt as I pinched my cheek—all of it felt incredibly authentic. Were we truly just teleported from another place?
Exhaling a deep sigh, I mulled over my options. Although Leto had explained all the rules of the test, he never once mentioned how to forfeit.
Should I simply allow myself to be eliminated, or should I stay put and wait for the time to run out?
Glancing at the countdown timer displayed in front of me, I noted that there were still over five hours remaining.
Even though my acceptance into the academy was guaranteed by the principal's letter, losing here wouldn't revoke it, right?
'Tsk...'
I sighed in frustration.
Aghh, thinking about it won't get me anywhere... I should just focus on taking down as many monsters as I can.
The young miss told me that ranks are important in the academy, but my enrollment was a special case, so I don't really need the ranks.
Besides, I don't want any unnecessary attention.
While for nobility, garnering attention might be crucial for bolstering their family's prestige and feeding their own egos, as a mere butler, I don't require such things.
However, now that I'm here, I do need to prove myself, at least to some extent.
Looking up above, I could see blue floating eyeballs, likely the observers or students watching the entirety of this battlefield unfold.
Being in the top 70 should suffice to maintain a sense of normalcy.
There are roughly 500 first-year students, but only 150 were allowed to enter, so aiming for the middle rankings should prove my worth and secure me a decent position.
With that goal in mind, I kicked off from the ground, immediately diving into my first hunt.
It didn't take long to spot my first target—a towering, two-horned tiger, easily the size of a carriage.
[2-star monster - Two-Horned Tiger]
For my inaugural prey to be worth a hefty 20 points... Well, I guess luck was on my side today.
With a swift motion, I drew my sword from its scabbard and lunged straight at the unsuspecting tiger, a determined glint in my eye.
A white silk like line was visible in my eyes.
'I can see the path…' A small smile escaped from my lips as I was sure I can kill this thing with ease.
As I closed in, the tiger turned, its surprised gaze meeting mine.
It attempted to evade, but by them it was already too late—the blade of my sword cut through the air with deadly precision.
White line streaked in the air.
In an instant, the beast's head rolled from its body.
"One down."
[Current ranking: 500 → 362]
Even my ranking experienced a significant shift, jumping from 500 to the mid-400s.
It seemed some students hadn't started their hunt yet.
As I wiped the blood from my blade, I couldn't help but notice a sudden influx of floating eyeballs fixated on me.
Damn... had I attracted too much attention?
But that wasn't anything special at all. It was just a mere tiger, after all.
Back in the duchy, those thunder bears were far more formidable opponents.
Ignoring the floating eyeballs that seemed to glow with different colors as they approached me, I set my sights on my next target.
I hoped it would be something stronger this time—perhaps I should aim for boss monsters?
Leto had mentioned that boss monsters resided at the center of each biome we were transported to.
These creatures were equivalent to 5-star monsters, ranking two times higher than those bears back in the duchy.
Fighting those bears alone had proven troublesome enough; I could only imagine how powerful a boss monster here might be.
Granted, I was only 10-12 years old when I faced those thunder bears and the Gorilla did help me from time to time, but a 5-star monster was no joke.
As they were monsters capable of wiping out an entire town single-handedly without getting harmed, they were a force to be reckoned with.
But….
'You wouldn't know unless you tried, right?'
With a new goal in mind, I ventured deeper into the forest.
….
In the audience chamber within the Moon Sphere, students and professors alike were in a frenzy as they watched a certain clip featuring one student.
[Holy shit, did you see that?!]
[Lol, wow! He killed it with one strike]
[A two-horned tiger, just like that?]
[Will we get a new heavenly this time again?]
[He looks so handsome! I wonder which household he comes from?]
[I thought the lineup was already stacked for the first years this year, but now another surprising monster has joined,]
Comments flooded in left and right as the clip played out.
Even the beloved announcer, Cassie, wore a look of surprise and disbelief as she watched the footage.
Cassie's holographic image projected down the center of the chamber was filled with expressions of awe and wonder.
"Oh my! Oh my!" Cassie exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement.
"He's so handsome~~!!" she couldn't help but comment, her eyes twinkling with admiration.
"If I could just get him to show up in one of my commentaries and videos..., won't it be an instant jackpot?"
Her excitement was palpable, filling the air as she schemed ways to secure this intriguing figure for herself.
But as quickly as the excitement surrounding Taylor's actions arose, it was soon overshadowed by a series of clips featuring other top contenders.
From a giant 3-star monster being instantly frozen to the bone in a single second to a knight effortlessly cutting down all the trees in front of him with a single strike just to chase after one rabbit-like monster, the displays of skill and prowess were truly astounding.
There was also someone gracefully transferring from tree to tree as light as a feather, effortlessly using fallen leaves as footholds along the way. Each participant showcased their own unique talents and abilities, leaving the audience in awe.
Abel Academy held a prestigious reputation as the top academy in the world. Its renowned prestige and unmatched ability to nurture the best students set it apart from all others.
That's why almost every student who enters Abel Academy is always among the cream of the crop of each and every generation.
But there was something special about this year's first years.
Not only were most of the top prospects all geniuses who had already made a name for themselves, but they also hailed from houses that were at the top of their respective fields—from high-ranking nobles to royalties and ancient dynasties, even from the most prominent mercantile families on the entire continent.
The stack of important and powerful individuals this year was unprecedented.
Among them were the Frost Princess of the cold north, Anastasia Ludivina, a young mage capable of casting 6-star frost magic on her own; the Man of Steel, Darwin Broke, capable of cutting down solid stone with a mere twig; Grace Tenia, the disciple of the bow god; and lastly, Lucious Ivans, the Prince of the Emerald Forest.
Together, the four of them stood as the undisputed top contenders among today's first years, each boasting their own formidable talents and abilities that set them apart from their peers.
With illustrious family backgrounds and impressive stats, their entry into the competition seemed all but guaranteed.
But for these four individuals, participation in the competition wasn't merely about fulfilling a requirement or showcasing their skills.
No, their motivations ran deeper, fueled by an insatiable thirst for dominance and a burning desire to prove their superiority.
The truth was, they were here for one reason and one reason alone: to determine once and for all which among them was the strongest.
Despite their prestigious pedigrees and established strengths, Hierarchy was everything in this competitive arena.
And for these four competitors, their competitive nature was not just a trait—it was a defining aspect of their character, the driving force that propelled them forward and shaped their identities.
As they prepared to face off against one another in the crucible of competition, their resolve was unwavering.
Each of them was determined to emerge victorious, to assert their dominance and claim the title of the strongest among equals.
As the audience watched with bated breath, they couldn't help but wonder who would emerge victorious amidst this formidable lineup of monsters and competitors.