If we ask the wizards how many floors Stellarkeep has, most would confidently say '12.' That answer isn't incorrect, as 12 floors are indeed visible above ground.
However, Stellarkeep also has 12 basements, simply known as the 'Backrooms.'
Unlike the upper floors, which are designed for daily living, these basements are reserved for grand occasions and special events.
What makes the basement floors truly unique is their ability to transform; the layout can be adjusted to fit the specific requirements of each event.
For instance, on this occasion, the basement has been magically transformed into a vast, immersive rainforest with unending rain.
Additionally, this stage is filled with living trees
—Yep, living trees are an essential trope in magical worlds.
"Oz, the trees are moving!"
Sam's voice quivered with a mixture of fear as he watched the branches creak and sway unnervingly on their own.
It seems Sam still remembers the dancing tree incident from the night before
Oz reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of pine-scented perfume.
He sprayed it over Sam's trembling body.
"Hold still for a moment. If you smell like a toilet perfume… I mean, like a pine tree, you won't be attacked."
Oz instructed, his voice steady despite the looming threat.
The pungent scent of the perfume reminded Oz of the cleaning fluid used in public restrooms, sharp and overwhelming.
"Listen carefully, Sam. No matter what happens, you need to keep running. Follow the cobblestone path. If anyone cries for help or tries to offer you anything, don't let yourself be tempted—no matter how desperate they sound. Do you understand?"
This time, Oz's expression shifted.
The innocent, childlike facade he often wore was replaced by a grave seriousness that made Sam swallow hard.
"I need to take care of something first."
Oz continued, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Shocked by Oz's expression, Sam could only nod.
He focused on Oz's instructions and immediately ran along the cobblestone path, resisting any distractions.
*Shriiieeek!*
Some of the other participants, lured off the cobblestone path by strange sights and sounds, were instantly grasped by branches and twisting vines, their movements quick and merciless.
In the event of immediate danger, the bird would swiftly teleport the unfortunate participants back to the stadium.
Although they would have the opportunity to attempt it again until 10 am, the loss of time could be devastating.
The simplest way to clear this stage would be by flying, but only a limited number of magic spells are allowed during the exam.
Night sorcery is an exception, of course, because it can't be detected.
"Nocturnus Invisibilis!"
This is a type of Night Sorcery that makes the user invisible.
Unlike conventional invisibility spells, which only hide the user from sight, this spell also renders the user undetectable by both sight and sound.
Reaching into his pocket once more, Oz retrieved a detailed map.
The map depicted the locations of the coins, 30 in total, scattered throughout the arena.
The coin is a hidden objective that can only be known by someone with insider information.
Wasting no time, Oz set off toward the nearest coin, navigating the forest swiftly due to his superhuman agility.
The living trees, sensing no threat from him, did not react as he moved with remarkable speed.
He knew he had to act quickly, as the chances of another participant snatching the token first were high.
"Is that the place over there?"
Oz muttered to himself, spotting something through the dense foliage.
He noticed a structure up ahead, standing out against the lush greenery—a Stonehenge-like formation made of weathered stones.
At the center of the stone circle lay a chest.
When Oz opened it, he found a gold coin inside, its surface engraved with constellation symbols.
Without hesitation, Oz reached out and grabbed the coin, tucking it securely into his pocket.
Just as he turned to leave the Stonehenge, he was confronted by five figures standing in his path.
—Why now of all times?
Oz thought, his mind racing.
From the perspective of the five participants, they saw the chest open on its own, and then the coin floated and vanished.
They were terrified, wondering, 'Is that a ghost?'
One of the kids shrieked, his voice high-pitched with terror.
He was the thinnest of the group, his oversized glasses magnifying his fearful eyes.
—Should I just scare them?
An idea popped into Oz's head to trolling them.
"Hehehe, you're lucky. Today, my master, Pied Piper, has forbidden me from killing participants here."
Pied Piper is the 143rd Dark Lord, known as the Ensnaring Dark Lord.
He rarely kills his victims but often breaks their minds or brainwashes them.
To Oz's surprise, the five of them took up defensive stances as if they were ready to fight him.
"Oh, you want to challenge me? Foolish."
This time, Oz truly grinned, embracing his role as a Dark Wizard.
—Wait a minute. Aren't I a truly Dark Wizard?
"Boss, what should we do? We can't fight a ghost! We'd better run."
"Running would mean tarnishing my family's name as nobles!"
It's hard to understand what goes through the mind of an 14-year-old.
His character is still unstable—arrogant, brave, but also foolish.
If faced with a truly dangerous opponent, he likely wouldn't survive.
"Hahaha, I like your courage. But only fools try to fight something they can't win against"
"My name is Andrei De Bolkonsky! Were you the one who tried to kill my brother last night!?"
—Ah, he's the sibling of the person from last night.
This situation is all just a misunderstanding. But somehow, Andrei managed to draw the right conclusion.
"Aeris Telum!"
Together, the five of them cast a Conjuration Magic.
The spell conjures harmless wind bullets, but if cast with more starlight, it can become stronger
—Bleugh!
While a single spell isn't dangerous, five can cause significant harm, like internal bleeding.
"Heh, is that all? It doesn't hurt at all!"
—You little brat! That actually hurts!
Seeing Oz stand unflinchingly while the spells struck him, the five began to panic.
"Run!"
They fled in a frenzy, but Oz had prepared a special surprise for them.
"Vagabundus! Vagabundus! Vagabundus! Vagabundus! Vagabundus!"
All the spells hit their targets precisely.
The effects of the spell were instantaneous, as Oz had become highly skilled with this spell.
Each time they attempted to return to the cobblestone path, they found themselves further lost in the dense forest.
"Muahahaha, Muahahaha, Muahahaha."
Oz began to understand why villains often laugh loudly.
It actually helps relieve stress and maintain their menacing demeanor.
"I've already spent too much time here."
Oz quickly dashed to the next chest, sprinting through the dense forest, determined to collect all 29 remaining coins.
He encountered other participants several times along the way, but most either ignored him or were too preoccupied, screaming as they were chased by the living trees.
One by one, Oz gathered the coins. He was now only missing one.
When he approached the final coin, he noticed a group of participants gathered around a Stonehenge-like structure.
Oz observed them from behind a tree.
It appeared to be a four-against-three fight.
Despite being outnumbered, the man with black hair managed to defeat his four opponents using a tree branch and some elemental magic.
Two women were also assisting him, though they were more likely just distracting the him instead.
"Ah, you commoner, you'll regret this!"
—That's a standart third-rate villain line.
The blonde man, who seemed to be the leader of the three previous kids, was being helped away by his minions.
He continued to curse at the black-haired man.
"Thank you, but I can handle this."
Said one of the women, who appeared to have been defeated in the earlier skirmish with the four bullies.
—Hmm, this scene seems familiar.
—Saving a woman from bullies? Check.
—Protagonist facing multiple bullies? Check.
—Protagonist is a commoner? Check.
—Bullies come from a noble family? Check.
—The women is useless? Check.
—Will the bullies bring their sibling, uncle, father, grandfather, and the whole family? Probably.
It's almost certain that the man has the traits of a protagonist.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Estella De Havisham. Thank you for saving me."
Estella is cold, aloof, and indifferent, particularly towards men.
She has long, lustrous, and well-kept hair that cascades down her back, reflecting her elegance and high status.
—A cold and aloof noblewoman? Check.
"Don't mention it. It's my duty. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is David Copperfield."
David extends his hand in a gesture of courtesy, offering a handshake to Estella.
"Don't assume you're close to Miss Havisham. She is a noble, and your world is different!"
—A braindead servant who doesn't know how to be grateful? Check.
Observing this interaction, Oz felt as though he were watching a live-action adaptation of the novels he had read, the characters playing out a familiar script.
As David took the coin from the chest, Oz's thoughts shifted back to his objective.
He pondered the best spell to use for retrieving the coin from someone's possession.
When trying to take an item from someone's pocket, what spell would be most effective?
—Of courese its…
"Rapio Subtili!"
The thrill of successfully pickpocketing an item was undeniably satisfying, but Oz had experienced frequent bad luck with this spell, retrieving bizarre and irrelevant objects.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, and this time, he had successfully acquired the item he was after.
—A coin! Finally, this spell worked. Third time's a charm!
"Huh? Where did the coin go?"
David's realization that the coin had vanished came swiftly.
With remarkable speed, Oz zipped towards the finish gate.
Despite spending a significant amount of time navigating the forest to collect all the coins, he was astonished to find himself in second place upon exiting the finish gate.
To his greater surprise, he saw Sam already back at the stadium, lying on the ground in an exhausted heap like a beached whale.
"Oi, are you still alive, Sam?"
"Oz, I… I… I'm starving."
"Don't tell me you actually ran the entire stage?"
"Didn't you say I had to keep running?"
"…"
The cobblestone path possibly stretching up to 20 km.
From that moment on, Oz awarded Sam 100 points for his endurance and determination, though he was unsure how to rate his intelligence.
"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!"
Oz's attention was drawn to several Inquisitor rushing into Gate 2.
They were heavily armed with swords, firearms, and magic wand, their focus clearly on rescue operations.
One officer approached Sam, concern evident on his face.
"Are you two alright?"
The Inquisitor asked, examining Sam, who was sprawled on the ground, for injuries.
"Don't worry, sir. He's just hungry."
"…"
The Inquisitor paused, visibly puzzled, before resuming the conversation.
"We've just received a report of a Dark Wizard sighting on Gate 2. We hope there are no casualties."
—There weren't any, sir. I swear.
Employing his flair for drama, Oz crafted an expression of genuine concern.
"It appears this Dark Mage is targeting nobles this time. The Bolkonsky family has already been attacked twice."
—Honestly, sir, I had no intention of harming the Bolkonskys… except for their driver.
From Gate 3, the sounds of Inquisitor officers busily preparing for a rescue operation could be heard, their voices raised in urgent discussion.
"A Dark Wizard sighting was also reported on Stage 3!"
Oz was startled because another Dark Wizard really does exist in the entrance exam.
—Who the heck was that?