Chapter - 21
I'd seen this moment coming, even if I couldn't remember the exact timing. Tiberius and his class would soon be facing their first major test from the academy. I was dreading it a bit, yet here it was, sooner than expected. The unease that crept over me only sharpened as I entered the classroom that morning and saw the unmistakable presence of Athena standing at the front.
She cut an imposing figure, tall and graceful in a light blue chiton with golden trims, the fabric draping elegantly over her form, barely containing her breasts. The slightest sound seemed to fade under her attention, and it wasn't long before a hush spread across the room.
"Alright, everyone quiet down," Athena began, her voice steady but commanding, reaching to the very edges of the hall. "Today, I have an important announcement. Instead of your regular classes, all first-year students will have a practical assessment."
Whispers rippled through the room, a current of excitement and apprehension. Athena held up a hand, silencing us all before we could let our imaginations get too far.
"This is no ordinary test," she continued. "Each of you will be facing monsters, creatures brought in directly from the Celestial Gate and placed in a controlled trial field. This environment has been designed to test your physical and mental abilities, your teamwork, and your readiness to survive beyond the walls of this academy."
With that, she turned, leading us through winding corridors and into the academy's central atrium. This wasn't just any room—it was a massive, open area with a vaulted ceiling that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. The walls were crafted from a shimmering metal alloy, intricate designs pulsing with soft blue light in patterns that seemed to shift like constellations.
Two other groups of students were already gathered: those who had classes with Hecate and Ares today. With all of us assembled, the entire first-year class was here, roughly a hundred and eighty students filling the atrium. A palpable energy simmered, a mix of nervousness and thrill.
Then I saw it—a towering archway at the far end of the atrium. It was framed in some dark metal, and at its center was a forcefield, a shimmering, translucent blue that crackled faintly with energy. From where I stood, it was impossible to see anything beyond the barrier. The gate had an otherworldly presence, both alluring and menacing, and I felt a chill just looking at it.
Athena, along with Ares and Hecate, stepped forward to stand before us. Athena began, "This," she said, gesturing toward the gate, "is a magical realm, created within the bounds of the academy. We've filled it with monsters, creatures pulled from the Celestial Gate. Think of this field as a replica of what lies beyond, scaled for your current abilities."
Hecate stepped forward. "However, the creatures here will not offer you any experience gains. While they mirror the challenges of the Gate, the rewards and leveling effects are absent. This is merely a test of your skill, endurance, and resolve."
Some students exchanged disappointed glances. The stakes were real, but the reward structure they'd expected wouldn't be a factor.
That was the rule of this world. Outside the Celestial Gate, no matter how many monsters you defeated, it wouldn't add a single point of experience to your level. Only within the Gate itself could you receive the blessing that allowed a human to ascend toward divinity through battle and hardship.
Ares, however, wore an intense expression. "Don't make the mistake of taking this assessment lightly," he warned, his voice a low rumble. "Even though the monsters are restricted to this controlled realm, they are still lethal. There have been injuries, even fatalities, in past assessments. Remember that." His gaze was as fierce as a lion's, and the weight of his words sent a ripple of unease through the students.
Athena nodded at Ares, then turned back to us. "The trial area has been designed with one goal in mind: survival. You will be divided into teams of three, each assigned to a different entry point within the field. You will be tasked with two objectives. First, you must eliminate a minimum of ten monsters. Second, you must make your way to the field's exit. Your team's time to complete these tasks will determine your assessment score. How many monsters you kill, in the least amount of time"
Her gaze swept over us all, a spark of steel in her eyes. "But this isn't just a test. The ten teams with the lowest scores will be expelled from the academy."
Gasps spread through the students. The stakes became brutally clear. A competition where failure meant being cut from the academy. The pressure in the atrium was thick, the gravity of what lay ahead settling like a weight on everyone's shoulders.
From what I remembered, this assessment field was a labyrinth of danger, each team beginning in an isolated area to avoid interference from others. A simulated battleground, but one with genuine risks and the ever-present chance of injury—or worse. Any recklessness would likely be fatal.
Athena began calling out names, dividing us into teams. Tiberius was among the first to be called. "Team 2: Tiberius Scipio, Marcia Gallus, and Livius Drun."
I watched as Tiberius, tall and confident, turned to nod at Marcia. With those two on the same team, they were practically guaranteed to finish first. But then there was Livius, a wiry, dark-haired guy who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.
His eyes darted between Tiberius and Marcia, nerves written all over his face. He must have sensed someone staring at him because he turned his head toward me, catching me watching him. I couldn't help myself; I lifted my hand and gave him a thumbs-up, offering the friendliest smile I could muster. Livius's face twisted in confusion, his brows knitting together as he looked from my raised thumb to me, like he was trying to decode some ancient language.
'Good luck, my brave side character', I thought, silently cheering him on. 'May you rise above the cursed category of cannon-fodder, that tragic role of being the first to fall in the line of fire just to make the hero look cool. May your fate defy every trope and twist. You've got this, my dude. Don't give up. Stand tall, fight hard. This is your time to prove you're more than just background scenery.'
Suffice to say, Livius had a supporter.