Laszlo was in a great mood when he first arrived, but by the time he left, he was clearly frustrated, grumbling about young people being too confident and needing a reality check.
As he stepped off the bus, he ran into Yang and a few other teachers.
Laszlo glanced at them and huffed, "You all are useless. How could you let this whole operation go so wrong? Strong players can't rely too much on gear. Go knock some sense into that first-place team—nobody won't be allowed to use magical equipment during the National College Entrance Exam!"
The teachers exchanged confused looks, but Yang just forced a smile. Internally, he was thinking, "Weren't you the one who approved the rankings? Must be old age."
Luckily, Laszlo couldn't read minds, or Yang might've gotten a slap for that thought.
Meanwhile, Lucas was sitting on the bus, feeling a bit annoyed. Laszlo was a strange old man, but at least he brought some good news.
Lucas had been worried about getting into a good academy, but now, it seemed like opportunities were coming to him. He shook off the thoughts and dove back into his game, zoning out for hours, leveling up his character.
Time passed quickly, and soon enough, the bus arrived back in L city. Lucas sighed as he put away his phone, ready to head home.
"Wait a minute, everyone!"
Yang called out, deciding to deliver a little speech, inspired by Laszlo's words.
Laszlo had been clear: strong players shouldn't rely too much on gear. And Lucas, the gaming addict, was clearly not included in that message.
Yang shot a pointed look at Jeff, Jack, and Emily and said, "With the exams coming up, some of you have done well in the summer raid, but remember, the exams will test your own skills, not your equipment. Don't take shortcuts."
Jeff and Jack exchanged confused glances, wondering if being rich was now a problem.
Elowen, overhearing this, chuckled softly, adding, "Seraphina, the exams are different from this raid. They're stricter. You can't cut corners. Make sure you're prepared next year."
Seraphina nodded seriously. Then, out of curiosity, she asked, "What's your goal this year? Havenridge Academy?"
Elowen smiled but coughed a little, "Havenridge is one of the top academies in the Federation. I'm confident, but there are always stronger people. I'm aiming for Ironstone Academy—perfect for young graduates like me who want a real challenge."
Seraphina simply replied with an "Oh," clearly not impressed.
Yang continued, "You all have a shot at places like Vanguard Military Institute or Ironstone Academy, both top-tier. Only a few students get that chance, but it happens every year. Don't let me down."
The students murmured in awe, knowing how prestigious those academies were.
Elowen held his head a little higher, stealing a glance at Seraphina, but she was more focused on Lucas, who was yawning nearby.
Lucas, tired of waiting, muttered, "Finally, I can go home, rest, and keep grinding." He grumbled, "Yang's a good teacher, but he talks too much."
With one month left before the big exam, students had the freedom to train as they liked. Many were heading back to dungeons to level up, particularly in Lorland, where the monsters were easier to manage.
Some confident students, however, were challenging the Lightning Goblin dungeons, hoping to level up faster.
Thanks to the built-in safety mechanisms of the starter dungeons, no students were seriously injured, which only emboldened them further.
Jeff and his crew were training in Lorland but often invited Lucas to join them.
Each time, Lucas declined with a simple excuse: "Too busy gaming." They were both frustrated and envious of how laid-back he could be.
"You're being lazy. I'm taking you to the dungeons myself," Seraphina declared, showing up at Lucas's house on the third day of the first week, determined to "save" him from his gaming addiction.
Lucas was impressed by her persistence but still refused. "Not happening."
He was close to hitting level 15 with his mage and wasn't about to waste time in dungeons. Those extra three skill slots had been waiting too long already.
"You're such a disappointment!" Seraphina stomped her foot and left, clearly annoyed.
Lucas didn't care. He made some instant noodles, lounged on the couch, and booted up his game again. "Why go to a dungeon when grinding levels is so much better? Lorland's too easy now. Maybe I should try the Dark Forest."
The boss in Lorland's deep dungeon was barely worth his time anymore. He needed a new challenge, and the Dark Forest offered more experience points. Without hesitation, he dove into the new dungeon.
As soon as he entered the Dark Forest, the environment shifted—dusk-like lighting and an eerie atmosphere surrounded him.
Lucas frowned as he wandered alone through the silent forest. The only sounds were the rustling leaves beneath his feet and the wind blowing through the trees, making the place feel unsettling.
Not long after, Lucas spotted a cat demon snoozing lazily on a tree branch.
The creature had sleek yellow fur and looked more cute than threatening, hardly the image of a fearsome monster.
"Take this!"