Back on the great hall were people are watching the challenges from the seat a seas of faces cheering for their love ones
A Group of mages wearing a purple cloak while being hidden by wearing a good there's a big screen floating in the sky that serve as the look of the challenges so people can see it
Inside of the great hall the archmage belldia and other two mage were watching the students from every view viewing every part of the challenges that's float different screen
[Dining Hall]
Shin had fallen asleep from overeating, while George was still waiting for the arrival of Jack and Lloyd.
"It's been 30 minutes now since we arrived here, and they still haven't shown up," George thought, feeling a growing sense of worry.
After a while, 30 students arrived. George's eyes widened—Lloyd and Jack were finally here! George yelled, "Hey, we're here!" and waved his hand.
Jack noticed George first and tapped Lloyd on the back.
"Hey, it's George and Shin! Let's go!" They ran toward George and Shin.
"Hey, what happened to you two? You took so long to get here!" George asked, his curiosity piqued.
"We ran into a little problem—Gorrath showed up!" Lloyd yelled.
George's eyes widened, and everyone nearby turned to look, giving them stern glares.
"I see… Did he start eliminating people again?" George asked.
"I think so. He was the last one to arrive, and when we were climbing up, there were still 13 who hadn't reached the first checkpoint. As we were climbing, we could hear screaming," Jack explained.
"I see." George's expression grew serious.
"You guys should eat later. We'll continue on to the second checkpoint," Jack said.
Lloyd and Jack nodded. They both grabbed large portions of meat.
After chatting for a while, Lloyd and Jack finished eating. George, stretching lazily, walked over to wake Shin from his deep sleep.
A loud announcement echoed across the area:
"The next obstacle will begin in 5 minutes."
Everyone quickly got ready, fixing their clothing, tightening their shoelaces, and bracing themselves for what was coming.
Moments later, the announcement continued:
"Students, congratulations on surviving the first obstacle of the challenge. 280 students remain. 20 have been disqualified."
"It seems 20 students have already failed the first obstacle of this challenge," George remarked, his tone both amused and cautious.
"Yeah," Shin replied, stretching as he stood up. "Hey, Lloyd, can you use your height to check if Gorrath is around?"
Lloyd nodded and squinted into the distance, his towering frame giving him an excellent view. "I don't see Gorrath anywhere," he replied. "But I can spot Eclid and his gang."
After five minutes, an announcement echoed through the hall:
"The second obstacle will now appear."
In front of the students, a variety of weapons materialized, each one suited for different fighting styles.
"Before the portal opens, please pick the weapon you would like to use," the announcement continued.
Everyone began selecting their primary weapon.
Shin grabbed a longsword, while George picked up a pair of iron gloves. Lloyd chose his signature warhammer, Jack opted for dual swords, Eclid grabbed a longsword, and Puri picked up iron gloves as well.
Once everyone had selected their weapon, the second portal to the obstacle appeared. The students readied themselves, gripping their weapons tightly, before stepping forward to face the unknown challenge.
As they stepped into the second obstacle, the environment shifted dramatically. The air turned cold, and a soft rain began to fall, the drops forming white circular ripples on the ground.
Shin observed the scene and thought to himself, "Huh, snow? But it feels… different. The snow here is much colder than on Earth—or maybe it's just because this is a medieval world."
Jack noticed something unusual in the sky and immediately called out, "Hey, George, it's a white azure!"
George's eyes widened in alarm. He quickly yelled, "EVERYONE, IT'S WHITE AZURE! MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T TOUCH YOUR SKIN! IF IT MAKES CONTACT, REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY!"
Shin's eyes widened, and he started to panic. "H-Hey, George, what's that?" he asked nervously.
George replied urgently, "White azure is like a leech. Once it touches your skin, it burns and makes you itch uncontrollably, so badly that you can't stand straight."
"I see," Shin said with a nervous nod, gripping his longsword tightly.
George glanced around and added, "Good thing we're all wearing long sleeves."
The group stood still, mesmerized by the eerie, otherworldly view that surrounded them. The sky above churned with hues of crimson and ash, the ominous swirls casting long shadows over the barren landscape. Jagged spires loomed in the distance, and faint, azure lights pulsed from the cracks in the ground like veins of a dying beast.
As they prepared to move forward, the uneasy silence was shattered by a strangled cry. One of the students lagging behind suddenly fell to his knees, clawing desperately at his own skin.
"Hey! What's wrong?" another student called out, stepping closer in alarm.
The fallen student's nails tore into his flesh, leaving trails of crimson as he writhed in agony. His eyes, now filled with panic, locked onto the one who spoke. Without warning, he lunged forward, clutching at the other student's legs.
"Hey! Get off!" The standing student yelled, stumbling backward and kicking at the one on the ground. But it was no use. A pale, white azure substance began to spread from the infected student's hands, crawling up his legs like living frost.
"Sh-shit! It won't stop!" he screamed, clawing at the strange infection that had now reached his neck. Blood seeped from the deep gashes he tore into his skin. "Help me! Somebody help me!"
The rest of the students recoiled in fear, backing away.
"Tch. Dispatch him," a voice commanded coldly. The words cut through the panic like a blade.
The speaker was a tall man with glasses, his tone calm yet unfeeling. "If someone gets infected, they're dead weight. Don't let them hold us back."
Before anyone could react, a tall figure stepped forward. With a single, fluid motion, he leapt into the fray, wielding a long bo staff. The staff struck the infected student squarely, knocking him to the ground. The azure substance flickered, then dissipated.
All eyes widened as they recognized the newcomer. His pale white skin and crimson eyes were unmistakable. It was Gorrath.
"What are you doing? If someone's infected, you deal with it. No hesitation," Gorrath said, his voice commanding and cold. His piercing crimson eyes swept over the group, and his presence alone was enough to send a chill through the air.
"You're back from your mission?" Eclid, another student, asked hesitantly.
Gorrath nodded curtly, his expression unreadable. Around them, murmurs began to ripple through the group.
"It's that demon bastard…"
"What's he doing here?"
"Damn it, we're doomed. Just don't make him mad…"
Shin, overhearing the whispers, felt a spark of curiosity. "Hey, George. Who is that guy?"
George crossed his arms, his tone flat. "He's him."
Shin furrowed his brow. "The hell does that mean?"
George sighed and leaned in slightly. "That's Gorrath. The only student in the academy with a five-mana circle. He's the same age as me… and he's a half-demon."
Shin's eyes widened in disbelief. "A half-demon?" His gaze flickered back to Gorrath, scrutinizing him. "But he looks… handsome! There's nothing demonic about him. No horns, no wings, not even creepy nails!"
He rubbed his chin skeptically. "Are you sure he's really a half-demon?"
"Yes," George replied firmly.
Before Shin could press further, Gorrath turned, locking his crimson eyes onto him. Shin froze. The intensity in Gorrath's gaze was suffocating, his pale, expressionless face unreadable yet undeniably intimidating.
"Who are you?" Gorrath asked, his voice deep and laced with menace.
Shin's legs trembled involuntarily under the weight of that gaze, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.