Eclipse Academy was known far and wide as one of the best schools for training future adventurers and scholars.
Built on a hill surrounded by forests and magical landscapes, it was the perfect place to train both the mind and body.
Every first-year student knew that life at the academy wouldn't be easy.
One of the most important traditions was the first-year initiation test.
This test, held in the Mistshade Training Grounds, was the students' first real challenge.
It wasn't just about showing their skills—it was about proving they had what it took to succeed at the academy.
"Tomorrow, first-year students will have their first test in the Mistshade Training Grounds,"
Professor Layla Costine announced.
"Make sure you're prepared! Although the area is relatively safe, it's still a forest, and unexpected things can happen. The test will be conducted in teams of five.
Each team will earn points based on the number of monsters defeated and their ranks.
To help you practice, 1-rank monsters have been captured and reserved by our top-ranked instructors.
These monsters will provide a good challenge for beginners.
Here's the scoring system:
-Defeating a 1-rank monster will give your team 1 point.
-If your team defeats a 2-rank monster, you'll earn 5 points.
-Taking down an Elite monster of any rank will triple the points for that rank.
-And for a Boss monster, your team will earn ten times the points for its rank.
So, don't take this lightly and give it your best effort!"
(Oh. Looks like the first event of the novel is about to begin. In the story, the main character Aerox Sun stumbles upon a strange group in the Mistshade Forest during the test.
They are poachers, secretly hunting magical creatures that are protected by law.
The poachers are armed and dangerous, with most of them being around 2-rank, and their leader at 3-rank.
Aerox and his team almost get caught, but they manage to escape where the credit goes to the professor Layla Costine for a timely arrival in that scene.
The poachers were part of an underground group called the Black Talon, notorious for stealing and selling magical creatures for profit.
The Black Talon had been hunted for years by the Authority, the governing body responsible for keeping peace and order in the world.
The test, which was supposed to be a simple training exercise, turns into a life-or-death situation, showing just how unpredictable the world can be.)
"The list of groups is up. Check the notice board and find your teammates,"
Professor Costine said before leaving the room.
The classroom immediately erupted into noise as everyone rushed to see the list.
I waited for the crowd to thin a little before making my way to the board.
I scanned the paper until I found my name.
Group 10
-Ethan Carter
-Sofia Hayes
-Liam Brooks
-Aria Collins
-Xerox Zee
...Sigh!
I let out a small sigh. Ethan and Aria were from my class, but Liam and Sofia were from a different section.
I didn't know much about them.
Aria Collins stood out, though. I had heard her name before.
She was ranked 17th—known for her sharp strategy skills and calm demeanor.
Ethan, on the other hand, is ranked 45th and has a reputation for being reckless during practice sessions.
Sofia and Liam?
They seemed pretty average, at least from what I had seen.
Xerox Zee.
That's me. I can't help but wonder how we'll work as a team.
"May God save us at least for tomorrow"
I prayed for a little while.
===========
Aria Collins
She is the kind of person who loves showing off her power to those she thinks are beneath her.
Aria Collins' arrogance clearly comes from being the sister of Trival Maxpad, the 2nd-ranked student in the academy.
With a brother that is strong and influential, she acts like she owns the place.
Sigh.
I let out a deep sigh.
Ending up on the same team as her couldn't be worse.
I don't know much about her actual strength, but with that attitude, I'm sure we will have a problem regarding the cooperations.
As I turned to head back to my seat, I noticed Aria staring at me.
"Humph," she scoffed, turning away as if I wasn't worth her time.
(Seriously? Does being Trival's sister make you think you're better than everyone? Do you actually believe no one can challenge you?)
I couldn't wrap my head around people like her.
There are plenty of students here who could easily put her in her place, but she acts like she's untouchable just because of her connections.
To be fair, I get why Trival is so confident. He has earned it.
With his strength, his rank as the 2nd-best student, and he has every right to act the way he does.
But Aria? She is just riding his coattails.
Well, there's no point in overthinking it.
It is better to focus on the upcoming test.
The test itself isn't supposed to be too dangerous—unless something unexpected happens, like those poachers targeting the academy's top students.
I went back to my seat. A few minutes later, the Mana Theory professor walked in and started the lecture.
Just like that, our class got over and the professor Layla Costine instructed us to prepare for tomorrow's test accordingly.
As instructed, I packed all of my supplies, ration and potion in the bag.
Regarding the weapons, I was going to take the Magic Wand and my Sword.
For this test, I thought of using a Magic Wand as a first weapon and Sword as my second weapon.
The following day ….
I went to the entrance gate of the Mistshade Training Grounds.
There I could see a lot of other students and teachers who were accompanying them in case there was any danger or threat.
"Where are they?. I am little confused with so many students"
I was kind of lost as there were a lot of students and I couldn't recognize my teammates.
Suddenly,
"Hey you!, Don't you know that you should be in a team"
Someone said,
As I turned around to see who the hell that person was and just as expected this was F**king B**tch "Aria Collins"
Then I immediately joined them without any hesitation.
As they have been known to each other already, I could see some of my teammates chatting with each other except for Aria Collins.
"Hello everyone! I 'm Xerox Zee. Your teammate"
"Hello, Myself Ethan Carter"
"I am Sofia Hayes from another section"
"You can call me Brooks"
All three of them were so friendly and I don't feel any arrogant behavior in them except for the little witch!.
Actually, Ethan and Aria were from my class and I guess both of them might have heard some fishy rumors going around about me.
Well, the rumor that some badass student made about me was that I am a Gay! Or the Bisexual.
This was because of myself arguing with Lily and professor Layla just like any other girls fight.
Additionally they would say that I was a bisexual due to my closer attachment with Miss Layala Costine after that Magic Ice training.
Haha!
And also this rumor about me was hell shit!
That I had been blackmailing Miss Layla so that she could train me all the time.
Anyway, I don't give F**KING Sh*T on all of these stories!
Should I have to know that bastard who had been creating those rumors about me, I swear I will make him sweat from his armpit.
"So, Once Again let me introduce to you all."
"I am you team member and My name is Xerox Zee, Ranked 999"
Just as I introduced myself, Aria Collins interfered.
"Haha! Just a NOOB"
At that moment, even if she was girl I don't really care but I felt like beating her with a powerful slap and mostly I wanted to spank on her A**.
But as I remember that doing such action would just ruin our team cooperation, so I ignored what she said to me.
Huh!
As she was top ranked amongst us, she took an advantage to declare herself a team captain.
"If you are not going to listen what I said, Just think that you are nothing but a dead"
Arial Collins warned us.
I could see some of our team members murmuring about her while she was looking somewhere.
"This Bi*ch, You think you are the only one"
"No less than a witch !"
"F**K You!"
Though I can say that none of our team members were happy to see her as a captain, as she had the highest rank among us, so they agreed with her decision.
"Ehm... Ehm... Can everyone hear me?"
The quiet tension in the air was broken by Professor Costine's voice.
She stood at the front, holding a digital board that displayed the countdown for the test.
"Your official test will begin in just a few seconds. Listen closely, because I will explain the rules now, and I'll only say this once."
The board flashed as she continued, "Since this is your first time taking this kind of test, we've shortened the time to 3 hours."
"Your goal is simple—hunt as many monsters as you can in those 3 hours. Keep in mind, the results of today's test will impact your overall student ranking."
"Break your leg. Now, the test will officially start at 3… 2… 1..."
BOOM!
The sound echoed through the area, and the test officially began.