Meanwhile, other students....
After being teleported into the dungeon, most students immediately began searching for food and clean water.
Some met each other on the first day and decided to team up, while others fought over scarce resources.
A few managed to find edible plants or small animals in the forest, but many went hungry all day.
"I can't go on. We haven't had food or water all day, and I've been fighting nonstop,"
one student groaned.
"Why are there always goblins? Couldn't it be something like Red Bull? At least we could eat those!"
another complained.
"I'm exhausted. We need to find somewhere to sleep,"
someone else muttered.
Unlike Xerox Zee, most students were unprepared for this survival test.
Three friends—Fanny, Kanny, and Lanny—were lucky to find each other but unlucky because none of them had survival skills.
The test required students to identify edible plants, but the trio had no idea which ones were safe.
Hunting monsters was an option, but not all monsters were edible.
Some didn't have meat, others were poisonous, and some looked disturbingly human.
The three wandered all day and only encountered goblins, which weren't safe to eat.
Even if they managed to hunt something edible, like a Red Bull or a Dark Bear, they had no idea how to butcher it.
Removing the skin, bones, and other inedible parts was a skill they lacked.
For students like Fanny, Kanny, and Lanny, who trained indoors and had little experience with dungeons, this test was brutal.
As night fell, they gave up on finding food and searched for a safe place to sleep.
Then they saw something that left them speechless.
In front of them was a portable grill with a water bottle beside it and a large tent set up nearby.
The faint smell of roasted meat lingered in the air.
For a moment, they couldn't believe their eyes.
After a day of hunger and exhaustion, here was someone who seemed to be camping in luxury.
They had all the supplies for surviving in the wild—food, water, and even a comfortable place to sleep.
The sight made them furious.
"How is this fair?"
Fanny muttered bitterly.
"We've been starving and suffering all day, and this guy is living like he's on a vacation!"
Kanny clenched his fists.
"How did he even prepare all this? Did he know about the test beforehand?"
It felt like they were barely surviving in a desert while someone else was swimming in a pool.
But their anger didn't matter as much as what they would do next.
"We should rob him,"
Fanny said, his voice cold.
"What? No! Let's just ask him for help,"
Lanny replied.
"Why make enemies if we don't have to?"
"You're an idiot,"
Fanny snapped.
"He might help today, but what about tomorrow? He doesn't have endless supplies. And what if he refuses? This is a survival test, not a charity event."
Kanny hesitated.
"But what if he's strong, like Aerox or Trival? We won't stand a chance."
"What are the odds it's one of the top students?"
Fanny argued.
"Even if it is, we outnumber him three to one. We can take him down."
Reluctantly, Kanny and Lanny listened as Fanny began explaining his plan.
–BRRRRRRR...
The loud blaring of the alarm jolted me awake.
"Ugh... What now?"
I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
For a moment, I thought monsters had breached the area.
But as I looked around, I spotted three figures in the distance.
They weren't monsters.
They were students.
I stayed hidden, watching them quietly.
They didn't seem to notice me, but I could tell they were up to something.
From the faint glow of mana around them, I guessed their ranks were around 2-.
Not particularly strong, but not complete weaklings stuck at 1+ either.
Typical Eclipse Academy students—average in every sense.
Whatever they were planning, it wouldn't work on me.
I had seen their type before and knew exactly what to expect.
[ "Status" ]
=== STATUS SCREEN ACTIVATED ===
Name: Xerox Zee
Rank: 2+
Strength : 3
Speed : 3
Mana : 3
Skill : Rank 10 Mind Memory
The skill that allows users to get in touch with the memories from their other self which existed in the other universe.
Cause and Effect: The user may sometimes be interpreted by the personality of the other self.
LVL 3 : Shadow Style Proficiency : P3
This Skill allows the user to use the sword like the sword is shadow. The slash of the sword will be faster and more powerful than just a normal swing.
LVL 9 : Cryomancy : P3
This is Magic Skill and it is said to be built by the strongest Ice mage in history after fighting the Ice dragon. The use case of this Skill is that it can be used to freeze the opponent. If the user masters this skill, they may be able to freeze the world.
LVL 6 : Dual Skill : Beginner
A special skill that was formed by Xerox. This skill comprises two skills.
Last week, I ranked up to Rank-2+, the same as Aerox.
My Cryomancy Skill proficiency also reached the P3 level.
When I hit that level, I unlocked a skill called Ice Embodiment.
Ice Embodiment allows me to embody ice itself, giving me a natural affinity and ice-like physiology.
I can take the form of anything made of ice, like a Yuki-Onna (Snow Woman).
At its peak, this skill grants absolute control over ice, making me immune to it and capable of doing anything with it.
Right now, it's a powerful tool for both defense and attack.
My body gets covered in ice, boosting my defense, and I can shape the ice into sharp weapons for attacking.
It also increases my control over ice energy while active.
However, the skill uses a lot of mana.
Even with my larger mana pool, I can only maintain it for a minute.
Another skill I gained is Cryo Bomb, which is just as useful.
It lets me create explosive constructs that freeze instead of burn.
The explosions freeze liquids and coat surfaces in ice.
They even create icicles to attack nearby targets.
I can also set the bombs like landmines.
If an enemy steps near, the bomb either triggers automatically or I can activate it with my mana.
Earlier, I sensed someone approaching my tent.
From how sneaky they were, I knew they were either here to steal from me or take me out.
If they meant no harm, they wouldn't be acting this way.
I had already placed a Cryo Bomb near the tent's entrance, waiting for the right moment.
THUD! THUD!
BOOM! BOOM! CRACK!
The Cryo Bomb went off.
I stepped out to check the result.
Two students were frozen solid, while the third was only half-frozen.
He must have been behind the others or used some defensive artifact. Whatever the reason, he had no chance of beating me now.
"Yo-You!"
the half-frozen student shouted angrily.
"Yes? What is it?"
I replied.
"How dare you! You'll pay for this!"
he yelled.
"Maybe. But not today,"
I said, brushing off his threat.
They attacked me, yet now they're upset I fought back.
How unreasonable.
Suddenly, two beams of light surrounded the frozen students, and they disappeared.
The academy must have teleported them out to prevent any serious harm.
Now, only one enemy remained—Fanny, the half-frozen one.
"Time for you to join your friends,"
I said, walking closer to him.
"Pl-please spare me! I'll do anything you want!"
Fanny begged.
He had abandoned all pride.
Being eliminated would ruin his rank and reputation.
He didn't want to face the shame of failing, especially as one of the academy's Top-100 students.
"You should have thought about that before attacking me,"
I replied coldly.
If they had caught me off guard or were stronger, would they have spared me?
I doubted it.
They weren't in real danger anyway.
Failing this test might mean repeating the year or taking another exam.
"No, please! My parents work for a gold-graded federation! I'll give you ten thousand coins!"
he pleaded.
"Not interested,"
I said firmly.
I placed my hand on his unfrozen shoulder and froze the rest of him.
Soon, he disappeared too.
"Please let this be the end for today,"