Time hadn't started yet, and everyone was chatting excitedly.
One could say they were all in high spirits.
After all, they had just become new lords and completed their first official "descent." Everyone had their own unique experiences.
Some were unlucky, while others fared quite well.
Yet, no one had perished.
Thanks to the thorough teachings of the school, the first lesson focused on teaching students how to escape—a surprisingly pragmatic approach.
Most of the students understood the importance of avoiding danger, so there were no casualties among them.
"I led two squads to ambush an army. During the chaos, I managed to raid an undead lair. We killed a lot of creatures but had to avoid an 11th-level elite."
"Well, I wasn't that lucky. I stumbled into a nest of serpent beasts!"
"My side was a barren wasteland. I searched for three whole days and found absolutely nothing!"
Among Alex's group, two students had suffered the misfortune of encountering calamities.
One of them, named Eric, had landed in scorched earth, a desolate zone. Like Lucian's earlier descent, his outcome wasn't great.
He spent three days searching without any results until a volcanic eruption forced him to retreat.
The other student was slightly luckier. While excavating a medicinal herb garden, she accidentally triggered a quest and boldly accepted it.
Unfortunately, she encountered a level-20 boss halfway through and had no choice but to abandon the quest.
Her misfortune worsened when calamity struck. An ancient dragon flew overhead, and a single drop of its saliva corroded an entire region.
She had no choice but to return.
In summary, everyone had vastly different experiences during their descents.
The infinite void was incomprehensibly vast.
Even if all of humanity and Earth's universe were combined, they would barely be a speck within its immensity.
"Lucian, you're quite skilled. Why not compete for a spot in the rankings?"
At this moment, Emily spoke up.
Her appearance was ordinary, but her eyes gleamed with determination. Clearly, she was eager to secure a position in the rankings.
Hearing this, Alex nodded in agreement. "We're all from regular families, without fancy investment contracts. If you have the chance, you might as well compete! It'd be a shame not to."
"Exactly! Join us, Lucian!"
"Come on, let's aim for the top fifty. Who knows? Maybe we'll make it!"
"Why stop there? Let's go for the top twenty!"
"Haha, now that's ambitious!"
"Contentment is a virtue, you know."
The group bantered lightheartedly, discussing their chances without putting too much pressure on themselves.
Lucian smiled wryly.
If he joined the competition, it'd be overkill. The rankings would be a foregone conclusion—he'd take first place without a doubt.
It wasn't arrogance; it was just reality.
No one at Silvermoon School could rival Lucian in combat.
And what about the first-place prize, the Hall of Heroes? Lucian already had one. What would he do with another? Sell it?
Displaying such wealth from a school prize would surely attract trouble. Even Lady Mistdream might reprimand him.
Lucian was about to decline when the bustling hall suddenly fell silent.
Lucian's heart skipped a beat as he looked up.
Lady Mistdream and several other instructors had appeared on the high platform, gazing down at the students.
Their mere presence brought an eerie quiet to the hall.
"All of you," a stern instructor began, his voice booming, "this simulation battle has two objectives!"
"First, seize territory!"
"Second, protect your lords!"
"The first will account for 60% of the evaluation, and the second for 40%!"
"Everyone here has reached level 11. Don't disappoint us."
His commanding tone and aura were suffocating, like a beast surveying its prey.
The instructor then stepped aside.
Behind him, Lady Mistdream sat gracefully in a cloud-like chair. Her beauty was timeless, like an immortal goddess.
She scanned the students with a cold gaze and waved her hand.
A dense mist surged forth, enveloping everyone.
Ding!
The sound of a long bell rang out.
When the students regained their senses, they found themselves in a sea of clouds.
At the center was a massive platform formed of holy light. Below it, nine dragon statues coiled, lifelike in detail.
The students stood at the edges, gazing down at the vast platform.
It was enormous, spanning nearly ten kilometers. Clearly, it was the designated battleground for the competition.
"This space… is extraordinary!"
Lucian observed with interest.
"Yeah," Alex added, excitement evident in his tone. "This was a gift from the principal. It's a spatial treasure!"
"It contains a miniature space filled with clouds and mist, perfect for students and instructors to spar freely.
"And no one actually dies here. It's just a cloud-based illusion!"
The others were wide-eyed, marveling at such a treasure.
For most student lords, this was the first time they'd seen something so rare.
"If some of you are unwilling to participate in the competition…"
Lady Mistdream's cold voice echoed, silencing the crowd again.
Her expression was calm, but her tone carried an undeniable weight.
"You may be from ordinary families, but some of you come from wealthier backgrounds.
"Perhaps you resent my rules, but keep it to yourselves."
Her words were indifferent yet piercing, chilling the room.
The students exchanged glances, their unspoken complaints swallowed.
Indeed, the simulation was thrilling for most, but some wealthier students felt it beneath them.
Lady Mistdream continued, her gaze sharp. "Discontent is understandable, but wisdom lies in restraint. Now, let us begin!"
With a wave of her hand, wooden talismans appeared before each student, floating in midair.
Each talisman displayed a unique number.
Lucian grabbed his and saw the number 57.
"Wow, front row seats!" he muttered.
Alex glanced at his own talisman, then at Lucian's, and exclaimed, "Whoa! You're up against that loudmouth in round one?"
"You know him?" Lucian asked, curious.
Alex pointed toward a rowdy group nearby. "Look over there. Number 57 against number 75."
"Those guys are making sure everyone knows it."
Lucian followed his gaze and saw a group of boisterous students.
"Hahaha! Ethan, you've got this round in the bag!"
"Yeah, whoever got number 57 is out of luck. Going against Ethan is a guaranteed loss!"
"There's a difference between people, you know. Ethan's a genius. He's destined to be one of humanity's elite!"