After a week of contemplation, Dante made his decision. Out of the three academies, he chose the Void Academy, renowned for its teachings on void magic. The allure of mastering such a mysterious and potent form of magic was too tempting to pass up. As he approached the imposing gates of the Void Academy, he saw that he wasn't alone. A large crowd of candidates had gathered, all eagerly awaiting their chance to take the entrance exam.
Dante stood quietly, observing the other hopefuls. Each person radiated nervous energy, their anticipation palpable in the air. He leaned against a nearby wall, keeping to himself as he waited.
While scanning the crowd, Dante's sharp eyes caught sight of someone familiar. His gaze narrowed as recognition dawned. It was Emily, the girl he had saved from the three men days ago. She appeared more composed now, her posture confident yet approachable.
Emily's eyes widened as she noticed him, and a smile spread across her face. She quickly approached him. "Dante! We meet again!" she greeted warmly.
Dante gave her a small nod. "Emily. What a surprise to see you here."
"Are you here to take the exam too?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.
He nodded. "Yeah. Looks like you're here for the same reason."
Emily chuckled nervously. "So, you're an Evolver too, huh?"
Dante raised an eyebrow. "You're an Evolver as well?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "I awakened not too long ago," she admitted.
"That's good," Dante said. "What kind of mythical creature lineage do you have?"
Emily hesitated, glancing away for a moment before letting out a nervous laugh. "I don't actually know," she confessed. "But it's a healing type, that much I'm sure."
"Healing type?" Dante murmured thoughtfully. A healing-type lineage wasn't common, and it piqued his curiosity.
Emily, seeming eager to shift the focus, asked, "What about you? What's your mythical creature lineage?"
Dante stiffened slightly at the question. He couldn't reveal the truth. No one would believe him if he said he had a dragon lineage—dragons were considered the strongest of all mythical creatures, and no one had seen someone awaken a dragon lineage in centuries.
"I don't know," he lied smoothly, keeping his tone neutral.
Emily didn't press further, accepting his vague answer. They continued talking as time passed, their conversation light and easy.
Hours later, an instructor finally arrived, stepping forward to address the candidates. The man introduced himself as Noir, one of the instructors at Void Academy. He was tall and imposing, with a commanding presence that immediately silenced the crowd.
"Welcome, candidates," Noir began, his voice firm and authoritative. "You've all gathered here today for the entrance exam of this year. I will now explain the details of the exam."
The crowd leaned in, eager to hear what awaited them.
Noir continued, "The exam will consist of a practical test. Each of you will enter an E-rank dungeon alone. Your objective is simple: clear the dungeon. Every monster you kill will earn you points. These points are not just for the exam—they will serve as your currency within the academy. You can use them to purchase weapons, potions, magic, skills, and more from the academy's shop."
The candidates murmured among themselves, excitement and apprehension filling the air.
"Let me clarify," Noir said, raising his voice to regain their attention. "Dungeons appeared centuries ago, during a time of peace. Their emergence brought chaos, as monsters poured out and devastated humanity, killing 60% of the population. It was then that Evolvers rose to defend humanity. Dungeons are ranked from E, the easiest, to SSS, the most dangerous. For this exam, you will face an E-rank dungeon."
The candidates nodded, understanding the significance of the task ahead.
"Your performance in the dungeon will determine your ranking," Noir continued. "The candidate with the highest score will receive an additional 1,000 points as a reward. This is your chance to prove yourselves."
The stakes were high, and the tension in the air was palpable. Noir gestured toward a table where numerous watches were neatly arranged.
"Before you enter the dungeon, each of you must pick one of these watches," he explained. "These watches are special—they will track the monsters you kill, display your personal stats, and show the skills you have mastered. They will also indicate your level. Only you can see your stats unless you grant permission for someone else to view them."
The candidates surged forward, eager to claim their watches. Dante waited patiently for the initial rush to subside before stepping forward to choose his own. He strapped the watch onto his wrist and activated it, curious to see his stats.
The holographic display lit up, revealing the following:
Name: Dante
Level: 13
Bloodlines: Dragon, Phoenix, Vampire, (C%l#$us [Unawakened])
Skills: Regeneration, X-ray Vision, High Durability, High Stamina
Dante's eyes narrowed as he read through the information. Most of it was expected, but the corrupted text next to the unawakened bloodline caught his attention.
"What the hell is this?" he muttered, frowning at the garbled text. It didn't make sense, but he decided not to dwell on it for now. There were more pressing matters to focus on.
He closed the stats screen and tightened the watch on his wrist. At level 13, he already had a significant advantage over many of the other candidates. His rigorous training from a young age had paid off, but he knew better than to underestimate anyone.
The candidates began to prepare themselves, their excitement mingled with nerves as they waited for Noir's signal. Dante glanced at Emily, who gave him a small, encouraging smile.
"You ready?" she asked.
Dante smirked. "Always."
With that, the candidates lined up, ready to face the dungeons and prove their worth.
End of Chapter 7