Ezra barely got a wink of sleep that night.
Between the handbook's ridiculous rules, the looming orientation trial, and the realization that his life was now hanging by a thread, he couldn't shut his brain off. Every time he closed his eyes, worst-case scenarios flooded his mind.
When the morning bell rang, signaling the start of the day, he groaned and rolled out of bed. "Fuck me… already?"
The academy's schedule was brutal—sunrise to sunset, packed with training, lectures, and survival exercises. Ezra had no intention of falling behind, but damn, he could've used a few more hours of rest.
Still, he forced himself up, washed his face at the tiny sink in the corner, and changed into the academy's uniform—a dark navy coat with silver trimmings, a white undershirt, and black combat boots. It was decent, but he felt like he is cosplaying.
As he adjusted his collar, the announcement system crackled to life.
"All first-year students, report to the Grand Assembly Hall immediately. The Orientation Trial will commence shortly."
Ezra sucked in a sharp breath. "Alright. No backing out now."
The Grand Assembly Hall was packed by the time he arrived. Hundreds of students, all dressed in the same uniform, stood in rows. Some looked excited, others anxious. The real monsters? They stood with eerie confidence, as if they already knew they were destined to be at the top.
Ezra scanned the crowd, quickly picking out a few notable faces.
At the very front stood Cyrus Aldren, the golden boy of the Aldren family. His silver hair gleamed under the hall's massive chandeliers, and his blue eyes carried a sharpness that reminded Ezra of a blade. If Ezra's memory was right, Cyrus was one of the protagonists—a prodigy with overwhelming swordsmanship skills and an innate aura of leadership.
To his right was Elaine Valtier, a girl with long, raven-black hair and piercing red eyes. The daughter of the Valtier Clan—one of the most powerful mage families in the empire. In the novel, she was a genius spellcaster with an affinity for high-level magic that made even professors wary.
Then, standing near the middle, was a guy with wild brown hair and a cocky grin. Darren Falken—a brute with monstrous physical strength. He wasn't particularly smart, but what he lacked in brains, he made up for in sheer combat prowess.
Ezra swallowed hard. "Shit. The main cast is all here."
He shrank into the crowd, keeping his head down. He had no interest in getting involved with them. Protagonists were magnets for trouble, and trouble meant death for extras like him.
Suddenly, the stage lit up, and an old man stepped forward.
It was the same old bastard from yesterday—the one with the long white beard and the stupidly tall hat.
Headmaster Gaius Albrecht.
The moment he raised his hand, silence fell over the hall.
"Welcome, first-years," he began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the room. "You stand here today because you have been deemed worthy of entering Alrix Academy. But make no mistake—this is only the beginning."
He swept his gaze over the crowd, his expression unreadable.
"Talent means nothing if it is not honed. Potential is worthless if you lack the resolve to use it. Here at Alrix, you will be tested, broken, and reforged into warriors. Those who cannot keep up…" He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Will be discarded."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
Ezra clenched his fists. Yeah. Figured as much.
Gaius gestured to the professors standing behind him.
"The Orientation Trial begins now. You will all be transported to a designated testing ground, where you will face your first real challenge. Your performance will determine your initial class placement—A, B, or C."
Ezra's stomach twisted. Here we fucking go.
"The trial is simple," Gaius continued. "Survive for six hours. You may form alliances, eliminate competitors, or go solo. There will be threats. And there will be rewards."
Murmurs broke out. Survival-based trials were brutal—especially in an academy that openly allowed combat.
Ezra, however, was already thinking ahead. Survive for six hours? That means there's gotta be something actively hunting us.
A professor stepped forward, raising a glowing crystal. "We will now begin the teleportation process."
A magic circle flared beneath the students' feet. Ezra barely had time to curse before his vision blurred.
And the next thing he knew, he was somewhere else entirely.
Ezra stumbled forward, his boots kicking up dust. "Ugh… teleportation sucks."
He shook off the dizziness and took in his surroundings.
A vast forest stretched in all directions. Towering trees, thick underbrush, and the distant sounds of wildlife filled the air. The sky above was a mix of orange and violet, giving the area an almost dreamlike quality.
Ezra exhaled. "Alright. Step one: don't die."
The first thing he needed to do was find shelter. Forest terrain meant plenty of hiding spots, but it also meant predators—both animal and human.
He glanced around and quickly spotted a few other students scattered nearby. Some were already forming groups, discussing strategies. Others ran off alone, eager to prove themselves.
Ezra, however, had no intention of rushing in blindly.
Think. What do I know about this trial?
In the novel, this was where the protagonist, Cyrus, first demonstrated his overwhelming talent. He'd single-handedly wiped out a pack of mana-infused beasts and earned a ridiculous amount of merit points.
Meanwhile, background characters? Most either barely scraped by or got eliminated early.
Ezra wasn't planning on being one of them.
He moved quickly, sticking to the shadows of the trees. His goal? Avoid unnecessary fights and gather as much information as possible.
But just as he started moving—
SNAP.
A branch broke behind him.
Ezra whipped around, his heart pounding.
Two figures emerged from the bushes.
A blonde-haired guy with a smug grin, flanked by two lackeys. His academy uniform was already slightly unbuttoned, showing off an expensive-looking necklace.
Ezra recognized him immediately.
Vincent Almer—a classic young master asshole.
In the novel, Vincent was a minor villain. Arrogant, privileged, and overly reliant on his family name. He wasn't a threat to the main cast, but for someone like Ezra?
A potential nightmare.
Vincent's grin widened. "Well, well. Looks like I found an easy target."
His lackeys chuckled.
Ezra sighed, rubbing his temple and mumbled. "Motherfucker."
Vincent stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, loser. Hand over whatever you've got, and maybe I won't break your nose."
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "We just got here. What exactly do you think I have?"
Vincent smirked. "Then I'll just take your points when I beat you into the ground."
Ezra sighed. Great. A rich kid who thought bullying made him important. If this was a normal school, maybe he'd play along to avoid trouble. But at Alrix Academy? If you looked weak, you will get crushed.
He needed to turn this around. Fast.
Running? That'd just make them chase him later. Fighting? Not the best option, considering he had zero training.
Talking his way out? Now that he could try.
Ezra rubbed his temples like he was annoyed. "Look, Vincent, right? You're some big noble, used to people kissing your boots. I get it. But think for a second—who's actually winning this trial right now?"
Vincent frowned. "What?"
Ezra pointed around. "Cyrus Aldren? He's out there hunting monsters, earning real points. Meanwhile, you're wasting time trying to rob me, someone with nothing. What does that make you look like?"
Vincent's eye twitched. His goons exchanged glances.
Ezra pushed a little more. "You wanna be an A-ranker? Then act like it. The strong are already ahead while you're standing here playing schoolyard bully."
For a second, Vincent looked pissed. Then he scoffed and turned away. "Tch. You're not worth it. Let's go."
His lackeys hesitated before following.
Ezra let out a breath. "Holy crap, that actually worked."
He wasn't dumb—Vincent would come back eventually. But for now? He had some breathing room.
"Survive for six hours," huh?
Ezra smirked.
Forget surviving. I really want to win this fucking trial.