Sylvie groaned as she lay sprawled in the dirt, staring up at the sky. Her entire body ached from Rosaline's punch.
"Alright… noted. First encounter with Rosaline: absolute success." She grinned despite the pain.
A shadow loomed over her.
"You're the last one left to check in," a bored voice said.
Sylvie turned her head and found herself looking at an older student wearing the academy's examiner uniform. He was flipping through a clipboard, eyeing her with mild curiosity.
"Sylvaine Ardent, correct? You've made it just in time. The entrance exam is about to begin."
Sylvie sprang to her feet, dusting herself off.
"Perfect timing," she said with a smirk. "Let's show this academy what a perverted swordswoman can do."
With that, she strode toward the examination field, ready to unleash absolute chaos.
The examination field was a massive coliseum-style arena, with students gathered in rows along the outer edges. Magical runes lined the floor, glowing faintly, as towering instructors stood watch, their expressions unreadable.
Sylvie scanned the crowd, noting the variety of students—some were clad in traditional combat uniforms, while others carried magical staves, enchanted bows, or unique weapons she couldn't quite identify.
She barely had time to take in the scenery before a booming voice echoed across the arena.
"Attention, incoming students! The entrance exam will now commence! You will be tested in three stages: Combat, Magic Aptitude, and Strategy. Only those who demonstrate true skill will earn a place in Ethereal Academy's ranks."
The speaker was a towering man clad in ornate golden armor—Instructor Garret, one of the academy's most feared combat masters. His piercing gaze swept over the students, causing more than a few to gulp nervously.
Sylvie, on the other hand, was buzzing with excitement.
"In the first trial," Instructor Garret continued, "you will face an opponent chosen randomly. The fight ends when an examiner declares victory. Use your skills wisely."
Sylvie barely suppressed a grin. A fight right out of the gate? This was her element. And with her inhuman reaction speed and natural swordsmanship, this should be—
Her opponent stepped forward. Rosaline von Edelweiss.
Sylvie's grin faltered.
"Oh."
Oh, shit.
The crowd murmured as Rosaline adjusted her grip on her training greatsword. Her golden eyes locked onto Sylvie's, unreadable yet radiating a quiet fury.
"I don't know what your deal is," she said, rolling her shoulders, "but I hope you're ready to fight. This isn't the time for… antics."
Sylvie smirked. "Antics? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Rosaline's brow twitched.
"Begin!" Instructor Garret roared.
Rosaline moved first.
Her sword blurred as she lunged, closing the distance in an instant. Sylvie barely dodged, twisting her body out of the way. The wind from Rosaline's strike sent a shockwave through the arena, kicking up dust.
"Fast," Sylvie muttered, adrenaline surging. But she was faster.
Her instincts took over. She retaliated with a sharp counterattack, her own blade flashing toward Rosaline's exposed side—
Only to miss entirely as Rosaline pivoted, bringing her sword up in a devastating arc.
Sylvie barely ducked, feeling the heat of the swing above her head. She rolled to the side, heart pounding. This wasn't like fighting NPCs in a game—Rosaline was unpredictable, her moves razor-sharp and fueled by sheer skill.
But Sylvie was grinning now.
"Damn, you're good," she admitted, flicking her sword up. "But you haven't seen what I can do yet."
With a flick of her wrist, she launched forward. Her blade cut through the air like a silver streak, each move flowing into the next with deadly precision. She pushed Rosaline back with relentless strikes, testing her defenses.
Rosaline, unfazed, met every attack with equal ferocity.
Their swords clashed in a dazzling display, each exchange sending sparks flying. The watching students held their breath, mesmerized by the intensity.
Then, Sylvie saw her opening.
A tiny gap in Rosaline's stance.
Now or never.
Sylvie shifted her grip and—
Tripped.
Not because of Rosaline. Not because of an outside force.
Because her own mind betrayed her.
In the heat of battle, her perverse nature had activated at the worst possible moment.
Her eyes had flicked downward.
To Rosaline's glorious, sweat-slicked thighs as she pivoted.
For exactly half a second, her brain overloaded with impure thoughts.
And that was all the time Rosaline needed.
BAM.
A perfectly executed kick sent Sylvie crashing into the dirt.
The match ended with a decisive knockout, Rosaline standing tall while Sylvie groaned in the dirt for the second time that day.
"Victory: Rosaline von Edelweiss," Instructor Garret declared. "Match concluded."
The crowd murmured in awe.
Sylvie, sprawled out, gave a weak thumbs-up. "No regrets."
Rosaline sheathed her greatsword with an exasperated sigh. "Are you even taking this seriously?"
Sylvie grinned up at her. "Oh, I'm taking it very seriously. Just… got distracted."
Rosaline narrowed her eyes. "By what?"
Sylvie, wisely, decided to shut up.