In the Dreaming World, there exist numerous traits.
Traits such as the Eye of Death, the power to borrow the strength of the sun, or being a being loved by spirits since birth.
These typically range from grade S to F, and even the NPCs in the Dreaming World often mention lines indicating their awareness of this.
And between these traits, synergy exists.
For example, when the Eye of Death meets Clairvoyance, one can instantaneously kill an enemy from a great distance.
Currently, I possess a total of five curses and traits.
[Drunkenness], [Alcoholic], [Drunken Fist], [Courage Potion], [Power Release].
If I had to grade them, they would be around F, F, B, A, A+.
And the only combat skill I have is just the Drunken Fist.
However, the Drunken Fist does not mean actually fighting while drunk.
The actual Drunken Fist was first used… probably in the 1900s.
It originated from a portrayal of a drunken person staggering, which was adapted for use in films.
But my trait is clearly ‘Drunken Fist.’
So, what happens?
[Current Alcohol Level 1%]
[Synergy from the curse, Alcoholic trait, and Drunken Fist activates]
[Drunken Fist is now active at all times]
“Hehe~.”
The synergy kicks in.
I don’t know all the synergies, but some things make me think they might work just from their names.
Yet, issues remain.
Since I’m not using the Drunken Fist itself, but activating it through the drunken effect, the accuracy in actual implementation might drop.
And the destructive power might also decrease as a result.
[Check, check! Aah! Microphone test!]
At that moment, an announcement echoes to those who have fallen onto the stage, from an unknown source.
[Now, everyone! Let me introduce this year’s Academy exam!]
[The stage measures a total of 1 million square meters! What you need to do in this circular stage is to obtain a pass!]
[There are three ways to obtain a pass: defeat an examiner holding the ticket, take down the pre-designated summons and obtain it, or find the tickets buried in the ground!]
This exam was exactly as I had anticipated, obtaining a pass to escape.
From the moment the game began, this much was the same, so I had no reason to be surprised.
Remaining time was roughly estimated to be around five hours.
Currently, I have two choices.
Either find the buried ticket or team up to take down an examiner or summons to get a pass.
However…
“Ugh! The smell of alcohol!!”
“Let’s not get close to that person.”
“It looks like it’s going to be like this~.”
I had been drinking to avoid daily headaches, and at some point, the scent of alcohol had started clinging to my body as a passive effect.
So, even trying to form a team, people were hesitant to join.
There were a few who seemed to be attracted to my appearance as a girl, but they quickly left as soon as they noticed I was slightly drunk.
‘Well, it can’t be helped.’
Fighting against an examiner or summons was definitely out of the question.
Those guys must be strong.
Plus, fighting hurts.
“Well… I guess I’ll just dig for now.”
If I keep digging, maybe a pass will come out eventually.
With that thought in mind, I sat down and began digging the ground with the bottom of my bottle.
***
In the highest seats of the stadium where numerous spectators gathered.
They were sitting in a position where they could see the massive screen, each displaying different expressions.
[My goodness! Already someone has passed the examiner! This is remarkable!!]
“It was expected.”
Just 20 minutes into the exam, someone emerged victorious.
However, no one sitting there expressed surprise or admiration.
It was as if they thought it was something that had to happen.
“That boy shows incredible potential. He’s indeed the top student.”
“Hehe! Once the training program is over, I’m definitely taking him with me!”
“Why are you deciding that already? He should be the one to make that choice.”
“Even if we consider that guy, this cohort is truly a golden age.”
“I agree.”
Bloodlines of renowned wizard families, descendants of swordsmen who fought against malevolent forces in the past, individuals who overwhelm others just by physical ability, and even a boy whose talents seem limitless.
In addition to these, children with truly remarkable capabilities worthy of being called a golden age challenged this exam.
“If this continues, this cohort might actually have more participants than the last.”
“Naturally, it was expected.”
Boom!
With a crashing sound, a loud noise echoed from beyond the screen.
[Ah! Another participant has completely crushed the steel summon!!]
“Hehe! My summon is being taken down like that all at once!! Amazing!!”
“That… that muscle is worth studying!!”
The individuals present were in a position that did not cause a great ruckus, but everyone shared the same excitement about the students coming forward.
‘I want to see the limits and growth processes of those kids quickly. And I want to bring them to our side.’
At that moment, someone in charge of the summoning for this exam smiled as if looking forward to it.
“Still, I don’t think that will work?”
“What did they do this time?”
“You’ll find out when you see.”
[Alright! The exam time is already halfway through! At that moment! A voice can be heard from the center of the stage!]
“… this crazy bastard.”
“I’m not one for swearing.”
“What the hell are they pulling out like that?”
“Having some tension makes it fun.”
“I agree.”
A massive being rising from the center of the stage.
“Hey, did they really have the giant come out to face the students?”
“Of course, I told it to just walk around lightly. No matter how talented they are, facing that is out of the question.”
“That’s… true.”
A legend inspired by the mythological era.
One of the strongest summons that the current master of summoning can present.
Crimson Giant.
“Even so, isn’t the Crimson Giant a bit too much? You can see everything within a 1km dome.”
“I just told it to take a nap. It moves a little whenever it can.”
“……….”
As expected, the Crimson Giant was indeed not doing anything.
It simply looked down at the stage.
However, that alone was sufficient to impose psychological pressure on most.
The moment it moved its foot or began to act properly, it was an obvious outcome that they would be swept away.
[Alright! Shall we move on to the next screen?]
.
.
.
.
.
Thus, the situation continued to change, and in the blink of an eye, the exam reached its climax.
[Ah! An erupting flame! One alone catches the examiner!]
[My goodness! The summon crumbles on its own!]
[That truly was an amazing performance! A beautiful cooperation leads to the surrender of the examiner!]
“I like that announcer, hasn’t stopped talking for five hours.”
“Impressive.”
[Alright! Then let’s see the remaining participants!]
[Currently, if we exclude those who have withdrawn due to injuries or forfeitures, about 10 remain on the stage!]
“What about those who are still standing…?”
“That’s just unfortunate.”
With only 10 minutes left until the exam ends.
Those who were going to pass had already done so, and the promising new talents were resting in the waiting room long ago.
Remaining meant that only those lacking talent stubbornly hung around.
“Shall we go?”
“Ah, let’s go together! I found a delicious parfait shop!”
The professors’ interest had long since waned during the long five-hour exam.
And the camera panned to reveal one child who had remained.
“… What’s up with her?”
With white hair and a small build, the girl had caused a bit of a commotion from the moment she entered the stage, but was quickly forgotten.
That girl was digging into the ground with a swaying body.
“Wait, she’s been doing that for five hours in hopes of finding something buried?”
The subject of having entered the Academy exam after drinking, without knowing her own position, and still remaining!
In the first place, without detection skills, finding a pass would be impossible.
That persistence was certainly commendable, but what they wanted was not effort but talent.
There are plenty of industrious people in the world.
However, what is truly valuable is the talent with hard work.
[Ah~ everyone else has declared their withdrawal. Now, there is only one person left on the stage!]
And all the cameras focused on the girl, but she was simply digging into the ground with her sleepy eyes.
The bottom of her bottle had already worn down from digging for so long and was almost touching the alcohol inside.
“Hey, hurry up and scare her into quitting or something. I know for a fact that those types definitely need to be instilled with fear to run away.”
“I don’t really like the idea of tormenting her, but… I dislike waiting even more. Okay.”
Then, telling the summon to slightly scare the girl towards the Crimson Giant, the giant raises its foot.
From the giant’s perspective, it acted as gently as possible, but that alone caused the stage to shake and rumble.
“Just pretend to step on her.”
Roooaaar!
[Ah! The giant attacks the last participant!!]
The girl looks at the giant.
With her drunken eyes, she raises one hand to block.
The giant pretends to step, and the expectation was that the girl would declare her withdrawal, but what unfolded was a completely different action.
Everyone within that space witnessed it.
“A fist?”
The girl was definitely clenching her fist.
“Is she planning to fight?”
“No way, did she seriously just lose her mind…?”
.
.
.
.
In that moment, time seemed to stop within the stage, enveloping the arena in silence.
“Power Release.”
And with that frail voice flowing in through the camera, an overwhelming explosive force erupted from the space between the girl and the giant.
Kwahahaahaaa!!!
