### Chapter: 257
Lahern Academy Entrance Exam Round 3.
Once again, numerous talented individuals gathered for the exam, just like in the first and second rounds.
At one of the exam venues, the Unnamed Department Arena, the entrance exam commenced yet again.
The first trial was the same as before: measuring levels through the Aurora Stones.
A merciless exam that eliminated anyone who didn’t meet the requirements of aura.
Last year, the Aurora Stones had cracked or broken only twice during this test.
One instance was with Mary Diana, and the other… was with Kraush.
Kraush Balheim had become one of the brightest stars at Lahern Academy over time.
Because of that, the students couldn’t help but remember the legend of Kraush shattering the Aurora Stones during his entrance exam.
“Kraush Balheim broke the Aurora Stone!”
“I’ll break it too! I absolutely will!”
Thus, the students were all focused on shattering the Aurora Stones, imagining that moment where they would create a new legend in Lahern Academy.
And as the first test began, countless kids faced the bitter reality.
Even though hundreds of students participated, the Aurora Stones didn’t just crack; they didn’t even get a scratch!
“Wow, it seems everyone thinks the Aurora Stones break easily.”
Reflecting on the disappointed expressions of the kids, Professor Wright, responsible for this Unnamed Department exam, chuckled lightly.
“It must be the influence of Kraush, who defeated Senior Kairan!”
Just then, the arrow of attention shifted to Kairan, who stood nearby, arms crossed in silence.
Kairan, the Pirate Empress, who ruled the seas in her prime, glanced back at the new assistant professor, Wright.
Wright was a freshly recruited associate professor with decent skills but had a penchant for being annoying to others.
“Yes, it’s probably due to Kraush’s influence.”
“Indeed, with his reputation being so grand, if any associate professors were defeated in this entrance exam, there would surely be chaos.”
Regardless, Wright waved dismissively as if to say not to worry.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be in charge of the special class selection test this time. I’ll make sure to show the students what reality is.”
Wright flashed a cocky grin, prompting Kairan to slowly return a smile.
“Let me say one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You shouldn’t underestimate the students like that.”
As soon as Wright showed confusion, Kairan lifted her chin.
Following Kairan’s gaze, Wright turned his head, and suddenly a dazzling flash erupted outside the tent.
The Aurora Stone exploded in a brilliant radiance.
Boom!
Soon after, a sound of something cracking echoed.
While Wright froze in place, Kairan wore a gentle smile.
“Everyone gathered here is a genius, you know.”
Out from the tent stepped a girl with soft golden hair.
It was Dalia Junon.
Her name was linked to the famed sword clan of the Empire, the granddaughter of Emperor Dalfion Junon.
A faint hint of disappointment lingered on her face.
“Hmmm, I guess I fell a little short.”
She had hoped to shatter the Aurora Stone, but it only got a crack.
Despite this, she raised her chin, knowing all the students were in awe of her presence.
She was the first among this year’s applicants to leave a mark on the Aurora Stones.
At that moment, a cracking sound echoed once more.
Dalia turned her head slowly, revealing another girl walking forward.
With white hair flowing in the breeze and a lovely face, it was Bianca Hardenhartz.
She too had succeeded in cracking the Aurora Stone, joining Dalia as the second person to leave a mark.
Upon meeting Bianca’s gaze, Dalia lifted her smile.
“Not too shabby.”
“I’ve trained for this.”
Bianca nonchalantly replied while moving forward.
Meanwhile, Kairan placed her hand gently on the stiff Wright’s shoulder.
“Let’s hope the students don’t have to suffer defeat like I did.”
Having to prepare for a potential defeat would be a real headache.
—
“Your fiancée is quite impressive.”
While Bianca was busy taking the first test, Kraush turned his head upon hearing a voice from his side.
It was Astria, arms crossed beneath her chest.
“Yeah.”
Kraush couldn’t hide his surprise at the situation.
He knew Crimson Garden had trained Bianca, but he hadn’t expected her aura to reach the level where she could crack the Aurora Stone.
‘Is this the level of talent required to even take down a one and only like the Poison King?’
During her time as a White Ghost, Bianca had not only defeated the Poison King but had also protected Hardenhartz in the midst of the Empire-Starlon war.
Her talent had been proven, yet he hadn’t imagined she could grow so much in a year and a half.
‘Perhaps…’
The thought flickered in Kraush’s mind that Bianca might truly rise to the top of the Unnamed Department.
[I helped her. Of course, it’s a natural result, isn’t it?]
The Crimson Garden seemed a bit puffed up for no reason.
He wished it wouldn’t read his thoughts.
‘More importantly…’
Kraush waved at Bianca, who was waving at him, and shifted his gaze.
He was quietly observing a student among the newcomers.
A boy with black hair hidden beneath a robe, sitting in a corner.
The red aura in his eyes made him feel odd.
‘It’s definitely a face I haven’t seen before.’
This feeling was truly strange.
It was a sheer sense of discomfort.
Kraush shifted his gaze toward the tree area.
There, a crow from Crimson Garden was preening its feathers.
[You want me to recognize that kid?]
Waving his hand, Kraush signaled, and the Crimson Garden crow flapped its wings.
[I’ll look into the information about the new Dave students.]
He was sure he could rely on Crimson Garden for that.
As Kraush was deep in thought, the first test concluded.
The outcome instilled despair among the students.
Half of those who took the test had dropped out midway.
Just as before, those who failed had lost their qualification to stay at Lahern Academy.
As a result, half the students had to leave Lahern Academy.
Among those leaving, some couldn’t hold back their tears.
But reality is a harsh thing.
Before long, Kairan, who was conducting the entrance exams for the remaining half, stepped up to the platform.
“Now, we’ll begin the second test.”
With that declaration, Kairan immediately displayed the details for the second test on the screen.
“The second test will be held in a different location from this arena.”
Suddenly, teleportation portals appeared before the students.
These were prepared solely for the upcoming test.
“As you pass through the teleportation portal, a variety of bracelets will be placed on your wrists.”
At that moment, on the screen, seven different colors of bracelets were shown.
“The criteria for passing this exam is that you must acquire and maintain two bracelets of the same color until the end of the test.
However, if anyone suffers severe injuries, losing a bracelet won’t result in disqualification.
You must proceed while cautiously marking your current state.”
As soon as Kairan finished her explanation, the candidates began to murmur.
The second test was bound to see over half the candidates fail.
If two people matched the same colored bracelets, one of them would definitely end up with zero.
Kairan couldn’t help but smirk while presenting this cruel test to the students.
“Well then, I hope everyone excels at passing the second test.”
As she stepped down from the platform, the exam assistants guided the students one by one toward the teleportation portals.
In the skies above the arena, a large screen displayed the mysterious location where the test would take place.
A land comprising flatlands and mountains unfolded in a divided view, showing how students were arranged.
This was meant to ensure consideration for the onlooking students and examiners.
“Bianca Hardenhartz.”
Just then, Bianca’s name was called.
As she approached the teleportation portal, Dalia Junon was also seen standing by the portal in the distance.
The two exchanged glances as they had been quite tangled with each other during the entrance exams.
“Bracelet.”
The first to speak was Dalia.
She casually showed her wrist while raising an eyebrow.
“I hope it’s the same color.”
The moment their colors matched, she would surely be there to snatch the bracelet away.
Dalia had declared this unmistakably.
“Me too.”
Upon hearing Dalia’s words, Bianca replied flatly before entering the teleportation portal calmly.
The moment her vision shifted, Bianca slowly lifted her head.
Trickle—
The first sound she heard was the gentle flow of water.
Simultaneously, the enchanting forest environment reflected around her.
It looked peaceful, but she sensed someone lurking nearby.
It had to be other students.
Bianca glanced at her wrist.
Then, her eyes landed on the bracelet that had been placed there.
The bracelet was yellow.
The color she needed to acquire to pass the test was yellow.
Ding!
Just then, fireworks burst into the sky, signaling the start of the exam.
Bianca looked up, watching the fireworks illuminate the sky, and then she began to stroll through the forest.
Her walk was leisurely, without an ounce of haste.
Even though it was her first time in this forest, there was no sign of bewilderment on her expression.
Before her, a group of candidates emerged slowly.
They were fellow applicants expected to fight over the bracelets.
However, instead, they stood blocking Bianca’s path, even though they possessed the same color bracelets.
Moreover, the color of Bianca’s bracelet differed from theirs.
“Why are you blocking me with a different color bracelet?”
Bianca questioned as they moved toward her, drawing their weapons.
“There’s no rule that says we can’t attack just because our bracelet colors are different.”
That was true.
Yet, Bianca couldn’t help but wonder why they were attacking her despite the color difference.
“It’s better to eliminate the strongest competitor right away.”
The Lahern Academy exam consists of four trials.
Originally three, but now there’s an additional test for the candidates entering the special class.
This was the nature of the third exam.
In last year’s and the year before’s tests, the third trial often revolved around one-on-one combat.
Thus, they intended to increase the chances of a combat-centered test by gathering strength in groups and taking down strong candidates ahead of time.
Bianca quickly realized she was surrounded.
An impressive number of applicants were in on this scheme.
“I see.”
Understanding their intent, Bianca nodded slightly.
“Still, it’s not good to disrupt me since you don’t have a yellow bracelet.”
“Go where?”
“Where do you think you’re going!?”
Suddenly, the group of applicants charged toward Bianca in unison.
However, they didn’t get far before they had to halt.
They found themselves completely immobilized.
“Ugh!?”
“W-What is this?”
“M-My body!”
“It’s so cold!”
When did they get frozen solid?
As confusion filled their eyes, they suddenly became aware of a dark shadow above them.
Slowly lifting their heads, they discovered a dragon, enormous enough to dominate the entire forest, coiled majestically above them.
It was Bianca’s creation, the ice dragon, Krima.
As Bianca teleported in, her ice dragon had already encased the entire forest.
The invisible cold released by the dragon clung to the clothing and skin of all the candidates.
The moment they moved, the cold had bound them all in place.
The applicants stared at Bianca with dumbfounded expressions.
The aura radiating from the ice dragon, Krima, was on a whole new level.
At this point, it felt almost an embarrassment to claim to be her fellow applicants.
Overwhelming.
That was the word that truly resonated with Bianca as she walked forward gracefully.
Bianca Hardenhartz.
This was the moment where she, the Ice Princess, would rise to write another legend as part of the third batch.
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