“This is quite unexpected.”
It had been over three hours since the test began.
For the first hour, I was broadcasting until I turned it off for management purposes.
As I continued to observe, I discovered something intriguing.
As expected, the rankers who attended my class were passing one by one, but an unexpectedly familiar name was taking the lead.
“Beriard.”
He was one of the four original students who attended the second class and a Black Mage.
A quiet, ominous guy dressed in a black robe, not someone you’d consider cheerful, especially sitting in the back row while his face was shrouded in darkness.
However, with all the penalties and restrictions in place for Deoen, it’s probable that his personality was also tied to those penalties.
In fact, when he seemed hesitant to confront anyone from that back row, the darkness around his face vanished as I approached.
I thought he had dropped out after participating in class for a while, but…
“17 minutes…”
Even if ‘Bloodstone Destruction’ was relatively easy at level two, 17 minutes was impressively fast.
He was on par with the single-digit rankers, excluding Leo, who’s slightly overshadowed right now.
Considering it took Black three hours to “eliminate all vampires,” it seemed Beriard had greater innate skill with mana.
He wasn’t exactly lacking when he learned from me either.
I took a casual glance at the dimension Beriard was proceeding through.
I had set things up so that I could check on every user’s progress.
Beriard’s method of advancing was a bit similar to mine.
Actually, it was even better.
“Hm? I think something just passed by?”
“What are you talking about? Why is today’s aura so dark?”
“No, I’m sure something…”
Thanks to his abilities or perhaps a desire to avoid the gazes of others, Beriard quietly began to ascend the castle without anyone noticing.
Only aiming for Bloodstone destruction, not fighting at all.
Even when he sometimes hid in the shadows, if he felt something might slip past, he would sneakily assassinate it and then continue his ascent.
A noble vampire has the ability to sense hidden intruders.
But Beriard also had a considerable understanding of mana.
Once his stealth surpassed the vampire’s detection, it became meaningless.
He climbed all the way to the top floor where the Bloodstone was located, drew attention using dark magic, and focused solely on destroying the Bloodstone, ignoring everything else.
“Impressive.”
Honestly, I had considered such methods, but I never expected him to hide it this well.
No matter how skilled you are at assassination, stealth, or teleportation, in the end, you have to face the boss guarding the Bloodstone.
However, living comfortably in the darkness, Beriard managed to shatter the Bloodstone even while tricking the ‘Count’s’ senses.
Beriard living inside was able to smash the Bloodstone while even fooling the ‘Count’s’ detection.
In the end, I couldn’t kill the boss and only received an A- for such a short time, but who cares about that?
《1. Beriard A- (Time taken 17 minutes 21 seconds) – Bloodstone Destruction.》
Ultimately, I placed first.
“…First place.”
I was still checking the rankings that had yet to come up, floating through various dimensions.
It had been over three hours, nearing four, and yet there was still one person’s name that had not appeared.
‘Leo.’
The fact that Leo still hadn’t passed raises many questions.
With the Sword Saint’s downfall, the only one who can be called the best besides me is Leo.
If it’s Leo, it wouldn’t be strange for him to pass through much faster than Beriard using some slight bending of the rules.
She has more than enough capability and talent for that.
But I know.
“She will regret it.”
Leo is challenging the Progenitor.
Repeating countless deaths and resurrections.
■
Clang!!
The Chains of Blood are raging.
Each one is truly overwhelming, trying to bind my feet!
“Hahaha! Try that playful dagger play some more, hunter!”
“Ugh! Stop sucking my blood, you crazy uncle!”
At the very top of the castle where the Bloodstone is located.
Yena, wielding silver twin daggers, jumped into the air, dodging the chains bursting forth from all directions.
Boom!
The chains surge upwards to catch her.
She avoided all but one that grazed her side.
“Ugh!”
Blood flowed from her side.
The blood escaping from her body lost control and was instantly absorbed by the Count’s Vampire.
What a dizzying ability.
When I first heard about it from Lady Lily and saw it on the broadcast, I thought it was nothing special.
I’ve caught Vampires before, and if it’s her ability, I could definitely handle it.
She was an outstanding ranker who once ranked third and is still among the top now as an assassin.
In fact, it was relatively easy until I reached the top floor.
“H, really.”
“Have you finally realized my greatness?”
But the stage two boss was different.
The Chains of Blood were flying from everywhere.
The moment I bled, more than the amount I spilled escaped from my health.
Having faced countless boss monsters, the Count in front of me was intimidating enough to fit within just two fingers.
But!
Clang!!
“Cough?! What’s happening all of a sudden?”
?! What the hell?!
In the end, it’s a vampire, isn’t it?
A race that’s very, very weak against En.
Thanks to Lady Lily’s teachings, I’ve become better at handling mana and even received special skills, so there’s no way I’d lose.
Yena, with the final blow, instantaneously moved behind the Count and sliced him seven times.
The vampire Count, unable to even think about regeneration, was split into dozens of pieces.
“Craaak…”
Boom!
As the Count fell, Yena, exhausted, shattered the Blood Stone.
《You have cleared “The Fourth Stage of the Vampire.” Rewards according to the strategy guide will be given.》
《Dimensional Difficulty – ●●○○○》
《Target – Remove the ‘Blood Stone’ located at the top of the castle.》
《Time – 1 hour 12 minutes 29 seconds.》
《Vampires hunted – 31.》
《Weapon used – Dagger, Dagger.》
《Calculating scores…》
《Total Score – B-》
《You have been awarded 90 points.》
《An admission pass has been granted.》
“B-!”
Returning to the waiting room, Yena clenched her fists upon seeing the score.
Isn’t this a pretty good score?
Though she took it easy, Lady Lily also scored a B+.
A B- is quite excellent, hmm.
She approached the people coming her way with a beaming face and briefly greeted them before checking the list.
According to Lady Lily, the list should…
“…What? Beriard?”
Why is Leo’s name missing, and this strange name is solidly in first place?
I questioned it several times, but the list didn’t change.
Hasn’t he participated yet?
But Lord Leo is online…
“Wait a minute, if it’s Beriard, that’s that person, right?”
He’s definitely someone who attended the lecture like me.
That person in the strange black robe… the one whose face I couldn’t see?
I remember that he had some pretty impressive skills, even if he hasn’t shown up recently.
‘But… is it really at this level?’
Honestly, the number 17 minutes feels very distant.
I think it would make sense if Leo was there.
But aside from that, the real Leo isn’t even in the top ten.
“…I wouldn’t think he hasn’t participated. Could he be busy with something?”
I don’t get it.
Let’s just try again for now.
“I passed, so now I need to take down the Progenitor.”
Even though I wanted to catch it for my success, I held back at first, but now there’s no reason not to challenge it.
Yena waited for her turn again, and the third difficulty opened up, but she quickly chose the second difficulty and ascended the castle.
Having gone up once, I realized that using stealth and assassination appropriately would get me to the top quickly.
In just 10 minutes, Yena reached the castle and headed towards the Progenitor’s throne room.
Her body felt heavy.
“…Crazy.”
“Hey.”
One step. Another step.
Even she, the Assassin, feels her body becoming ‘heavy’ as a powerful something controls the area.
She hasn’t even entered the inner chamber.
Just getting close makes her feel like she’s sinking below the water’s surface.
‘It’s like my body has already fallen into someone else’s hands…’
“Ugh!”
She shakes her head.
But then again, it’s just a monster.
In the end, it’s the user that wins.
Yena struggles to keep her sanity as she finally reaches the door.
She’s already exhausted.
The imposing red door seems to show the hardships ahead.
《Would you like to open the Progenitor’s inner chamber?》
《You cannot clear this without defeating the Progenitor’s false body.》
“…Let’s go!”
Creak…
The door slowly opens.
In that moment, most of the power suppressing her returns.
No, it strengthens.
“…Huh?”
In pursuit of fair play, the strength that had weakened her body surges back, turning her into a ranker within the top 100.
The silver dagger transforms into the Green Hermit, and the unique legendary item, the Echo of Death, dangles around her neck.
For an instant, she gains more power than she could handle but Yena recoils, feeling goosebumps.
‘…Crazy.’
Clack.
Once for her pretty doll-like appearance.
Clack.
Twice as she swallowed hard from the deep crimson blood flowing in her ruby eyes.
‘Master of Blood.’
Yena realizes.
The weakening for fair play.
It’s not her that’s weakened but the girl right in front of her.
Yena gulps.
“Ah, hello?”
“You look kinda okay.”
“Uh, huh?”
“Not as much as a little brat though.”
The girl, no, the Master of Blood clenches her tiny hand.
It’s a speed that seems so slow, she could dodge it even before the enhancement.
《The Progenitor, ‘Lasty Erbenus’ is using a blood-red spear!》
Even the message specifies the targeting location, but what good is that?
“No, this is…”
The blood-red spear has already pierced Yena’s heart.
Her control over her body is completely stripped away.
Lasty lets out a small laugh.
“Try to dodge better next time. I won’t change the order.”
《You have died.》
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