The group of twelve advanced toward Island Beta.

Naturally, many of them were nervous. Based on their performance, not only would their team placement be decided, but their individual scorecards would be affected as well.

For someone like Kevin, who had always dreamed of entering this field and becoming a part of the Great Hall, this was nothing short of a golden opportunity. If he proved his worth here, he could start working for the Great Hall right after graduation.

Students from the other academy, however, didn't appear particularly nervous or excited—as if they were here out of obligation rather than ambition.

As far as William could remember, these people were meant to be deployed as border security, guarding the southern connection to Gahalia.

*Do they really have what it takes to be on the frontlines?* he wondered.

While he had more or less grasped what the supposedly strongest student could do—manipulate sand or something along those lines—he had no idea whether the others were equally capable or simply present to glorify Brutus.

"Can you stop staring at me?"

Brutus suddenly looked over his shoulder, locking eyes with William.

Everyone turned toward the duo, their gazes shifting between the two.

William was slightly surprised that Brutus had sensed his stare.

Emma turned toward her lover and asked softly, "Something wrong?"

William shook his head. "Just hoping we'll at least be entertained by whatever test they've prepared."

Emma let out a sigh. "They used some extreme methods to test our limits last time. I mean, who sends a criminal after academy students?"

William nodded. "That was quite wild."

What truly made that trip memorable, however, was what followed the criminal's execution.

Still, Emma and William never discussed that incident openly.

Not long after, they stepped onto the island.

This stretch of land wasn't much different from the others—except for the complete absence of staff members.

The students were looking around when a familiar voice suddenly drew their attention forward.

"You aren't here for sightseeing."

Everyone immediately straightened, forming a horizontal line as they faced the black-haired woman.

Guinevere's eyes were sharp, her voice loud and clear. "This assessment will decide who is suited to be on your team. It does *not* mean that if you perform poorly, you'll be paired with a strong member. So whatever you do—don't hold back."

The message was clear.

Give it everything you have.

She continued, "Now, you see that building on your left."

Everyone turned at once. There stood a two-storey building, likely with four rooms split between the ground and first floors.

"Inside that building are several training dummies. You are to treat them as civilians. Naturally, they won't panic or react like real people—but that doesn't give you the right to handle them roughly."

After a brief pause, she added, "Your role is to escort them to the Island Delta and place them inside a ring—without allowing a single one to be harmed by whatever you encounter along the way."

The mission was simple and something they were here for. To save, to protect and to escort civilians to safety

While this assessment doesn't involve any real people, this would surely test how the students would react when they would be forced to do something they were not taught to.

They have to divert their mind from aggressive to defensive.

And that was going to be challenging for many.

"Kevin…you go first."

Kevin was startled but Guinevere just stared at him, not saying anything more.

He glanced at Natalie and the girl instantly pushed him, "What are you waiting for? Go!"

Kevin then realized that he actually was the first to be chosen for this mission.

The mission flashed by his mind.

Inside the building. Civilians. Then the bridge.

That was all he had.

Kevin broke into a jog toward the assembly building, boots crunching softly against gravel. With every step, his heartbeat grew louder in his ears. This wasn't like academy drills.

He pushed the door open.

The inside was dim. Dust floated in the air, illuminated by thin rays of light slipping through cracked windows. Rows of figures stood scattered across the hall.

Kevin froze.

"...Hello?"

For half a second, his instincts screamed danger. His body tensed, aether instinctively gathering—then he realized they weren't moving.

Training dummies.

Humanoid. Still. Lifeless.

Relief washed over him, quickly followed by embarrassment. He let out a shaky breath and stepped inside, scanning the room more carefully now.

"There you are…" he muttered.

He moved between them, checking corners, peering into side rooms. More dummies. Dozens of them. Too many to carry one by one without wasting time.

That's when it happened.

A sensation crawled up his spine.

It felt like pressure—subtle and heavy.

As if the danger was approaching at a fast pace…and not anywhere but in this building.

He concentrated. There was no sound.

He decided to first somehow carry these dummies outside. But how.

He looked at their bodies carefully….wheels. There were wheels at their toes and heels, most probably for training purposes.

"There has to be a storage room," Kevin paced down the gallery, his steps disturbing the tranquility of the hallway.

His eyes continued to search for the Storage continuously. Whenever he passed by a door, he turned his head, thankfully, there were nameplates of every room.

"…Grain stock… medicine stock… ah!"

Kevin skidded to a halt in front of the door.

Storage.

Relief flashed through him.

He reached out and pushed the door open.

The hinges groaned.

Darkness spilled out.

The air inside was thick. Damp. Heavy in a way that pressed against his chest the moment he stepped forward.

Shelves lined the walls, stacked with crates and equipment, but Kevin barely had time to register any of it.

Something moved.

A blur dropped from above.

Kevin didn't even have time to scream.

The impact slammed into him, knocking the breath out of his lungs. His back hit the wall hard, pain exploding through his spine. Weight crushed down on his chest, pinning him.

His vision went white.

Then black.

His ears rang violently, as if the world had been dipped underwater. He tried to inhale—but the air wouldn't come. Panic surged instantly, wild and uncontrollable.

Get it off—get it off—

Claws scraped against his shoulder. Something wet brushed his neck. The smell hit him next—rotting meat, old blood, something foul enough to make his stomach churn.

Kevin thrashed.

His hands struck something—not solid but made of entirely flesh.

The creature groaned and loosened its grip.

Kevin utilized the opportunity and separated the creature from him before throwing it on the ground

"Ghuk!" His vision was blurry but he saw it. Teeth, too many.

Aether burst from him without thought. His body reacted before his mind could catch up. Light flared between them, forcing the creature back with a shrill shriek.

Kevin stepped away, coughing violently, dragging in air like it was his first breath in years. His chest burned.

The creature clung to the shelves, twisted limbs bending the wrong way, head tilted as it watched him.

Kevin stared at the nightmarish creature, his hand resting on his blade.

A moment later, the creature jumped, aiming to cling to his face again, but this time, its body betrayed its intentions and its slit body was sent in different directions.

Kevin huffed as he sheathed his sword.

Turning to look at the creature, he found it had burnt into ashes.

'They are using Devils for this test?' He frowned, this was insane.

He instantly sprinted inside the room and took a bundle of rope.

Getting out, he searched all the four rooms on each floor and took out all the dummies in his arms.

Once out, he tied them using the rope, and one end around his waist.

They have a solid body that meant they could stand straight and thanks to the wheel, they wouldn't resist the pull.

Kevin wanted to check if he had missed any civilians, but moving like this, with eighteen dolls tied to his waist would be impossible within the building.

As such, he started to walk ahead.

Exiting the building, he came across the group of students who watched him in stunned silence.

Kevin didn't pause and was headed to the bridge, his breath slightly unsteady.

His feet dragged him through the damp soil as he finally exited Island Beta and got on the bridge—only to pause upon seeing the challenge awaiting him.

"Oh no…"

Several flying creatures circled the bridge, all inhumane.

As Kevin stepped into the light they all turned to face him.

Swan-like creatures with sharp razor-like beaks and black feathers give them an ominous presence.

Kevin gritted his teeth and undid the rope.

Taking out his blade, he muttered under his breath, 'I am not going to fail again…'

Sunlight began to pour into him, covering him completely with blinding lights as the monsters darted toward him, their intentions clear.

Kevin shifted his weight, his left leg sliding behind him, his eyes focused.

His blade was clad in an ethereal glow as he voiced, "Divine Mayhem."

°°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- One chapter for today, sorry.

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