yasinovel Chapter 124: Preparations [3]
Chapter 124: Preparations [3]
Cael and his team walked into the training hall assigned to them.
The room was wide and empty, with only a few benches lined against the walls. Dust motes drifted lazily in the pale morning light that filtered through the high windows.
The floor was smooth stone, worn down by years of use. Clearly, unlike the maintenance at Everbright, the Golden scale was very lacking.
Other teams were scattered across similar halls throughout the academy. The atmosphere was tense but focused.
Cael’s watch beeped.
He raised his wrist and read the screen. It was the trial outline for the selections. He skimmed through the text quickly, then read it again more carefully.
---
The Grand Summit Trials – Arhal City Selection
Total Participants: 10,000
Location: Golden Scale Academy
Duration: 2 weeks
Type: Virtual simulation
...
Trial 1 – Combat
Format: Team combat.
Objective: Clear all designated targets within the time limit.
Enemy Composition:
20 Iron-rank dummies
10 Bronze-rank dummies
3 Silver-rank dummies
Optional Objective (Bonus Points):
1 Gold-rank dummy
Scoring:
Faster completion yields a higher ranking. Points are deducted for each team member who fails during the trial. The optional Gold-rank dummy is not required for passing but significantly boosts the final score.
...
Trial 2 – Speed
Format: Whole team traverses a large mountain course.
Objective: Reach the summit within the time limit.
Course Features: Traps and environmental hazards.
Scoring:
Faster completion yields a higher ranking. Points are deducted for each team member who fails during the trial.
...
Trial 3 – Intelligence
Format: 500 virtual beings in a large hall.
Objective: Identify the single imposter hidden among them.
Conditions:
Participants must find the clues themselves.
Scoring:
Faster completion yields a higher ranking. Each incorrect accusation reduces the team’s score. Teams that fail to identify the imposter within the time limit are disqualified from this trial.
---
Cael lowered his wrist. A cold draft seeped through a crack in the window frame, rustling his silver hair.
He smirked at the trials. Just as he expected, they were really hard. Not for him, but the same could not be said for others.
Among the 10,000 students participating in Arhal City, only 100 would be selected. The odds were one in a hundred.
Meaning only twenty-five teams would advance.
According to reports, over 700,000 participants had registered across all cities.
If 10,000 were selected per city across seventy cities, then 7,000 participants would clash in the Grand Summit Trials.
And as Cael already knew, the host for the main event was Everbright Academy.
Edwin broke the silence with a question,
"Should we go for the Gold dummy?"
Clearly, he too had read the trial notice carefully. His voice echoed slightly in the empty hall.
Aria adjusted her bow. The string hummed softly as she tested its tension.
"The Gold dummy is a bait."
Brania nodded in agreement; her purple eyes fixed on Cael.
Cael said with a smile,
"I agree. But we have to fight it anyway."
Edwin, Brania, and Aria raised their eyebrows.
"Why?"
They were all only [Silver]. Fighting a [Gold] rank dummy that could instantly pin them down seemed like a useless idea.
As far as they knew, Cael had only just broken through yesterday.
Cael said slowly,
"Think about it. Only twenty-five teams will be selected. The more points we have, the better our chances."
Brania nodded and said,
"True. But we cannot fight a [Gold] dummy. Even if you fight it, it will take too much time. And do not forget, the faster we complete the trial, the higher our ranking."
Cael let out a soft chuckle.
"There is no need to worry. Trust me."
Aria shook her head.
"No, I agree with Brania. I know your combat prowess, but you just broke through yesterday. You need time to adjust to your mana."
Cael inwardly sighed.
’They are making valid points. But I wonder how they would react if they knew I killed [Diamond] rank vampires when I was still a [Silver] ranker.’
He shook his head and stood up. The bench creaked beneath him as he rose.
"Guys, have I ever used my skills against you?"
Brania and Aria paused. Neither of them had ever seen him fight seriously. The air in the room grew still.
Cael smiled and looked at Edwin, who had been silent the entire time, then back at Brania and Aria.
"Can Edwin win against both of you at the same time?"
Brania frowned and immediately shook her head.
"No."
She was [Silver 2], close to achieving [Silver 3]. Aria was [Silver 1], rivaling Edwin in rank. There was no way Edwin could win in a one-versus-two fight.
Cael’s smile widened. He had been waiting for her to say that.
He pulled Edwin forward. The red-haired boy stumbled slightly, caught off guard.
"Then show me."
Edwin looked frustrated.
"W-what do you mean? I cannot win."
Cael nodded and said,
"I know. I know. So, I will give Edwin a buff. How about that, you two?"
Brania and Aria looked at each other, clearly confused.
Cael had always kept his skills hidden, and now he was talking about giving Edwin a buff.
They had their speculations, but neither of them could guess what he was planning.
After a moment, they agreed.
Cael decided to scare the girl a bit, after all, he too needs to show his battle prowess.
So, they won’t underestimate him.
"Good, let’s begin."
...
Edwin stood across the Brania and Aria.
Behind Edwin, Cael stood ten meters back, his arms crossed, his violet eyes watching carefully.
Brania moved first. She had confidence in her ability to defeat Edwin easily, but since Cael had said he would buff Edwin, she did not underestimate him.
"Gravity zone."
Instantly, Edwin felt a pressing weight on his shoulders. His knees almost buckled. The air around him grew heavy, thick as water.
From behind, Cael silently copied Brania’s skill.
Dust rose from the ground. A gauntlet formed on Brania’s wrist, coated in compressed earth. She punched toward Edwin’s chest.
But Edwin used Shadow Step.
His body dissolved into darkness and reappeared inside Aria’s shadow, several meters away from the gravity zone’s range.
Cael watched, still not taking action. He was in no rush. He wanted to learn the limits of his teammates as well.
’Now then, should I use Battle Reaper’s Dominion?’