An hour passed, and soon, everyone had gathered. The murmurs died down as a fairy flew up above the crowd, his small body illuminated by a faint glow. His voice projected clearly throughout the massive room.
"Welco to the third test of the Mystical Academy exams." He paused for a mont, letting the words sink in. "For this test, you will be randomly paired with others in the room to participate in a team battle against dungeon monsters."
A few students exchanged glances, so excited, others tense.
"To find your team mbers, simply look at your tag. It will reveal the identities of your assigned teammates and guide you toward them."
Aurianna glanced down at her wooden tag, watching as glowing numbers began to form across its surface.
The fairy continued, his tone turning sharper. "Before you proceed, here are the rules you must follow:
1. Everyone must contribute to the fight. Anyone who refuses to participate will be disqualified.
2. Using your teammates as at shields is strictly forbidden. Anyone who does so will not only fail but also be blacklisted from the Mystical Academy and the Church of Light and Peace.
3. Killing another participant—whether directly or indirectly—will result in imdiate disqualification. In extre cases, we will personally kill you.
4. Working together efficiently will earn you additional points, increasing your chances of being selected as a student.
5. Racism or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.
6. If any non-participant aids you, your entire team will be disqualified.
7. Putting your entire group in grave danger will result in disqualification.
8. Deliberately causing havoc or sabotaging other teams will lead to disqualification.
9. Any form of harassnt or molestation toward another participant will be t with imdiate expulsion and further punishnt.
10. If your life is deed to be in danger, you will be forcibly teleported out—but you will also be disqualified.
The fairy’s glowing eyes scanned the room. "These rules are non-negotiable. If you break them, there will be no second chances."
"Now then, off you go!" the fairy announced with a clap of his tiny hands.
Aurianna’s tag pulsed with an orange glow, and a thin beam of light extended from it, guiding her toward a specific direction. She followed the glowing path, walking through the crowd until she stopped before two individuals—a beautiful vampire and an average-looking demon.
"Nice to et you. I’m Vlad," the vampire greeted, flashing a confident smile.
Aurianna blinked in confusion, her gaze darting between Vlad’s delicate features and his unmistakably feminine attire.
"If you’re wondering—I’m a guy," Vlad chuckled, reading her expression with ease.
"A guy?!" Aurianna and the demon teen gasped in unison.
"He looks like a girl," the demon boy whispered to Aurianna, leaning slightly toward her.
"I agree," Aurianna murmured back, still scrutinizing Vlad’s appearance.
"I can hear you both, y’know?" Vlad sighed.
Now that she got a closer look, Vlad had dark brown skin and looked around eighteen. His long black hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, and his coquette-style shorts and long-sleeved top only added to his androgynous appearance. Though his pointed ears were sharper than a human’s, they weren’t quite as defined as an elf’s. Most notably, he was shorter than both Aurianna and the demon beside him.
"And I’m Andre August," the demon finally introduced himself with a polite nod. His voice was deep.
Andre had gray skin with rough black scales lining parts of his shoulders and arms. His orange pupils glead against the dim lighting of the hall. He was noticeably taller than Aurianna, with a broad, muscular fra, and his short hazel hair was slightly ssy. Unlike Vlad, Andre’s appearance was far from delicate—especially considering the fact that he was shirtless, only wearing simple black trousers.
Aurianna noted that the one thing all three of them had in common was the wooden tag dangling from their necks. The number 1202 glowed on each of them, marking them as a team.
"I’m Aurianna," she introduced herself, offering a bright smile.
Vlad’s crimson eyes glead with curiosity as he leaned forward slightly. "Wow, your hair looks like freshly fallen snow," he mused, reaching out as if to touch it.
Aurianna’s expression darkened instantly, her sharp glare freezing him in place.
"I’d prefer if you didn’t do that," she said coldly.
Vlad imdiately withdrew his hand, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Ah, yes, of course. That was rude of ," he admitted, his voice slightly nervous as he avoided her piercing gaze.
"Well, that’s an," Andre muttered, crossing his arms with a frown.
"And it seems no one ever taught you both etiquette or manners," Aurianna scoffed, lifting her chin slightly.
"Let’s just move past that, alright?" Vlad cut in, rolling his eyes. "Since we’re a team, wouldn’t it be better to go over our classes and abilities? We only have ten minutes to prepare." He pointed toward the massive clock suspended in the center of the ceiling, its hands steadily ticking away.
Aurianna nodded. "I’m a mage." With a flick of her wrist, a crystal revolver materialized in her grasp.
"Wow, that’s beautiful... whatever it is," Vlad murmured, his crimson eyes practically sparkling.
Aurianna smirked. "Let’s just say it’s my magic."
"So cool!" Vlad grinned. "I use a blood umbrella. Let show you!"
He bit his finger, and a dark crimson umbrella instantly materialized in his hand. The umbrella pulsed with a life of its own, multiple eyes blinking open along its surface.
’I see, similar to Concubine Ezra’s power,’ Aurianna mused, observing the weapon calmly.
"And what about you, Andre?" she asked, turning her gaze to the demon.
Andre straightened his posture, puffing out his chest. "? I use my fists!" he declared proudly, cracking his knuckles for emphasis.
Aurianna’s expression imdiately soured. She lifted part of her dress to cover the lower half of her face, but the sheer disapproval in her eyes was unmistakable. "How uncouth."
"Stop looking at like that!" Andre barked, his tail bristling in annoyance.
Vlad chuckled, stepping between them before Andre could get too worked up. "Alright, alright. Now that we know our abilities, how do we strategize as a team?"
Aurianna considered for a mont before Vlad spoke again, his tone more thoughtful this ti. "And... I’m a little surprised that you, a human, aren’t giving us the usual condescending attitude. Most of the other participants clearly look down on vampires and demons."
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