CHAPTER 288: PREPARATION FOR THE PRELIMINARY EXAM [PART 2]

If Alex’s words were true, then wouldn’t he be doomed when the Preliminary Exam comes?

Charles’ passive skill, Challenger’s Mark, would basically summon a stampede whenever he step foot into a dungeon.

Noticing Charles’ anxiety, Alex faced the other party and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. I already have a plan in mind."

Similar to the Battle Royale, all the Classes from Class F up to Class A would participate in this dungeon expedition.

But this dungeon would be something especially made by Professor Rowan with his space magic.

After what happened in the Battle Royale, the Headmaster didn’t want to suffer any casualties and made those who opposed him criticize the academy.

The Demon Worshiper’s sudden attack on the Battle Royale had already put everyone on edge, so having a second invasion would seriously damage the academy’s reputation.

"A dungeon expedition?" Princess Xenia frowned. "Where did you get this information?"

As a member of the Royal Family and a student of Class A, the Princess and her brother, Prince Edward, would usually be informed about these things ahead of the public.

Alex knowing information ahead of people with their status just showed how formidable their club president was.

"Didn’t I tell you I’m a Seer?" Alex replied with a smirk. "I sometimes get visions about these things."

"So you also foresaw the Demon Worshiper Invasion during the Battle Royale before it happened?" Princess Xenia asked.

"Yes." Alex nodded.

"Then why didn’t you tell the staff about it?" Princess Xenia inquired.

"The reason is really simple," Alex answered. "They will not believe me because I don’t have any proof."

"So you took matters into your own hands because you knew that the Demon Worshipers were coming?" Mary asked.

"Yes." Alex nodded. "And fortunately, my gamble worked."

Of course, he didn’t mention that he, Dim Dim, and Nessia had worked tirelessly to ensure that their Club would come out on top of the Battle Royale.

"I see. That must be why Chuck didn’t leave my side during that event." Princess Xenia frowned. "I thought he was just being annoying."

Alex chuckled in amusement. It was only now that he found out what Chuck had done during the Battle Royale. After all, he had been too busy dealing with the Demon Worshipers.

"So what are we going to do this time?" Princess Xenia asked. "I will give you my full support."

After becoming a club member of Endless Horizon, Princess Xenia realized that this was not just a club meant for fun. It couldn’t be a coincidence that Alex and his members had constantly at the center of the major events happening in the First Years.

But she was most impressed with Alex’s guts, daring to clash with the Crest Clubs, who held absolute power in the academy, second only to the Student Council.

While she didn’t want to admit it, she was always looking for a touch of excitement in her life.

The Battle Royale and the Trial of the Heracle Mountain were right up her alley. And for some reason, she also believed that she was in good hands as long as Alex was the one who was steering the ship called Endless Horizon.

She and her brother already had a few chats, discussing Alex’s background.

Unfortunately, they failed to dig up anything. Was he a commoner? Or maybe he was an exiled noble from a faraway kingdom who wound up in the Floating Islands of Thaloria and started his new life there.

"First, let me explain about the mechanics of the dungeon expedition," Alex said. "But, remember this. Whatever you hear from me should not leave this club room. There’s a chance that all our preparations will be in vain if the Headmaster or the Staff were to know that we knew the contents of the exam beforehand."

Everyone nodded in understanding, not wanting to betray Alex’s trust.

Seeing that everyone was waiting for him to discuss his plan, the young man shared the information about the event, which he had learned through the game.

"Unlike the battle royale, the focus of this exam is to gain as many points as possible," Alex stated. "Points are earned by killing monsters. The stronger the monsters, the higher the points. It’s similar to the event that Professor Gareth had made us do in the Mistral Weave Forest.

"Princess, since you and Mary are in Class A, I believe you are going to form a team with your brother, correct?"

"Right." Princess Xenia nodded. "My brother is a prodigy like me. I believe he will become the next Supreme Magus."

Alex smiled faintly because what the princess was saying was indeed the future for her brother, Prince Edward.

As one of the Main Heroes of ELO, Prince Edward was a cheat character.

He would automatically gain one point in Intelligence and Magic every time a stat was added to his Stat Parameters.

This made him the strongest mage class in the game, while Renard was the strongest Physical attacker.

As for Astrea’s brother, Cassian, who was also one of the Heroes in the story, he was more of an All-Rounder.

Unlike Renard and Prince Edward, Cassian would gain a stat on either Strength or Intelligence every time a stat point was added.

The increase of stats alternated between these two Stats Parameters, resulting in an ideal Magic Knight build.

"Very well. It will be a competition between your team and ours," Alex said. "But regardless of who wins between us, our two parties will take first and second place."

"Oh? You sound very confident." Princess Xenia arched an eyebrow. "Then again, with my team, we have a high chance of becoming the highest scorer in the Preliminary Exam."

"You’re right." Alex nodded. "But you will only get a chance to become the top 1 if you listen to my plan. If you don’t, regardless of who you team up with, you will not get the highest score, no matter what."

"While I’m inclined to disagree, I know better than to argue with you," Princess Xenia stated. "Since you sound very confident that we will lose if we don’t follow your plan, then I will believe you. The only problem is my brother.

"You see, after what happened in the Lionheart Society, it is impossible for him to not hold a grudge against you. There’s a chance that he’ll be unwilling to cooperate with your plan."

"Well, if he doesn’t, then it’s his problem." Alex shrugged. "We’ll talk more about this a week before the Preliminary Exam starts. For now, I want you all to make preparations for a dungeon expedition."

""Okay.""

After they escaped the Dungeon of Beginnings, Alex told Charles to never tell anyone about his passive skill, Challenger’s Mark.

The young man warned him that if others knew, they might exploit Charles, or worse, eliminate him due to the power he possessed.

Last but not the least was the fact that Charles had another secret to keep.

He was someone the scholars of the world referred to as "Void-Touched".

Someone who had managed to escape his fate to die due to Alex’s intervention.

This change had turned Charles into a Half-Monster, allowing him to transform into a Legendary-Grade Existence.

Right now, he was still unable to control this power.

The only thing he could do was partially transform his arms and legs depending on the situation.

If people were to know that he was a Void-Touched, they might eliminate him to prevent a future threat to the Kingdom of Avalon.