CHAPTER 34: PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT [1]

Instructor Samantha’s voice carried clearly through the briefing chamber — firm, crisp, no nonsense.

"Alright, everyone. I trust you all used the last three days to prepare properly for today’s practical assessment."

"Yes!" The class answered in a unified tone.

She nodded, arms crossed.

"Good. Remember — once you enter the dungeon, you will not be directly supervised by faculty. Your decisions, your teamwork, and your survival instincts will determine your results. Do not treat this lightly."

Her eyes swept across the room — lingering on several students who probably spent more time partying than preparing.

Then she motioned toward the box at her side — filled with thin dark–metal bracelets.

"Come forward one by one. Take these bracelets. They’re artifacts — not accessories. They will automatically record your monster kills. They also track your vitality. If your life force dips below a certain threshold, the emergency signal will trigger and the knights stationed outside will force a rescue."

She narrowed her eyes.

"So don’t even think about taking them off."

Cadets formed a neat line — orderly for the most part — and began collecting bracelets, fastening them to their wrists.

Once everyone was equipped, Samantha spoke again:

"Gather with your assigned groups. Last chance to reorganize your formation before departure."

Our "group" gathered.

And just like the other day — the air was instantly sour.

Two subgroups within the group:

— Ariana and me

— Ren and Livia

Physical distance, emotional distance — everything about them screamed: we only teamed because we were forced to.

Pathetic.

Samantha clapped once, signaling movement.

"That’s all. Start moving. Group 1 — teleportation hall."

Groups began marching out. We were tenth — last.

*****

The teleportation facility was a massive circular chamber of etched stone — dozens of glowing runes carved into the floor — mana circulation winding like threads of silver through the walls. Knights and staff walked back and forth carrying mana cores and ledgers.

This wasn’t "some school laboratory." This was high-level infrastructure. Each teleport activation cost a small fortune.

Yet the academy used it like pocket change.

"Group 10 — step forward," a staff knight called.

We moved.

Ren was fidgeting — pretending to be confident but unable to hide the tremor in his fingers. Livia clung too close to him — almost bumping shoulders.

Ariana walked calmly beside me — composed, steady, no stutter.

We stepped into the teleport circle, and blue light swallowed everything.

******

The dungeon entrance was nothing like the academy’s polished floors.

The moment we stepped out, rugged stone ground replaced marble. Tall stalactites hung from the ceiling. A faint metallic smell filled the air — minerals and magic combined.

Dungeon Knights saluted Samantha.

"Good morning, Instructor. These cadets are entering today?"

"Yes."

"We’ll verify their IDs first."

We handed our academy cards in sequence — each confirmation rune lighting up green — and then we were led to the portal.

The portal itself was eerie — swirling like an endless vertical whirlpool of deep blue and pitch black. The sensation of standing in front of it was like observing a living beast breathing gently.

"I had only seen this in the game..." I murmured internally.

Facing it in person was a different thing entirely.

I turned to my group.

"The moment we step in — prepare for battle immediately. Don’t let the scenery distract you."

They strapped in gear.

Ariana adjusted her wand, focusing her breathing.

Ren slammed his shield down once as if declaring pride.

Livia gripped her staff nervously.

"Ready?" I asked.

Ren scoffed. "Instead of asking useless questions, move."

He stepped forward — and walked in.

I followed — and Ariana and Livia behind.

****

Dark stone cave.

Moist walls.

A faint dim light — like fireflies floating in stagnant air.

Our footsteps echoed sharply.

And the awkward silence between members made that echo even more irritating.

Their formation?

A joke.

Ren and Livia walked side–by–side like a couple on a date — leaving gaps everywhere. Ariana instinctively stayed near me.

I let it slide for twenty meters.

Then — enough.

"Cadet Livia."

She jolted like someone stabbed her.

"Y–Yes...?"

"The formation is garbage. Even goblins could flank us like this. Hate me or don’t — I couldn’t care less — but if you want to avoid failing, then stand where you’re supposed to."

Ren spun around immediately, annoyed.

"What did you say—?!"

"Lucien is right." Ariana cut in quietly — but the authority in her voice made his mouth clamp shut.

He swallowed his retort instantly.

No matter how "influential" Ren thought he was — in front of Duke Solmere’s daughter, he had no qualifications to bark.

We adjusted properly this time.

Ren in front — shield raised.

I walked diagonally behind, providing angle for ranged offense. Ariana mirrored opposite, wand ready.

Livia — support — finally positioned at the rear with line of sight to all.

Much better.

Now we were a functioning party instead of four strangers walking in a cave.

Ren inhaled sharply — and raised his shield slightly higher.

"Let’s go."

*****

We didn’t have to walk far before the dungeon finally greeted us properly.

A low, guttural growl rippled out of the darkness ahead — and a figure padded into view, teeth bared, eyes glowing ember-red.

A Red Wolf.

One of the weakest F-rank beasts, yet still a genuine monster — nothing like the rabbits and wildlife outside.

Its crimson fur bristled as it lowered its body, circling our front.

Ren stepped up immediately, shield raised, his voice steadying despite his nerves.

"I’ll draw it."

He activated his defensive skill — Aegis Pulse — a faint ripple of mana coating his shield like a transparent membrane.

The wolf took the provocation.

It lunged.

The shield met the claws with a metallic ring.

Clang!

Claws scraped violently across the barrier, sparks skittering off the surface.

The wolf snapped viciously — ignoring the rest of us completely — all its hatred locked on Ren due to his aggro skill.

"Now!"

Ren opened a narrow window.

I raised my shotgun, trigger already half-pulled mid-move.

The first shot fired.

Bang!

It grazed the wolf’s thigh — not lethal, but enough to jolt its movement.

The second shot nearly caught its ribs — the beast twisted sharply, surviving by instinct.

Ariana didn’t hesitate — flame flared in her hand, forming a small, bright ember.

"Ignis-Dot."

A simple spell — a searing ball of flame — streaked forward, but the wolf darted aside with surprising speed.

Fast little bastard.

I exhaled and shut out the chaos.

Calm.

Focus.

[Detection] flared — my senses sharpened — mana threads mapping the wolf’s motion in subtle arcs.

Trajectory locked.

Then—

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Three shots.

Different angles — yet converging on the same future point.

The wolf leaped to avoid the first bullet — only to jump directly into the second.

The third sealed its fate.

A strangled, pathetic cry echoed through the stone walls—

KIII-ek!

—then the beast crumpled, blood darkening the cave floor.

Silence.

...then the rush.

Adrenaline surged through me — sharp, electric, almost addictive.

My palms tingled from the recoil, chest tight with exhilaration.

So this was it.

The thrill of the hunt.

The reason ranged DPS mains in every game refused to roll anything else.

"Guns really are a man’s romance..." I muttered under my breath, unable to stop the small grin.

I finally lowered my weapon and glanced back at the others.

"Everyone okay?"

Ren exhaled, shaking out his shield arm.

"Yeah... we’re fine."

Ariana nodded quietly — cheeks slightly flushed, excitement in her eyes.

Even Livia — who had been frightened stiff earlier — looked stunned rather than scared now.

A clean kill.