CHAPTER 121: CHAPTER 121 - THE PRACTICAL TEST

Steam swirled in the marble-tiled bath chamber, curling around Luca’s lean frame as he stood beneath the cascading water. Droplets slid down the sharp lines of his shoulders and back, the steady stream washing away the sweat from his early morning training. But not the unease in his chest.

According to the game...

His fingers pushed back wet strands of hair from his forehead as his expression darkened. This is when the Arcadia City cultist investigation begins.

In the original timeline, the club selection was followed by vague hints—unusual disappearances, black-market mana stones, and whispers in the alleyways. Subtle, slow-burning clues that only the player and a few party members could connect to the devil cult. The academy knew nothing. The city was blind.

But now... everything has changed.

He stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist, and glanced toward the mirror. Water trailed down his jawline as he stared into his own reflection, eyes steeled with a mixture of resolve and wariness.

The cult had already reared its head.

Continent wasn’t blind anymore.

And neither was the academy.

He sighed, long and slow. "This isn’t just a deviation... It’s a complete divergence."

By the time he dressed in the sharp black uniform—trimmed with golden edges and the insignia of Arcadia’s elite class—his mind was still racing. He adjusted the cuffs, clipped his twin sabers case to his belt, and stepped into the corridor.

The morning sun cast angular shadows through the glass windows as he made his way toward Class A.

The classroom door slid open with a soft click. Luca stepped inside, the usual blend of morning chatter and low laughter reaching his ears.

He made his way to his seat—the last row from the front, window side—and slid into it with a practiced, easy grace. His gaze lingered out the window for a moment, the sky cloudless and vast.

But inside, his thoughts were turbulent.

What comes next?

Will the cult move earlier than expected? Will new factions join the fray?

And what if even I... don’t know what’s coming anymore?

A familiar voice broke through the haze.

"Yo," Eric greeted, slumping into the seat beside him with a grin. "You’re unusually quiet this morning—what’s up with that face?"

Luca opened his mouth to respond, but a crisp, authoritative voice cut through the room.

"Silence, class."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Seraphina entered—her blue hair flowing behind her like a shimmering veil, her boots clicking against the floor with rhythmic precision. Her expression was unreadable, but her sapphire eyes scanned the room like a hawk surveying prey.

All voices died instantly.

She reached the podium, folding her arms across her chest.

"Due to the confirmed resurgence of the Devil Cult," she said, each word deliberate and sharp, "and in light of recent curriculum changes, today you will undergo a series of individual tests."

A ripple of murmurs ran through the room.

She didn’t wait for them to settle.

"This will help assess your current level of preparedness. We are no longer operating under theoretical threats. Continent faces real danger. And your final exam for this semester... will be a full-scale dungeon clearance. So the test will help you know where you stand."

Gasps. Whispers. Some students sat straighter in excitement. Others paled.

Luca’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So it’s official.

The script is over.

In the original game, the final assessment was a series of formal duels, meant to showcase combat style and synergy. A spectacle more than a test.

But now...

They were preparing the students for war.

Honestly... He leaned back in his chair, letting out a quiet breath. It’s better this way. The more this world deviates from the rails of the game... the higher our chances of surviving what’s coming.

A sudden tap on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts.

"Hey." Eric gave him a crooked smile. "Don’t tell me you zoned out again?"

Luca blinked, looking around. Most of the students had already stood up and begun to file out of the classroom. Even Seraphina was gone.

"You coming?" Eric asked, already slinging his coat over his shoulder.

Luca nodded slowly, rising from his seat and walking alongside him.

As they stepped out into the corridor, Luca glanced toward the sky again.

The winds were shifting. The devil cult wasn’t lurking in the shadows anymore.

And neither was he.

As Luca and Eric stepped into the expansive arena, they were greeted with a shimmering dome of translucent mana surrounding the platform. Blue arcane circuits glowed faintly on the ground—this was the heart of Arcadia’s virtual test field, a marvel of magical technology that simulated real battles without risk of life.

Up on the raised platform, Seraphina stood with her usual poise, her eyes sharp behind her half-moon spectacles. "Listen carefully," she began, her voice magically amplified across the space.

"You will each be tested on three primary parameters: Strength, Agility, and Defense. Once inside, you’ll enter a virtual combat realm tailored to test that specific aspect. Your score will be ranked from Grade A to D based on performance. This is a critical preparatory step for your Final Semester Assessment: The Real Dungeon Clearance."

A ripple of murmurs and sharp inhales passed through the students.

Luca narrowed his eyes. This wasn’t in the game. The final was just duels back then... He clenched his fists. So the game script ends here. From now on... it’s a completely new story.

Seraphina raised a hand and called out the first name:

"Simon Rustford."

A tall student with short brown hair stepped forward, his silver sword gleaming as it hung from his back. He looked confident, if a little tense. The circular gate at the center of the arena lit up, and with a shimmer, he vanished into the virtual test space.

As the screen lit up where everyone could see the situation inside.

***

Simon Rustford’s Test

The arena shimmered as Simon stepped into the first trial—Crushing Gauntlet.

Jagged cliffs loomed on either side. Without warning, massive boulders came thundering down, and stone golems surged forward with brutal force.

Simon’s blade flashed. He cleaved through the first golem cleanly, then struck a second—cracking its core but not shattering it. A third one knocked him back before he regained footing and pushed forward.

He deflected a falling boulder with a grunt, but his strikes began to lose momentum, growing inconsistent.

Seraphina’s voice rang out above the field:

"Strength: 71/100. Strong start, but lacks consistent power."

The second trial began—Mirror Maze.

Simon found himself in a shifting labyrinth of mirrors and light. Each step triggered moving panels, flickering illusions, and sudden spikes from the floor.

A searing laser beam narrowly missed him. He ducked, rolled, and sprinted forward—but tripped once, triggering a trap that sent him sliding backward.

Teeth clenched, he pushed on and dove through the final corridor just as the countdown ended.

Seraphina’s voice echoed:

"Agility: 56/100. Reached the end, but barely."

Then came the final test—Endless Rain.

He stood in a wide clearing under dark skies. The moment the bell rang, a storm of magical arrows rained down.

Simon spun his blade, deflecting the first few. He braced himself, parried more, and took a defensive stance.

Half a minute in, his arms trembled. An arrow grazed his shoulder. Then another knocked him off balance.

Ten seconds before the end, a direct hit sent him crashing to the ground.

Seraphina nodded, arms crossed:

"Defense: 58/100. Solid form, but stamina failed him."

Simon exhaled hard as he left the arena. Average performance—but enough to pass. The crowd buzzed softly, unsure whether to be impressed or underwhelmed.

Simon reappeared in a flash of light, breathing heavily, his uniform slightly scorched from the simulation. A round of light applause followed.

"Simon Rustford—Strength: B, Agility: C, Defense: C. Average performance," Seraphina noted, not unkindly.

One by one, students began taking the test. Some managed B or C, a few got D in one area, but so far, no one had touched the elusive A Rank.

The energy in the room began to shift, however, as Seraphina’s next words echoed:

"Aiden Everhart."

A wave of excitement swept the class. Some whispered, some fell into hush. Luca sat up straighter, eyes narrowing with interest.

Eric gave a low whistle. "Well, looks like things are going to get flashy."

Aiden stepped forward calmly, his blonde hair almost glowing under the arena lights. His sword was strapped to his back, and his expression was unreadable—calm, cold, and focused.

The mana gate lit up once again, and with a pulse, Aiden vanished into the simulation.