CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183 - TEAM FORMATION (1)

The moment Seraphina’s words fell, the air inside Class A turned restless, like a pond struck by a heavy stone. Whispers filled the room—some brimming with excitement, others edged with unease. Students leaned toward each other, already testing the waters of alliance and strength.

"Dungeon subjugation, huh? Finally, some real combat!" one student whispered eagerly, his grin wide.

"I-I’m not ready for this... what if we face something we can’t handle?" another muttered, her hands clutching the edge of her desk.

"Ha! This time I’ll show everyone my skills. Written exams weren’t my thing anyway," someone else chuckled with forced bravado.

Eric leaned back lazily in his chair, glancing sidelong at Luca with a grin.

"Well, it seems your first place is in danger."

Luca blinked, tilting his head. "My first place?"

Eric chuckled, leaning closer. "You were first in the mid-sems, remember? This time, though, there’s no written exam. It’s all about performance in the dungeon."

"Ohh..." Luca muttered, scratching his cheek as if the fact had completely slipped his mind. Well, I was first place, I guess.

Before their voices could mingle with the others, Seraphina’s sharp tone cut through the chaos.

"Silence, class!"

The entire room snapped to attention as her gaze swept over them, her voice clear and unwavering.

"For this assessment, you will form teams of five. The marks will not only reflect your performance in the dungeon but also the balance of your formation. Cooperation, awareness, and adaptability will be graded carefully. There will also be hidden parameters you are not aware of."

Another wave of murmurs rolled across the class, the tension climbing higher as friendships, rivalries, and quiet calculations all collided at once.

"Teams of five? I’m definitely sticking with my friends."

"Balanced, huh... guess we’ll need at least one healer."

"Should we grab that guy from Class B? He’s strong."

"Like hell he’d team with you."

Seraphina’s expression hardened. "Additionally, you will choose the difficulty level of the dungeon yourselves: Easy, Medium, Hard, or Hell. But do not assume that selecting a higher difficulty will guarantee higher marks. We will judge your choices to evaluate your self-awareness. Likewise, if a team of strong students selects Easy, your scores will reflect your cowardice. Make the decision wisely."

Her words struck like iron, silencing the room for a moment before chatter erupted again, this time sharper and more hurried. Already, students were turning in their seats, whispering, negotiating, and quietly scheming.

Hmm... Luca leaned back in his chair, arms folded as his gaze swept the room. That’s a clever method. They’re testing not just our combat skills, but our judgment and teamwork. The way we form parties, the difficulty we choose—it’s all a mirror to how we’ll survive outside. This will separate the reckless from the prepared.

"Submit your teams and chosen difficulty within the next two days," Seraphina concluded firmly. Then, after a brief pause, her tone shifted. "Now. Let us begin the lecture."

But though she pressed forward, few could truly focus. Excitement and anxiety rippled through the room, spilling into every whispered conversation, every exchanged glance. The lecture passed like a blur, her voice colliding with the background murmur of plans being forged in secrecy.

By the time she dismissed them, the room all but exploded into motion. Desks scraped back, students crowded the aisles, and voices overlapped as invitations and rejections were exchanged. Friends clustered together, while loners lingered awkwardly, scanning the room for potential allies.

"Want to team up?"

"Let’s find a mage before they all get picked."

"Hey, healer, you’re with me!"

Luca remained seated for a moment, watching the dance unfold. So it begins... the scramble for teams. This might be even more interesting than the exam itself.

Luca leaned back in his chair, rocking it slightly onto its back legs with an easy, almost lazy confidence. His arms folded behind his head as he cast a sidelong glance at Eric.

"So, who are the other three in our team?" he asked, as if the matter had already been decided.

Eric’s brows shot up. He straightened so abruptly his chair scraped against the floor. "What do you mean by... our team? Since when are we a team?"

"Of course we’re a team. What are you saying?" Luca replied without missing a beat. He dropped his chair back onto all fours with a thud, his tone carrying the weight of certainty, as though the universe itself agreed with him.

Eric stared at him as if Luca had sprouted horns. He shifted his chair a good hand’s width away, shoulders hunching as if to build a shield of space between them. "Don’t involve me with you, you bastard! You’ll definitely choose hell difficulty seeing your strength. I—I just want to live! I want to eat good food, sleep in comfort, and enjoy life!" He clutched at his chest dramatically, like a man lamenting his doomed fate.

Luca waved a dismissive hand, as though brushing aside smoke. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. We’re a team—you don’t have a choice in this."

Eric’s jaw dropped, his protests rising into strangled noises. "Wha—You can’t just—!"

But Luca ignored the flailing arms and desperate tone, leaning forward instead, elbows resting on the desk. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he said, "Come on, you surely have some news, right? Tell me what options we’ve got."

Eric groaned, dragging a hand down his face in exasperation. "You’re impossible. Fine." He leaned back, arms crossing tightly over his chest, but the smug curve of his lips betrayed him. "Well, seeing your... reputation, we won’t need to chase anyone. The applications will come to us themselves." He jerked his chin toward the far side of the classroom. "Just look over there."

Luca followed the gesture. Across the room, Aiden was surrounded by a small crowd—students leaning over his desk, some practically tripping over each other just to gain his attention. The atmosphere around him buzzed like a marketplace, every word and gesture vying for approval.

Luca exhaled a long, weary sigh, his shoulders sagging as he slouched in his chair. Well, that was expected.

His gaze drifted away, scanning the room. A few students darted quick looks at him, but the moment their eyes met his, they flinched and looked away—turning hurriedly to their notes, to the window, to anything

that wasn’t him.

"...Why are they looking away?" Luca asked, raising a brow, clearly puzzled.

Eric slapped his thigh and laughed so hard his chair shook. "Hah! Did you forget already? You’ve got a reputation—certified troublemaker, danger seeker, walking disaster. Who wouldn’t be scared?"

Luca’s mouth fell open in pure outrage. He pointed to himself, his expression a portrait of injustice. "What nonsense! There isn’t a single soul in this academy more peace-loving than me!"

Eric doubled over, unable to breathe from laughing.

Luca leaned back with a confident grin, folding his arms across his chest as if sealing the matter in his own head.

"Hmph, we don’t need cowards anyway. Whoever dares to approach us means they’re not afraid of danger. That’s the kind of teammate we want—they’ll definitely be in our team."

Eric gave a half-snort, half-laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, it’s as you say..." His tone was amused but laced with resignation, like he had long since given up trying to argue against Luca’s stubborn logic.

Luca leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "So, let’s see what we need now. We already have two warriors—"

"Hold it!" Eric suddenly raised his hand, cutting him off with wide eyes. "Don’t lump me in as a warrior, please. That’s way too generous."

Luca tilted his head, smirking as though entertained. "Then what are you supposed to be?"

Eric’s eyes lit up as if spotting a lifeline. He slapped a hand against his chest dramatically. "That’s exactly my point! I’m nothing. Totally unnecessary. So... there’s no need for me in your team."

And with that, he started scooting his chair back, trying to make a discreet escape.

But Luca’s hand shot out without even looking, grabbing Eric firmly by the back collar of his shirt and dragging him back into his seat like a misbehaving child. "Nice try," Luca muttered with a sly smile. Then his voice softened, uncharacteristically sincere. "You’re someone I can trust, Eric. In a team, it’s better to have a trusted comrade than just raw strength."

Eric froze at those words, staring at Luca’s back for a moment. His shoulders sagged, and he let out a long sigh as if the weight of inevitability had just landed squarely on him. Finally, he slumped back into his chair, defeated.

"Well, fine... but don’t say I didn’t warn you."

He tapped a finger against the table, organizing his thoughts. "Anyway, for a solid composition, we’ll need at least one healer, a mage for ranged damage, and preferably a tank or another close combat warrior. That’d give us balance... especially since, let’s be real, I’m not much of a fighter."

Luca nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin as if analyzing their potential lineup. For once, his mind was focused on the logistics—considering names, possibilities, the right mix of abilities.

But just as the gears in his head started turning, a voice cut through the chatter of the hall.

"Can I join your team?"

Luca perked up instantly, his face lighting up with relief and excitement. At last, someone had approached them on their own! He spun around, smiling wide. "Of course you—"

His words trailed off, his expression freezing. His smile faltered, his brows knitting in confusion.

"Heh?" Luca blinked rapidly, staring at the person in front of him. W-what...?