When that dizzying sensation of spatial tearing finally subsided and her feet once again stood on solid ground, before Helos even had time to open her eyes, a scent mixed with the fragrance of earth and the musty smell of ancient stone filled her nostrils.
The temperature in the big hand that had been tightly holding hers was still clearly perceptible. Julius had not broken his promise. Even while in that mist, he had never let go of Helos’s hand.
“Arrived.”
The young man’s low, steady voice sounded in her ear.
Helos slowly opened her eyes. What greeted her eyes was a strange world shaded by towering ancient trees.
Above her head was not the gray winter sky of the outside world, but a translucent barrier emitting a soft white light, like a giant bowl covering the land.
Sunlight filtered through the dense branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows, making this forest of unknown age seem both quiet and eerie.
Fallen stone pillars and broken walls were everywhere.
Those huge white stones were covered in dark green moss, and one could still faintly make out the exquisite patterns carved on them.
Massive tree roots coiled like hornless dragons around the ruins, forcibly merging nature and civilization.
This was the unique Trial Ruins of the Royal Magic Academy.
“Is this the world from a hundred years ago?”
Through her mind’s eye, Helos could clearly see the mana flow in the air, so dense it was almost liquid.
The mana density here is at least three times that of the outside world.
For ordinary mages, this place is practically paradise.
But for Helos, a “mana black hole,” this environment made her feel somewhat uncomfortable. The “curse of silence” inside her seemed stimulated, stirring restlessly, wanting to open its mouth wide and devour this bountiful feast around her.
She turned her head to look at her two companions beside her.
Julius had already let go of her hand. Though his Holy Sword was not drawn, his entire being was in a state of full combat readiness.
He stood at Helos’s side, his gaze sweeping like lightning over every shadow, his body taut like a drawn bow.
And Gavi stood on the other side. This blonde maid had her eyes closed, seemingly performing some kind of wide-area perception.
After a moment, she opened her gray eyes and said in a flat tone:
“No signs of other life activities detected nearby. We should be safe for now.”
“Good.”
Helos nodded, then asked: “Gavi, confirm our location and the specific details of this exam.”
Although she had heard the gist during the mobilization meeting earlier, that long-winded discipline dean had too much useless talk. Helos had been too busy complaining to Julius about that red-haired idiot to catch many details.
“Yes, Master.”
Gavi pulled a parchment map and a student handbook—distributed to each team before this exam—from her pocket.
“Based on the current environment, we are now in the Outer Ring area of the ruins, roughly near a ruined temple site in the southeast direction.”
Gavi pointed to a small dot on the edge of the map and began to fulfill her duties.
“The total number of students participating in this third batch practical assessment is 150. Organized into teams of three, that means we will face approximately 50 teams.”
“The entire Trial Ruins are structured in a circular layout, artificially divided into three areas: the Outer Ring, the Middle Ring, and the Inner Ring.”
The blonde girl’s voice echoed in the silent forest, clear and well-organized.
“It is said that this ruins was discovered and led to be transformed by Dean Finalais a hundred years ago. Therefore, it now encompasses various complex terrains like forests, swamps, and mountains, and even retains a part of the structure of the Ancient Labyrinth.”
“Our mission objective is simple.”
Gavi closed the handbook and looked at Helos.
“Survive for seven days in this closed environment.”
“Seven days…”
Helos stroked her chin. “That is a full week. For those pampered noble young masters and ladies, the word ‘survival’ alone might be enough to give them a hard time.”
“Exactly.”
Julius added from the side: “There are no comfortable beds here, no hot meals, and even clean water needs to be found on your own. For many students who only know how to wave wands in the Academy, this in itself is a harsh trial.”
“But that is not the main point.”
Gavi continued: “Survival is just the foundation. To get a high score, we must collect mana crystals.”
“According to the rules, the closer to the Inner Ring area at the center of the ruins, the denser the distribution of mana crystals and the higher their quality, and accordingly the more points they are worth.”
Helos narrowed her eyes, a playful smile curling at the corner of her lips.
“In other words, the Academy is encouraging us to crowd toward the center.”
“These crystals will be randomly placed in various corners of the ruins.”
“This is like an ever-shrinking encirclement.”
Although the Outer Ring is safe, resources are scarce.
To get high scores, everyone must move toward the Middle Ring or even the Inner Ring.
And in that cramped area, teams are bound to run into each other sooner or later.
Conflict is inevitable.
“Besides the competitors, the ruins themselves are a huge threat.”
Gavi’s voice remained calm.
“There are still many ancient traps here, and a large number of magical beasts that were released by the Academy or originally existed here. Although most are low-rank magical beasts, under the nourishment of this high-mana environment, their aggression is stronger than outside.”
Hearing the words “magical beast,” Julius’s hand instinctively pressed on the sword hilt. When it comes to hunting magical beasts, he is an expert.
“However, Master, there is no need to worry too much about safety.”
Seeming to notice Helos’s thoughtful expression, Gavi added: “Although the rules say ‘by any means necessary,’ this is after all the Academy’s exam, not a real life-and-death battle.”
“Dean Finalais has laid down a huge protective spell on these ruins. When any student is about to receive an excessive amount of damage judged as ‘lethal’ or ‘irreversible,’ whether from a magical beast’s attack or another student’s magic, the ruins’ defense mechanism will activate instantly.”
“It will block that damage for the student and forcibly teleport them out of the ruins.”
“This also means that student’s exam is completely over. They will be considered ‘eliminated.’ And according to the rules, eliminated students cannot take any mana crystals they have collected; those crystals will all drop on the spot and become the victors’ spoils.”
Gavi paused, a cold gleam flashing in her gray eyes.
“Of course, eliminated students can only get a basic guaranteed score based on how long they survived in the ruins.”
After listening to Gavi’s detailed explanation, Helos nodded thoughtfully.
“I see.”
She looked around at this forest of ruins, full of danger yet brimming with opportunity.
“In other words, this is a ‘plunder’ game disguised as ‘survival.'”
As long as you don’t kill anyone, anything goes.
As long as you can force the opponent to trigger the protection mechanism, you can steal all their points.
These rules… are practically tailor-made for her, this “villainess genius”!
The smile on Helos’s lips grew wider.
She turned around to look at her two capable subordinates behind her.
“Now that the rules are clear, our plan is also very clear.”
She extended a finger and waved it lightly in the air.
“Although we’re here to ‘stock up,’ we can’t just bump around like headless flies. That’s too inefficient and would make us an easy target for others.”
“We need a base.”
Helos took the map from Gavi and quickly scanned it.
“A base that is easy to defend and hard to attack, with a wide field of view, and preferably near a transportation hub.”
Her finger finally stopped at a marked point on the map, located at the junction of the Outer Ring and the Middle Ring. It marked an abandoned watchtower.
“This is the place.”
Helos tapped that spot firmly. “Let’s go occupy this place first and set up our camp centered here.”
“And then—”
She lifted her head, a glint of cunning and excitement shining in her light purple eyes.
“We’ll sit there, sipping tea, and wait for those ‘fat sheep’ who have painstakingly gathered crystals and are heading to the Inner Ring or coming out from it, to deliver themselves to our doorstep.”
This is her “Hunting Plan.” Waiting by the stump for a rabbit. Or more accurately, seizing a strategic point and dividing the spoils.
“Julius, Gavi.”
Helos waved her hand grandly. At this moment, there was no trace of the weak girl troubled by the curse; she was every inch a mountain bandit chief about to lead her minions on a raid.
“Target, the Abandoned Watchtower! Full speed ahead!”
“Yes, Master.”
“As you command, Second Young Lady.”
Watching the girl’s spirited back, Julius and Gavi exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of helplessness in each other’s eyes.
Since she wants to play, they might as well play along to the fullest.
After all, with them here, nothing in these ruins could harm her in the slightest.
The three tidied their gear, hesitated no longer, and set off along the ancient path strewn with fallen leaves and gravel, heading toward their determined target deep in the forest.
And behind them, near the teleportation point that had just settled, several mana fluctuations flickered and disappeared.
It seemed other students had also arrived nearby.
However, they did not look as carefree as Helos and her group; instead, they seemed quite frightened.
After staying in place for a long time, these students slowly moved in one direction, trying to get a grasp of the current situation.
The practical assessment… has officially begun.