The abandoned ancient watchtower stood solitary at the edge of the dense forest.
Once a military structure used to monitor the movements of magical beasts or guard against enemy invasion, it had now been eroded by time until only a bare stone skeleton remained.
Thick ivy vines, like dried-up green pythons, coiled tightly around the cracked, gray-white stone bricks of the tower.
The original wooden structure at the top had long rotted away through wind and rain, leaving only a few lonely beams like withered fingers pointing toward the sky.
However, for Helos’s simple and crude “claim the mountain as king” plan, this place was still a perfect stronghold.
The terrain was extremely high here. Standing on the half-collapsed platform at the top, one could almost overlook all movements within a few kilometers.
Moreover, it was situated right on a necessary path leading to the Inner Ring of the ruins. Any student trying to carry their spoils to the central area to settle scores would most likely pass through this open, visible region.
“This is the spot.”
Helos stood at the base of the tower, patting the moss-covered wall with satisfaction.
“It’s a bit run-down, but with a little tidying up, it’ll more than suffice as our temporary base.”
“Gavi, go check for danger factors. Julius, clear out the annoying rubble inside.”
The girl waved her hand grandly, looking every bit the foreman.
“Yes, Master.”
Gavi stepped forward and carefully conducted a full inspection of the building. A faint light flickered in her gray eyes, as if she were scanning the entire structure.
After a moment, she turned back to report: “The main structure is still stable. The load-bearing walls have no serious damage. However, the floorboards on the second story risk collapsing. I recommend against any vigorous jumping activities up there.”
“That’ll do.”
Helos nodded, then looked at Julius, who had already drawn his longsword, ready to use it as a shovel.
“Hear that? Move lightly. Don’t tear down our new home.”
Julius gave her a helpless look. The holy sword “Daybreak” in his hand once again glowed with warm golden light.
Only this time, the divine weapon that had slain countless demonic creatures was not used against any formidable foe. Instead, it had been reduced to a tool for clearing trash and cutting stone.
A flash of golden light, and the rubble piled in the tower’s passageways was neatly sliced apart. Then Julius, like moving bricks, cleared them out one by one.
Under the efficient operation of two “strong laborers,” the long-abandoned watchtower was soon transformed.
Though still open to the wind on all sides, at least the ground was now flat and clean. The dangerous, shaky parts had been reinforced by Gavi with materials from the surroundings.
Helos even had Gavi set up a simple windbreak canopy on the tower-top platform, laying a thick picnic blanket underneath.
“Perfect.”
Helos sat cross-legged on the picnic blanket, holding a cup of hot tea that Gavi had just brewed.
She looked down from her high vantage at the winding path below, a comfortable smile curling at the corners of her lips.
“How are the traps set?”
“They’re done.”
Gavi stood behind her, like a dutiful sentinel gazing into the distance.
“I set up some trigger-type alarm devices around the perimeter. As soon as anyone approaches, we’ll know immediately.”
“Also,” the blonde girl paused, then continued reporting:
“I also planted some non-lethal physical traps on the necessary paths. They won’t cause any injuries, but they’ll be enough to hinder their movement or create chaos.”
“Well done.”
Helos gave a thumbs-up.
She turned to look at Julius, who was sitting in a corner with his eyes closed, meditating.
“Julius, what about your side?”
“The surrounding magical beasts have been cleared.”
The black-haired youth opened his eyes. His pitch-black pupils were calm as still water.
“To avoid drawing attention, I didn’t kill them—I just drove them farther away. In the short term, this area should be safe.”
“Good.”
Helos set down her teacup and pulled out her hand crossbow from her bosom—the one she had made but never used in actual combat.
She wiped the crossbow body carefully with a silk cloth, her eyes gleaming with a hunter’s unique light.
Everything was ready. Now, only the east wind was needed.
Now, this trap had opened its jaws wide.
All that was left was to wait for those “fat sheep” laden with spoils to come strolling in on their own.
***
Meanwhile.
At the other end of the Trial Ruins.
In a scorched-earth area covered with strange rocks and lava fissures, a fierce battle had just ended.
BOOM—!
With a violent explosion, a giant puppet made entirely of rock let out an unwilling roar, then its massive body collapsed, shattering into a pile of lifeless rubble.
In the midst of the dust-filled air, a young man with fiery red hair stood tall and proud.
The tip of his staff still held the crimson embers of residual heat, and the air around him trembled slightly from the high temperature.
The mage’s robe he wore, though stained with some dust, could not hide the oppressive aura of nobility and arrogance.
This was Claude Fleming, the same one who had loudly boasted in the plaza before.
“Hmph, a piece of cake.”
Claude cast a disdainful glance at the rubble at his feet, casually flicking his staff.
“And this level of monster is supposed to be a trial?”
“The boss is mighty!”
“As expected of Young Master Claude! That ‘Blazing Burst Technique’ just now was amazing! You blew up that golem’s core in one hit!”
Behind him, two lackeys also wearing Elemental Academy uniforms immediately crowded around, their faces full of flattery.
Claude enjoyed this kind of fawning.
He lifted his chin slightly, picked up a crystal emitting a faint blue glow from the rubble—a medium-quality mana crystal.
“This is the third one.”
He tossed the crystal to the lackey behind him.
“Adding to what we got before, our score should be far ahead by now, right?”
“Absolutely!”
The lackey quickly caught the crystal and carefully stowed it in his backpack.
“With young master’s strength, first place in this practical assessment is definitely in the bag! Those guys from other branches aren’t even fit to tie your shoes!”
“Hahaha! Well said!”
Claude laughed heartily, clearly in a great mood.
He waved his hand, signaling the team to move forward.
“Let’s go! Let’s check ahead! Since there are rock golems here, there must be even higher-quality crystals further in!”
The three-man squad continued exploring the scorched area.
However, just as they turned around a huge rock outcropping, Claude suddenly stopped.
The smile on his face faded a little, replaced by wariness.
Because ahead of them, another team had appeared.
A team of three girls.
The one at the front wore a pure white clerical robe. Her golden hair shimmered under the sunlight.
She held an elegantly shaped staff, and around her radiated a holy light aura that brought peace and tranquility.
Even in this battlefield filled with smoke and danger, she still maintained a nobility and grace that made others feel inferior.
The eldest daughter of the Olivias Family.
The newly appointed Saintess of the Empire.
Eleanor.
Claude’s eye twitched.
Though he was usually arrogant and looked down on “non-combat” support classes, he still held some caution toward this special Saintess.
After all, she was the duke’s daughter, and behind her stood the vast power of the Church.
More importantly, although they were all first-year students, there were plenty of rumors about this Saintess’s strength.
It was said her holy light magic could not only heal wounds but also directly purify high-level wraiths.
She was not someone to mess with lightly.
Claude quickly adjusted his expression, plastering on a fake smile.
He didn’t act rashly. Instead, he stood still and even made a show of giving a polite bow.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Olivias. What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
Eleanor stopped.
She looked at the red-haired young man in front of her, her azure eyes showing no extra emotion.
Of course she recognized him.
This was the guy who had publicly mocked her sister in the square.
Her gaze lingered on his waist pouch for a moment.
It was bulging—clearly a rich haul.
“Quite a coincidence, Mr. Fleming.”
Eleanor gave a slight smile.
The smile was warm and polite, leaving no room for fault.
But somehow, Claude sensed something in that smile…
Pity?
And a hint of schadenfreude?
“We’re just passing through. Good luck on your exam.”
However, Eleanor said nothing more.
She didn’t even have her teammates assume battle stances. She simply nodded at Claude, then led her team around via another small path nearby.
She knew Helos must have already set her sights on this brat.
Since it was her little sister’s prey, she, as the older sister, naturally wouldn’t overstep.
Besides…
Given the strength of Helos’s “bandit crew,” this useless idiot, who had nothing going for him except a little extra mana, probably wouldn’t even have a chance to resist.
Watching Eleanor’s retreating figure, the fake smile on Claude’s face instantly vanished.
“Tch, acting all high and mighty.”
He spat on the ground in contempt, his arrogant face fully exposed again.
“Always putting on airs. So annoying. If it weren’t for her status as the duke’s daughter, I’d have had a go at her just now! Let her know what real power is! Her little healing holy light magic is a joke compared to real strength!”
He turned to his lackeys and complained:
“So what if she’s a Saintess? What’s the big deal?”
“That’s right!”
A lackey immediately chimed in:
“Young master is a genius! If it came to a fight, that vase would definitely be no match for you!”
“Hmph, a vase.”
Claude clicked his tongue in disdain.
“The Olivias Family just gets worse with each generation. The elder sister is a vase Saintess who only knows how to put on airs, and the brother is a bookworm who hides in his tower all day doing research.”
“I heard she also has a twin sister. Who knows if that’s even true.”
“She hasn’t even shown her face at the Academy yet. Probably an even bigger joke.”
Claude was confident in his own strength. After all, his mana capacity far exceeded his peers, and he had mastered several powerful spells.
Among this year’s freshmen, he was sure he was one of the strongest.
“When I get first place,” he said, waving his staff with great enthusiasm:
“I’ll make everyone know that elemental magic is the strongest! Holy light, alchemy—all useless garbage!”
But just as he and his lackeys, still badmouthing Eleanor and the Olivias Family, turned the corner of that giant rock without a care in the world—
That arrogant voice suddenly got stuck in his throat.
Because on top of that very rock, a silver figure sat quietly.
She sat with one leg crossed over the other, her signature silver hair fluttering gently in the wind.
Her light purple eyes looked down from above, coldly staring at the three below with a gaze like she was looking at dead pigs.
And in her hand, a delicately crafted hand crossbow was leveled.
The dark muzzle was precisely locked onto Claude’s still-chattering head.