Chapter 70: Formulating a Plan, The Exam Begins

“This Dragon Girl actually stayed up all night to grind it out… the binding force of the contract is truly terrifying.”

Luo Miu played with the card in his hand.

On the card’s surface, the rune that should have been the Tier 3 “Exploding Flame Art” now presented a posture unlike a regular alchemy card.

Tilting it slightly, Luo Miu also observed a faint, golden dragon scale pattern.

[Dragonflame Art]

[Tier: 4]

[Effect: Releases dragon breath flames onto a designated area, capable of locking onto up to four targets for pursuit.]

“Tier 4?”

This was indeed a good thing.

The mechanics looked almost identical to the cards needed for this exam, only with even better effects.

“The effect… will have to wait for combat verification.”

Luo Miu truly couldn’t spare the time to test this card specifically.

In the terrain of the Southern Creek Valley, besides the river crossing the entire map, one also had to prepare low-tier cards.

Seemingly simple ones like [Tier 1 Climbing] and [Tier 2 Water Walking]…

Compared to high-damage, wide-range combat cards, these functional cards that allowed one to traverse terrain were more indispensable.

After confirming his own actions, Luo Miu looked at his teammates: “How are your preparations coming along?”

“Thanks to your suggestions, I am now Tier 3. Regarding combat, I’ve only mastered defensive skills like [Block] and [Dodge] for now.”

Mio Ibuki responded first:

“Other basic category cards have already been purchased from the academy using credits.”

“I’ve prepared a sufficient amount of recovery medicine and alchemy cards.” Karenina also provided her status: “Through experience card upgrades, I am also Tier 3 now.”

“Spending money like water,” Luo Miu sighed. “It wasn’t easy getting all these credits, but when it’s time to prepare, they really don’t last.”

Karenina took a sip of tea: “After all, this is the first formal assessment after the placement exam. There are many factors to consider.”

“The cards we make now can be used later, too. We can’t let others overtake us.”

Mio Ibuki also had no complaints about the investment.

“Of course, there will be a reward.” Luo Miu stored the cards into his space: “First, what do you think of the title ‘Chief Squad’?”

“A bit redundant.” Annie walked into the room at some point, revealing herself, and placed a box on the table: “This is the second batch of cards Sylvia finished.”

“Yeah, it really is a bit redundant.”

Mio Ibuki couldn’t agree more:

“I thought there would be some privileges, but it seems to be just a name, and it makes it easy to be targeted.”

Karenina noticed something and tentatively asked Luo Miu: “Do you mean that in this exam, there will also be titles?”

“Yes, and it’s a very practical title.”

Knowing the game plot deeply, Luo Miu began telling his teammates the key to the problem:

“But if you want to get the title, there’s only one way.”

“Collect artifacts totaling one hundred tiers.”

[Hundred-Tier Foot]

Within the main storyline, this was the only title that granted a discount when shopping within the academy.

As a first-year, if one obtained this title, all future consumption would be at least 10% off!

This was a way to pull ahead of others by a large margin!

Moreover, as the school year and rank increased, the things needed would become more and more expensive!

“One hundred tiers?” The number triggered Mio Ibuki’s merchant nerves: “The lowest level monster nests only have a one-third chance of giving a Tier 1 artifact.”

“The exam lasts three days. Even if we go all out, our stamina will hardly keep up with the consumption.”

Karenina also realized how difficult it was to obtain this title: “If we encounter interference from other squads at this time, the situation will be even worse.”

“All our previous efforts might go to waste.”

“There’s no need to worry about that for now.”

Luo Miu motioned for his friend to unfold the map and began explaining:

“Next, I will plan a feasible tactic for you all. Take notes…”

***

Three days later, the assessment officially began.

Pillars of light lit up in the academy’s teleportation plaza, precisely sending each squad to different areas of the Southern Creek Valley.

The light faded.

The air of the Southern Creek Valley—a mixture of damp soil and decaying vegetation unique to the area—entered their consciousness.

“As expected of a scenic spot in the game.”

Luo Miu observed his surroundings.

On both sides of the river, towering trees touched the clouds, blotting out the sun, with only dappled spots of light spilling through the gaps in the leaves.

Dozens of squads were randomly distributed near the entrance, maintaining a wary distance from one another. The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Searching slightly, Luo Miu’s attention locked onto two particularly conspicuous squads in the distance.

The Black Queen squad and the White Queen squad.

Standing at the front of the Black Queen squad was a tall woman with red hair, wearing heavy armor, yet her steps did not seem heavy at all.

SSR Lilith.

A martial arts fanatic, known in the previous life’s plot for her violent combat style.

On the other side, the captain of the White Queen squad was a silver-haired elf girl with a completely opposite temperament, her expression calm and intellectual.

SSR Elena.

The academy’s famous strategist, skilled in layout and analysis. The elven magic she mastered was practically a must-have card in such a lush natural area.

As Luo Miu looked over, Lilith and Elena almost simultaneously cast their gazes toward his position—the Chief Squad.

After all, the only squad that obtained the King piece during the opening ceremony had long since become the focus of everyone’s attention.

The three of them shared a brief glance in the air.

“Move.”

Confirming the positions of the two squads, Luo Miu withdrew his gaze and immediately issued orders.

Simultaneously, a burst of mist erupted from him.

[Tier 3 · Shadow Mist]

One of the cards Luo Miu had commissioned Sylvia to make.

Since he had already reached Tier 3, he no longer needed to pull this card out to use it; instead, it had merged with his talent tree.

Under the effect of the support card talent that the Assassin class already possessed, the mist immediately enveloped the squad, making the four figures vanish into thin air.

At the same time, from the shadows of the nearby forest, three figures quickly darted out—it was Kesia’s trio, who had been waiting there.

“Big brother?” Kesia lowered her voice, her tone filled with excitement and nervousness.

Where did they go?!

“I’m here.”

Luo Miu approached the three and tapped each on the shoulder.

The trio’s figures also immediately vanished from the air.

To break through the Shadow Mist, one only needed to get within a certain range.

But obviously, less than a minute into the start, besides Kesia’s squad who had come prepared, it was impossible for anyone else to be within that range.

Thus, the most-watched Chief Squad simply vanished from everyone’s field of vision into thin air.

“Captain, they ran away!”

In the Black Queen squad, a girl couldn’t help but speak out.

Lilith crossed her arms, a disdainful sneer appearing at the corner of her mouth.

“Run?”

“Just a bunch of cowards who don’t know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth after getting a King piece.”

“Do they think hiding will help them avoid the competition?”

“Same as the plan, the whole team will push toward the high-level monster area on the riverbank, clearing all monster nests along the way!”

To her, Cavniel’s behavior of avoiding battle was an expression of cowardice.

Not worth mentioning.

On the other side, the atmosphere of the White Queen squad was completely different.

“Captain, the Chief Squad… vanished.” The team member beside Elena spoke in a tone full of gravity.

Elena pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, the lenses reflecting a deep light.

“What did they use?” she asked.

“It should be the Tier 3 support card [Shadow Mist]. The mist has strong magical interference,” the hunter in the team immediately replied. “My level isn’t high enough; [Eagle Eye] couldn’t catch their traces.”

“Unable to track?”

“Yes, their movements are too fast, and they are extremely purposeful.”

Elena fell into silence.

She looked up toward the direction where Luo Miu and the others had disappeared, her azure eyes flashing with thoughtful light.

Avoiding battle?

No.

This was indeed very much like Cavniel’s way of doing things.

During the placement exam, their squad caught the carrier of the “King” by picking up the pieces.

But using a precious Tier 3 group stealth card right at the start and disappearing with another squad that was clearly cannon fodder…

What was his plan this time?

“Cavniel…”

Elena whispered the name.

“I will catch you.”