It was not surprising that the noble teams from the Royal Capital were able to unite.
Although the academy preached that there were no distinctions between tiers, the children of nobility, belonging to the same circle of power, eventually had to compromise with family status and pedigree.
This was a traditional noble style rooted deep within their blood.
Before the final exam day arrived, the forest was like the surface of the sea before a storm—seemingly peaceful, but with turbulent undercurrents beneath.
‘Being a laborer is such a bitter life.’
Luomiu did not think that the top-tier nobles with real strength and massive families backing them would personally come to the front lines to do this kind of dirty work.
The several auras currently perceived by his **[Transparent Mind’s Eye]** were likely just the bottom of the circle, forced to risk their lives for the upper-class figures.
A group of consumables.
Since they were consumables, their mission was obvious.
They were meant to wear down the top-ranked teams and pave the way for those “important figures” who were leisurely planning from afar.
‘These people are quite well-informed. It seems they also knew about the final day’s assessment items in advance.’
‘Did they simply buy the information, or is there another hidden story?’
For a moment, Luomiu found it difficult to judge exactly who the source of this precise intelligence for these second-generation nobles was.
In the past, he probably would have had to skulk around, using his brothers’ abilities and dropping hints to figure it out.
But now?
‘I am a Draconic Ninja.’
He could just catch one alive and “ask” nicely to find out.
Feeling the unprecedented, majestic power within his body, Luomiu finally felt a sense of peace in the truest sense.
‘Gaining credits, finding teammates… in the end, wasn’t it all for this power?’
Being overcautious?
Charisma aura?
The old ways could no longer keep up with the current version!
‘If you want me to use my wisdom, you must first survive the test of my strength to be qualified!’
Luomiu’s body, like a wisp of weightless blue smoke, silently slipped out of the tent.
He did not disturb anyone.
Karenina was still resting by the campfire with her eyes closed, while the breathing of Mio Ibuki and Annie was steady, clearly indicating they had entered a deep sleep.
He did not bother them.
This was his own review of his new power.
The night wind brushed through the forest, making a rustling sound that perfectly masked everything.
Luomiu’s figure completely merged into the darkness, as if he were born to be a part of this dark night.
In the vision provided by **[Transparent Mind’s Eye]**, the points of light representing the enemies were surrounding his camp in a professional formation.
Two rangers were responsible for scouting the flanks, one heavy armor warrior was at the front, and in the center were one magic caster and one support priest.
A team configuration so standard it could be called a textbook example.
Unfortunately, in the face of an absolute difference in perception, any textbook was just waste paper.
“Captain, the guy’s camp is just ahead. The heat signature is very clear,” a ranger whispered, transmitting the message through an alchemy card.
“Good. All units, pay attention.” The leader, the heavy armor warrior, spoke with a voice dripping with condescending arrogance. “Remember, our mission is to wear them down, not annihilate them. Forcing them to use their alchemy cards and mana counts as completing the mission.”
“Is that elf still hanging outside? Should we just…”
“Don’t cause unnecessary complications!” the captain scolded. “She’s from the White Queen’s team; it’s not our place to interfere. Completing Lady Beatrice’s mission is the priority!”
“You all still owe the Cromwell family. After this, all debts will be cleared!”
Every word of their conversation entered Luomiu’s mind clearly.
Cromwell.
Beatrice.
Truly familiar opponents.
Luomiu’s figure stopped on the branch of a giant tree, standing steadily, yet his form was impossible to see.
Although the **[Draconic Ninja]** talent tree was difficult to upgrade—almost every step required dragon materials—basic **[Taijutsu]** did not require extra talent points.
And this height difference happened to be within the range of assassination taijutsu.
Without hesitation, Luomiu leaped down.
*Shhh!*
As his body unfolded in the air, the next second, Luomiu landed silently behind the magic caster at the very end of the line!
**[Shadow Evasion: Dragon’s Breath]**!
“?!”
*Puchi!*
With only a slight sound, the life-saving alchemy card covering the magic caster’s body failed before Luomiu’s skill!
The so-called magic shield was as fragile as window paper before the dragon sword endowed with an “armor-piercing” effect.
Even more terrifying, the “Silence” effect took hold instantly, preventing her from letting out even a single scream. The mana ready to burst in her throat was instantly suppressed and dissipated.
*Thud.*
The girl fell softly to the ground, not even realizing what had happened before she was transported away by her brooch.
**[White Knight Team member Futina has been eliminated.]**
“What?!”
“Enemy attack! We’ve been spotted!”
The heavy armor warrior at the front finally reacted, letting out a roar and turning around abruptly!
But all she saw upon turning was a blurred afterimage moving at extreme speed!
**[Soaring Swallow Slash]**!
Luomiu’s figure drew a sharp line in mid-air, carrying a piercing whistle that tore through the air, instantly crossing the distance of over ten meters!
“Hah!”
With a battle cry, the blade’s light arrived in an instant.
A Draconic Ninja was not a profession that only knew how to be sneaky!
A so-called perfect infiltration was simply killing all the witnesses!
The heavy armor warrior roared and raised her tower shield, attempting to block.
*Clang—!*
A loud crash!
Sparks flew!
The tower shield, made of a special alloy capable of withstanding a full-strength blow from a third-rank magic beast, actually had a terrifying gash cut into its center, deep enough to see through!
Immense force surged through the tower shield, slamming hard into the female warrior!
She groaned, her arms going numb as she flew backward uncontrollably, violently snapping a large tree behind her!
Almost at the same time, two arrows imbued with mana were fired accurately from both left and right directions toward the spot where Luomiu landed.
It was the two rangers!
However, the moment before he landed, Luomiu’s figure twisted again at an angle that completely defied the common laws of physics!
The arrows grazed his clothes and thudded fruitlessly into the empty ground.
Meanwhile, he had already appeared in front of the ranger on the left.
The ranger’s face was filled with a fear like she had seen a ghost.
She didn’t even have time to react.
Luomiu calmly extended his left hand, fingers spread wide.
**[Ninja Art: True Dragon Explosion]**!
*Hum!*
Five fist-sized fireballs burning with dark-gold flames instantly condensed and formed in his palm!
No incantations, no delay!
Locked on!
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
The five fireballs split into five streaks of light, shooting at incredible speeds toward the remaining four members of the team and the heavy armor warrior who had just struggled to her feet!
A guaranteed hit!
“Protection—!”
The last support priest let out a desperate scream, but the holy light of protection on her body melted like snow the moment it touched the dark-gold fireballs!
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
A series of explosions rang out in the forest, yet they were constrained to a very small range by the strange power of the dragon flames, causing little commotion.
The flames dissipated.
Only the heavy armor warrior remained on the scene, having received special attention with two fireballs. She was now kneeling on the ground, charred all over, even her shield melted.
**[White Knight Team members Dehya and Nefta have been eliminated.]**
She was still alive.
“What skill was that?”
The girl looked up, her blurred vision unable to make out the visitor’s form.
She was a shield warrior, the most resilient presence in the team, like a city wall.
Yet she had been easily blown away by a single sword strike, and her shield had nearly been split in half?
Who was he?
Or… what was he?
The girl still could not see the visitor’s face clearly.
The moonlight poured down, shining on him, yet there was not a single reflection.
Only those eyes—expectant, joyful, and incredibly cold.
It was as if… he were enjoying some kind of game.
From them, the girl could only feel one thing—the opponent certainly did not view her as a human being!
“It looks like you’re the leader?”
Luomiu walked slowly over to her, looking down at her from above.
The tip of the dragon sword lightly touched her forehead.
The sharp sensation carried a drop of blood that was still warm.
The smell of blood rushing into her nose made the girl’s entire body tremble violently.
This was indeed an exam where no one would die.
But… how could she easily resist this kind of fear originating from physical instinct?
“Did Cromwell send you?”
Luomiu’s voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.
“I… I don’t know…” the female warrior’s teeth chattered as she remained stubborn.
Luomiu said nothing more.
He simply pressed the dragon sword in his hand down slowly.
The sharp tip easily pierced her skin, and a trace of blood slid down her forehead.
The shadow of death enveloped her like a physical weight.
“Yes! It was Beatrice!”
She finally broke down, her voice carrying a sob.
“Now they are all united. We minor nobles can only work ourselves to death!”
“We were almost out of credits before the exam. To become stronger, we had to borrow materials, so we had to listen to them!”
“They set a trap on the only path to the final assessment point!”
“Please, don’t eliminate me! I might get expelled!”
“Hmph, you can go.”
Having obtained the information he wanted, Luomiu withdrew the dragon sword.
“Real… Really?!”
The female warrior felt as if she had been granted a great mercy. She slumped to the ground, gasping for air.
‘How terrifying. Which team is this person from?!’
“I said you can leave,” Luomiu said calmly.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Overjoyed, the female warrior struggled to crawl up to escape this devil.
However, as soon as she moved, a sharp pain shot through her neck.
Her consciousness dissipated from her body.
“As expected, you still have the strength to crawl up.”
Luomiu picked her up with one hand as if he were dragging a bag of trash and turned back toward the camp.
“Why would I let you leave? Of course I was lying.”