Chapter 252: Consequences of being too strong
In the huge grounds of the colosseum, thousands of students were present, talking and laughing among themselves. Various large screens floated above the colosseum, showing shifting images so that everyone could see clearly what was happening in the arena.
The colosseum seats were also being filled by students from the other sections and years, since no one wished to miss such an entertaining event. Although the test was said to last a week, with two teams competing against each other, sometimes it ended much earlier because of the unexpected elimination of all members from a team or due to other sudden factors. That unpredictability made the event even more exciting.
Thus, the atmosphere was alive with murmurs, with everyone discussing one thing or another, speculating about who might shine and who might fall.
Just then, a loud voice cut through the murmuring, making the entire arena fall silent in an instant.
"Attention Everyone!!"
Although the voice was powerful, it carried a tone that felt strangely familiar. And when they realized who it belonged to, every student shuddered for a brief second.
Instructor Elva... Ash thought, raising his eyes toward the beautiful figure floating above the colosseum. Her presence dominated the sky, and her image was also projected onto the enormous screens so that even those seated far away could see her clearly.
She stood tall, her hands clasped neatly behind her back, with an unusual grin playing on her lips. The dress she wore was almost too tight, accentuating her elegant yet dangerous aura.
She looked utterly mesmerizing, and a deep silence settled across the colosseum as if everyone was holding their breath. Almost every male student present was unable to take their eyes off her, staring without even blinking.
With her grin still in place, Elva’s voice rang out again, carrying both authority and charm.
"The third exam will begin shortly. As you all know, this trial is designed to test how well you can cooperate with others, how you manage your resources, and how you use your strength to achieve your goals."
She paused slightly, her eyes sweeping over the gathered students, as though weighing each of them with a glance before continuing.
"Let me make this clear. If anyone believes they can act alone, discarding their teammates and relying solely on themselves, then they will fail. And failing this third exam does not mean another chance, it means expulsion from the academy. Remember this, because this exam carries the greatest weight in your overall marks."
Her words carried a sharpness that pressed down on the students, erasing the last traces of casual chatter.
Then, with a playful tilt of her head, Elva’s grin grew a little wider. "Now, before we move on to the contents of the exam, we must first create the teams."
At her words, the image on the screens shifted, revealing a massive roulette-like machine spinning rapidly, with the faces of countless students flashing across it.
"Let the random team selection begin," Elva declared in an excited voice that seemed to carry a spark of personal enjoyment. It was clear to everyone that she was more thrilled than the students themselves. She liked this part far too much, because very soon she would have the pleasure of watching an unpredictable and entertaining show unfold before her.
The roulette spun quickly, flashing names across the screens before announcing each team. One after another, groups were formed, and the chosen students were directed to move to specially prepared areas where their teammates would gather.
Time passed, and the roulette continued its work, each announcement raising the anticipation within the colosseum. Then, finally, a familiar set of names appeared on the screen.
**
[Team 13]
- Irvin Earthrend
- Eryndor Frostbane
- Veyric Emberfall
- Fenric Duskbane
- Orin Bloodfang
Irvin moved toward the area designated for Team 13, and just like that, students began to separate one by one, each walking toward their assigned spots as the roulette continued spinning. The vast arena slowly filled with clusters of teams, order forming out of the initial chaos.
Until,
**
[Team 34]
- Corin Drelle
- Veyric Ashen
- Luthan Marric
- Elysia Moonglow
- Alina Harth
**
The moment Elysia’s name appeared on the screen, Ash glanced at her instinctively. She was carefully studying the list of names, her gaze lingering on the unfamiliar faces of her new teammates, and after a moment, he shifted his eyes to them as well.
Three were boys, while one was a girl. Corin and Luthan were from class 1D and 1E, respectively, while Veyric belonged to class 1A and Alina to class 1C. Other than this brief introduction, nothing else about them was provided.
"All the best," Ash said quietly.
"You too, we’ll see each other soon."
Elysia gave him a small smile before turning away. With light steps she made her way toward the area assigned to Team 34 on the wide colosseum grounds, her figure gradually blending into the steady movement of students around her.
Unknown to her, something invisible and perfectly camouflaged broke away and followed silently.
Stay with her.
Ash whispered inwardly.
’Mama’
The serpent slithered unseen after Elysia, unnoticed by anyone, carrying Ash’s will. He was not planning anything, merely taking precautions. To him, danger was never a distant possibility but an ever-present threat, and so paranoia had long become his habit.
The roulette on the screen spun again, pulling Ash’s focus back as more names flashed across.
Teams continued forming at a rapid pace.
Team 45... Team 56... Team 78... Team 90... Team 123... Team 145... Team 156... and finally Team 199. One after another, groups filled the arena until the last team was called, Team 200.
But Ash’s name had never appeared.
By then the entire arena was filled with students standing beside their groups near the boundary of the colosseum, yet only two figures remained without a team standing in the middle.
Ash and Ray.
Ray stood at a distance, his brows drawn in confusion, his eyes fixed on the screen as if expecting his name to appear even now. When he finally looked away and turned toward Ash, their eyes met for the briefest moment, a coincidence of timing.
Yet that accidental meeting of gazes carried an eerie weight in the silence, making the emptiness of the colosseum feel heavier than before.
What is she planning now...?
Ash’s gaze lingered on Ray, but his thoughts churned. He could not be certain of Elva’s true intentions, but the reason itself was not hard to grasp.
It was simple really..... they were just too powerful.
"Oh!! You all must be confused why Ash Burn and Ray Dawson did not appear in any team. The thing is, as you know, there are 1002 students in the first year, so in order to balance the number of people in each group, I had to remove two students."
"And who would be the better choice.....other than the two strongest among you? Don’t you all think so?"
She asked this lightly, tilting her head in a playful manner, but no one dared to respond. Instead, the entire arena fell into silence, students averting their gazes as if hoping not to be singled out.
As if that was the only reason she did this... Ash scoffed inwardly. It was not that he held a grudge against Ray, after all, they had once traveled together to the Dwarf Continent. Their teamwork had not been flawless, but it was decent enough that they could coordinate if the situation demanded it.
Though truthfully, Ash wanted no such thing.
What if he is bad luck...?
Ash had ventured on countless expeditions, yet never once had he witnessed the loss of innocent lives. However, the single time he joined forces with Ray, an entire city was wiped off the map. Coincidence or not, Ash could not shake off the thought, and so he kept searching for reasons to avoid being paired with him.
"As both of your powers far exceed the other one thousand students, there will be a separate test prepared exclusively for you both," Elva finally continued, her tone firm and serious. "Though it will not be a normal exam. You are already strong enough that such a test holds little meaning for you."
For a moment, her voice carried the weight of command, but in the very next breath, her seriousness melted away and a mischievous smile spread across her lips.
"Still, a test is a test. The one prepared for you will be far more difficult and demanding than what the others will face. Yet even so, if you fail, it will not count as failure. Simply pass with the minimum required marks, and that will be enough."
Her words lingered in the air before she turned her eyes directly toward Ash. A quiet giggle escaped her lips, the kind that felt deliberately placed to provoke.
"But... if someone was aiming to secure first place in the academy exams, then I would suggest.....you try your very best to complete the trial that has been assigned to you both."
Ash clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he cursed in silence.
I knew it. That damn old fossil would never let things be simple for me.....bastard.
***