Defend the Scroll

At the Trial Nexus's Trial Arena...

"As I mentioned earlier, there are four phases of the exam, and each is two days. the remaining 80 are the only ones that can make it into the Academy," Xander said.

The Stats window pops up before every applicant and they look at what their current exam is.

"The First phase of the Nexus trial is as follows. I'm sure each of you can see it in your stats window. It's called Defend the Scroll. As the name implies, you all will be defending a scroll of valuable intel. You'll be divided into three teams, your goal will be to defend the scroll placed at the center of the arena from magical creatures for 20 minutes. The rules are simple, first, the scroll cannot be moved from its position. Second, teams are allowed to use any spells, items, or strategies to protect it. Lastly, if the scroll is destroyed or captured by the creatures, the team fails the phase. And that would mean elimination. Scoring criteria are how long you last, effective use of magic, and teamwork. Bonus points are awarded for creative and unconventional strategies," Xander dictated. He added, "Now, shall we begin? First team you're up."

The other applicants move up in the stands and Eve, Ren, and Eris remain in the arena. A barrier is erected and the magical creatures start appearing.

<Notice:>

- Defend the Magical Scroll from the wave of Magical creatures.

- First Wave: Defend for 3 minutes

=====

Five large shadow wolves appear around the arena and chase in for them.

"Finally some action," Ren said while cracking his fingers.

"Don't Ren, preserve your energy," Eve ordered.

"You don't have to worry Eve my love. Don't forget why you started dating me," Ren said with a yellow glow coming from his eyes.

##Passive Skill Physical Enhancement has been placed on the body. Agility and Speed have been automatically boosted##

Ren charges in straight for the wolves.

"That fool."

He pulls out daggers cloaks them in yellow flames and slashes the wolf in half. He lets off a grin but the wolf regenerates and sends Ren flying. Ren balances as he's about to fall off the edge. The wolf is about to attack him but it gets cleaved in half. Ren looks and sees Eris with her sword drawn out, releasing red sparks.

"Well done, Eris my Knight," Eris said.

A pink glow appears around Ren.

##Eve Wilson has cast a spell to boost your strengths##

"Continuously attack them to weaken their hp, and Eris will finish the rest," Eve ordered.

Ren keeps continuously attacking the wolves, preventing them from getting close to the scroll. Eris charges her blade with red lightning, and as she swings it, she releases a wave of electrical energy, burning away the shadow wolves. She starts panting hard after swinging.

<Notice:>

- You have successfully stopped the first wave

- 10 EXP points gained

- Preparing for the second wave

====

"What!? There's no rest!?" Eris complained.

Eight Goblin creatures appear around the Arena, surrounding the three.

"I had mixed feelings of our team coming first," Eris said.

"Eris, Ren, Come close to me," Eve said.

Ren and Eris flinch and quickly run toward Eve's location, next to the scroll. Eve takes one step forward and reflects her blue eyes while raising her right hand.

<Notice:>

- You have activated the Charm skill Obsesion Grip

=====

Eve marks one of the goblins and the goblin kills the other goblins. As the goblin is the last remaining, Eve pulls a dagger out of the inventory and slits the goblin's throat.

<Notice:>

- You have successfully cleared the second wave in less than a minute

- +20 EXP points

- Preparing the next wave

====

"What a scary ability,"

"And befitting such a beautiful woman like her,"

'I'm currently a commoner but this body has awakened an S Tier skill. For now, it cannot handle it,' Eve grinned and added. 'But I'll soon get the better of it.'

A minute later, Eve and her entourage come leaving the arena.

<Team A lasts 13 Minutes. Team A passes>

"Wow, that was amazing,"

"Not only is she a supermodel but she's also strong,"

Eve looks at Kael and smiles at him, and Kael averts his gaze. A few minutes later, more teams participated in the trial. Arthur's team clears their trial thanks to Arthur's skill, lasting 17 minutes (the second highest). Elara's team placed third as they lasted 17 minutes.

Lucille and his group came out first but points were reduced thanks to Lucille monopolizing the battlefield and taking the enemies on his own, Next came Ada's team...

"That's the Zenith Sovereign's little sister," Damon said.

"I heard everyone from that family are exceptional swordsmen," Kevin said.

"Idiot, it's because they're the sword family. It would actually be shameful if there wasn't anyone good with the sword," Evelyn said.

"Don't feel pressured, my lady. Your swordsmanship skills are on Beginner-level so it should be fine to get us through," Anneliese said while holding her staff.

"Y-yeah..." Ada exclaimed with a forced smile and placed her hand on her claymore.

Williams just glances in silence as he prepares his shield.

<Notice:>

- Defend the Magical Scroll from the wave of Magical creatures.

- First Wave: Defend for 3 minutes

=====

A barrier is erected and all three of them surround the scroll placed at the center. Five large Shadow wolves appear, surrounding the three. The Shadow wolves charge in for the three and one of them leaps in for them but Williams puts up his shield and blocks the attack.

"My lady!"

Ada draws out her claymore and gets into stance. Pink flames rise from her body and are imbued on her claymore.

##You have accessed the Pink flame skill: Rose slash##

Ada slashes the shadow wolf and burns it away at contact with the claymore. Everyone watching the fight is left in shock.

'Based on the previous fights, these wolves cannot be killed so meaning frontal assault is useless. But Lady Ada is different because she's awakened an S Tier skill, The Pink Flames, which burns those my ladies consider an enemy. They have no chance,' Williams thought to himself. He yelled, "Anneliese!!"

Anneliese casts a fireball spell and launches it on the four remaining shadow wolves. Ada charges in for them with the claymore cloaked in pink flames and slashes one by one.

<Notice:>

- You have survived the first wave

"Great teamwork guys," Ada said while drawing in her claymore.

"It was all thanks to your skill, Lady Ada," Anneliese said.

"Not bad. She is a Heiliger after all," Evelyn said.

<Notice:>

- Preparing for the second wave (Survive 5 minutes)

"Lady Ada..."

Ada finds her resolve, "It's not time for us to rest. We aim to survive through this examination and get the top spot."

The three battle against the goblins with their teamwork, and they survive the second wave. The final wave begins, and they battle against wind sprites and fire elemental boss creatures.

<Notice:>

- Defend the scroll for 12 Minutes

====

They go through the phase and they're able to survive for only 8 minutes.

"Damn it, we were so close," Ada said as she was down to one knee with her claymore stabbed to the ground.

"Lady Ada, you might have a high level of skill but do not forget you don't have the mana to support it. You need constant training," Williams said.

Ada just tightens her grip on her claymore as she's filled with grief.

"The next team, take the stage," Xander said.

Kael walks into the arena with his hands placed in his pockets while Ada and her attendants leave the arena. The applicants murmur...

"Huh? That outcast doesn't even have a team. He's so done for."

"What was he thinking even attending here?"

"I hope he gets killed if possible."

Ada is being held out of the arena by Anneliese and as she passes Kael, she feels an immense dark aura swallowing her up. She looks back at Kael and Kael keeps moving forward.

"My lady?" Anneliese called.

'What was that right now? That's not Astral magic... It doesn't even belong to a human either,' Ada thought to herself.

"Heh, That damn outcast was so confident. Let's see what he can do," Ren said.

"Teams struggled to survive and he thinks he can do it on his own. What a load of arrogance," Evelyn said.

"The kid's taking his dreaming to far,"

The stats window appears before Kael.

<Notice:>

- Defend the scroll for 20 minutes and 3 waves

- The first wave is beginning

=====

The barrier around the arena is erected and five large shadow wolves appear, surrounding Kael.

<Notice:>

- Defend the scroll for 3 minutes

Kael pulls out the scythe out of his inventory.

"He pulled that out of thin air," one of the applicants murmured.

"How is that possible? He has no access to the Astral Benediction system," the other applicant murmured.

The shadow wolves howl and all five charge in for Kael.

(For the past two months, I spent my whole time doing nothing but hunting in gates. I've faced off against every kind of Ashenfiend. So this here...)

Kael swings his scythe and splits all five wolves in half at the same time.

(... It is nothing to me.)

The wolves disappear and they are not regenerating, leaving everyone shocked. Kael heads towards the scroll and takes a seat, placing the scythe next to him.

"How did he do that just now?"

"The wolves are not regenerating!"

(This Dispel technique is effective. Now I just have to wait for 3 minutes to be up.)

<Notice:>

- 3 minutes are up. You have survived the first wave

- Preparing the second wave

Over a hundred goblins appear around the arena, having Kael surrounded.

(There are more goblins than the applicants. Is it because I finished too early?)

The Goblins make skreeing sounds and all of them come charging in for Kael with daggers drawn out.

(But it doesn't matter, because I'll kill all of them.) "Shadow step"

Kael starts teleporting around in a flash, decapitating and slashing every single goblin. The Goblin champion tries to swing a bat at Kael but Kael grabs the bat and slashes the Goblin champion in half. The Goblin champion drops to the floor and he returns the scythe to the inventory.

"No... way..." Ren exclaimed.

"He's too strong," Eris said with her eyes widened.

(I've hunted every kind of Ashenfiend, so this is nothing. Thanks to the constant practice, I can make it to the top.) Kael said with his hands placed on his hips, looking up where he saw Arthur and Elara glaring down at him.

<Notice:>

- 5 Minutes are up. You have survived the second wave

- Preparing the final wave

The final wave begins, and he prepares for his battle against wind sprites and fire elemental boss creatures.

(Interesting. Just like the wolves, these creatures have an insane level of regeneration. It might be tough so some opponents...)

Kael pulls the scythe out of his inventory for one last time.

(But I'm different.) "Dispel - Void Annihilation."

Kael uses his shadow magic to envelop the entire arena and erase all magic within the area. In a flash, Kael slashes the wind sprites and fire elemental bosses.

<Notice:>

- You will be unable to Shadow Magic for 15 Minutes, 59 Seconds

=====

"That's the downside of this technique. A crazy technique but I won't be able to use magic for a while. Well, I can make do with waiting for this wave to finish," Kael said while returning his scythe to the inventory.

The third wave finishes and Kael is standing in the middle of the arena with his arms folded.

<Notice:>

- You have survived all three waves

- Gaining 30 EXP points

- Currently placed first in the leadership board with 30 points

====

"I see, I even gain experience points in this kind of events. Interesting," Kael said, afterwards placing his hands in his pockets and walking out of the arena.

The applicants began murmuring...

"N-no way..."

"How was he able to pull that off? Not even the noble kids could do what he did."

Ren clenches his fist and glares down on Kael.

'I knew he was different from the rest. Just who is he?' Ada thought to herself.

"Leopold, Renatus... Looks like we have some weeding out to do," Arthur said with a emerald glow coming from his eyes, with his leg crossed, and Renatus and Leopold standing besides him.