Final selection. Final part 1.

Final Trial: The Crystal of Unity

Irma Delar:

> “The last trial — the one that will determine which of you becomes a Special Student of the Academy.

As you know, special students are… a cut above the rest.

The one who wins this trial will be granted full access to magical artifacts, tuition exemption… and, possibly, eternal bragging rights.”

Rules of the Trial: Crystal of Unity

No killing other participants.

You may use magic and skills, but only for defense, distraction, or escape.

The winner is the first to reach the Crystal and hold it for three uninterrupted minutes.

Objective: Reach the center of the labyrinth and claim the Crystal of Unity — a magical artifact that grants elite status.

The trial has three stages:

1. The Trial Maze — full of traps and puzzles that test your brain as much as your brawn.

2. Illusion Chambers — rooms where mages must detect lies, and warriors must trust instinct.

3. The Crystal Hall — protected by a magical barrier that only opens once you solve a riddle about the balance between sword and spell.

---

Marcus:

> “WHAT?! Another trial?! I thought this was lunch, not a cursed fetch quest!”

System (dryly):

> “Don't worry. Death will be… peaceful. Probably.”

Marcus (through gritted teeth):

> “Thanks. That really helps, demon toaster.”

Illya (thinking):

> “I have to win. I must. I can’t disappoint Father…”

Alric (calmly):

> “Another test. How exhausting.”

Herald:

> “Attention! The trial begins now. May the least unlucky win!”

---

Stage I: The Illusion Room

All participants were teleported to separate chambers —

dark, quiet, and cold.

Here, each would face their own fears.

And only those who overcame themselves… could move on.

---

Marcus

Marcus:

> “Uhh… kinda dark in here, huh?”

System:

> “Yes. And soon it’ll be emotionally dark, too. Heh.”

Marcus:

> “Great. Grandma-tier horror storytelling.”

Before him: keyboard. Mouse. Monitor.

Suddenly — the screen lit up:

“DEADLINE: 2 minutes 59 seconds remaining.”

Marcus:

> “WHAT?! Deadline?! Again?! I’m in another world, for heaven’s sake!”

System:

> “Huh. So this is your greatest fear? Deadlines?”

Marcus (screaming):

> “They’re not just deadlines! They’re insomnia incarnate!

Caffeine-fueled all-nighters!

Last-minute rewrites!

Existential dread at 3AM!”

System (whispering):

> “Wow… he’s really traumatized…”

Marcus was pale.

His fingers twitched on the keyboard.

The screen blinked. “TIME IS TICKING.”

And then — he stopped.

Marcus:

> “Wait… I’m a writer. Damn it!”

Skill activated: WRITER

On-screen message:

> [In 2 minutes, the illusion will collapse due to overwhelming narrative interference.]

Mana: [120 / 300]

System:

> “You little cheat. You wrote yourself an exit? Pretended the illusion dispelled itself?

Mmm. Brilliant.”

Marcus (smug):

> “Heh. I’m a humble genius, really.”

---

Now we go back... to Alric.

Darkness.

But not just any darkness — thick, sentient, as if reality had switched off.

Mana vibrated in the air like a song he’d heard before.

Alric (flatly):

> “Illusion Room. It begins.”

He closed his eyes. Not out of fear.

Out of habit.

He knew these illusions.

How they worked.

How they crawled under your skin.

How they unearthed memories better left buried.

But he was ready.

He was always ready.

> “Stay cold.

Don’t trust what you see.

Don’t believe what you feel.

This is a game.

And I know how to play.”

He stepped forward.

The room shivered — not with sound, but pressure.

The illusion began to build.

But Alric didn’t flinch.

> “If fear is a weapon, I am forged steel.

If pain is an illusion, I’ve survived too much to fall for it again.”

No one outside knew who he really was.

But those who’d served during the war whispered of the boy genius —

The one who shifted battle strategy at the age of twelve.

Twelve.

Already pred

icting enemy moves down to the minute.

Already commanding silence with just a glance.

The illusion shattered.

But Alric stood, untouched.

Expressionless.

> “I don’t run from the past.

I just don’t let it write my future.”