Extra's Ascent

At that moment, many were grappling with the decisions placed before them.

Questions of mana reserves and the ability to maintain concentration over such a prolonged period troubled a significant number of candidates.

While most hesitated to move, burdened by the complications involved, one person charged forward without hesitation.

Dante Pendragon.

True to his nature, he was the first to recklessly dive in, pushing aside all doubts and fears.

With unwavering confidence, he moved towards the horizon that seemed so unattainable, striding boldly across the raging waters.

It was no surprise.

Dante was simply being himself. Spontaneously fearless, with an overarching confidence in his abilities.

Running across the open waters, Dante relied solely on his instincts and the flow of mana to guide him through the challenge.

He could feel the mana in the air—its density fluctuating across the expanse of the ocean.

His senses guided him, each pulse of mana pointing the way.

Dante believed that following the trail would lead him straight to the objective of this test.

And, as it turned out, he was right.

The further Dante ventured, the more he felt the pressure build.

The island still lay beyond his reach, obscured by the vast ocean.

Yet, something in the depths of the water seemed to stir, a presence that Dante could feel—though not see.

Suddenly, his senses tingled.

Dante's reflexes kicked in, his body shifting with impressive speed.

Just as he leapt to the side, a monstrous shape rose from the water where he had been moments before.

The creature towered before him, its egg-shaped body standing several feet tall, its eight grotesque tentacles writhing beneath it.

The sea around them seemed to boil with anticipation.

"A Kraken!" Dante muttered under his breath.

Yet, despite its terrifying presence, Dante remained undaunted.

Standing tall, unfazed by the monstrous predator before him, Dante exuded an air of defiance.

His prideful nature was clear; he would not bow to this beast.

Two tentacles shot toward him from the creature's bloated body, aiming to crush him in their grasp.

Dante's calm demeanour never wavered.

With a swift motion, he jumped into the air, his hand reaching for the sword at his waist.

As he did, the two tentacles closed in on him, their speed impossible to ignore.

Dante was faster.

With a single, fluid motion, he drew his sword, slicing the tentacles off in a perfect arc.

The severed limbs fell into the water, blood trailing behind them like dark ribbons.

Landing gracefully on the water's surface, Dante's eyes locked onto the Kraken, his sword poised and ready.

Without a moment's hesitation, he dashed forward, determination written across his stoic face.

His sword gleamed, reflecting the harsh light of the ocean as he closed the distance between himself and the beast.

The Kraken reacted with ferocity.

Five of its remaining tentacles lashed out at Dante, blocking his path and seeking to overwhelm him.

Dante was relentless.

One by one, the tentacles fell before his blade, each strike a calculated, clean cut.

The ocean surface became littered with severed limbs, floating in the water, as the Kraken's strength gradually diminished.

Now, there was only one tentacle left—long enough to strike, but not nearly enough to defeat Dante.

With the Kraken weakened, Dante surged forward once more.

He propelled himself off the water's surface, soaring into the air.

In an elegant arc, Dante tilted his body and aimed his descent toward the Kraken's form below.

The last tentacle shot toward him, desperate to defend its master, but Dante was already in motion.

He twisted in midair, his body spinning with the sword leading the way.

The blade sliced through the tentacle with ease, cleaving it from base to tip.

Dante's momentum carried him downward, the force of his spin adding weight to his strike.

With a final, devastating blow, his sword cut through the Kraken's face.

Blood spurted from the wound, turning the ocean red as the creature let out a final, gurgling roar.

Within seconds, the Kraken's massive body went still, the last of its life draining from it.

As soon as the beast fell, the world around Dante seemed to shift.

The ocean's surface rippled, and, as if conjured from thin air, an island slowly began to materialize before his eyes.

The hidden destination revealed itself, its silhouette emerging from the fog like a mirage.

...

"Defeating a predator-ranked walker all on his own..." Dion muttered, his voice filled with awe.

His eyes were glued to the orb, watching Dante's triumph.

Beside him, Stella mused softly, her gaze never leaving the orb. "He's a Pendragon, Dion. You can't expect less from someone of that monstrous clan."

While the candidates struggled through their tests, Stella and Dion, the officials overseeing the event, sat comfortably in a room, watching the entire ordeal unfold through a small orb placed on the desk before them.

The visual projection was made possible through spatial Art, a field of Art that Dion specialized in.

Thanks to his expertise, they were able to monitor every candidate's progress, rescue those in danger, and observe the ones who stood out from the rest.

Dion's voice broke the silence. "Clear time? 1:30:5. Subtract that from the forty-eight-hour time limit, and we have a new record."

Stella nodded, her expression impressed. "I agree. Even for a Pendragon, his combat prowess at that age is phenomenal. He's leagues ahead of the others."

The two continued to discuss Dante's remarkable achievement, their conversation filled with praise.

They exchanged opinions on the young man's talents, clearly impressed by his abilities.

"Let's see if anyone else can keep up with him," Dion said, turning the orb to shift the view to another group of candidates.

"Are you kidding?" Stella replied, raising an eyebrow. "Dante is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of person. I doubt we'll ever see anyone on his level again."

But Dion was undeterred. "I think we've got another one here. Three candidates, and they've found their way around the island."

"That quick!" Stella exclaimed, her surprise evident.

The test had been designed to take days, to test the candidates' endurance and skills.

The island was cloaked by a concealing Art, and only by defeating the spawned walker could the concealment be lifted.

"He's good. Too good!" Stella muttered, impressed by the display of skill on the orb.

Dion nodded his focus still on the orb. "His use of the bow reminds me of someone we've seen at the institute."

Stella smiled knowingly. "I thought the same when I saw how he wielded it."

"This second semester is going to be anything but dull," Dion remarked, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Two candidates had already stood out for their exceptional skills.

One had defeated a predator-ranked walker alone, while the other had displayed an impressive mastery over a bow with a discerning understanding of the battlefield and how to work it.

Both were promising to say.

Stella and Dion couldn't help but wonder what the rest of the semester would hold.