Leveling From Hell

Chapter 46 - The Hero Academy Exam (part 3)



Arzael's gaze swept across the colossal arena, now growing denser with examinees. Thousands of faces, human, elf, dwarf, and other races, were spread across the vast field, each displaying different expressions.

faint fear, burning determination, blazing spirit, and even obvious confusion on some younger faces. Each participant was a story, a possibility. And Arzael? He remained silent, judging with his crimson eyes that seemed to pierce straight into the core of their souls.

Beside him, Seraphina stood calmly, her long white hair cascading gently, partially covering her pale face, yet her eyes remained alert. Arzael's other companions were still observing the arena and other participants, as if searching for strategic positions or merely trying to absorb the blazing atmosphere.

Suddenly, Lena stared at Arzael seriously, her lips tightening slightly. "Stay close to the princess," she said, her voice firm but laced with worry.

Arzael glanced at her casually and replied, "What are you, my mother?"

Lena swallowed her emotions, her face flushed. "You were given a tickets by her, and you're not grateful?"

Arzael remained silent. However, before the situation could escalate further, Chitara, the princess, intervened with a soft yet firm voice. "Stop, Lena. I gave the tickets voluntarily. I expect nothing in return."

Lena opened her mouth to protest, "But princess—"

"Enough," Chitara cut her off, her tone colder now. "I apologize if this hurts you, Lena, but I do not need a bodyguard. That idea was my father's formality. I hate being seen as weak because of my status."

Lena fell silent, forlorn. Her gaze went blank as if swallowing those words, while everyone else nearby restrained themselves from intervening. Arzael let out a soft sigh, eyes glancing at the stands filled with roughly 400,000 spectators. 'I wonder how many coins the Hero Association makes,' he thought, suppressing a hint of mockery.

Minutes passed, and more examinees arrived, totaling ten thousand. Suddenly, the massive doors in the main corridor closed with magic, sending a magical rumble throughout the arena. The voice of a proctor, who had previously given instructions, echoed again, this time amplified through magic, drawing the attention of both participants and spectators alike.

"Welcome to the second stage of the Hero Academy exam! You will soon be transported to the Training Grounds, a colossal simulation area designed to replicate real battlefields. Every point you earn determines your worthiness as a hero. Yet, we assess more than numbers: courage, endurance, care for others, and the ability to stand when pressed. Participants who are severely injured or in danger will be automatically teleported back to the main arena and declared failed. Swarm orbs will circle the arena from above, capturing every crucial action. Their feeds will be displayed on the panels and broadcast through magical relay across the world. Of the thousands of participants, only a few will advance to the next stage. Prove yourselves—not only to us, but to the entire world awaiting true heroes!"

Cheers erupted throughout the arena, reverberating and pounding, yet Arzael was unamused. 'Broadcasted to the whole world? Damn, I didn't expect this…" he thought. But he knew there was no other choice.

Swiftly, he opened his inventory and activated one of his equipment.

[Shadow Cloak Equipped]

The pitch-black cloak enveloped his entire body, the hood covering his head and leaving only his glowing red eyes visible beneath the shadow. The high collar circled his neck, giving off the impression of a commanding presence. As Arzael moved, the shadow behind him seemed to come alive, following his movements with elegance yet intimidation.

'This cloak will attract attention, but it's better than the Alzareth Empire knowing I'm still alive,' he thought.

Thousands of participants remained focused on the proctor, none noticing the cloak clinging to Arzael, except Seraphina and Puff. Puff, emerging from Seraphina's hair, stared in confusion. 'why he wearing that cloak again?'

The proctor continued, "It is strictly forbidden to attack or kill other participants. This exam evaluates your ability to face monsters, not each other. Any violation will result in immediate disqualification."

Puff glanced at Arzael meaningfully, as if saying, 'Hear that, boss.'

Arzael just sighed.

"Remember, the number plates on your chest are not merely participant identifiers, they are magical tools that automatically measure and record your points. Each time you defeat a monster, points will increase in real-time. The plate's color changes. green indicates passing, yellow means a 50% chance of passing depending on your points, and red signifies failure. Only participant numbers will appear on the Top 20 board above the arena, not your names. Strive to have your number recorded there!"

Cheers erupted once again. Arzael's companions reacted differently. Chitara frowned slightly, Lena remained silent, Alicia stayed calm though hiding a reaction, and Shinji behind Arzael appeared anxious, while Arzael and Seraphina remained expressionless.

"Seraphina, are you scared?" Puff asked from within her long hair.

"No," Seraphina replied tersely.

"the simulation area is ready. You will be teleported in three… two… one…"

A white light illuminated the marble arena floor, enveloping ten thousand examinees, and in an instant, they vanished from the main arena. Above them, the massive magical screens lit up, indicating that participants had been placed in the Training Grounds.

"The Hero Academy Second Stage Exam begins now!"

The cheers of four hundred thousand spectators shook the stands like a raging storm. The spectacle was not confined to the Colosseum; across Illumina and distant lands beyond, the sky filled with floating magical screens, showing what transpired in the simulation arena.

In Alzareth, the luminous screens pierced between towering black spires. Slaves and workers of other races paused, staring upward, while human nobles sipped their drinks with tense expressions. Emperor Alzareth squinted, analyzing every participant movement with deadly focus.

In Eterna, the contrast was sharp. The warm city fell silent as the sky's magical screens lit up the marketplace. Children shouted excitedly, pointing at the giant lights, while merchants gazed in awe.

In Valiant, banners of unity fluttered among the elven architecture. The town square, filled with various races, elves, dwarves, beastkin, watched eagerly. From the guild terraces, Grokk and Celia, along with other guild members, smiled. "It's finally starting," Celia said mischievously.

"That kid will soon shock the world," replied Grokk with his booming laugh.

Even beyond Illumina, in the vast eastern deserts, caravans of merchants with colorful tents and camels laden with spices, silks, and precious gems came to a halt, their riders shielding their eyes from the dazzling magical screens above. Cloaked soldiers, standing atop sandy dunes or patrolling ancient sandstone towers, paused mid-step, captivated by the spectacle in the sky. The wind carried the scent of desert herbs and burning torches, mingling with the distant echoes of flutes from nomadic encampments.

Far to the west, in the archipelago kingdoms, bustling port cities with white-washed buildings and timbered docks reflected the glowing screens across calm, turquoise waters. Sailors leaned against masts, and dockside fishermen lowered nets slowly, all eyes drawn upward, marveling as magical light danced on the waves, illuminating the intricate carvings of lighthouses, market stalls, and the bustling streets of coastal towns, creating a surreal blend of magic and maritime life.

Back in the simulation, participants now stood on an expansive field that seemed endless. The sky was a silvery blue, streaked with slowly moving runic cracks like a massive dome holding this fabricated world. In the distance, dense forests rose high, while on the other side, black mountains stretched with peaks shrouded in purple mist. Glowing rivers split the plains, and flocks of magical birds flew high before dissolving into particles of light.

Swarm orbs appeared in the air, dozens to hundreds, hovering with a soft hum, spotlighting each participant group as if the world itself were watching.

Puff popped out of Seraphina's hair, leaping onto her shoulder. "Eh? Where is everyone else, Seraphina?" She panicked.

"We got separated," Seraphina replied.

"Uh-oh…" Puff murmured, glancing up at the mountains. "This place is very different from the real world. Surely the one who designed this simulation possesses mana beyond comprehension, right, Seraphina?"

Seraphina nodded.

Suddenly, the proctor's voice echoed in the sky, coming from all directions

"The second stage exam… begins now!"

The ground trembled, runes glowing, radiating magical energy that made all participants tense. Puff hopped lightly on Seraphina's shoulder.

From the forest emerged a pack of shadow wolves, their fur pitch-black, eyes glowing green with terrifying intensity. From the mountains, stone golems rose, their cracked bodies spewing fire from fissures. From the sky, holographic wyverns roared, wings spreading illusionary storms that felt tangible.

Screams and cheers erupted as thousands of participants drew weapons, cast spells, or froze in fear. The gigantic panels displayed the Top 20 Rankings, still empty, awaiting the first participant numbers.

"Seraphina! We must find Arzael and the others!" Puff shouted in panic.

"Relax," Seraphina replied calmly.

Suddenly, a monster shot toward Seraphina. Without hesitation, Seraphina extended her hand, mana glowing at her fingertips, and—

BOOM!

A magical explosion shattered the monster into thousands of sparkling fragments. Participants around her froze, mesmerized by Seraphina's power.

But before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, a dark shadow with glowing red eyes lunged toward Seraphina. Puff noticed immediately and screamed, "Seraphina! Behind—

SRRTTTT!


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