Power of Runes

[Sixth Day of Exam]

"How are the exams going on?" Vice Principal Elva asked as she strode gracefully into the control room. Her entire body was smeared with dirt and blood, making her look as if she had just returned from battling a swarm of monsters.

The staff froze at her sudden arrival, their eyes darting to her battered appearance. The sight alone made them gulp audibly before they hastily bent back to their work, hands moving with double the speed.

A woman hurried over to Elva, clutching the progress report of all the teams. As Elva walked further inside, the filth and blood that clung to her slowly dissolved, her body being cleansed with every step as though the stains dared not remain in her presence.

Her sharp eyes scanned the papers in a swift motion, flipping through each page. After only a few seconds, she handed them back.

"Any casualties?" Elva asked, her tone calm yet carrying a weight that made the staff member stand straighter.

"No, not yet. There have been no casualties, since the students are teleported away before receiving fatal wounds. There are quite a few injuries, but nothing life-threatening. Most will recover within a day or two," the woman replied carefully.

"I see…" Elva spoke softly, moving deeper into the room, her steps unhurried yet purposeful.

Her gaze swept across the monitors before she commented, "Looks like the tracksuits designed by the engineers are functioning splendidly."

"Yes, ma'am, they are working flawlessly," the woman answered, her voice filled with pride. She herself was one of the senior members of that department, so hearing praise from Elva lit a spark of satisfaction in her chest.

"It is already the fourth day. Release stronger monsters into the field."

The woman faltered at that, her face paling slightly. "B-but ma'am… isn't it too harsh? The students are still not strong enough to face something like that."

Elva's stride did not slow. "It is fine. The world is changing, and even the academy has started discussing how to alter the way students are trained. Dark times are predicted to come, and when that happens, the children must be ready. We cannot allow them to die easily once they step outside these walls."

She stopped briefly, her black eyes locking onto the woman's. "The tracksuits are holding up perfectly. There is no need for hesitation. Besides, academy personnel are already stationed on the island, shadowing the students without being seen. So do not worry. Release them."

The woman lowered her head. "Yes, ma'am…"

She exhaled slowly, almost in relief, and turned to leave. But before she could take more than a step, Elva's voice called her back.

"What about those two?"

The staff member paused, confusion flashing in her eyes before realization struck her.

She means those two…

"We still don't know exactly what they are doing or where they are," she admitted. "But we know they are alive. The academy suits they wear have not been destroyed yet."

Elva gave a small nod, acknowledging the report, and continued on her way without another word.

At last, she entered the heart of the control room, where hundreds of monitors lined the walls. Teams of staff sat before them, keeping constant watch over the students for their safety.

Elva's senses spread outward, extending across the entire chamber as she drew in every feed at once, her awareness drinking in the scattered scenes. She had already read the reports, yet she preferred to see it with her own eyes.

On screen, countless stories unfolded. Some students were learning harsh lessons of survival in the wild, adapting to hunger, exhaustion, and fear. Others, who had lived sheltered lives, were now being tempered by the rawness of nature. Several had already been eliminated, while a few had completed their objectives.

The exams were never about who cleared them first. Too much depended on chance. If a team encountered their rivals early, their showdown would come sooner, giving them an advantage. That was why the true evaluation relied on deeper measures: teamwork, coordination, strategy, individual contributions, planning, and of course, combat strength. All of these would determine the final ranking.

Sigh… because of the dungeon breaks, I missed the beginning of it all…

She remembered being pulled away to close dungeons that had erupted near Nexus City, where the academy was based. It had taken days of her time, and because of that, she had been absent from the start of the exam.

It was a shame, because in truth, she enjoyed watching the first few days. Those were the moments when sheltered children, so used to comfort, were forced to wrestle with the harshness of reality. She liked watching them stumble through eating strange things, bathing in cold streams, enduring dirt, filth, and even the simple awkwardness of relieving themselves. It was amusing, and to her, strangely endearing, to watch them struggle through it all.

But the dungeon breaks had stolen that chance from her.

Just as she was about to withdraw her senses, something caught her eye on one of the screens.

Oh… this should be interesting. Elysia… and her opponent… . Are they finally facing each other…

***

[On the Island]

The wind was blowing freely, carrying the scent of salt as sea birds glided from one point of the shore to another. On one of the rocky peaks near the coastline, at the highest spot, a group of two stood on watch, scanning the surroundings for any sign of an ambush. While the other two were sleeping.

"It's already the fifth day….."

Elysia muttered the words while stifling a yawn. Keeping guard was always cruelest when the mind fought against the pull of sleep at night, which was why they had collectively agreed that two of them would stay awake together, rather than leaving one person alone in the dark.

Her stomach gave a low growl, and she rubbed her eyes, trying to blink away the haze of drowsiness. After climbing down from the narrow cliff path, she crouched by the edge of the ocean and splashed cold water across her face. The chill stung her skin and cleared some of the heaviness in her thoughts.

A short walk into the trees helped her shake off the last of it.

By the time she returned, the campfire was already alive, flames licking the skewered meat above it. The aroma drifted through the clearing as the others sat around, speaking quietly while waiting for it to cook. Catching the sound of her footsteps, Corin turned with an easy smile.

"The food is almost ready. Come, sit with us."

Veyric and Alina also glanced her way, nodding with warm smiles of their own.

Elysia lowered herself to the ground and looked at each of them in turn. They all seemed healthy, their strength restored, their faces more at ease compared to the first few days. What had once been chaos was now order.

Veyric had built their shelter, Corin kept their water supply steady, and the monsters that lurked in the sea had become their meals. She had made sure each task was balanced and that no one faltered. Piece by piece, they had begun fitting themselves into the rhythm of the wilderness.

For a brief moment, the clearing felt calm, almost peaceful.

Only Luthan was missing, who must be looking out for the traces of the opponent team.

Just two more days…..and then...

The thought had barely formed when a sharp sound cut through the air, the unmistakable whistle of something hurtling toward them at terrifying speed. Instinct jolted through Elysia. She called for her blade, though even summoning it demanded a few precious seconds. Her voice rang out instantly.

"Get ready! We are under attack!!"

But the others were already moving. Corin thrust his hand outward, water surging and twisting into a rippling shield, while Veyric leapt forward to block the path of the attack.

A burning arrow streaked through the sky, the air trembling in its wake as it shot toward Alina. She tried to dodge, but her body was still heavy from sitting still for too long.

-CRASH!!!

Veyric intercepted her, his arms covered with jagged stone. The arrow slammed into him, and the blast shook the ground. The fiery impact hurled him backward, the rock shattering against his skin as he skidded across the dirt.

After the attack landed, only then the shield manifested. And they all become enclosed in the bubble of water.

Elysia's heart pounded in her chest, the same unease flashing in everyone's eyes. At this early hour, the forest was usually quiet. Never before had they been attacked here at such height and at such precise timing. How had their enemy managed to strike so suddenly, so accurately?

Corin's voice cracked with disbelief. "We're already at this height… so how could an attack come from even higher above…..? Did the opponent find us, without us knowing?"

One by one, their gazes lifted skyward.

What they saw made their skin grow cold.

Far above, hovering with effortless grace, was a figure whose crimson hair shimmered like living fire in the sunlight. Her crimson eyes blazed like twin suns, sharp and merciless. Clad in the black academy tracksuit, her hair tied neatly back, she held her hand forward, still smoldering from the attack.

Melissia Ravencroft looked down upon them.

***