Test

[The demon as recognized you as an enemy, level as risen by 100 , your Mana capacity at increased to D and your skills have been upgraded to D].

The system message popped up in front of me.

"It seems my luck is good," I muttered to myself, my voice echoing softly in the forest.

"I guess I'm not dying today," I added.

My attention momentarily shifted to the presence behind me—the looming figure of a demon, an enemy in this realm. My reaction was far from typical; rather than fear, I felt a surge of defiance and resolve. The demon observed me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, noting the unusual composure of this human who dared to stand defiant in its presence.

"It seems the fear of death has driven you mad," the demon remarked, its voice laced with subtle skepticism.

I brushed dirt off my clothes as I stood up, my gaze unwavering. "No! Your presence just saved my life," I retorted firmly, gesturing towards the lurking kallikantzaros behind me. "See, they haven't attacked me since you appeared."

"I'm not here to save you," the demon responded dismissively, its tone unequivocal.

I nodded calmly. "I understand that," I acknowledged, "but nonetheless, your presence saved me."

The demon regarded me thoughtfully for a moment, then uttered a chilling command. "Kill him."

Immediately, the kallikantzaros moved forward with menacing intent, their focus now squarely on me.

The kallikantzaros lunged forward, driven by their demonic instincts, but I was prepared. With a swift motion, I channeled my newfound strength into a skill, invoking "frost blast" that enveloped the kallikantzaros in icy tendrils, freezing them solid.

"I need to be fast if I don't want to be trapped in the dungeon," I thought, my mind racing with the urgency of the situation.

"How did you become so powerful?" the demon asked, its voice betraying a mix of astonishment and curiosity.

"Sorry, but I'll explain when we meet in hell," I replied cryptically, my tone resolute and unwavering.

"Ice explosion," I murmured under my breath, preparing for what might come next.

"There should be a test tomorrow," I added, almost to myself, before everything around us faded into blinding whiteness.

*

I was drawn back to the present as the system message popped up in front of me.

[Rank 900 student Roy White]

[Scanning retina]

[Scanning fingerprint]

[Scanning bone alignment]

[Scanning 0% . . . . 10% . . . . . . . 40% . . . . . . 70% . . . . . . . 90% . . . . .]

The helmet's display gradually illuminated, revealing rows upon rows of information. I, Roy White, a student ranked 900, scrutinized the data presented before me. Adjusting to the rapid changes, I carefully reviewed the details and without hesitation, pressed 'Y' to confirm access. Immediately, a familiar jingle chimed through the air, resonating in my ears.

The stringent security protocols in the virtual cabin were not unexpected. In the current technological landscape, impersonation was as simple as activating a phone. Disguises crafted from custom masks could effortlessly transform appearances.

Distinguishing a demon contractor was relatively straightforward. Such individuals underwent extensive genetic modifications upon forging a pact with a demon. These alterations were necessary because the human body struggled to fully accommodate the immense power bestowed by demons.

Of course, this only worked for relatively weaker demon contractors. For stronger ones, this sort of test was useless as their bodies could contain the power given to them by the devils they made a pact with, like Professor Gandhi. Fortunately, this wasn't necessarily a problem as the stronger villains didn't bother disguising themselves.

However, even though strong villains tended to avoid disguising themselves, these sorts of tests were still a necessary precaution against villains. The consequences of not checking whether someone was an imposter could potentially be disastrous. Imagine what would happen if a villain was to make its way inside the VR capsule. He / She could potentially put all the students at risk of brain trauma if not even death.

If a villain were to suddenly gain access to the virtual equipment main control system, he/she could suddenly discharge all of the electrical power inside of the capsules, essentially turning everyone inside of the capsule brain dead.

This sort of accident occurred several times in the past, resulting in strict checks and procedures getting installed by the company creating the capsule as a result of the backlash they received from the public.

Well, what about Professor Gandhi? Technically he could override the system and kill everyone present, right? Actually, he couldn't, especially since his job was extremely important.

The reason why I was not necessarily worried about him was because his primary role in the academy was to turn potential heroes into villains. He was what was called a 'manager' or an 'agent'. His main responsibility was to turn students into villains by exploiting the emotions and resentment they had towards certain individuals or the academy.

Moreover, it wasn't that easy to override the system and discharge high amounts of electricity towards the capsules. Especially if this was happening inside of the lock, where several highly ranked heroes resided. They could easily sense the abnormal accumulation of electricity making it almost impossible for this plan to work.

Plus, Professor Gandhi simply couldn't afford to perform such a high-risk maneuver to kill an individual as turning students into villains was his main priority.

If not for the fact that professor Gandhi got direct orders from the demon he made a contract with to get rid of Vincent, he would've never tried fighting him, as it wasn't his responsibility.

'Just as it was not my responsibility to get rid of him. If I suddenly got rid of the mini-boss, Vincent would never go through any hardship, creating a liability for when he faced the evil god.'

Gradually, the world around me began to transform, enveloped in a blinding light that compelled me to shield my eyes.

As the professor initiated the simulation, the environment shifted swiftly. Thick, lush trees sprouted from beneath my feet, their roots delving into soft, crumbly soil that gradually swallowed my steps. Towering trunks ascended rapidly, obstructing my view and casting intricate shadows across the landscape.

Reaching out tentatively, my hand encountered a tree trunk, sparking a profound surprise at the realistic sensation that greeted my fingertips. The bark felt weathered, akin to the lines and wrinkles of an elderly visage. Its surface was uneven and flaky, cracking and peeling under the gentle pressure of my touch, emitting a delicate sound.

The tactile experience was uncannily real, defying the typical digital simulations with its authenticity.

"How intriguing..." I murmured, captivated by the immersive realism unfolding around me.

[Rank 900, Roy White - Points: 0]

As I stood there, mesmerized by the astonishing realism of the trees around me, a notification abruptly appeared before my eyes.

Quickly dismissing the notification with a swipe, I sank into contemplation.

The rules of the game were straightforward: each student started with one point, and every teammate lost a point upon death. Teams reaching zero points would face automatic elimination.

Points could only be gained by completing hidden tasks scattered across the map. At the test's conclusion, a ranking list would highlight the teams based on their performance.

Surveying my surroundings, I noticed the absence of my teammates. Though the professor hadn't explicitly mentioned it during the briefing, I knew each participant would be isolated.

After all, I had crafted this scenario myself.

The ultimate objective was simple yet daunting: survive for one hour. Despite its apparent simplicity, I understood the challenge it posed. With minimal information deliberately provided by the professor, the test boiled down to one rule: survive.

Each participant had been equipped with a weapon chosen based on their initial academy registration. For me, it was a sleek black katana resting comfortably at my side.

Unsheathing it momentarily to gauge its weight and balance, I nodded in approval. The katana felt identical to those provided by the academy, reassuring me of its reliability in the impending trials.

Sheathing the katana back into its scabbard, I cast a wary glance around at my surroundings.

During the briefing, the professor had only emphasized one rule: survival. He deliberately omitted specifics about killing, leading the students to assume it was permitted.

"Here we are," I muttered to myself.

Despite being a simulation, the scenery captivated me. Crystalline water reflected the sun's rays, illuminating vibrant green vegetation encircling the serene lake. Animals coexisted peacefully, each taking sips from the pristine waters.

Navigating through the forest, I knew the objective: accumulate points by defeating computer-simulated monsters. Carelessness could lead to injury or worse, a game-ending demise. Yet any wounds incurred here wouldn't manifest physically. Failure meant automatic elimination from the test—a fate I was determined to avoid.

I walked for some time and ended up far east. Climbing a stone platform, I looked ahead. From this vantage point, I could see black, opaque water suddenly surging and seething, as though a living creature desperately trying to avoid the pale light of the sun.

Slowly rising, I approached the edge of the stone platform after some thought. Peering down, I saw a steep drop-off leading to a narrow gorge below. Jagged rocks jutted out from the walls of the gorge, and a small stream meandered through the rocky terrain. The sound of rushing water echoed faintly up to where I stood.

Taking in the rugged beauty of the landscape, I felt a sense of awe at the power of nature. I paused, absorbing the serenity of the moment before deciding to continue exploring the area.