Chapter 12:Stellar Admission Final Part

As the one-hour timer hit zero, the students were called to the central hall. The instructor stood ready, overseeing the process as small groups of students were teleported into the dungeon one after another.

When it was Lucien's turn, he felt a slight tugging sensation as the teleportation rune activated. The world around him warped and shifted until he found himself standing on uneven rocky terrain, surrounded by the faint hum of the dungeon's mana-infused atmosphere.

Lucien scanned his body, finding no abnormalities with his mana he quickly ran in deeper into the forest. Soon

he spotted a group of Shadow Kobolds skulking near a crumbling wall. He activated Veil of Shadows, his movements becoming near-silent as he crept closer.

The kobolds were chattering amongst themselves, unaware of his presence. With a quick thrust, Lucien used Linear Strike, skewering one of the creatures through the chest. It let out a strangled cry before dissipating into mana particles.

The remaining kobolds turned toward him, snarling. Lucien sidestepped their clumsy attacks, countering with a sweeping motion of his spear. The Sweeping Arc ability sent two kobolds flying, their weak bodies unable to withstand the force.

"Points Earned: 3."

"That's a good start, though I wonder how Amara is doing?"

He shook his head focusing on the task ahead.

"Better not hold back else she'll be quite pissed if my scores are low." He thought as he ran into the forest.

Meanwhile the person in question was perched atop a rock formation, her ice-coated arrows striking a group of Gutter Bats. With precise aim, she froze the bats mid-flight before shattering them with a well-placed mana shot,

"Points Earned:3"

Looking at her points Amara was far from satisfied, though a thought crossed her mind.

"Wonder how Lucian's doing."

Not just her as various other participants were doing there best. Meanwhile within a different room in the academy the teacher's were watching the student's progress in the dungeon.

Holographic monitors displayed real-time scores and individual stats for each participant, tracking their health, mana levels, and actions in detail.

The lead instructor, Professor Daren Valtos, stood with arms crossed, his expression a mixture of stern scrutiny and mild intrigue. He was a grizzled veteran of countless battles, with a sharp eye for talent. Beside him, Professor Elaine Myra, an expert in mana theory, analyzed the combatants' tactics and mana usage. Other evaluators—ranging from combat instructors to administrative staff—took notes and whispered among themselves.

Kyron Hale continued to dominate the field. His raw strength allowed him to take down larger monsters, such as a Steelhorn Boar, by brute force. However, his recklessness showed as his mana reserves dwindled rapidly.

"Kyron's hitting hard," Professor Valtos muttered, "but if he doesn't manage his stamina, he'll collapse before the run ends."

Lira Sen, the dagger-wielding prodigy, demonstrated surgical precision, taking out Shadow Kobolds and Gutter Bats with ease. Her speed and agility kept her from taking damage, but her cautious approach meant her score lagged slightly behind.

"She's careful," Professor Myra commented. "That's a good trait for survival, but it won't win her the top spot."

Ellis Varn, the spellcaster, had the observation deck buzzing. Using complex mana constructs, he created barriers to trap enemies before launching devastating area-of-effect spells. His efficiency earned him significant points without exposing him to much risk.

"Ellis is a strategist," Elaine noted. "He's not aiming for glory in combat; he's playing the long game."

"Lucien Anderson," Valtos said, watching as the boy dispatched a group of Shadow Kobolds with precision. "He's remarkably composed for someone his age."

Elaine nodded, adjusting her glasses. "His mana control is impressive. See how he used his shadow skills seamlessly and suppressed his presence before striking? That's not something most students manage in their first dungeon run."

Valtos grunted. "He's a natural, but raw. His strikes lack the weight they'll need in higher-rank dungeons. Still, the potential is there."

On another screen, Amara O'Neal was shown raining down icy arrows on a cluster of Gutter Bats.

"Her marksmanship is exemplary," Elaine remarked. "But she's relying heavily on distance. She'll need to work on her close-quarters combat if she wants to handle ambush scenarios."

Valtos smirked. "She's a sniper type. It's not a weakness, just a different specialty. But yes, she'll need a fallback plan for emergencies."

Suddenly a thought crossed his mind and he turned to Elaine

"Lucian has a sister right, Seraphina Anderson if i'm not mistaken?"

"Yes she's a fire type awakened with a blessing."

She pressed the tablet she was holding, before handing it over to Valtos. It was a video of Seraphina in a dungeon. It showed her elegantly cut down a Flame Wolf Pup with her flaming sword. Her movements were precise, her mana-infused strikes leaving no room for error.

"She's aggressive," Valtos observed. "Controlled, but aggressive. That kind of confidence can make her a standout—or it can get her killed if she underestimates her enemies."

Elaine smiled faintly. "With her talent and discipline, I doubt she'll make that mistake often. The Anderson siblings are a promising pair."

As Lucien moved deeper into the dungeon, he felt a faint prickle at the back of his neck—a sense of unease. Activating Phantom Cloak, he blended into the shadows, his presence almost entirely erased. Moments later, three other students stepped into the corridor, whispering among themselves.

"He's ahead of us," one of them muttered, a boy with short-cropped blond hair and a longsword strapped to his back. "If we take him out, we'll secure his points."

Another boy with a battle-axe chuckled. "He's strong, but he's just one guy. We've got the numbers."

The third student, a girl wielding twin daggers, scanned the area. "Stay alert. He could be anywhere."

Lucien watched them from the shadows, weighing his options. When the trio moved closer, he struck. Emerging behind the dagger-wielding girl, he delivered a precise blow with Eclipse Blade, knocking her unconscious in one strike.

The other two turned, startled, but Lucien was already moving. He used Umbral Step to teleport behind the boy with the battle-axe, sweeping his legs out with the shaft of his spear before delivering a follow-up thrust.

The blond swordsman charged, swinging wildly, but Lucien deflected the attack with Point Guard, countering with Lancing Dash to close the gap and disarm his opponent.

Just as Lucien prepared to finish the fight, a warning shout echoed through the hall.

"Lucien, watch out!"

Amara appeared, loosing an arrow that froze the battle-axe boy in place. She followed up with a volley of icy projectiles, forcing the swordsman to retreat. Together, she and Lucien subdued the ambushers, leaving them sprawled on the floor.

"You okay?" Amara asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Lucien nodded, his breathing steady despite the confrontation. "Thanks for the assist. I had it under control, though."

Amara smirked. "Sure you did. Let's keep moving—those points aren't going to earn themselves."

Lucien and Amara moved through the dungeon with calculated precision. Their synergy became evident as they worked together to tackle various challenges.

Lucien's use of the Aspect of Shadows made him an elusive force. His passive Veil of Shadows allowed him to vanish in the dimly lit corridors, striking enemies with precision before disappearing again. Each kill increased his score steadily, but his real strength lay in his adaptability.

Amara, on the other hand, relied on her icy arrows to keep enemies at bay. Her ability to slow and immobilize opponents provided Lucien with the openings he needed to strike. The duo's teamwork placed them both in the top ten on the leaderboard.

"They're complementing each other well," Elaine said, watching the pair take down a group of Flame Wolves.

As the third hour approached, the leaderboard displayed on the observation screens flickered, revealing the top scores:

1.Lucien Anderson – 920 points

2.Amara Velden – 870 points

3.Kyron Hale – 710 points

4.Ellis Varn – 690 points

5.Lira Sen – 650 points

Professor Valtos leaned back, crossing his arms as he studied the leaderboard. "Lucien and Amara have both surpassed 800 points, and they're still going strong. Their teamwork is what sets them apart."

Elaine, the spear instructor, nodded. "Lucien's combat instincts are sharp, and his mastery of the spear is exceptional for someone his age. Amara's precision and strategy make her a formidable partner."

Professor Myra added, "They're outpacing the others not just in skill but in efficiency. They're not wasting energy on unnecessary fights, which will serve them well against the dungeon boss."

As the third hour neared, Lucien and Amara's determination only grew. They paused briefly to strategize before heading toward the dungeon boss.

Lucien tightened his grip on his spear, a confident smirk on his face. "Let's finish this in style."

Amara nodded, her icy arrows glowing faintly in the dim light. "First and second place are ours. Let's make sure it stays that way."

Their journey toward the Fire Drake, the dungeon's C-rank boss, was about to reach its climax.