Chapter 14: Stellar Admission Final Part (2)

The air grew heavier as Lucien and Amara stepped into the central chamber of the dungeon. Towering stalagmites surrounded the massive cavern, and at its heart lay the dungeon boss—a fearsome Fire Drake, its scaled body glowing faintly with molten cracks. The beast's eyes flickered with primal rage as it roared, shaking the cavern walls.

Amara nocked an arrow and whispered, "We've got this. Stay sharp."

Lucien tightened his grip on his spear. His heart pounded, but his resolve remained firm. "I'll keep its attention. Look for an opening."

Lucien charged forward, activating Lancing Dash to close the distance. The Fire Drake snarled and swung its massive tail. Lucien ducked just in time, the tail smashing into a nearby stalagmite, shattering it into shards. He countered with Piercing Fang, driving his spear into the beast's flank. The attack chipped some of the scales off, but the beast's thick failed to draw some blood.

Amara positioned herself atop a small jutting cliff, her bow at the ready for any signs of an opening and she found one. With precision, she unleashed a barrage of arrows, each tipped with frost. The arrows struck the Drake's joints, covering them with ice, slowing its movements. "Keep it distracted!" she called.

The Fire Drake opened its jaws and unleashed a torrent of fire. Lucien dodged to the side, the heat singeing his uniform. He activated Spiral Vortex, spinning his spear to deflect smaller flames and debris.

"Over here!" Lucien taunted, landing another strike with Aetheric Strike, causing a minor explosion of energy that disoriented the creature.

Amara took her chance. She focused her mana, conjuring an enormous ice arrow glowing with cold energy. With a shout, she loosened it, the arrow piercing the Fire Drake's chest. Since drakes were lesser versions of dragons the obvious weakness was the creature's chest where it's reverse scale could be found. The creature roared in agony, but it wasn't done yet.

The Drake, now sufficiently enraged, lunged at Lucien, its claws aiming to crush him. He leapt backward, using Umbral Step to teleport into a shadowed corner. Reappearing behind the beast, he activated Dragon's Ascension, launching himself high into the air. Energy surged into his spear as he descended with a devastating thrust, driving the weapon deep into the Drake's back. Blood gushing out, staining his singed uniform.

The Fire Drake writhed in pain, weakened but still alive.

"Now, Amara!" Lucien shouted.

Amara summoned her ultimate move, a Frost Nova, encasing the Drake in layers of ice. The monster struggled, its fiery core dimming as the frost consumed it.

Lucien delivered the final blow, thrusting his spear into the creature's exposed chest. The Fire Drake let out one last roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into shimmering light.

*Ding* Dungeon has been completed, transferring out remaining participants

The dungeon around them began to shake before dissolving into motes of light, signaling its completion and soon they found themselves standing in the hall where they once were.

The fresh air was a welcome relief after the oppressive heat of the dungeon.

Around them, other students who had completed their runs gathered, some nursing injuries, others wearing triumphant grins. The teachers stood nearby, observing and taking notes.

Professor Valtos stepped forward, his voice booming over the crowd. "Congratulations to all who completed the final trial. You have shown courage, skill, and determination. These qualities are what define hunters."

The students quieted, hanging onto his every word.

Professor Valtos continued, his eyes scanning the group of students who stood in a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. "A hunter's duty is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, to uphold the balance in a world fraught with chaos. Today, you have taken your first steps on that path. And now, it is time to see how you performed."

He gestured toward a hovering holographic screen that materialized behind him, displaying three sections labeled: Theoretical Exam (20%), Combat Trial (20%), and Dungeon Run (60%). The points for each test were tallied to form the final ranking.

"The third stage accounted for the majority of your points," Valtos explained. "But every test mattered. Skill, knowledge, and composure all contribute to a hunter's potential. The final scores will now be displayed. Let us see where you stand."

The holographic screen began to list the names and scores, starting from the lowest to the highest.

Alexander Moore: 462 points. Sophia Kane: 487 points. Elias Grayson: 521 points. Serena Hayes: 544 points.

As more names appeared, the anticipation grew. Students whispered among themselves, some anxiously glancing at their peers. Amara, standing beside Lucien, looked calm but focused.

Then the top names began to appear.

Amara O'neal: 893 points.

Amara's eyes widened slightly in surprise, though she quickly composed herself. The murmurs grew louder; 893 was an incredibly high score.

Finally, the screen displayed the top name.

Lucien Anderson: 926 points.

The hall fell silent for a moment before breaking into whispers and gasps. Lucien blinked, momentarily stunned by the number. He knew he had done well, but to place first? That was beyond his expectations.

Professor Valtos raised his hand for silence. "The final results reflect your abilities across all tests. To clarify, here is how our top performers achieved their scores."

The hologram shifted to display Lucien and Amara's detailed breakdowns.

Lucien Anderson

Theoretical Exam: 170/200Combat Trial: 180/200Dungeon Run: 576/600Total: 926/1000

Amara O'neal

Theoretical Exam: 160/200Combat Trial: 175/200Dungeon Run: 558/600Total: 893/1000

The numbers told the story. Lucien's exceptional performance in the dungeon, combined with strong theoretical and combat scores, had secured his place at the top. Amara wasn't far behind, her precision and strategy earning her second place.

Professor Valtos nodded approvingly. "These results reflect your potential. Lucien Anderson, congratulations on achieving the highest score. You demonstrated not only strength but also adaptability and resourcefulness. Amara Leighton, your precision and composure are equally commendable."

The screen continued to display the top ten rankings:

Elias Grayson: 821 points. Serena Hayes: 805 points. Damian Vega: 788 points. Sophia Kane: 773 points. Alexander Moore: 756 points. LenaLena Moretti: 740 points. Caleb Hart: 728 points. Isabelle Rios: 720 points.

As the rankings settled on the screen, the students began to relax, some congratulating each other, others silently resolving to improve. Lucien glanced at Amara, who gave him a small smile. "Well done," she said simply.

"You too," Lucien replied, his voice steady but tinged with gratitude.

Professor Valtos stepped forward one last time. "Each of you has proven yourselves worthy of admission to the academy. However, the real challenges lie ahead. Your training begins tomorrow. Be prepared to push yourselves beyond your limits. Dismissed."

The students began to file out of the hall, buzzing with excitement and relief. Lucien and Amara lingered for a moment, sharing a brief glance before following the others.

For Lucien, this was only the beginning. The road ahead promised to be grueling, but he was determined to walk it, no matter how difficult. As he exited the hall, his resolve solidified.

He would not only survive—he would thrive.