"Midterm Exam: Lurking Danger"

Snake Calendar, Year 2025

27th Day of October, Monday Morning

Unity College of System Studies, Auditorium of Unity

(Auditorium of Unity: A large hall for hosting college-wide events, guest lectures from renowned system users, and faction presentations. It features tiered seating and advanced sound systems.)

All first-year students were scheduled to gather in this designated location. The reason? An important announcement regarding their late midterm exam. Originally planned two weeks ago, the lockdown and city restoration efforts caused an unavoidable delay. However, rather than the usual written test, the college faculty had decided on a practical evaluation—one that would provide the students with real-world experience. The exam would require them to enter a Dimensional Gate, leading into another world.

Three Days of Preparation

The announcement created a buzz among the students. Discussions erupted, some filled with excitement, others with anxiety. Their instructors, a mix of retired soldiers, adventurers, and system scholars, ensured that every student received proper guidance before the exam. Over the next three days, preparations included physical training, tactical discussions, and lessons on survival in unknown territories.

The college assigned Elite Adventurers (Rank 5), faculty members, and security personnel to accompany the students. Every detail was carefully planned to make the expedition both safe and educational.

The designated Dimensional Gate was located between the City of Nova Asta and the City of Eryndale. It was classified as a First-Level Dimensional Gate, deemed suitable for academic purposes. Safety protocols were reinforced, and hundreds of guards were stationed to prevent any unexpected incidents.

The Day of the Exam

At dawn, students assembled near the Dimensional Gate. Their faces showed mixed emotions—determination, curiosity, and nervousness.

One of the instructors, Instructor Brax Kynor, addressed the crowd. "This is not just an exam. This is a learning experience that will prepare you for future challenges. Inside the gate, you will encounter unfamiliar creatures, unpredictable environments, and unexpected situations. Trust in your training, rely on your peers, and most importantly, stay alert."

Professor Elara Nightshade followed up with further clarification. "The exam does not require you to fight directly. Your performance will be assessed based on adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving. This is an opportunity for you to grow."

One by one, students, teachers, and adventurers stepped through the shimmering blue vortex, vanishing into the unknown world beyond.

A Sinister Scheme Unfolds

Unknown to the college faculty, a group of cloaked individuals had been observing from a distance. They wore dark robes adorned with unfamiliar symbols—members of an underground cult known as The Veilborn Covenant. Their goal was not just sabotage, but mass extermination.

As soon as the last student entered the gate, the cultists made their move.

"No witnesses." The voice of a masked leader, known only as Codename: Revenant, echoed in the air.

The cultists launched a swift and brutal assault on the guards stationed at the Dimensional Gate. Swords and daggers pierced through armor, spells were cast in deadly precision, and within moments, silence fell upon the once-secure perimeter.

Suspicious Person 1 approached the gate and pulled out a strange, pulsating artifact. A dark crystal, inscribed with forbidden runes. He placed it at the gate's core, and within seconds, the once stable First-Level Dimensional Gate twisted and fluctuated—rapidly evolving into a Fifth-Level Dimensional Gate.

The energy surge caused the gate to distort violently. The blue glow turned into a chaotic storm of dark purple, pulsating with unstable energy. Anyone inside was now trapped in a realm far beyond their intended destination.

"It is done," Suspicious Person 2 whispered, watching as the dimensional instability took effect.

Revenant gazed at the altered gate, a satisfied smirk hidden beneath his mask. "Now, let's see how the students handle true despair."

With their mission complete, the cultists vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a ticking disaster waiting to unfold.

The real exam had just begun… but none of the students knew what awaited them on the other side.