The Test Begins.

As soon as everyone stepped through the portal, they found themselves in a vast battlefield-like terrain. The ground was a mixture of rough rocks and dry sand, stretching endlessly in all directions.

Alastair scanned the desolate surroundings. "So now what? There's nothing here."

Charlie adjusted the grip on his sword. "Let's move forward carefully. We might find something."

Nick nodded in agreement. "We should stay together as a group. That way, we'll be safer."

Aron scoffed. "Tsk. What a coward. Ivan, follow me. We're moving."

Without a word, Ivan obediently followed Aron, keeping his thoughts to himself.

A group of girls standing nearby began whispering among themselves.

"Look, that's Aron of House Gorgon! But who's that boy with him?"

Alastair, ignoring the murmurs, gestured to his companions. "We should move forward too."

The aspirants advanced cautiously, their eyes darting around the unfamiliar landscape.

Meanwhile, in the grand headquarters of Catalina, the high rulers of every region sat in an opulent chamber, observing the progress of the aspirants through a magical projection.

King Theoden leaned back in his chair, watching with keen interest. "I must say, Queen Athena, your grandson carries an aura as chilling as yours."

Athena did not reply, but the proud smile on her face made it evident that she appreciated the compliment.

Back in the test, the group continued their careful trek forward when a voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait! Wait! Don't go any further!"

Aron frowned, turning towards the source of the voice. "Who are you?"

A boy stepped forward, his face slightly flushed. "I am the second prince of Caeldon, S—"

Aron raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

The boy straightened his posture. "Sasheer."

At that, Aron burst into laughter. "What? Hahaha! Are you a prince or a princess?" His voice echoed mockingly through the air.

The other aspirants couldn't help but chuckle, some even openly laughing.

Ivan, however, was not amused. "Aron, don't make fun of his name. There must be a reason his parents gave it to him."

Aron shot him a cold look. "I told you to follow me. That doesn't mean you can lecture me. Know your place."

Before Ivan could respond, a commanding voice interrupted them.

"Sasheer, you idiot! Why are you stopping us?"

The speaker was a striking young woman with an air of authority. Flora, the firstborn of House Caeldon and Sasheer's elder sister, crossed her arms impatiently.

Sasheer, undeterred, pointed at the ground ahead. "Down there… Leocras are sleeping."

A ripple of shock spread through the aspirants.

Alastair's eyes widened. "Leocras? The three-headed lions?"

Sasheer nodded. "Yes."

A tense silence fell over the group, followed by anxious murmurs.

"I've heard Leocras are vicious," a girl whispered. "Once they spot their prey, they don't stop until they've devoured them."

"My mother told me that only those who have mastered all types of spells can defeat a Leocras," another girl added nervously.

A boy's face paled. "No, I can't do this. I'm the only child my parents have. I quit." Without hesitation, he yanked the enchanted band from his wrist, signaling his withdrawal from the test.

Seeing him leave, several other aspirants hesitated before following suit. One by one, they removed their bands and disappeared from the battlefield.

Aron scowled. "Cowards!"

Back in the headquarters, King Adam watched the scene unfold with disapproval. "Queen Athena, your grandson is rude. How can he mock an aspirant from the South?"

Athena leaned back with an amused expression. "Adam, don't be ridiculous. They're young. Young people do things like this."

Siuan, Head master of Catalina High , observed the numbers carefully. "Fifteen aspirants have left. That brings the count down from seventy-eight."

King Theoden sighed. "Those children are truly foolish. The Leocras in the test are harmless—mere illusions meant to assess their courage and physical strength."

Athena, however, remained unfazed. "King Theoden, why sigh over something so trivial? They left because they were not capable of passing the test. This is their journey. Let them make their own choices."

With that, the rulers continued watching, waiting to see how the remaining aspirants would fare against the trials ahead.

Aron turned to Ivan with a smirk. "Stay behind me if you don't want to get devoured by these Leocras."

Ivan frowned, gripping the hilt of his sword. "I can use my magic to protect myself."

Alastair quickly interjected. "But Ivan, your magic won't work. This test is about physical strength and courage."

Aron shot Ivan a knowing look. "Satisfied now? Pick up your sword and stay behind me."

Nick, keeping his voice steady, spoke up. "Let's move forward carefully and try not to wake the Leocras. One wrong step, and we'll have a real mess on our hands."

Everyone nodded and moved cautiously, their steps slow and deliberate.

As they walked, Alastair turned to Nick. "Hey, Nick, I heard you brought Lartharon with you for the test?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah, it's my sword. Everyone was told to bring their weapon."

Alastair's eyebrows raised. "But isn't Lartharon magical? I've heard it can cut through souls."

Nick let out a small chuckle. "That may be true, but since I don't know any magic, I can't awaken the sword's full potential. Right now, it's just a weapon."

"So, it's just a normal sword?"

"No," Nick said firmly. "It's formidable, sharp, and unbreakable."

Alastair hummed in understanding. "Oh."

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the area. One of the aspirants had lost his balance and fallen to the ground, the sound reverberating through the silent battlefield.

Charlie spun around in frustration. "What are you doing?!"

It was too late. The Leocras had already woken up. Their three heads turned toward the group, eyes burning with primal fury.

Evylin's voice rang out. "Everyone, ready to fight!"

Charlie moved in front of her. "Princess Evylin, stay back! Let us boys handle them."

Evylin raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Prince Charlie, but I can protect myself. You should be worried about yourself."

Aron clicked his tongue. "Don't argue. The girls should stay behind. We'll face them head-on."

Miriana stepped forward, unsheathing her blade. "No need, Your Highness! We are trained to fight!"

The Leocras lunged forward, and the battle erupted.

Aron moved swiftly, his attacks harsh and relentless. Ivan followed closely, dodging the Leocras with careful footwork. Nick and Alastair fought together, covering each other's blind spots. Charlie fought defensively, ensuring the safety of the more vulnerable aspirants.

Princess Evylin and Miriana, despite the initial protests, fought effortlessly alongside the others, their swords flashing with precision.

Two aspirants attempted to fight, but the Leocras didn't give them a chance. One of the beasts lunged, and just as it was about to strike, Nick dashed forward, blocking the attack. Seizing the opportunity, the two aspirants pulled the enchanted bands from their wrists, disappearing from the test.

Breathing heavily, Aron scanned the battlefield. "We can't keep this up forever. There's a cave over there! Let's head inside!"

Nick hesitated. "No. There might be more Leocras hiding inside."

Aron frowned. "And how long do you think we can stand against them out here?"

Nick shook his head. "Even if we go inside, they can follow us in."

Charlie glanced at the others. "Let's split up and run in different directions. We might be able to shake them off."

Alastair grimaced. "Splitting up is never a good idea. It never is."

Evylin, wiping sweat from her brow, spoke firmly. "It's our best shot. We're outnumbered. If we can't fight them directly, maybe running will give us a chance."

Aron, Ivan, and a few others ran toward the cave. Charlie, Alastair, Evylin, and Miriana sprinted in the opposite direction.

Nick hesitated for a moment, then followed Aron toward the cave.

Inside, the cave was dark and damp—but far from empty. The floor was covered with slithering, venomous snakes.

Nick's eyes widened. "We can't go in there."

Ivan, however, had a different idea. "Wait. We can use them against the Leocras."

Nick frowned. "What do you mean?"

Ivan pointed at the snakes. "These are scorpion snakes. Their venom causes a deadly sleep—one that lasts for a hundred years or more."

Aron's expression hardened. "And how do you propose we extract their poison without getting bitten ourselves?"

A calm voice cut through the conversation. "I can help with that."

The group turned toward the source of the voice. A girl stepped forward, her gaze steady.

Aron narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

The girl met his gaze without flinching. "I am the sixth princess of Aetherborne, Ninda. My mother is from the Moon Tribe. She taught me how to control these creatures."

Aron's eyebrows shot up. "The Moon Tribe—the ones who protect these kinds of beasts?"

Ninda nodded. "Yes. I have a medicine that can put these scorpion snakes to sleep. Once they're unconscious, I can safely extract their venom."

Nick exhaled. "Then do it. We'll guard you."

As Ninda prepared the medicine, the others tightened their grips on their weapons. Outside, the roars of the Leocras echoed through the cave entrance. Time was running out.

On the other side, Charlie, Alastair, Evylin, and Miriana hid beneath a grove of trees. Outside, the Leocras were prowling, searching for them.

Alastair whispered, "What should we do now?"

Charlie responded, "Let's stay here for a while and wait until the Leocras leave."

"And what if they don't?" Miriana asked, her voice laced with worry.

"Miriana, they will," Evylin reassured her. "And even if they don't, I believe Nick will come to save us."

"I hope so," Alastair murmured.

"For now, just stay calm," Charlie advised.

Meanwhile, in the cave, Ninda was preparing the medicine.

"Ivan, look inside my bag. There's a blue potion in it," Ninda instructed.

Ivan quickly searched the bag and pulled out the vial. "Got it."

"Pass it to me," Ninda said.

Ivan handed it over. "Here."

Ninda uncorked the vial. "Now, pour this into the poison."

Ivan hesitated. "What for?"

"This will weaken the poison's effect. It will only activate upon contact with blood," Ninda explained.

"So it's to minimize risks for us?"

"Exactly. And it will also put the Leocras on sleep without hurting them."

Aron snapped, "Talk less!"

Nick stepped forward. "Is the medicine ready?"

"Almost," Ninda replied.

Ivan handed him a small container. "Here, apply this to your swords and attack them. It will put them to sleep."

Everyone coated their weapons with the modified poison and charged at the Leocras. One by one, the creatures collapsed to the ground.

Ivan let out a sigh and sat down, exhausted.

Aron scoffed. "Are you a little princess? Get up. We still have to find the others."

Nick frowned. "Aron, he's just tired. Why do you always have to be so rude?"

Aron smirked. "Oh, and now you're going to tell me how to treat my slave?"

Nick's expression darkened. "He is not your slave."

"And how would you know?" Aron sneered. "He fetches water for me, fixes my clothes, does my laundry, cleans my chambers, and follows me wherever I go."

Ivan sighed, standing up. "Enough. Don't start fighting. We need to focus on finding the others."

With that, the group left the cave and made their way toward the grove.

Nick suddenly signaled for them to stop. "Wait. Look—the Leocras are standing right in front of the grove."

"Then the others must be inside," Ivan guessed.

"But why aren't the Leocras attacking?"

"Whatever the reason, we need to move fast," Aron said. "Let's go rescue them."

Ninda checked their supplies. "We only have a small amount of poison left, so be careful."

The group lunged forward, engaging the Leocras once again. One by one, the creatures fell asleep.

Ivan ran ahead to the grove and called out, "Come out! We're here to help!"

Evylin's relieved voice came from within. "Thank God! We're safe now."

The group emerged from their hiding spot, but Miriana looked pale.

Ivan frowned. "Miriana, are you okay?"

Without a word, Miriana suddenly collapsed.

"Miriana!" Evylin cried, kneeling beside her. "Miriana, what's wrong?"

Ivan turned urgently. "Ninda! Come over here!"

Ninda rushed over. "What happened?"

"She just fainted," Ivan explained. "Can you check on her?"

Ninda knelt beside Miriana, examining her. After a moment, she looked up. "She was bitten by a poisonous insect—but don't worry, I have the antidote."

Without hesitation, Ninda pulled out a small bottle and placed a pill in Miriana's mouth.

Suddenly, a boy shouted, "I don't want to enter Catalina High! They're mad! This test will get us killed—I'm leaving!"

Without hesitation, he yanked the enchanted band from his wrist. In an instant, he vanished, officially out of the test.

Meanwhile, in the headquarters, Siuan, the headmaster of Catalina High, observed the progress of the aspirants. "After recalculating, only fifty candidates remain. These are the ones who will advance to the second round."

Back in the test, Charlie looked around, his expression grim. "We started with such a large group… now there are so few of us left."

Alastair sighed. "Many ran away, terrified of the Leocras."

Ivan glanced at their surroundings. "Where should we go next?"

Aron suddenly pointed ahead. "Look—a portal! That must be the way forward. Let's go."

Everyone nodded in agreement and hurried toward it. Evylin carefully supported Miriana, ensuring she could move despite her weakened state, as they all made their way toward the portal.