Chapter 15: Midterms(2)

Luciel stood in the dimly lit cavern, the faint hum of mana in the air sending a familiar thrill through his body. The dungeon stretched out before him, its twisting passages and shadowy alcoves filled with the faint sounds of growls and scuttling creatures. But to Luciel, it felt less like a dangerous trial and more like a stroll through a particularly eerie forest. His golden eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, and a small, confident smile played on his lips.

Before moving forward, he decided to check his status window. It had been a while since he last reviewed his stats, and he was curious to see how much he had grown since the Celestia Incident. With a thought, the translucent screen materialized before him, its glowing text illuminating his face.

[User: Luciel]

[Strength: 18]

[Agility: 23]

[Vitality: 17]

[Mana: 35]

[Divinity: 10]

[Angelic body]

Luciel scanned the numbers. His strength, agility, and vitality had all seen significant increases, a testament to the relentless training he had put himself through over the past weeks. His mana, however, had nearly doubled, a reflection of his growing mastery over his abilities. 

"Divinity... 10?" he muttered under his breath, his golden eyes narrowing in thought. He had no idea what "Divinity" meant or how it affected him. He had gained points in this stat after awakening his angelic body, but even after weeks of experimenting, he didn't know what it did.

It wasn't something he had ever studied in his mana theory classes, and it certainly hadn't been mentioned in any of the academy's training materials. He had decided to file it away as something to investigate later. Whatever it was, it didn't seem to be hindering him—if anything, he felt stronger and more in control than ever.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, the status window vanished, and Luciel turned his attention to the task at hand. The dungeon test was meant to challenge the students, but for him, it felt almost trivial. His strength was far beyond that of an average first-year student, and the E-rank monsters lurking in the shadows posed little threat. Still, he wasn't about to let his guard down. If nothing else, this was an opportunity to test the limits of his newfound power.

Luciel took a step forward, his movements smooth and unhurried. As he walked, he extended his hand, and four glowing swords of light materialized in the air around him. Each blade was about three feet long, their edges shimmering with pure mana. They hovered effortlessly, rotating slowly as if awaiting his command. With a thought, Luciel sent them forward, the swords darting through the air with precision and speed.

The first monster to cross his path was a large, insect-like creature with chitinous armor and razor-sharp mandibles. It lunged at him from the shadows, its movements quick but predictable. Before it could even get within ten feet of Luciel, one of the swords of light shot forward, piercing through its head with a clean, precise strike. The creature let out a guttural screech before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into a faint mist of mana.

Luciel didn't even break his stride. He continued walking, the swords of light orbiting him like loyal sentinels. Another monster, a hulking beast with thick fur and claws the size of daggers, emerged from a side passage. It roared, charging at him with reckless abandon. Two of the swords intercepted it, their glowing blades slicing through its body with ease. The monster fell mid-charge, its momentum carrying it forward until it skidded to a stop at Luciel's feet. He stepped over it without a second glance.

Unbeknownst to Luciel, his every move was being watched. High above the dungeon, in a control room filled with monitors and holographic displays, a group of instructors and upperclassmen observed the students' progress. The room was abuzz with activity, but all eyes were drawn to the screen showing Luciel's feed.

"Is he even trying?" one of the upperclassmen muttered, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief. "He's just... walking."

Professor Jadestar stood at the center of the room, her crimson eyes fixed on the screen. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a faint glimmer of something in her gaze—pride, perhaps, or maybe just satisfaction. "Luciel's strength is far beyond that of his peers," she said, her voice calm but firm. "This dungeon is no challenge for him."

Another instructor, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, shook his head. "I've never seen a first-year with that level of mana control. Those swords of light... they're not just conjured weapons. They're extensions of his will. He's not even breaking a sweat."

The upperclassmen exchanged uneasy glances. They had been assigned to monitor the dungeon test and intervene if any of the students were in danger, but it was clear that Luciel didn't need their help. If anything, they were the ones feeling out of their depth.

Back in the dungeon, Luciel continued his leisurely stroll. The swords of light moved with a mind of their own, cutting down every monster that dared to approach him. A pack of wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows, their growls low and menacing. Luciel didn't even bother to look at them. With a flick of his wrist, the swords shot forward, weaving through the pack with deadly precision. Within seconds, the creatures were gone, their bodies dissolving into mana.

As he walked, Luciel couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment. The monsters were no match for him, and the dungeon itself felt almost... mundane. He had expected to feel some kind of thrill or challenge, but instead, he found himself growing bored. Still, he pressed on, his golden eyes scanning the environment for anything that might pose a real threat.

At one point, he came across a particularly large chamber filled with stalagmites and stalactites. The air was thick with mana, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the space. Luciel paused, his senses tingling. Something was different here. He could feel it—a presence, faint but unmistakable.

Before he could investigate further, a massive creature emerged from the shadows. It was unlike anything he had encountered so far, its body covered in thick, scaly armor and its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. It let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating through the chamber.

Luciel's lips curled into a faint smile. "Finally, something interesting," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The creature charged at him, its massive claws tearing through the ground as it moved. Luciel didn't flinch. With a thought, the four swords of light converged, their blades forming a barrier of pure mana. The creature slammed into the barrier, its momentum halted in an instant. Before it could recover, the swords shot forward, piercing through its armor and reducing it to nothing more than a cloud of dissipating mana.

Luciel let out a small sigh, his smile fading. "I was hoping for more," he muttered, continuing his walk through the dungeon.

...

Aria stepped into the dungeon, her green eyes scanning the dimly lit cavern. The air was cool, and the faint sounds of scuttling creatures echoed around her. She tightened her grip on her mana-infused daggers, her fiery red hair tied back in a tight ponytail. "Alright, Aria," she muttered. "Don't do anything stupid."

Her first encounter was with a spider-like creature, its glowing green eyes locking onto her as it lunged from the shadows. Aria dodged to the side, her daggers flashing as she slashed at its legs. The creature screeched, its movements slowing as mana leaked from its wounds. With a final strike, she finished it off, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "One down," she said, breathing heavily.

As she ventured deeper, Aria faced a pack of wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes. They moved quickly, forcing her to rely on her agility to avoid their attacks. She darted between them, her daggers cutting through the air as she took them down one by one. By the end, she was panting but unharmed. "Okay, that was intense," she said, leaning against the wall to catch her breath.

...

Arthuria moved through the dungeon with calm precision, her silver hair shimmering faintly in the dim light. Her icy blue eyes scanned her surroundings, her every step deliberate. The first monster she encountered was a hulking beast with thick fur and dagger-like claws. It charged at her, but Arthuria didn't flinch. A wall of ice erupted from the ground, blocking its path. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned an ice spear and hurled it at the creature, ending the fight in an instant. "Too slow," she said coolly.

As she pressed on, Arthuria faced a swarm of insect-like creatures with chitinous armor and razor-sharp mandibles. They moved erratically, but Arthuria responded with a flurry of ice spells, freezing them in their tracks. Her movements were graceful and efficient, her mana flowing effortlessly as she dispatched the creatures. "This is manageable," she thought, her expression calm.

However, the dungeon wasn't without its challenges. At one point, she found herself cornered by a pack of wolf-like creatures. They moved in unison, their growls low and menacing. Arthuria summoned a barrier of ice to buy herself time, then unleashed a barrage of icy projectiles, taking them down one by one. When the fight was over, she allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. She really had to push herself to limit, and had to take considerable time to rest.

...

The dungeon test came to an end, after the time limit ended and the students began to emerge from the portal, one by one. The once-tense atmosphere in the courtyard was now filled with a mix of exhaustion, relief, and quiet pride. The first-year students gathered in small groups, exchanging stories of their experiences and comparing notes on the monsters they had faced.

Aria was one of the first to step out, her short dark hair slightly tousled and her academy-issued combat gear scuffed but intact. She stretched her arms and let out a long sigh, her green eyes scanning the courtyard. "Well, that was... something," she said, glancing over at Arthuria, who had just emerged behind her. "How'd you do?"

Arthuria brushed a strand of silver hair from her face, her expression as calm as ever. "It was challenging but manageable," she replied. "I encountered a few unexpected obstacles, but nothing I couldn't handle."

Aria grinned, a flicker of flame dancing at the tips of her daggers as she twirled them in her hands. "Same here. Though I have to admit, I'm kind of glad it's over. Those wolf things were no joke. Good thing I could roast them before they got too close."

Luciel was the last to exit the dungeon, his golden eyes scanning the courtyard as he stepped through the portal. His swords of light had dissipated, and he looked as composed as ever, not a hair out of place. Aria shot him a playful glare, her green eyes narrowing. "Of course, you look like you just came back from a walk in the park," she said, crossing her arms. "Meanwhile, the rest of us are over here looking like we got dragged through a monster-filled mud pit."

Luciel shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "It wasn't that bad."

Arthuria raised an eyebrow, her icy blue eyes glinting with mild amusement. "For you, maybe. The rest of us actually had to work for our points."

Before Luciel could respond, Professor Jadestar stepped forward, her crimson eyes sweeping over the assembled students. "Well done, all of you," she said, her voice carrying a rare note of approval. "You've faced the dungeon and emerged stronger for it. Now, it's time to see the results of your efforts."