The Academy’s Challenge – A Test of Survival

Chapter 39: The Academy's Challenge – A Test of Survival

The next morning, a sharp chime echoed through the academy's halls.

📢 [Attention, all students.]

📜 Aether Academy Combat Assessment – Mandatory for Class 1-ATest Type: Survival Combat TrialObjective: Stay in the field for 30 minutes while facing multiple opponents.Scoring: Based on elimination count, endurance, and adaptability.Failure Condition: Knockout or total inability to fight.

The announcement sent waves of tension through the students.

Student 1 (nervously): "A combat survival test? On the first week?"Student 2: "They're really not wasting time…"

Rei stood still.

His heart pounded.

This was exactly what he feared.

A full-on combat trial, where endurance and raw strength determined success.

He had just barely landed a hit on Akari last night.

Now, he was expected to survive against an entire battlefield.

Rei (thinking, frustrated): I'm not ready for this…

But it didn't matter.

The test was happening.

And failure meant falling further behind.

Class 1-A Reacts – Confidence and Doubt

The strongest students barely looked fazed.

Kozuki Renjou leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, uninterested.Elias Krow cracked his knuckles, ready to take on anyone.Mika Fujiwara adjusted her gloves, already calculating her approach.Daigo Shiranui simply sharpened his sword, unconcerned.

Meanwhile—

🔹 Souta smirked. "Finally, some fun."🔹 Akari exhaled, focused. "Tch. This will be brutal."🔹 Lina grinned. "Survival of the fittest, huh? I love it."

And then—

Their eyes turned to Rei.

Student (whispering): "How's Kurogane gonna survive this?"Student 2: "He's been dodging well, but that won't keep him alive in a battlefield."

Even his own teammates looked at him, concerned.

Souta (leaning in): "You sure about this, Rei?"Akari: "There won't be time to think. It'll be pure chaos."

Rei adjusted his glasses, exhaling slowly.

Rei (calmly): "I don't have a choice."

Rei (thinking): I'll either prove my new technique works…Rei: Or I'll fail harder than ever before.

The battlefield was waiting.

And this time, Rei couldn't run.