025. Unto the field test

They eventually had to pass it off as an anomaly because there was no way they could deal with something they knew nothing about. But even so, they still carried on with the field test.

"Everyone should step outside so we can assign you to your various groups according to the information we've gathered here."

Everyone nodded and moved outside the chamber to wait, just as they were instructed. Kael saw it as an opportunity to finally catch up on the sleep he'd missed in the early morning hours.

But as soon as they stepped out, some bullies saw it as an excuse to trouble him—despite knowing nothing about his actual mana level.

"Look at him—he's actually trying to sleep, even though he's the weakest in the class. I mean, whose mana shows up as transparent? Even the teachers were shocked at how weak he is."

Kael glanced at them briefly and sighed. Not ready to indulge them, he drifted toward a wall and sat on the floor, his back leaning against it. He folded his arms over his knees, then rested his forehead on his arms.

But they were as persistent as ever and followed him, determined to cause more trouble—until Joe arrived with his usual enthusiasm.

"You're one to talk, when you're clearly weak yourself. Who even has a blue mana level anymore?" Joe interrupted, smiling broadly as he spoke.

"Hey! Stay out of this!" he snapped, turning toward Joe.

"Or what? You'll beat me?" Joe smirked, glaring at him in the eye.

"Tsk!" he spat before he walked away, leaving Kael and Joe together.

Joe walked up to Kael and sat beside him, thinking he was sitting like that because he was upset or scared about his mana level—when in reality, it was just sleepiness in his eyes.

"Come on, man! Cheer up. From what I heard the teachers say, your mana level's considered rare. That means you're a rare product—one of a kind. So don't feel bad."

Joe tapped Kael lightly, and he raised his head—only just noticing that the bullies had left and that Joe was now sitting beside him.

"What happened? Did they leave on their own?" he asked, glancing around, but they were nowhere to be seen.

"I chased them off when I saw they were disturbing you," Joe answered.

"Ohh, alright. Thanks," he said, putting his head back down on his arms.

The teachers were soon done with their evaluation and grouping, so they stepped out from the chamber with the list of groups and their members.

"Okay, here are the names of the groups and their members. Listen carefully because I won't be repeating it more than once."

Then he raised the list up to his face as he began to call the names of the groups and their members.

"Group A consists of those who awakened astonishing mana levels, which are Seraphina, Joe, Luck, Bridget, Max, and Delta," he called out.

Kael was not in the least bit surprised—after all, with so little known about his mana level, there was no way they could place him among the top students.

The rest of the groups were being called out, each one lining up in their designated spots. From Group A to D, the names were announced—until only E and F remained. Kael was placed in Group E, since he had at least shown an affinity.

"Group E consists of Kael, Lira, Dren, Saya, Juno, and Rowen. You've been assigned to complete the E-rank dungeon."

"Those in Group F will clear a mini-dungeon with robots instead of beasts, to avoid any injuries. As you level up, your dungeon will do the same—so do your best not to get too injured while completing it," he concluded, gesturing for the teachers to lead each group to their respective dungeons.

Mr. Lemon stepped forward and called out, "Group D, follow me."

Another teacher stepped forward and called out, "Group E, follow me."

It was Kael's group. Each of the members stepped out from the crowd and formed a line, following closely behind the teacher—none of them willing to let him out of their sight.

"I'm sure none of you know me, so it's best I introduce myself as we head to your assigned dungeon," he said, glancing back at them from the corner of his eye.

"My name is Elias—Mr. Elias. I'll be your instructor today. If anything happens while you're inside the dungeon, try to locate a caller phone. There's one mounted at each end of the dungeon, in case of emergencies, so you can reach out to me," he explained, making sure they understood.

They all nodded in response, keeping the information in mind.

Soon they got to the bus that would take them to their respective dungeon for the dungeon raid.

It was like stepping into a luxurious SUV, but unlike any ordinary vehicle—it was almost surreal, with polished interiors, sleek leather seats, and elegant compartments filled with items Kael had only ever seen in magazines or on distant displays.

Everything inside gleamed softly under ambient lighting, giving the space a quiet, sophisticated glow. For Kael, who was used to walking home after every dungeon session, feet sore and clothes dusty, this felt like something out of a dream. He had never been in anything remotely like this before, let alone imagined he'd be sitting in one.

As they all settled in, the bus gave a low hum before rattling to life, slowly pulling out onto the main road and beginning its steady drive toward their assigned destination.

The ride took longer than expected, slowed down by the usual midday traffic that clogged the city's arteries.

Cars lined up bumper to bumper, and the occasional honk or impatient swerve added to the background noise. But eventually, they made it.

When the bus finally rolled to a stop, the students peered out the windows. The dungeon gates stood ahead—already pried open, yawning like the mouth of something ancient.

The entire perimeter was surrounded by cutting-edge surveillance systems—sleek towers bristling with sensors, rotating cameras that tracked movement with precision, and scanning drones that floated silently in the air.

Every inch was monitored by the most advanced tech available, a silent reminder of the danger that lurked inside.

"Alright students, this is the site where the dungeon test will be held. I'd like you all to get yourselves ready within the next hour. Once you're prepared, you'll begin advancing inside to start the test."

He pulled open the bus door, and everyone slowly stepped down, staring at the scene before them.

It wasn't anything new to Kael—he'd been through this kind of thing long before he ever started attending the academy.

At the mention of the field test, he remembered the warning the system had given him about it.

'So this is it, huh... I wonder what dangers lurk inside that hole.'