NOVGO.NET Chapter 445 - 445: The Exam
The man led them into the building, and it wasn’t what they expected. It wasn’t some technologically advanced place, but rather it ran on magic, runes and formation.
Silva looked at the runes as he could barely understand anything in them. This was magic far beyond his level, despite the fact that he had ten minds working at the same time.
The inside had runes lining the entire wall, and formations hidden beneath the floor. The floors were covered with black marble, and there were certain engravings that he didn’t know what they meant.
There was a counter up ahead, it was a long black marble one. They walked up to it and there was a lady behind it. She had long ears like an elf but with certain patterns over her face. Her black hair was tied into a bun and it matched her black uniform.
“Good day sirs, what can I do for you?” she asked with a slight smile.
‘I guess courtesy doesn’t change no matter where you are,’ Silva thought.
“These fine fellows want to take the exam,” the man said before Silva could even talk. She looked at him with a flat expression and then turned to Silva, “Is that true?” she asked.
“Yes it is,” he said.
“Hmm, so I’m guessing this is your first time here, or you have been here a while and only just now came to take the exam.
Either way, I’m obligated to give you a small briefing before you take the exam,” she said. She pulled out a piece of paper and placed it on the table, she read through it a bit and then looked up.
“The exams work in this way, you have to enter and give it your all. There is no way for you to know what rank you are in the exam.
Over the past centuries, many people have hidden their real strength from the council because they knew just when to intentionally fail the exams.
But the Arcane Council didn’t like that and so the system has been changed. You have to survive as long as you can without knowing how the system is grading you.” She explained casually and took out three forms, handing them to each of them.
“Head to the teleporter and head to the lower floors, the exam is handled underground,” she said.
“Alright, come with me, I know the way down there,” the man spoke, almost too eager. The receptionist shot him a cold look but he ignored it.
They headed deeper into the building and finally they made it to a teleporter. It was situated in the building like an elevator. It was a raised platform with a magical circle and a ton of runes at the edge.
There was a raised marble pedestal beside it with a glass screen there, that was basically the first technological item Silva had seen in the building.
The man walked to the pedestal and tapped on the screen a couple of times and returned to the center.
“You know, this world is really vast,” the man said, “but in all this vastness we are still specks of dust. All of us strive for strength here, hoping that one day we will be able to reach the highest heights.”
The bright light of the teleporter activated, the formation shined more and more until they were disintegrated into light particles.
On a floor tens of feet below the ground, the light reformed them right there. They all felt a little bit dizzy since this was their first time.
The man gave a smile, looking at them shake their heads, trying to shake off the effect of the teleporter.
“In the lust for that said power, many people will do things that would be considered despicable, but here, it’s just a means to an end,” he said, and then started walking.
Ever before their eyes was a massive room with hundreds of people inside, all facing a wall with an engraved formation on it.
“That’s called the gate, it’s how you take the exams,” the man said, pointing at it.
“What exactly is inside the exams and do we do it alone?” Silva asked.
“What’s inside changes, it’s never fixed. Also, you will come across people taking the exams, the ones entering now, and the ones that have already been there a bit.
It’s more like a survival game, and the longer you stay the better for you. As for if you’ll see someone you know when you enter, the chances are low, ridiculously low,” he explained.
“I see,” Silva muttered. He looked at the gate and then looked at Lily and Drake, “Give it your all when you are in there, no holding back.”
“Surely master, even we want to gain a good rank in this world,” Drake responded.
The man looked at them, he seemed happy that they were that pumped for it.
“You should be careful though, the greatest sabotage doesn’t come from the monsters that walk around, but the people taking the exams as well, so keep your eyes peeled,” the man said.
“We’ll do that,” Silva replied.
A few minutes later and the formation suddenly lit up.
“Oh, seems it is beginning, do your best,” the man said.
The wall on which the formation was drawn shattered into bits, revealing a glowing portal. A guard at the gate collected the forms from people before they walked into the portal, he also handed each person a crystal.
“What’s that crystal?” Silva asked.
“Your way out. When you want the exam to end, infuse energy into it and it will activate the system, immediately teleporting you out of the exam,” he explained.
“I see, thank you for everything,” Silva said and walked forward. Lily and Drake followed behind. He collected a crystal and handed his form, then walked through the portal.
Lily and Drake went in as well. Immediately they were gone, the man let out a deep breath, he stretched his body out and let out a yawn.
“Silva Terron the Dark Dragon, let’s see how you do,” he said.