Professor Halden called the first number. “Group 1, to the pit.”

  Four girls Ethan barely recognized stepped forward. They looked determined, each gripping a spear tightly, but their nervous gnces betrayed the tension beneath. Compared to the shaky, frightened crowd during the goblin test, these girls seemed far more composed… at least on the surface.

  Once all four were inside the pit, Professor Halden gave a curt nod. “Ready?”

  They nodded in unison, and the professor pulled the lever to open the first cage. A rge forest wolf bounded into the arena, snarling as it nded with a thud. The girls flinched, instinctively taking a step back.

  The wolf growled low and began circling. The girls quickly spread out in a loose semicircle.

  “What now?” one whispered.

  “I don’t know, you tell me!”

  “You go first!”

  “No way! You have the better angle!”

  The bickering grew louder.

  “If we don’t act now, it’ll strike first!” one of them hissed.

  But it was already too te.

  With a sudden snarl, the wolf lunged toward the girl closest to its path—a girl with short auburn hair named Mira. She barely managed to raise her spear as the beast tackled her to the ground. Cws raked across her side as she screamed, and its jaws locked onto her raised forearm.

  “Mira!” one of the girls shouted in horror.

  “Stab it!”

  “I can’t!” another cried. “I’ll hit Mira!”

  The wolf thrashed, and Mira struggled underneath it, her screams turning ragged.

  “Just aim for the side! Get it off her!” one yelled.

  One girl finally acted. She charged in from the left and jabbed at the wolf’s ribs, but the angle was awkward and shallow. Another girl tried from the right, only for her spear to gnce off the beast’s shoulder. The wolf growled louder, its jaws tightening.

  “Move! I’ll hit it from behind!” the fourth girl shouted.

  She sprinted around, took a deep breath, and thrust with all her strength. Her spear pierced the wolf’s fnk. It let out a howl, staggering. The second girl seized the opportunity and nded a hit to its chest. The first followed up, striking the side of its neck.

  The wolf faltered, limbs shaking, and finally colpsed on top of Mira, who y bloodied and stunned.

  Its growls faded to silence.

  Professor Halden’s voice cut through the stillness. “Pass. You four can come up.”

  There was no appuse. Just the shuffle of feet and shaken breaths as the girls were helped out of the pit—one of them limping, the other three pale and rattled.

  “Group 2!” the professor called without pause.

  Group 2 had a few members Ethan knew really well—Misha and Daniel. Seeing both in the same group passed a sense of relief. Daniel, despite his many fws, was quite reliable when it came to fighting. It wasn't that Misha herself was bad—quite the opposite—but having strong companions on your team always made things easier. Or at least, most of the time.

  As the group entered the pit, Daniel took the initiative to assume the leader position.

  "All right, I'm going to stop the beast. You three strike it from the side while it's occupied with me. Understood?"

  Misha and the two other girls nodded. Daniel readied his two-handed sword, pointing toward the beast’s nding point.

  "Ready?"

  "Yes!"

  The professor confirmed their status and, once they agreed, released the beast.

  The second wolf was a bit bigger than the first one. It was a notable difference—like the gap between a teenager and a grown adult. Both were dangerous, but it seemed luck was not on Daniel’s side today as he got the most dangerous out of the two.

  Still, he stuck to the pn. He approached the wolf from the front while the others circled from the back.

  The wolf growled, trying to intimidate him, but Daniel kept a steady hand and focused eyes, waiting.

  Finally, as Daniel lowered his sword, the wolf lost its patience and charged, aiming straight for Daniel’s neck.

  Almost instinctively, Daniel stepped into the strike and swung his sword, filling it with mana.

  "Powerstrike!"

  The mana-imbued sword cut through the wolf like a hot knife through butter, splitting it vertically while still mid-air.

  "Gah!" Daniel shouted as the wolf’s guts and blood showered him, soaking him from head to toe.

  "Daniel, that was not the pn!" one of the girls protested, clearly frustrated.

  "Sorry… I messed up…" Daniel mumbled, looking down at his blood-covered uniform.

  “You four, pass,” the teacher announced, unfazed that the task had turned into a one-man show.

  One of the girls from Group 1 raised her hand, her voice edged with frustration. “Professor, that’s not fair! The others didn’t even do anything!”

  Professor Halden didn’t miss a beat. “It’s not always about equal contribution,” he said calmly. “Out in the field, you won’t always be matched with people at your level. Sometimes, someone stronger will carry the fight—and that’s not a failure on your part, as long as you don’t get in the way.”

  He let the words hang a moment before continuing. “Doing nothing is far better than making a mistake that costs lives. You’re here to help, yes—but help wisely. Knowing when to act and when to hold back is part of what makes a good adventurer.”

  “Group 3!” Professor Halden called.

  Four girls moved toward the pit. Ethan recognized one of them—Eliza. With her usual calm composure and steady gait, she looked utterly unfazed by the bloodstained arena floor. Her silver-white hair was tied back neatly, and her cool gray eyes surveyed the arena with clinical detachment.

  The other three girls were unfamiliar to Ethan. One held a spear with both hands and was visibly tense. Another gripped a short sword, gncing around nervously. The st, slightly broader in build, had a mace slung over her shoulder and tried to look braver than she felt.

  Once all four had entered the pit, Professor Halden asked, “Ready?”

  They gave hesitant nods.

  He opened the third cage.

  This wolf was lean and fast—smaller than the st, but twitchy and aggressive. It darted across the sand, pacing in erratic, circling movements.

  Eliza stepped forward slightly, dagger still sheathed. “Don’t rush,” she said evenly. “Let it come.”

  “But if we wait—” the spear girl began.

  “It’s testing us,” Eliza cut in, her tone calm but firm. “Don’t flinch.”

  The wolf circled again—then lunged.

  Eliza moved first. With a clean sidestep, she avoided the wolf’s leap and unsheathed her dagger mid-motion, sshing it across the snout. The beast yelped and recoiled.

  “Now!” she ordered, expecting her teammates to seize the opening.

  The spear girl stabbed—but missed, pulling back in panic. The short sword wielder stepped in, but hesitated and lost her footing. The mace girl swung with a loud grunt, but the arc was wide, and the wolf easily evaded it.

  Eliza exhaled through her nose. Hopeless.

  As the wolf readied another attack, Eliza ducked low, spun behind it, and stabbed deep into the joint behind its front leg. The beast snarled and twisted, only to find her bde at its throat the next second.

  With one clean motion, Eliza ended it.

  The wolf colpsed, a soft thud on the sand. The three other girls stood frozen.

  Professor Halden’s voice rang out. “Pass. Group 3, come up.”

  The spear girl gulped. “T-thank you... Eliza.”

  Eliza didn’t look at her. “Don’t freeze next time,” she said simply, already walking away.

  Group 4 was called next. Ethan leaned forward slightly, curious. This time, he recognized two familiar faces—Oliver and Anya—alongside two other girls he didn’t know by name. Still, what stood out most was Oliver himself.

  He had matured. Gone was the anxious, trembling boy from the goblin pit weeks ago. Thanks to Professor Rhea’s grueling training program, Oliver now moved with a newfound confidence. While he still wasn’t on par with the warrior css, he looked solid—capable. In fact, he was easily toe-to-toe with many of the scout css students now. His twin axes gleamed under the torchlight as he stepped into the pit.

  Anya, as always, was sharp-eyed and alert, her dagger ready in hand. The other two girls wielded short spears and exchanged a nod between themselves before taking position beside Anya and Oliver.

  “Ready?” Halden asked.

  “Ready!” Oliver replied.

  The lever dropped. Another forest wolf leapt into the pit—this one lean and fast, eyes scanning for weakness.

  Oliver took point, stepping forward and raising his axes. “I’ll catch its attention! Wait for an opening!”

  The wolf darted toward him, teeth bared. Oliver deflected its lunge with a well-timed cross of his axes, forcing it to skid sideways. Anya was already moving, fast and low, her dagger aimed at the wolf’s underbelly. It twisted and evaded, but she managed to graze its fnk.

  One of the spear-wielding girls lunged from behind, her strike hitting the wolf’s hind leg. It yelped and turned sharply—only to catch the second spear girl’s blow square in the ribs. Together, the coordinated attacks destabilized the beast.

  Oliver didn’t miss the opportunity. With a roar, he brought both axes down in a clean arc, driving the bdes into the wolf’s back. It thrashed once—and then went still.

  “Pass,” Professor Halden decred, his voice even. “Well-coordinated.”

  For Oliver, it was more than just another css exercise—it was a quiet triumph. He stood there for a moment, staring down at his hands, then at the fallen wolf, as if only now realizing what he had accomplished. The once-anxious boy who had trembled during the goblin test was gone, repced by someone stronger, more confident. Professor Rhea’s training had shaped him well.

  Before he could fully process the moment, Anya leapt up behind him with a gleeful cheer. “Yes! We won!” she excimed, throwing her arms around his shoulders. In one swift, impulsive motion, she kissed his cheek and then darted back, blushing furiously, a pyful smile tugging at her lips as she stole gnces at his reaction.

  Oliver froze. His entire face turned crimson, his mind scrambling to catch up with what had just happened.

  The two other girls in their group exchanged knowing looks and stifled ughter, offering no commentary—but it was obvious they’d be spreading the story before lunch.

  “What are you waiting for!? Out of the pit, now!” Professor Halden barked, snapping them out of the moment and making way for the next group.

  Wasting no more time, the group climbed out of the pit, breathing hard but triumphant.

  Professor Halden called the next number. "Group 5, to the pit."

  Ethan stood, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted the short sword strapped to his hip. Alongside him were three girls—Li, Nora, and Kate. Li and Nora each carried standard swords, while Kate had her bow slung across her shoulder and a quiver of arrows at her back.

  Ethan gnced at them briefly. He didn’t know them well—Heck! He only knew Kate's name!—but that would have to be enough.

  "Let’s make this clean," he said quietly. "Kate, hang back and go for its legs. You two, spread out wide and hit it if it tries to fnk me. I’ll take the front. We go when I move, understood?"

  Kate gave a curt nod, already nocking an arrow. Li saluted dramatically, and Nora fshed a confident grin.

  Professor Halden raised an eyebrow at Ethan’s initiative but said nothing. "Ready?"

  "Yes!" Ethan called back, and the others echoed him.

  The cage door creaked open.

  The forest wolf that bounded into the pit wasn’t as rge as the one Daniel had faced, but it was the second biggest yet to be released.

  Ethan raised his sword and moved forward deliberately, keeping his distance. The wolf growled and prowled to the side, sizing him up. Behind Ethan, the others took their positions—Kate in the rear with her bow drawn, Li and Nora spreading out just like he’d instructed.

  Then the wolf charged.

  Ethan stepped forward, sshing at the air to draw its attention. It swerved at the st moment, jaws snapping toward his leg. He sidestepped just in time and retaliated with a shallow cut across its shoulder.

  "Now!" he shouted.

  Kate released her arrow. It struck true, piercing the wolf’s rear leg and staggering it. Li and Nora came in from opposite sides, bdes fshing. Li’s swing grazed its back, and Nora followed with a jab to its side.

  The wolf spun around, shing out at Nora with its cws. Ethan moved instinctively, interposing his sword just in time to deflect the attack.

  "Don’t bunch up! Keep circling it!" he barked.

  Kate fired again, another arrow sinking into the wolf’s haunch. The beast growled in fury but its movements slowed.

  "Now! All together!" Ethan called.

  The group converged—Li sshing its fnk, Nora cutting across its neck, Ethan driving his bde into its side. The wolf shuddered once, gave a final growl, and colpsed.

  "Pass," Professor Halden announced, sounding slightly impressed. "Well-led."

  Breathing hard, Ethan pulled his sword free and gnced at the others. He was near his limit—another five minutes, and he wouldn’t have sted. The strain in his limbs and the burning in his chest were impossible to ignore. As he stood there catching his breath, he thought once more about Professor Rhea’s proposal.

  Allowing him to take missions now really would be suicide.

  He bit his lip, clenched his jaw, and made his decision. Once css was over, he would talk to her.

  "Nice work," he said. Li gave a theatrical bow, Nora bumped his shoulder with a grin, and Kate simply nodded, already returning her arrow to its quiver.

  “Group 6!” Halden called.

  Four girls stepped forward—none well-known to Ethan, and all visibly nervous. As they entered the pit and the wolf was released, it became immediately clear that coordination was cking. Their stances were too close. Their movements, panicked.

  The wolf lunged—and chaos erupted.

  One girl stumbled back, tripping another. A third tried to thrust her spear but missed entirely. The fourth froze up.

  The wolf struck fast, tackling one of the girls and pinning her down. She screamed, its jaws already snapping inches from her throat as she pushed its head with both hands, trying to keep it at bay.

  The third girl finally managed a thrust, but it was too shallow. Even so, it diverted the beast’s attention—just long enough for it to leap at her instead.

  “Kyaaa!! Nooo!!”

  The second girl stood paralyzed as her friend, who had just saved her, was pressed against the ground by the wolf’s paws. It tried to bite her neck, but her arms were in the way. She screamed for help, but no one moved.

  THWIP.

  An arrow pierced the wolf’s skull, stopping it mid-lunge. It colpsed lifelessly atop the girl.

  The entire arena went silent.

  Professor Halden lowered his bow.

  “Pull her out,” he said. “Get them to the infirmary.”

  Two students rushed in, lifting the wounded girls and helping them climb out of the pit.

  A visible shiver passed through the rest of the css.

  That could’ve been them.

  Professor Halden gave no lecture—just a few heavy words.

  “Take this seriously. This is not a game. These are real monsters. You hesitate, you die. Fight smart—or don’t fight at all.”

  Looking at the backs of the four girls being escorted to the infirmary, he announced, “Group 6 fails. They will be allowed to retake this test once after recovery. If they fail again, or give up without trying, they will be expelled from the Academy.”

  “Group 7!” Halden called.

  Celica stepped forward confidently, spear in hand. She was joined by three other girls—one wielding a longsword, one with twin daggers, and another carrying a mace. Though their expressions showed mild tension, they clearly looked to Celica as their lead.

  The moment the wolf was released, Celica moved to the front.

  “Let me handle it,” she said, voice calm but firm. The others nodded without argument.

  The wolf snarled and sprinted toward her—but Celica stood her ground.

  Then, with perfect timing, she stepped forward and thrust.

  "Powerstrike!"

  The spear, glowing faintly with focused mana, pierced the wolf clean through the chest with a single, brutal strike.

  It fell mid-lunge, completely lifeless before it even hit the sand.

  Gasps and murmurs rippled through the onlookers.

  Professor Halden gave a slow nod. “Clean. Controlled. Efficient. Pass.”

  Celica spun her spear in a smooth arc, flicking the blood clean off the tip before resting it across her shoulder. Calm and composed, she led her team out of the pit—untouched, unshaken, and victorious.

  The moment they stepped out, her three teammates crowded around her, eyes sparkling with admiration.

  "That was amazing!" one of them gushed."Where did you learn to do that?" another asked, practically bouncing in pce."Can you teach me? Please?" begged the third.

  Celica stiffened, unsure how to handle the flood of praise. Her cheeks began to flush a noticeable pink as the compliments piled on.

  Watching from the benches, Ethan smirked. “Looks like Christopher might be getting some competition.”

  Oliver furrowed his brow. “What? Don’t be ridiculous—they’re girls!”

  Ethan just nodded toward Celica. “Yeah? Then look at her face.”

  The three of them watched as Celica's expression twisted between proud and mortified, her face steadily turning redder by the second under the storm of admiration.

  Daniel ughed. “I think Ethan’s right.”

  Oliver crossed his arms, clearly not amused. “This is stupid.”

  As the eighth team climbed out of the pit, having successfully completed their trial, murmurs spread through the watching students. At the edge of the arena, two familiar figures were approaching—members of the sixth group.

  But only two of them.

  The girls stepped forward, pausing before Professor Halden. Then, together, they bowed low.

  “We’d like to request a retest,” one said quietly.

  Halden narrowed his eyes. “Where are the other two?”

  “They… quit,” the other girl admitted. “They said they weren’t cut out for this.”

  The professor regarded them in silence for a long moment. Then he gave a single nod.

  “Very well. I’ll allow the retest. But your group must still have four members. Volunteers?”

  Hands shot up across the arena.

  Halden’s voice cut through the buzz. “Those chosen will serve as support only. You’re not to take command or carry the fight. This is still their test.”

  With that condition stated, he selected two girls from the eager crowd—students neither particurly skilled nor inexperienced, likely chosen for bance.

  The four entered the pit. The tension was palpable.

  The wolf was released.

  It was a rough battle. Coordination was shaky, and hesitation lingered in their movements. But this time, there was no complete freeze. No one panicked. The returning girls pushed forward, driven by determination not to fail again. They followed the basics, used what little they’d learned, and worked together enough to keep the wolf distracted.

  The finishing blow wasn’t elegant—but it was enough.

  The beast dropped.

  The two girls stood there, breathing hard, bruised and scraped, but upright.

  “Pass,” Halden announced.

  A few students cpped softly. Most simply watched with quiet respect as the two bowed again, tears forming in one of their eyes.

  They had survived. And for now—that was enough.