Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
The plaza at the entrance of the Domain in the eastern suburbs of Sim City.
The once empty and silent plaza was now completely drowned out by the clamor of voices, packed with graduating candidates about to step into the Domain and the teachers, family, and friends who had come to see them off.
A massive spatial rift, like a water mirror into which a stone had been thrown, rippled and twisted silently in the center of the plaza, emitting a dark and mysterious gravitational pull.
Beside the rift, several large energy stabilization devices were emitting a low hum, their cold metal structures forming a sharp contrast with the supernatural rift.
"Sis! Hurry up!"
Selene, wearing a suit of gleaming silver knight armor, stood out like a moving lightbulb in the crowd, incredibly eye-catching.
The bulging, massive backpack on her back was nearly half her height, clanking with metallic sounds as she moved, looking just like a metal hedgehog preparing for an expedition.
Celeste quickened her pace to keep up, her gaze landing on that enormous backpack, her eye twitching uncontrollably.
"Did you move the whole house here?"
"We're going to the Domain for an exam, not wilderness survival."
Her own pack was streamlined to the extreme, containing nothing but essential survival supplies and potions.
As for that pink staff, always ready for some "physical" transcendence, it was lying quietly in the system space, not taking up a single bit of equipment space.
"It's better to be safe than sorry!" Selene slapped her breastplate hard, producing a crisp metallic echo.
She puffed out her chest proudly, "I'm the one who's going to protect my sister! Bringing more supplies makes me feel at ease!"
"Look, I even snuck in five packs of your favorite spicy strips!"
"Streamline it! Don't bring non-essentials! How are you supposed to fight while carrying that thing?"
...
All around, most other teams were the standard configuration of three to four people, well-equipped, with members whispering tactics to each other and their eyes scanning potential competitors.
In contrast, the team of just two sisters seemed exceptionally thin.
Many gazes were cast their way, mixed with pity, contempt, and undisguised mockery.
"Just two girls, one Paladin and one Priest... Is this setup just going in to hand out points?"
"They performed well in the arena tournament, but the Domain isn't an arena. Monsters won't fight you one-on-one with honor."
"They're probably hoping to rely on the Paladin's defense to scrape by until the exam ends, counting participation points as a success."
Selene's willow eyebrows stood up in anger upon hearing this; if Celeste hadn't grabbed her, she would have charged over with her shield to "reason" with those people about what it meant that "defense is the best offense."
"Ignore them." Celeste's tone was as calm as a deep pool; she was currently checking the noelle character card and special supplies in her system space.
"Stay close to me after we go in, and follow the tactics we discussed."
Soon, official personnel began organizing the candidates to line up and enter the Domain.
A slight wave of dizziness washed over them, as if their souls had been briefly pulled out of their bodies and stuffed back in.
Celeste and Selene held hands, both completely swallowed by the light of the teleportation.
...
The scene before their eyes changed abruptly.
A unique scent, a mixture of damp earth and rotting plants, rushed toward them, carrying a trace of eerie, fishy sweetness.
Towering trees blocked the sky, their crowns layered upon one another, filtering the light until only dappled specks remained, casting swaying light spots onto the thick layer of fallen leaves.
The air was filled with a faint mist, and visibility was very low.
The surroundings were terrifyingly silent, with only the rustling of wind through the leaves and the humming of some unknown insect's wings drilling into their eardrums.
"Is this the 'Gloomy Forest'?" Selene tightened her grip on her shield, looking around vigilantly, "It feels a bit oppressive."
Celeste nodded.
She could feel an invisible mental pressure, enveloping them like a spiderweb, constantly tugging at their nerves, trying to stir up the irritation and anxiety buried deep within.
This must be the "persistent mental pressure" mentioned in the rules.
She raised her wrist; the exam bracelet glowed faintly, showing that they were on the edge of the Domain, with most of the map covered by thick fog.
Points: 0.
Ranking: Not ranked.
"Let's find a sheltered, hidden spot first, then explore outward." Celeste quickly made a decision.
Her perception, strengthened by her experience with the Millelith, allowed her to vaguely discern which direction the heavier sense of threat was coming from.
The two sisters restrained their presence and carefully moved through the dense forest.
Selene held her shield in front, while Celeste brought up the rear, holding that dazzlingly pink staff, her gaze like a scalpel, dissecting every dark corner where danger might hide.
They hadn't gone far when a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes ahead.
"Watch out!" Selene let out a low shout, her body instantly sinking, her shield standing firmly in front of her as holy light flashed across its surface.
"Hiss—!"
Three black shadows tore through the air, lunging out from the bushes!
It was the Jungle Poison Wolves!
They were pitch black, their scarlet eyes Burning with the fierce light of hunger, and the foul, fishy scent mixed with saliva rushed toward them along with their pounce.
The bracelet vibrated immediately, popping up information:
[Jungle Poison Wolf Lv.18]
[Points: 15/each]
[Characteristics: Agile, attacks inflict neurotoxin, pack hunters.]
"Three of them! Sis, get back!" Selene showed no fear, pushing her shield forward as a gentle circle of holy light appeared around her, activating the skill [Devotion Aura], slightly increasing the armor of both herself and Celeste.
If it were before, Celeste would have definitely retreated behind her sister by now and started chanting [Veritas: Shield].
But today, she just slightly turned to the side, clearing the frontal defense range of Selene's shield.
The pink staff in her hand, topped with a bow, shifted slightly, its tip pointing diagonally toward the ground.
A standard Millelith spear technique opening stance.
"No need, let's take them on together. Quick battle, quick decision."
Before her words had even faded, the lead Poison Wolf had already lunged through the air, its sharp claws aiming directly for the arm Selene was using to hold her shield!
Selene was just about to swing her shield to block, but saw a pink afterimage from beside her strike first!
"Pfft!"
It was the muffled sound of metal piercing flesh.
Celeste stepped forward, the staff in her hand like a thrusting spear, precise and ruthless, instantly piercing into the relatively soft abdomen of the Poison Wolf!
The violent force directly sent the nearly hundred-jin Poison Wolf flying backward, slamming it hard against the trunk of a giant tree, where it let out a short whimper before sliding limply to the ground, twitching as it lost its ability to fight.
"Sis! You..." Selene knew her sister was strong in melee combat, but this was the first time she had felt this kind of violent aesthetics so closely and intuitively. "No matter how many times I see it, you fighting with this pink lollipop is just so jarring!"
The other two Poison Wolves were enraged by their companion's miserable state, flanking them from the left and right, forming a pincer attack.
Selene immediately regained her focus, swinging her giant shield horizontally to block the pounce of the one on the right, the shield and wolf claws scraping together and erupting with a piercing shriek.
As for the one on the left, it cunningly circled toward Celeste's back, opening its blood-stained maw!