Previous Chapter Reminder = In the previous chapter, Manu regained consciousness inside Sun Academy. After waking up, a strange system error appeared, and because of an emergency mission, Manu was forced to register for the Sun Academy survival test.
Now the real test begins…
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Manu (thought) = The test will start in two hours… but I didn't study anything. I don't need to become top ranker… I just need to survive.
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NARRATOR VOICE = The scene shifts.
Near the entrance of the Van Forest testing zone, hundreds of candidates had gathered. This was where the Sun Academy survival exam would begin.
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Candidate = Sir, please start the test already. We can't delay everything because of one person.
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Candidates Gossip =
"Who even is this late candidate?"
"If I were the examiner, I would eliminate him immediately."
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Examiner = We have waited long enough. The test will now officially begin.
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Manu (fast breathing) = Wait… I'm here too…
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NARRATOR VOICE = Sun Academy was known as the strongest among the Five Major Powers.
Its entrance test was far from normal.
Among the Five Major Powers:
5th — Velkar Academy, famous for brutal bloodline warriors
4th — Astra Academy, home of forge warriors and weapon masters
3rd — Solarian Academy, known for political elites
2nd — Frost Vein Academy, masters of strategy and battlefield intelligence
1st — Serpent Academy, feared for assassins and hidden tactics
Sun Academy and Serpent Academy had always been enemies.
The two organizations were direct rivals.
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Manu (thought) = Great… I'm seriously late.
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[???] = Captain, that's the same boy we found unconscious inside the academy. Because of him, we had to retake the test.
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Examiner = Listen carefully to the rules.
Wear this bracelet on your hand. It will track all your points.
Once you collect 500 points, you pass the exam.
Dungeon clear rewards:
Easy Difficulty = 50 points
Normal Difficulty = 100 points
Hard Difficulty = 150 points
Extreme Difficulty = 200 points
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Candidate = Sir, how else can we earn points?
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Examiner = By killing monsters.
E-Rank Monster = 2 points
D-Rank Monster = 5 points
C-Rank Monster = 20 points
B-Rank Monster = 25 points
A-Rank Monster = 30 points
You may also eliminate other candidates and steal their points.
Forming alliances is allowed.
The test will continue for 20 hours.
If you die… you automatically fail.
Does everyone understand the rules?
And one more thing—
The difficulty is permanently set to HARD. It cannot be changed.
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Candidates = That's insane! Normal difficulty would've been enough! How are we supposed to survive Hard mode?!
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Examiner = Anyone dissatisfied with the rules may leave now.
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Manu = I just need to stick to the plan… and stay hidden.
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Examiner = Good. Now enter the testing zone.
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NARRATOR VOICE = All the candidates were teleported into a massive desert region.
Everyone spawned far away from each other.
As far as the eye could see… there was nothing but sand.
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Candidate 1 = Is this test actually taking place inside a dungeon?
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Candidate 2 = Bro, are you deaf? This is Sun Academy. Of course it won't be normal.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Ignoring the conversation, Manu immediately started running at full speed.
His goal was simple—
Hide.
But finding a hiding place in a desert was nearly impossible.
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Manu (thought) = Yeah… this place looks good. Bushes are common in desert areas. If I hide here, nobody will think it's suspicious.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Manu quietly crawled inside the dry bush. His entire body became almost invisible behind the sand and dead branches.
He took a deep breath.
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Manu (thought) = Perfect… now I just need to follow my master plan.
No fighting.
No heroic entrance.
No unnecessary risks.
I only need to survive.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Suddenly—
Manu heard a strange sound.
Slowly, he turned his head.
The stones on the ground started shaking.
Sand collapsed inward like something was moving beneath it.
And then—
A lizard monster burst out of the desert.
As if Manu had invaded its territory.
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THE LATE SYSTEM DETECTED
E-RANK MONSTER DETECTED
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Baby Lizard instantly launched a scratch attack toward Manu.
Manu barely managed to dodge it.
But immediately after missing—
The monster swung its tail and blasted sand directly into Manu's eyes.
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Manu (thought) = Oh no… how am I supposed to fight if I can't see?! This is bad…
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NARRATOR VOICE = The Baby Lizard took advantage of his condition and attacked again.
Another scratch landed.
Manu was heavily injured.
His old wounds reopened, and blood started dripping down like melted candle wax.
He crashed beside an old skeleton.
Quickly, he grabbed a water bottle from his bag and washed his eyes.
But—
The Baby Lizard was already charging toward him again, gathering sand in its tail.
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Manu = The same trick won't work twice!
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The Baby Lizard launched another sand attack—
But this time, Manu blocked it using his bag as a shield.
The monster immediately followed with a claw slash.
Because his vision was blocked by the bag, one attack struck directly into his ribs.
Even through the pain—
Manu quickly formed a plan.
He intentionally repeated the same movement pattern as before.
At the last second, he side-jumped and dodged.
The Baby Lizard crashed directly into the skeleton.
Manu immediately took advantage of the opening.
Grabbing the broken skeleton arm, he repeatedly smashed the monster.
The Baby Lizard's HP slowly dropped from 500 to zero.
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THE LATE SYSTEM
E-RANK MONSTER DEFEATED
Reward: +1 Stat Point
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Manu = Finally… my first monster kill…
Wait… what exactly is a stat point?
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THE LATE SYSTEM
Stat points can increase host attributes.
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NARRATOR VOICE = Suddenly—
A dangerous acid attack flew toward Manu.
He instantly hid behind a nearby stone.
But the moment the acid touched it—
The stone began melting.
Seeing that terrifying scene, Manu immediately started running again.
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Manu (thought) = I barely survived… otherwise I would've turned into roasted kebab today…
Add 1 point to Speed!
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THE LATE SYSTEM
C-RANK MONSTER DETECTED
Danger Level: HIGH
Survival Rate: 20%
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NARRATOR VOICE = While running at full speed, Manu suddenly arrived near two girls.
But—
This was no longer just a test.
It was a survival game.
And now…
The real players had finally entered the field.
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A pair of black eyes silently stared at him.
Those eyes carried a cold murderous aura…
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COMING SOON…
Which part did you find the most interesting?
Keep commenting because your support gives me motivation to continue the story.