CHAPTER:11 [VALZAHRAK'S LAIR]
The test results came after a few hours of waiting. Kai placed first in the written test and fourth in the physical. Dona took first in the physical and fifth in the written. Shino placed tenth in the written and third in the physical. Feng Lin was second in the physical and fifteenth in the written, while Leon was twentieth in the written and fifth in the physical.
Kai couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Shino, they're nobles… so why are they even giving them the test?"
Shino stood right beside Kai, quietly observing the crowd of students rushing toward the wooden board to check their results.
(It's just a front. In the old days they would just get in because they were nobles, but not everyone was a diamond in the rough.)
They talked for a while. As the crowd settled down, a man in a black coat and black pants stepped forward and announced in a deep voice,
"Your dorms have been assigned. Go to the dorm and give your name to the assigned master."
Shino and Kai left the testing area and started walking toward a massive dome-shaped building. As they got closer, Kai's eyes widened at the sight of the huge, beautiful dome covered in glowing runes carved deep into its surface.
They stepped inside. The floor was made of intricate marble patterns, and a straight path of polished marble led to a front wooden desk. Behind it stood a woman in her thirties with long black silky hair, wearing a standard gray uniform.
The woman tilted her head slightly and smiled.
"What are your names, students?"
Shino looked at her strangely before answering,
"I am Shino. He is Kai."
The woman's eyes opened in surprise.
"Ah, you two are the candidates for the Dragon Dungeon. Nice to meet you, Shino, Kai. I am Verda, your dorm master. If you need anything, ask me. Also, there is an order to things here which I will explain tomorrow since you are new."
She lowered her right hand, opened a drawer, and handed them their name tags.
"Choose one of the rooms for yourself and lock the name tag on the doors for identification."
She also handed them a key. As they reached the middle of the hall to decide which room to take, Shino stopped and whispered to Kai,
"Once we go inside our rooms we'll be constantly under watch, so don't blabber anything. That woman is a trained assassin and she is especially tasked with keeping a watch on the Elite class."
Kai cautiously and slowly nodded. Shino continued,
"Which room are you going with?"
It was as if their rooms had been deliberately chosen far apart — one in the corner, the other in the middle.
Kai answered after deliberately considering his circumstances,
"I am going with the corner one. I don't like being in the company of strangers."
The Elite dorm was like a palace made for noble tastes — a big dining table, a kitchen, and separate bath houses for boys and girls. Kai placed his hand on the door and felt that it wasn't wood… it was made of bones. He placed his name tag on it. The tag suddenly burst into flames and was carved directly into the door itself.
Kai twisted the steel handle and entered. The room was quite sizeable but had no windows. A massive wooden bed dominated the space. He locked the door, changed his clothes, and collapsed onto the soft foam and silky-smooth bedsheets.
........
Ring… ring… ring… click.
"Who is this?"
Verda spoke in a low voice in the middle of the night.
"Sir, it's me, Verda. Sir, the two commoners you asked me to specifically keep a watch on… there is definitely something fishy about them."
The man on the other end spoke with a calm tone.
"You could be wrong, Verda. Just because you have suspicion doesn't mean anything if you don't have proof. Even so, keep them apart from each other."
Verda talked freely, thinking everyone was asleep. But Shino was still wide awake, listening to every word through the loud speaker of the phone.
(So they are going with that approach… well, it's not like we need to plan anything. We're just biding our time unless Kai needs anything that could potentially endanger us. Considering his cracks, it will be a problem.)
Shino fell asleep after eavesdropping on Verda.
......
Bang… bang… bang.
"Ugh, who is it?"
Kai woke up with a pounding headache. He put his hand on his head and went to open the door. Standing there was the woman with black silky hair.
"Morning. It's 7am, so wash your face and come out for breakfast."
Kai's eyes blinked unevenly. He was still half-asleep and gave her a light nod.
Kai washed his face and came out for breakfast. He sat on a chair that had his name etched on it. As everyone arrived and sat at their designated seats, Verda entered.
"Good morning. Now that you all are awake, I have a few rules to share with you.
Rule no.1: You must never create a problem here.
Rule no.2: No fighting.
Rule no.3: You must never do anything without permission."
She clapped her hands. The dishes floated out of the kitchen and settled neatly on the table.
Everyone ate their fill and left the dorm to collect their things — books, uniforms, and other supplies. After they returned, they were suddenly called to the headmaster's office.
They were instantly teleported in front of the headmaster's office. They opened the white luxurious door and saw an old man with a receding hairline, straight hair, and a massive bulky body seated on a soft padded high chair. He spoke with a hoarse voice.
"Nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you guys and that you want to enter the Dragon Dungeon. By the way, I'm the headmaster of this academy, Harold."
They answered,
"Yes, we would like to enter the Dragon Dungeon."
Harold's smile widened.
"Well then, let's get going."
Harold took them to the basement of the academy, a place filled with every worldly desire. There stood a big stone gate. As he opened it, a portal appeared.
"Let me ask you again. Valzahrak gives rewards, but the dungeon is impossibly hard. Are you still going to try it?"
They answered,
"Yes."
Kai entered the dungeon alone. Even though they had entered together, it was as if they had been transported to different sections of the trial. That was the least of Kai's problems. As he moved toward the dungeon core, the monsters grew harder — first goblins, then kobolds, then lizardmen, and now demons. Kai swept through them all and reached the core. The moment he touched it, he was transported to a different place.
A massive dragon stood before them. On his sides were the rest of the group. The dragon greeted them with a domineering voice.
"Greetings, brave warriors. I commend your bravery for clearing my trial. Now take whatever you want from my lair, but you can only take one, so choose carefully."
Kai was stunned by the sight of the lair. He searched for a while and found rows of books lying there like nothing. Impatient and unable to hold his curiosity, he said,
(Nia, use the Authority of Knowledge and take everything from his books.)
(No, don't analyze. Just collect it. We will analyze it after getting out of here.)
Eren got excited at the sight of the books but forgot he was standing in the lair of a dragon.
"Did you just use mana in my lair? That's not nice. I opened my doors to you people. Using mana here would be disrespectful."
(Shit, I forgot there is a dragon here.)
Kai apologized and explained his situation.
"I apologize, great dragon Valzahrak. I am just a broken shell, so I sometimes leak out mana by accident."
Valzahrak looked at him and said,
"You are truly pitiful. I'm surprised at how you are even alive at this point."
Then Dona called out,
"Oh great dragon, I want the Celestial Grimoire."
Feng Lin said,
"I want a spear."
Shino said,
"I want a sword."
The dragon granted them their wishes and sent them out.
Then he turned around and looked at Kai.
(Guess he's going to be done with them.)
(Look for signs of the unknown gene in my body.)
Valzahrak said with his domineering voice,
"What do you want, boy?"
"Great dragon, I…"
Kai was going to ask about the second part of the sword when suddenly a white screen appeared before him.
Kai asked for permission in a nervous tone,
"Great dragon, may I?"
"Of course. I made a promise. Go on."
Kai walked toward the pile of gold and started searching. He found a ball of steel.
(Nia, this isn't a sword. It's a ball.)
Kai showed Valzahrak the core and said that he wanted this.
"Boy, are you sure about that thing? You can choose anything else."
"Are you not giving it?"
"I don't care about you one bit. I just had to be sure. I made a promise after all."
Then he sent him as well.
END OF CHAPTER:11