I strode to the door and pushed it open, leading to a large outdoor enclosure. Similar to the last one, it was encircled by high stone walls with towering trees standing at the parameter, the ground covered in grass. Large enough to hold hundreds of people.

A vast crowd of second-year students were waiting for the competition to begin. To my right, some students were practicing mock battles, their weapons clashing loudly, and some were chatting and laughing.

I tapped the sword I had requisitioned from Gary for 10 contribution points. Feeling the comfortable leather handle gave me a small sense of comfort. The steel blade was well-balanced and fit perfectly in my grip, a reassuring presence in the competition.

As I stepped further into the enclosure, I noticed that many eyes turned towards me, whispers quickly spreading among the students.

Most of the students were in tight groups, clearly comfortable with their friends. A few, however, stood alone, looking out of place. I noticed some students subtly pointing in my direction and whispering. Their words were too quiet to understand.

Everyone seemed to know where they belonged, except for a few outliers. I couldn't make out their words and didn't know what their deals were, so I ignored them when no one approached me.

I found a free, grassy spot and sat down, pulling out a book I had borrowed from the library, 'Survival in the Dungeons: Hunters' Wisdom.' Turned out, that borrowing was way too easy for the Obsidian pillar.

'The desert of the Lost Sands Dungeon is a place of extreme heat and treacherous dunes. Travelers often find them—

Cloaked in light, breathable fabrics, the Sandstalker moves effortlessly across the shifting sands, his keen eyes scanning for any sign of prey or danger. The first step is to ensure the liquid in your body is not evaporating—'

Dungeons are really dangerous. I hoped it would be years before I had to trek through them. Hopefully, the current competition will be in the plains.

'At the other side of the Kingdom lies the Whispering Forest Dungeon, a place where the trees are said to speak to those who dare enter. Move quietly and blend with your surroundings to avoid attracting predators. Have your ears attuned to the slightest rustle of leaves or snap of a twig, and —'

Turning the page, I found a section on the Mountains.

'High in the treacherous peaks of the Frostbite Mountains Dungeon, survival hinges on the wisdom an—

Dress in layers of fur to retain heat and protect against the biting wind. Carry an ice pick and ropes for scaling sheer cliffs safely. Keep a keen eye out for natural shelters like caves, but be wary of hidden dangers within—'

I closed the book, my mind alive with the vivid images and practical advice. These survival tips from hunters in diverse terrains were far more captivating than I had expected. And I dreaded what this competition entailed. There were very few tips about contribution points competitions other than that it was a monthly event. Every competition is different, with all rewarding contribution points in diverse styles.

Time passed, and more students gradually filled the enclosure. Suddenly, as the last group arrived, the doors slammed shut with a loud bang, as if by some unseen force.

"Welcome to the Crystal Tower Dungeon," a vibrant voice announced. "I am the professor in charge of the artificial dungeon and the organizer of this month's competition, Survival of the Fittest, Alaric Thorne."

I turned my attention toward the sound, as a lively man stepped forward into the center of the area, dressed in flamboyant yellow robes that caught the light. The robes seemed to shimmer with each movement, drawing the attention of everyone present. His hair was a striking mix of black and silver, and his yellow eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief.

Nevertheless, I felt a powerful presence staring at us, sending a chill down my spine. Is he one of those sponsor? I'm not sure. The man ticked the box as an eccentric individual but is he at the level of old monsters? I'm sure I had met three and a potential forth of the old monsters playing chess in the academy.

"Hell, yeah!!" someone shouted, excitement palpable.

"Heh, this’ll be fun," another student murmured, clearly looking forward to what was to come.

"Good, good." Alaric's face lit up with a broad smile. "The competition will consist of a five-day ordeal. Those who fail shall die."

Wait, what? Death? What does he mean by death? I thought this was just a competition, not a death sentence. Everyone audibly gulped upon hearing about death.

But no one was reacting about being killed for mere points. Glancing around, everyone else seemed to accept the news without much fuss. For a moment I thought only I was reacting to the news sanely. Should I cause a ruckus and get out? The dragon wouldn't get me killed after his investment, right? Right?

"Then let us begin!" Alaric's energetic voice echoed across the large courtyard. As he waved his hand, the air rippled, and a tall golden door appeared on one side of the high stage, materializing out of thin air.

I stood patiently with a calm expression, but the sweat on my brow betrayed my anxiousness.

Alaric looked at the crowd of prospects and sighed. "Where is the fun? It's just a little death."

A few dry laughs could be heard from some students.

"Tsk, you people don't know how to enjoy life." He then smiled, his demeanor shifting to encouragement. "Come through this door and move onto the platform," Alaric instructed his tone now more inviting.

What sort of competition were we walking into? How many people would even pass? What are the rules? Damn, this professor. Doesn't he know to give some clear cut advice?

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I followed the crowd as they stepped up to enter the door, feeling like a sheep in a wooden pen. As I passed through the doorway, a tearing sensation filled my ears, but the feeling subsided once I crossed over.

The door opened up to a large stone platform with intricate carvings on the floor. Surrounded by high stone walls and a towering roof, the place had a suitably grand ambiance, no matter where the door had led. I quickly found a place at the right corner.

After everyone entered, they gazed at Alaric, waiting for what was to come.

Alaric nodded and said, "Be ready!" His voice was filled with excitement and energy.

Ready for what exactly? This uncertainty was maddening.

Suddenly the stone platform began to shine, making me cover my eyes. The sudden brightness caught me off-guard, and I heard some students shriek.

"Good luck, and be sure to die late." Alaric's voice rang out cheerfully.

I heard Alaric's voice before I felt my body being squeezed. The tearing sensation returned with a force that filled my gut, and the magic felt somehow familiar, but I only saw swirls of light.

❖ ❖ ❖

With a pop, my vision returned from the initial bright shock, but my stomach churned uncomfortably. With a green face, I vomited up my entire breakfast, taking deep, ragged breaths. What the hell happened? Where am I?

Soft grass flattened underneath me as my weight settled on the ground, no longer the stone platform I had stood on moments ago. The vibrant sun shone on a clearing of dark dirt and green grass. I found myself at the center of a small circle surrounded by towering trees and large boulders in the distance. The layout reminded me of a forest with hilly terrain, but the trees here were much taller and wider than I thought possible.

The place didn't seem much different from the outside world. The sky was the same blue and looked just as high. If I didn't know better, I wouldn't have noticed that I was in a dungeon. Scanning my immediate surroundings, I relaxed my shoulders when I saw there was no immediate threat.

"These trees could definitely provide thrice as much firewood," I muttered, placing my hand on the thick birchwood. My eyes caught sight of a small hill in the distance, visible through a gap in the trees. Just as I considered heading there, something metallic suddenly dropped on my head, followed by a small bag.

Ouch! I yelped as I rubbed my head. What is this?

I picked up a metal cylinder and examined it closely. It was smooth and cold to the touch, with intricate engravings in gold that seemed to shimmer across the black surface in the sunlight. There was no obvious way to open it, but as I fumbled with it, a small latch clicked under my fingers. With a forceful tug, the lid popped open, and a system message appeared in my mind:

1st Quest — The Trial of Tokens

Find three tokens laid around the field. Fighting is allowed, killing is allowed but do not take things too far.

At least one token is required to move to the second day.

Hint: Use the medallion to exit the competition.

Happy Hunting!

The screen was in the same golden color of my interface and I recalled that it was the Way of the World. Could the academy control it in this dungeon, or was there only partial command? It was interesting that the Academy was able to find ways to control a Dungeon. Maybe it would be a nice prospect for a job.

The quest seemed accommodating, but the note about fighting made me tense. Fighting was allowed. I had been in a fight only once before and that actually turned out quite bad, so I knew I was at a disadvantage. I ignored the part about killing as it was way outside my comfort level. No one should be crazy enough to kill for a few contribution points.

The metallic cylinder looked like a container for these tokens. I examined the bag, a rough canvas sack with sturdy stitching. As I opened it, I found an assortment of food items neatly arranged. There were dried fruits, wrapped bundles of jerky, and a few hard, crusty rolls of bread.

I pulled out the medallion from the bottom of the bag. It was a small green coin, almost camouflaged against the grassy ground below. I stowed it in my pocket and took a moment to review all the information in my mind, trying to piece together what to do next.

The trees provided great cover. But I had to move in the forest to search for tokens. If I had to guess, then other students should also be scattered around.

Moving with fanfare was out of the question as I don't have the strength to fight second years student in one on one. So I had to be sneaky about my style and use the terrain to my advantage.

Fight from a distance, use trees as cover, and tire out the enemy. Tiring out enemies would not be easy but glancing at the small stones around, an idea flashed in my mind.

Pestering anyone with stones would be good and there is always a chance to throw them down to cause rustle around the foliage.

"If I run into anyone, maybe I can do that." I looked around for some small stones to throw. I found a couple, but then my eyes widened in shock as I noticed a half buried which flashed in the sunlight. I hastily dug out a golden rectangle, the size of my palm, that was sticking out a little.

Bringing it close to my face, I saw the symbol of the Academy, a radiant sapphire engraved on it. This must be one of the tokens the quest mentioned. That was pretty easy, or am I just lucky?

I quickly put away the token in my pocket: one down, two more to go.

I dig through the clearing slowly, trying to spot any tokens, but the search was not fruitful. The first one must have just been luck.

I stood back up after another failed spotting, but my body froze as if I had turned to stone. My face twitched, and my eyes trembled slightly when I saw a person a short distance away from me.

The other party also noticed me, and our eyes met. The stranger had handsome features with a sharp chin and breezy blue eyes. His black hair was slightly unkempt, which didn't detract from his appearance but added a wild feel to it. And he was wearing a golden armband. A second-year ascendent.

[ Human Lvl: 11 ]

A second-year ascendent at level 11. I tensed up and took out the stones in my pocket, ready to throw them at any chance. Although the golden pillar students are not fighters like the Valorians, a difference of ten levels is hard to surmount.

For a brief moment, I considered drawing my sword. The weight of it at my side was a reassuring presence, but I quickly dismissed the idea. Engaging someone so much stronger than me in close combat would be foolish. The stones in my pocket would have to suffice.

The stranger looked me up and down with an odd face before shaking his head and turning around. He seemed to have no interest in me and was dismissive due to my appearance.

I looked down at my clothes. They were dirtied from all the digging I had been doing for the past minutes, with the edges smeared in dust and broken grass. For a moment, I wasn't sure how to feel. Was it the dirt or the clothes? It was the same pair I wore when I met the other Obsidian girl.

Should I change into something better or stay looking like a country bumpkin? The simple question suddenly became very difficult. There were advantages to having a good style, but now I knew there were also advantages to being perceived as a country bumpkin.

I sighed, contemplating my next move, when the ground suddenly quaked beneath me. The stranger stared in confusion, while I struggled to maintain my footing.

"What the—" I didn't have time to finish my thought. The ground beneath the entire clearing suddenly caved in, and I felt myself being sucked down into a massive hole.

I tried to grab onto something, anything, but there was nothing to hold onto as I was swallowed by the earth. A flash of jagged spikes below caught my eye, sending a surge of panic through me.

"Damn!" I shouted, thinking frantically about how to survive. The medallion was my ticket out, but I didn't want to use it.