Novels2Search

Who Tampered with the Exam?

I dive as fast as my agility allows towards the octopuses ahead. My intention is to pass between them, avoiding fighting as much as possible. However, there are three of them, and with their tentacles nearly a meter long, they cover the entire width of the tunnel. Since it worked well before, I lunge at one of them with the idea of killing it and thus making a gap for myself. Mistake. There are too many tentacles and the creatures behind are getting closer and closer. I can barely keep up with slashing to prevent them from grabbing me. Since I’ve never been one to hold my breath for very long, I try to surface. I manage to get my head out and take a good gulp of air. I start swimming towards my destination, which is at a distance of about one and a half Olympic pool lengths. However, I haven't even taken a stroke when two of the tentacles grab my legs and pull me down, submerging me.

I pronounce the words that activate the channeling with the water element in my sword. For a moment, I get scared. What if it doesn't work because I'm in a medium that distorts sound, making it unintelligible? It does work. I bring the dagger to the tentacles pushing me down and cut them with two slashes. I can't see much, but my weapon must be enhanced by the water since it pierces my enemies much more easily.

I slice the approaching tentacles while rising back up. I take a couple of deep breaths and dive again. I swim as fast as the tentacles allow me. I have to reach the other side before the channeling runs out. I'm already fighting against all the octopuses, and I have no idea where so many came from; maybe there's a nest, or this pool connects to the lake? Anyway, I end up a bit on the edge, especially when more than one tentacle manages to grab me, but I make it. My unarmed hand collides with a wall lined with the same stone slabs as the rest of the dungeon. I swim up, grab the edge, and climb out of the water. I cut the last tentacle pulling me back and move away from the shore. A couple of the monsters stick part of their bodies out of the water. I stare at them. They're big. Seen like this, they're scary; but the academy professors are worse for preparing such a tough exam for us. I look down at the weapon I'm holding. Its steel is coated with a bright blue film. I prepare to defend myself, but there's no need. They submerge again, and soon no tentacle stirs the once again calm surface.

"You're stupid," I mutter to myself. "This is designed for those who fly. You should have turned back."

Oh, what if there's a jar hidden at the submerged bottom?

I shake my head at the thought. I'm not going to take another dip for years.

"Little wolf, are you okay?" I say worriedly as I look for him in the backpack.

I've completely forgotten about him.

He's wet and looks at me with pitiful eyes. I take him out and pet him.

"I'm sorry... Thank goodness you were able to hold your breath."

The puppy whimpers. I've just made a fool of myself. Making decisions and fighting is much easier in a video game. I sit down and keep the little wolf on my lap as I realize how close I came to having to return with the stone, all because I failed to think before acting at the moment of truth. How bad... I had a better image of myself. I know I have two advantages: the major protective necklace and the shadow wolf. However, I took too many risks. I decide that from now on, I'll be more careful, no matter if I get fewer points for taking longer. Once I'm calmer, I return the puppy to his place and resume the journey.

After a few minutes, I reach another fork. I choose the route on the left. As I advance, I start to see cobwebs on the torches that are becoming more frequent. In addition, the whitish threads also begin to hang from the ceiling. I frown. I look closely but don't spot any creature. I continue more slowly and reach a pit, a trap with spikes more than three meters long that covers the entire width of the tunnel. Jumping, I don't reach it even with a running start. With the small volume I can move with my earth control, which has increased in these weeks of classes, I can't make a walkway either. I turn around, and just then, something heavy lands on my back, pushing me forward. I feel a sharp pain in the back of my neck.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Spider bite, critical, -4HP.

Driven by instinct, I bring my hands behind my head and grab something hard with fine hairs that makes me scream in disgust. I don't have much strength, but it's enough to get it off me and throw it away. I use minor healing to recover one health point. I'm at 2 mana points. It hurts a lot, but I can move. It hasn't damaged my spine.

My attacker, a spider slightly smaller than the ones I saw killed in the other hallway, is climbing the wall. Too bad I didn't throw it into the pit. Wounded as I am, I can't afford the luxury of saving mana points, so I activate the channeling, leaving me at zero. Crimson flames envelop the metal of my dagger, and when the creature leaps at me from above, I move my arm to intercept it. The edge sinks into its flesh and gets stuck there. The creature emits a sharp screech and moves its legs. It's burning—I can smell it. I keep it well away from me until it goes still, and I get the notification that I've defeated it. Only then do I lean down to rest it on the ground and use my boot to pry it off.

How disgusting! I'm sure I'll have nightmares tonight. I get out of there quickly, passing many more that are coming. I return to the fork and, before taking the only other possible path, use the seed of darkness's lick to recover health and mana. As I said, no more unnecessary risks.

This isn't League of Legends where you save your heal summoner spell for the last moment to trick your enemy into trying to kill you, I think.

I hope the tunnel has an exit. Otherwise, I see myself summoning the shadow wolf just to jump the pit riding on its back.

The path connects to more branches, some of them submerged. Needless to say, I avoid them. I advance through the dry ones and mark my B on the walls, so I don't get lost. I've been going for a while without encountering any creature, but there are remains of spiders. Someone must have passed through here. I keep going. I reach another fork, and through one of the passages, I think I hear something. I focus. I think... yes, they're voices, whispers rather. I make the mark and go that way. I start to distinguish the words, and then they fall silent. They must have heard me. Ahead of me, there's a turn of more than ninety degrees in the tunnel that prevents me from seeing what's in front.

Please, I think, don't let them be humanoid creatures.

"Don't worry, I'm another student," I say.

They don't answer me.

"Hello?" I ask without taking a single step while unsheathing the sword I carry at my belt.

My equipment, since I don't have much cash, consists of only two medium-quality steel weapons, a rope, water, and food. The dagger and sword were quite expensive. I couldn't even buy a mana or health potion, even though I sold the jewelry rings I got from the novice dungeon. It's noticeable that my parents aren't exactly flush with money and expect me to practically fend for myself with school expenses other than tuition, annual fees, and books.

"Hello, are you Bianca?" I hear a girl reply, and I relax. A monster capable of speaking wouldn't know my name.

"Yes."

I lower the sword without sheathing it and approach. Past the curve, I see that the hallway opens into a large room, and there are three students near one of the walls, as well as several lifeless spider bodies and a destroyed spider nest. One of the boys is sitting, his body leaning against the wall slabs, his eyes closed, and his clothes stained with blood. The redhead, standing and also with a sword in his hand, snorts when he sees me. The princess is beside him.

"Bianca, it had to be you," he starts to say as he puts away his sword and approaches me.

Then he sees that I'm at half health and, in two strides, plants himself at my side, grabs me by the shoulders, and starts shaking me.

"Bianca, you're reckless! How could you go alone..."

"Let go of me, Darius."

I'm not in the mood for this.

Suddenly, I see the boy's face change in shock as someone rushes past me from behind and falls on top of him, striking him.

Oh my god, I'm not in the mood for this either.