One month later, after basic, practical, and written exams...
As Swordmaster Theodin sat in his room, he was suddenly interrupted by a rush of footsteps. A senior cadet burst into the room, arriving before even the academy head. "Swordmaster Theodin! I have to tell you about the results of the basic exam! The new cadets in this generation are incredible!" gasped the cadet, out of breath.
"Calm down, calm down... Speak slowly," Theodin urged.
"Forgive me! But I can't calm down for now! You have to see the results firsthand!" replied the cadet.
The senior cadet handed Theodin a report. Theodin, a dark-skinned warrior with a sinister look, was bald and had a thick black beard. However, he possessed wisdom when it came to assessing young prospective assassins. In particular, he had predicted that a cadet named Thanistor would become the best cadet in the academy. As Theodin read the details on the sheet, his expression turned to amazement, and he remained silently absorbed in the report.
"This is truly astonishing!" exclaimed The Swordmaster.
The new cadets at the Assassin Academy had set an unrivaled record, surpassing the achievements of their predecessors. The ranking sheet listed their names and basic assassin skills, designating them as prospective professional assassins who would be sent to the Runeverse kingdoms beyond the Malazen continent.
Here is the top ten list of names for the new cadets on the ranking list:
1. Fenrius Nightfang – A madman—or outcast with no emotions.
2. Mason Dantez – A mysterious hooded man who loves to laugh, a homicidal maniac.
3. Lucius van Hellsing – A berserker prince with nothing but a fierce and intense temperament.
4. Han Luoyi – A wulin and a bookworm of the philosophies and cultivations.
5. Thanistor Groh – A crusader knight with a strong sense of chivalry, emphasizing virtues.
6. Yuria Shura – A rogue with a cold and indifferent trait, yet quick-witted and agile.
7. Sazank Karanzo – A shinobi with code ethics, but hardheaded and strong-willed for freedom.
8. Elsa Belmont – A hedonistic girl with two personalities - either jolly or gloomy.
9. Zain Wulmar – A viking with muscles of iron, bones of steel, and marrow of rubber.
10. Gantala Mukhtar – A monk with a deep sense of inner peace and devotion to his faith.
As The Swordmaster reviewed the data, he was taken aback by the arrival of two senior cadets who trembled uncontrollably, their eyes filled with horror. The Swordmaster grew concerned. What had transpired to evoke such reactions?
The first senior cadet saluted and reported, “As a physical examiner, I want to report to you, Swordmaster! Forgive us for coming so suddenly! It's all about the monstrous cadet named Fenrius.”
"Continue. Tell me everything," prompted the Swordmaster.
The senior cadet recounted Fenrius' ferocity like a madman. “During the basic physical test, Fenrius set multiple records! He slashed a steel plank for one minute, breaking the old record of 748 slashes and achieving a new record of 1001 slashes! He destroyed concrete blocks with one hit, breaking the old record of 67 concrete blocks and achieving a new record of 134 concrete blocks! He also shot a wooden doll from a distance for one minute, breaking the old record of 85 wooden dolls and achieving a new record of 111 wooden dolls! In the farthest javelin throw, he broke the old record of 510 meters and achieved a new record of 799 meters! He even caught an arrow from only three steps away, breaking the old record of seven steps! This means that he cannot be killed with a fire shot because those three steps are within hitting distance.
“Next, during the physical exam of the Malazen continent expedition, he ran a 5000-kilometer marathon from Torun Mountains to Eulgana River, through four deserts, namely Blaze, Drought, Plague, and Mist, to Tolwich Harbor. The old record was 42 days, but Fenrius completed it in just 13 days! Despite the 100 degrees Celsius heat of the Malazen weather, Fenrius broke through the Ceaseless Sandstorm and the Old Wall of Dawnguard as a shortcut! That guy really has horsepower!”
The Swordmaster looked back at Fenrius' physical and mental stats, which were notorious and depraved in the eyes of seniors.
It was now the second senior cadet's turn to report. "In the basic intellectual exam, Fenrius can't answer the types of monsters, their strengths, and weaknesses. He plays as long as he hits and can't solve logic puzzles. He also can't meditate, doesn't know cultivation, and doesn't even have any spiritual aura at all. He is often unable to respond to questions or instructions. Moreover, he is more concerned with killing than finding a profitable excuse. If this creature graduates from the academy easily, Malazen will definitely be doomed a second time."
"However," the senior cadet continued, "there was one controversial incident in the last written intellectual exam. Fenrius failed nine out of ten exams, but in the most difficult exam, he managed to get a perfect score of 100. No other cadet matched his score. At first, the academy suspected he was cheating, but his grades were too perfect to compare with the other cadets. They have no proof, but they have a good reason. Fenrius never studied, rarely attended lessons, was lazy, and often dozed off. He is a loner who never talks to anyone. That's why the academy reduced the perfect score to 10."
Theodin asked, "This is the first time I've heard of it. If that's true, what do you want to do?"
"As senior cadet representatives, we ask you to increase the difficulty of the final exam that the instructors will give them," the senior cadet replied.
As if on cue, one of the instructors walked into the room. He was a man in bearskin robes with a burly body, tall and fierce-faced with scratches as if he had tasted the harshness of Malazen's life. The instructor saluted Theodin and said, "Good morning, Swordmaster. Have all the preparations been completed? I can't wait to see the cute faces of the new cadets during the instructors' final exam."
Theodin walked away from them, deep in thought. If the new cadets could break the records of their predecessors with ease, even the instructors' final exam would become child's play. He grew worried when he thought of the new cadets who managed to become Dawnstrike Assassins and were sent out of Malazen. It could be that Runeverse was having the worst generation ever if its cadets were a mess out there. It seemed Theodin had no choice. "Instructor Baron," he called firmly. "I've decided. Use the new curriculum and complicate the instructors' final exam as much as possible!"
The instructor was surprised and asked, "Why? To me, all cadets are the same."
The senior cadet who gave the report called out to Instructor Baron. "Forgive me, Instructor, but you haven't seen it in person. Even after the war against the Chthonians ten years ago, you still don't know what the current generation of cadets is like."
Another senior cadet chimed in, "Especially the cadet named Fenrius!"
Instructor Baron raised an eyebrow. "Fenrius? I heard the story a few years ago. The one who survived the Kraken's belly for three days and three nights?"
The senior cadet administering the intellectual exam replied, "You'll find out soon enough, Instructor. He has neither friends nor foes. He was nicknamed the Mad Cadet or the Lone Wolf Bastard from class A. When he spoke, everyone was in awe. When he acted, everyone gaped."
Baron interrupted, "Stop it! That story is an exaggeration. Surviving the Kraken's belly? Killing Cyclops with just a pebble? I had heard the story three or five years ago, but I had never seen him fight in person."
"I agree," Theodin said, looking at the heirloom weapons in his cupboard. "For the advancement of Dawnstrike, I will reward all those who are able to pass the instructor exam. These heirlooms..."
Instructor Baron lowered his head in a respectful manner as he said one last thing before leaving the room, "I see... I'll try to give the sand bears some Chthon serum. The more cadets who die, the stronger the mentality of the surviving cadets."
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Swordmaster Theodin ordered his senior cadets to inform the other instructors about the new final exam curriculum. After they left, Theodin walked to his window, gazing at the vast Runeverse sky as he thought, ("If they can pass the instructors' final exam and become the Dawnstrike Assassins out there...that means Runeverse is going through its worst generation ever.")
***
In the highlands of Dawnstrike Fortress, the Academy of Assassins stood as a symbol of hope for the Malazenians to defend the lost continent in the aftermath of a cataclysmic explosion and an uncertain future. The dystopian social environment forced its inhabitants to risk their lives to survive and befriend death. The Academy consisted of four classes - A, B, C, and D - with each cadet sorted randomly, not by strength. They typically reside and sleep in barracks according to their respective classes, with each barrack divided into two sections: one for male cadets and another for female cadets.
Although not as luxurious as the dormitories in expensive academies in Runeverse, they lead a modest life free of charge—except for sacrificing their future for this academy. Initially, there were over thousand cadets, but each year the number decreased due to personal conflicts, fierce competition, deaths during exams, dropping out due to depression, and other reasons.
There were a total of five hundred and sixty-four cadets taking the last exam, each donning a special badge with their serial number cadet for their generation to identify themselves to the instructors, guards, and seniors. These cadets had undergone ten years of training since childhood to become Dawnstrike Assassins, who would be dispatched to other kingdoms across the continent. The academy was their only means of survival, but they must first pass the toughest tests, including eradicating the Chthonians before they could fulfill their dreams of exploring the outside world.
After passing the basic physical and intellectual exams, five hundred and sixty-four aspiring assassins rested in a barrack. The atmosphere was as chaotic and savage as an animal pen without food, a sinking ship, or a burning market. The room was full of trash left behind by careless individuals, and one of the trash items was Fire-Roasted Scent Mastigodryas, the spiciest food that makes the stomach burst, and Spiritus Nuka, a 99% alcoholic beverage that makes the soul float.
The cadets were a mixture of emotions. Several cadets in the center boasted about how simple the basic exam had been. One of the cadets had been banging his head on the wall for the past two hours due to high depression and suicidal thoughts. Not only that, but the soft-hearted cadets were crying and planning to leave the academy tomorrow. The cadets who thought yesterday's test was the hardest only lamented their fate because their bodies had languished and reached their limits. The rest of the cadets just lay around as if they didn't care about these time-consuming, meaningless, and incompetent exams.
In order to pass the spare time while waiting for the next exam that Instructor Baron would carry out, the cadets in the middle deliberately bragged very loudly to their colleagues so that their debate could be followed by others. They aimed to boost the morale of their despondent peers, and the point of their conversation was that this place was not for the weak, but for the weak to become strong.
"Slashing wooden dolls? Catching a shot arrow? Hah! They were joking, right?!"
"I was even able to catch that arrow from twelve feet away!”
Some people were also involved in this subjective noise. However, most of them preferred to remain silent, not caring about it and distancing themselves from the crowd. Bickering over superiority is childish. After all, the topic didn't catch the eye of the listless faces of those who yearned to escape this forsaken continent.
A cadet walked over, following this lively conversation, "Don't feel proud just yet! I've done it with a distance of ten steps! That is the best record!"
"Aye, you think ten steps is the best record? Ha! What a crackhead! I did it in only eight steps," exclaimed the Viking cadet with a brown fauxhawk, a thin beard, and a jawline like a sledgehammer. He then continued with arrogance, "Listen up, lads! The name is Zain. Mark my words, I'll become the King of Combat in the academy. Remember the name!"
Zain Wulmar is a cadet with serial number 90 from class D. He hails from the northern continent of Valhalor, specifically the Mars region, and came to the academy with his Viking (or Riot) Squad in search of a more liberated life. He is renowned for his incredible strength and firmly believes that a challenging life makes people stronger. Zain enjoys showcasing his physical prowess to earn the admiration of his peers and superiors. Despite spending ten years in the academy, which has never permitted cadets to leave the fort, Zain hopes that the continent will test his mental toughness even further. While most Malazenians yearn to leave the continent, Zain finds the challenge of living in Malazen invigorating, which is why many consider him to be a peculiar person.
The cadets in the room fell silent briefly because of Zain's blatant shout. The tough ladies were also not interested in Zain's greatness, as they considered him a bully who was easily triggered by trivial things. However, they hoped that he would prove his strength during later exams as loud as he boasted. Zain's outburst transformed the atmosphere of the fire market into a slapstick stage. He looked at the end of the room where a cadet was relaxing and sleeping on his back. The cadet had scruffy black hair, his head rested on his hands, and his legs were bent and crossed upwards. This cadet was known to be lazy by other cadets.
"By the nine Gods!" exclaimed Zain. "The next exam starts in five minutes, ye lazy bugger! Who d'ye think ye are, huh?"
“Just stop it, Zain… He's known like that. The five hundred and sixty-fourth cadet… Fenrius.”
"Fenries? Huh?!" Zain was annoyed to see Fenrius just lying around nonchalantly after he boasted about catching arrows.
Fenrius Nightfang was a member of Class A and held the last serial number cadet 564 for this exam. He always dons a lightweight, flexible black suit or tunic that enables effortless movement. He complements his attire with leather gloves that have grippy fingertips, making it easier to climb and handle weapons. He also wears Veskar armor on his shoulder, arm, elbow, and knee for added protection during combat.
Fenrius was infamous for being accused of stealing three shards of The Great Runes and was rumored to have come back to life from the abyss after being hunted down by the three major factions. A few peaceful days later, after the horrible incident, nobody gave a damn thing about him anymore, especially when he was found dead in the main square of the fort due to severe ennui. Like Zain, he hailed from outside the continent of Malazen, specifically from the central continent of Ardaenor. However, unlike Zain, Fenrius was not one to show off. He was calm like a sleeping dog and as quiet as a holy monk at the academy. Nevertheless, when he was in the red zone, everyone knew to keep their distance and avoid him at all costs.
A senior assassin burst into the room with a bang and shouted, “You all! Get ready for the first instructor exam!”
The senior shuddered as all eyes turned to him. The room was shrouded in silence; as if the bored killers had been waiting for an announcement for almost a century in a predator's den. If the exam were delayed for even five minutes, it could result in bloodshed, as if they couldn't accept that their fangs were rotting in this room.
“This is a test to determine whether you are worthy of the title of Dawnstrike Assassin or not. It's all based on your passing the exam! If you are strong, you will live; if you are weak, you will die! That's the academy's standard!”
“Enough of the pleasantries!” someone snapped, cutting the senior's words off.
The cadets were taken aback by the man's guts and audacity. There was a moment of silence. Fenrius, who was lying down, tried to peek with his left eye at the person.
"Who is that?! How dare you go against your own senior! Show yourself!"
The interrupter strode toward his senior and said, “It's already been for over ten years. Over the years we have studied and analyzed the various monsters in the Runeverse, including the Chthonian creatures that have been roaming this continent. We're tired of all those kids' lessons! We are here to directly practice, not think!”
A cadet, donning a badge bearing the serial number 37 on his clothes, with rhyming patterns etched under his eyes and a top-knot hairstyle, strode up to his senior and glared down at him before hurling insults at his face.
“We've completed the basic assassination test, slashing wooden dummies, catching arrows, running marathons, pointless meditation, and so on. All of that to me is just child's play. I just want to get away from this continent! However, if a weak senior like you passed the test given by the instructors, then we would all be confirmed as professional assassins!”
The senior was left feeling belittled by his junior and fell silent immediately. A few cadets chuckled at first, but soon the whole room erupted in laughter that seemed to last for an eternity.
When the laughter finally died down, the senior surprised everyone by bursting into laughter himself. This sudden change in demeanor made the cadets feel uneasy and uncertain about the upcoming exam. As the senior's laughter grew louder, so did the murmurs of confusion from the cadets.
"What's wrong with him?" asked one cadet.
"Is he crazy or something?" wondered another.
"He's out of his mind. Someone stop him!” shouted the third.
The senior continued to laugh uncontrollably until finally, he spoke up. "Well done, rookies! That's the kind of spirit I like to see. What's your name, newbie?" he asked, pointing to cadet number thirty-seven, who had dared to confront him.
“Sazank Karanzo. Remember my name because I will be the number one greatest assassin in this academy.”
Sazank Karanzo, cadet number 37 of class C, hails from the Shinra Village in the Taiyo region, located southeast of Malazen (Mist Desert). He was once a martial artist who lived by a strict code of ethics, but now, he is nothing more than a wandering vagabond, longing to escape the continent. Despite his love for freedom, Karanzo deeply cares for his friends and family, willing to risk life and limb to protect them.
Ten years ago, Karanzo survived a natural disaster that destroyed his village and was subsequently evacuated to the academy. As a ninja from Shinra village, he possesses a unique ability as a Signer with the code name "Illusory." However, he only displayed this power among his fellow Signers—except in dire, life-threatening situations. Karanzo views the academy as weak and a waste of time, believing that it does not deserve to witness the full extent of his ninja abilities. His top priority is to attain the number one rank and leave Malazen, even if it means putting everything else on hold.
“So your name is Karanzo. Alright, I'll keep that in mind. I hope you don't die on the first test. Now all of you! Prepare to face your death! The real test of the instructors! Follow me!"
Everyone followed the senior out of the barrack to take the final exam given by the first instructor. The last cadet, Fenrius, jumped up to follow the other cadets out, his eyes shone with determined toughness.