"They did tell us there weren't that many this time around, but..." Rosalyne sighed, gazing at the figures in the distance.

"That is very few, and weak looking at that." Burns finished for her with a scoff.

They were assigned to this task together despite the conflict between them, neither of the two willing to make amends for a long time, but still agreeing on a truce for this task. Standing at the entrance of the 'Academy', the two looked on at the approaching students.

It used to be the stronghold of a being everyone feared, with tundra wastelands to the North, a rainforest to the east, a sandy wasteland to the west, and a sea after some plain grassland to the south, a plateau to the south-west, great geography for training for all sorts of monsters. The stronghold, located at the point where these regions met, each of its gates having a different type of terrain near them.

Not much was known to the demons about the being which lived here before, except the fact that it killed everything indiscriminately, being much more powerful than the hero and the demon king combined. The humans managed to kill it using a spell, a spell unknown to the demon-kind.

This academy, meant to be the training ground of demon lords which will work directly under the demon king, and work as replacements in case of his death. These were chosen warriors, most having been chosen by generals of the demon king, however, a few were chosen by the demon king himself.

The demons even remodeled the stronghold, on the inside, to look more like an academy. They created a cafeteria on the inside, two sets of dorms built in the two resting quarters on the east and west sides of the main building. The outside and the labyrinth were left untouched however. No changes to the outside would assure that the humans won't suspect any activity around the place.

The demons attempted exploring the labyrinth, but soon found out about the dangers it possessed. There were five teams of demons sent inside, each consisting of twenty members. From the first three teams, not even one survived. From the fourth, a Black Dragon and two other members survived. From the last one the same Black Dragon and five others survived. They were able to map the labyrinth till forty-eight floors down, but were afraid they won't return if they went any further. That very labyrinth was meant to serve as the final exam, a test of the skills of all individuals which joined the academy. The starting of the exams on the other hand, happened as soon as they arrived.

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The 'students' of the academy by no means were in need of education. Many had already achieved many great feats, but the demon king wished for them to form a group of allies in the academy and grow stronger together. The demon king figured that is why the humans won the past eight wars, they used strength in numbers and the members of the party were aware of their each other's strengths and weaknesses. The demon king desired that teamwork on his side as well, a reassurance that the demons would never fall if they mastered that.

The 'students' from what the two 'teachers' could tell were an odd bunch. There were dragons, orcs, demons, demi-humans, and many others. The two had already set their eyes on a few who they figured would be stronger than others. Amongst them the most likely option the Black Dragon, which are many confused with another species, the Dark Dragons. The one they set their eyes on was much stronger than others they had till that day. He allowed his aura to intimidate others to assert dominance over them, a sign of his competitiveness and pride.

There were many they could tell at a glance were trying to hide their aura, any glimpse of their true power. They also found another candidate amongst them, a wraith. They are undead which possess mind control abilities as well as the ability to do sacrificial rituals without proper ritual circles. They usually fight using spells that mess with the target's mind. This one, however, they can tell at a glance was much stronger than other wraiths. It could stand its ground in a duel without the use of spells. They have heard he got his sword from a human holy knight was sent to kill him. He defeated the knight in a duel and used the knight's body as a sacrifice to enchant the armor and sword he plundered from the man.

While surveying those that were on their way here, they figured that there were few they didn't know anything about, even when they usually worked with gathering and selling intel. The few they didn't know they figured were the ones the demon king himself selected.

As they observed the students they suddenly sensed someone's presence behind them, turning around to see a dark figure watching them from the darkness. The two reached for their weapons before the figure called out to them in a bone chilling voice.

"Are you sure you wish to pull out a weapon on your superior?" He questioned.

On hearing that the two bowed down and cried out in unison, "We apologize for our rudeness, 'headmaster'."

The headmaster stared at them for a while, his gaze sending a chill down their spine. "The students are about to arrive, I need you both to escort them to their assigned rooms and tell them when they are supposed to be in class for the introductions." The headmaster commanded, a shadowy finger poking out from the darkness.

The two scrambled away, not liking their first encounter with their superior, a trusted and close ally of the Demon King, a force to be reckoned even for heroes. The headmaster retreated into the darkness, leaving the two to handle the work while he planned ahead.

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Meanwhile, somewhere deep in the depths of the dungeon, a voice spoke in joy. "Great! Finally, after millennia I will finally get to be free, and I am sure that you will help me in that, friend."