As the participants patiently waited in their designated rooms, a loud voice soon echoed over its confined walls, startling the participants.

"All participants, please be prepared, as the test will start shortly," the announcer said.

"The final test will be in the form of combat. All participants are required to fight and make it to the 250th place to be considered victors."

"However, to pass with high praise, the participants must make it to the top 50. It should be noted that the lower your placing is, the higher the rewards you'll get," the voice said.

"These rewards come in the form of benefits and opportunities within the academe."

"Please stand by; the doors are opening."

On cue, the room started to tremble as the wall in front of them started to go down.

The participants narrowed their gazes as they adjusted to the blinding light; however, their attention was soon taken by the sudden outbursts of the crowds watching.

Sweeping his gaze around the stadium, Samael saw multiple large stages along with the thousands of viewers eagerly waiting for the fights to begin.

"The rules of the test are simple. All forms of cheating are prohibited. This includes the use of remnants, personalized gear, and runes. However, to maximize the full combat capabilities of the fighters, they are allowed to use the standard-issue weapons distributed by the staff," the announcer said.

"The use of elements is all allowed. The fighters may fight as much as they wish. Only by incapacitating or knocking the other party unconscious will the battle be concluded. But it should be noted that any form of lethal or life-threatening injury will be considered disqualified as this is a duel, not a fight to the death." The announcer resumed.

"Your name will be called to step on the stage, where you can pick your weapons of choice. Any forms of cheating will be detected by our observers, thus resulting in immediate disqualification."

"Please stand by."

As the announcements ended, the tension within the waiting rooms soared to an all-time high as the aspiring students felt their hearts beat wildly in their chests.

Staring at each other with uncertainty and doubt, wariness can be visibly seen in their eyes.

This was the deciding factor for their future. This was the final test, and as they realized that, they also finally understood that each and every single person they would fight had one mission in mind: to win no matter the cost.

After a few more minutes, the voice over the speaker finally returned.

"All participants, please be prepared. The battles will begin shortly."

Another wave of cheers and screams shook the stadium as the people couldn't wait any longer.

As the minutes went by, the speaker finally uttered names, commanding them to step onto the stage.

Watching them closely, the fighters walked up the white stage as they were instructed to take their desired weapons.

Some took only one, seemingly without a doubt. Others took many and seem undecided.

Ensuring they were done choosing, they were instructed to step on the designated marks as they faced each other.

After a short silence, a loud bang thundered in the sky as the two lunged at each other, causing a wave of cheers and screams to permeate the air once more.

Seeing the battle commence, the participants couldn't help but feel anxiety plague their hearts. No one knew who would be next or who they would fight, causing the tension to rise even higher.

Eventually, Samael lost interest in the fights as they dragged on. Some of the bouts were short and swift, as the other side was clearly stronger than the rest. Meanwhile, some went on for tens of minutes as the two opposing foes were even in power.

Soon, the seconds turned to minutes, and eventually, an hour had passed. However, Samael's interest was piqued again when the voice over the speaker uttered a name.

"Calling to Desmond. Please step on the stage. I repeat, calling to participant Desmond. Please step on the stage."

Responding to the call, the odd kid in Samael's group rose up as he warily made his way towards the stage.

Arriving there, he soon saw his foe. A noble kid with brown hair.

"Participants Desmond and Arthur Gray, please choose your weapons."

Staring at each other for a while, the disdain and glint of mischievousness can be seen in the aristocrats eyes as he broke the stare down and chose a blade. A common weapon for nobles. Meanwhile, Desmond took some time before deciding on a pair of daggers.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

After confirming the two were done choosing their weapons of choice, the voice spoke again.

"Please step on the designated marks on the stage."

Following the commands, the two stood a few meters apart.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Arthur said as he smirked. But Desmond's dead gaze remained the same.

After a few seconds of silence, a loud bang reverberated in the air as Arthur wasted no time, lunging forward. With one mighty leap, he soared in the air where he chanted.

"Wind blade!"

Slashing down, he sent forward a large wind arc. However, seemingly predicting the attack, Desmond swiftly chanted back.

"Veil of darkness."

A wave of black fog billowed off his body, swiftly engulfing the stage, blinding not only Arthur but the viewers as well, causing another wave of uproar.

As the fog vanished, what remained was Arthur's unmoving body laying on the cold ground, knocked out cold.

"IMPOSSIBLE! HE MUST HAVE CHEATED!"

"DIRTY BASTARD!"

"I REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE SEARCH!"

The wild roars mainly came from the nobles, with their faces flushed red in rage.

Heeding their call of justice, the staff went to work as they checked their observers.

"In response to the allegations, it has been confirmed that Desmond did not cheat! Desmond goes to the next round," the announcer said, causing the noble viewers to fume in their seats.

Under the boos and sneers of the aristocratic society, Desmond went back with the same dead expression on his face.

"Quite clever, what you did there," Samael commented.

"You used the dense black fog, which I'm guessing is the darkness element, to cover yourself and then used the flat edge of your dagger to knock your opponent out," Samael said.

Desmond's brows furrowed.

"How did you..."

"I can see through the dark," Samael said.

Desmond's expression fell grim. If what Samael said was true, then he was the biggest counter to him.

After that short bout, another wave of fighters went on stage as they faced each other without mercy.

After another hour, the contestants were whittled down to mere 289.

Of course, the highlights of the fights were mainly centered on the Thaesir heirs.

But the next words of the voice behind the mic caused a wave of murmurs to break out in the crowd.

"Calling to participant Samael, please step on the stage. I repeat, calling to participant Samael, please step on the stage."

A sigh escaped Samael's lips as he rose up. Stepping out of the room, he was bombarded by the curious looks of the viewers.

They've heard the rumors, but now that they're seeing him, wasn't he just a kid like everyone else?

Stepping onto the stage, Samael finally saw his opponent. A noble named Lucas Meinster. He had dirty blond hair and was taller than most with a rather built physique.

"Please choose your weapons."

Shifting his gaze over the weapons rack, Samael's gaze landed on an axe similar to Crimson Raven's size.

Grasping its hilt, he measured its weight in his hands.

It's off balance, but it will work, he thought.

"Once you've chosen your weapons, please step on the designated marks."

Facing his opponent, Samael saw the spear in his hands.

So he's leveraging his reach. Smart, he thought.

Like usual, a wave of silence swept the stage as a loud bang echoed in the stadium.

Lucas was wary. He has heard of Samael's feats and seen them for himself. Thus, he slowly circled him, making sure to maintain a good distance.

Samael, on the other hand, remained calm and collected. He has fought many beasts and has seen carnage no one else should see. This was nothing to him.

Having reached a good distance, Lucas threw one cautious strike.

Seeing it, Samael weaved to the side.

Lucas did the same routine a few more times. As he went for another jab, he chanted.

"Charge burst."

A sudden jolt of lightning released from his body as his spear gained five times the speed from earlier. However, Samael easily weaved again, causing Lucas to clench his jaw as he recovered fast.

Usually, it would've thrown his enemy off, but it failed.

"Enough with your stupid tricks. Just come at me and let's get this done with," Samael said.

"As you wish," Lucas said as he took another stance.

"Lightning rain."

Stabbing a dozen times within a few seconds, a rain of lightning jabs rained down on Samael, causing the crowd to cheer wildly.

But their cheers were soon halted as Samael stood there, tanking the attacks. This caused the observers to rise up with haste. But their worries were for naught as the dust settled, revealing Samael's unharmed body.

Lucas's face warped in confusion. He threw all his strength into that attack, and it did no damage.

"Again!" Lucas roared as he chanted.

"Piercing blast."

Pivoting his foot, Lucas drove the spear towards Samael's chest with all his might as his spear glew blue, blinding the audience.

As the two connected, a loud explosion shook the stage.

But as the attack ended, Lucas felt his heart drop.

The spear was destroyed. and Samael? He was unharmed.

"My turn," Samael said as his figure vanished, appearing inches from Lucas as his hand blurred.

With a loud bang, the spear in Lucas's hands was thrown far as Samael kicked the back of his knee, forcing him down.

"It's over," he said.

Lucas could only grit his teeth.

"The winner of this duel is Samael!" The announcer said.

A wave of wild roars and cheers shook the stadium as the viewers, mainly the commoners, felt their blood rush.

Meanwhile, the nobles felt threatened by Samael. Even their knights couldn't perform such speedy feats.

However, some families had other thoughts in mind.

"Oh, not a bad choice to adopt in my family," a noble muttered.

"What do you think of him, Clara?" Another noble asked his daughter.

In their eyes, Samael was single and more than ready to be adopted into a noble society. Of course, in the form of marriage.

Paying no mind to the cheers of the crowd, Samael went back to the waiting room, where the other participants sat in awe.

Samael didn't even use his element, and yet he effortlessly defeated a trained noble! It was like the heroes in legends!

Desmond himself was the most dumbfounded. In his eyes, Samael's pitch-black aura did not even move, meaning there were no tricks. He was simply that durable.

"I wouldn't want to face you," Desmond said.

"That's not up for us to decide," Samael said as he realized that he'd probably fight Lilith eventually.

But to his surprise, the next contender made him sit straight.

"Calling participant Lilith Flamebright, please step on the stage. I repeat, calling Lilith Flamebright, please step on the stage."

As Lilith went out of the training room with her hair tied to a ponytail, the crowd fell silent in awe of her beauty. Of course, Samael felt annoyed by some of the more lustful gazes, but he could not do anything about it.

Even he sometimes get lost in her charm. It's most definitely dangerous as he often gets the urges to take more than he should.

But his anger soon melted as the girl shot a look at him, giving out a sweet smile as she made her way up, as though saying, "Watch me. Not them."

Before he knew it, Samael had done something he had never done before.

Root for someone.