Chapter 89: The Structure and Rules

Words : 1126 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

The moment the voice echoed across the hall, everyone fell silent. All eyes locked onto the holographic projection of the lady. They knew the trial that could shape their future was about to begin, so no one made a sound. Klaus and Anna, standing somewhere near the back, focused their attention on her as well. The lady in the projection glanced around the room sternly before she began to speak. "You are all here because you are considered the best this city has to offer," she said, her tone firm. "You recently awakened and began your journey on the path of cultivation—the chaotic path of strength and endurance. Well, some of you." Though her face remained neutral, her words showed subtle disdain. Klaus noticed it, and so did others. It was no secret why she spoke this way. Cultivation was hard enough, but it became even harder for those without a strong background. It was well known that those who hunted higher-tier monsters after awakening gained far more power than those who leveled up by facing lower-tier creatures. Klaus was one of the many without backing, unaware of the advantages that came from fighting stronger monsters early on. Had he continued down that path, his potential would have been limited. The lady seemed to be pointing out that while some were here on their own merit, others were here solely because of their family's influence. "Some of you will fail," the lady continued, her voice cold. "Not because you lack potential, but because you do not have what it takes to claim one of the few spots available. I won't sugarcoat it. Some of you are only standing here because of your families. But let me make this clear—your family name means nothing in these exams. Even if you are the child of an overlord, if you do not meet the standards, you will fail." Her words are like a sharp thorn in their side. However, nobody uttered a single word. They all know what she said was the truth. No matter what they think, what she said is indeed true. Many will wash out, and they will probably be the greenhouse flowers pampered by their families. "Now, let's talk about the structure of the exams," the lady said, drawing everyone's full attention once again. "There will only be one exam this time." As soon as she said that, murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. Confusion flickered across the faces of the young participants. "What does this mean, senior?" a young lady bravely asked, her voice filled with curiosity and concern. The hall grew quiet as everyone waited for an explanation. The participants were well aware that, in the past, there were three distinct exams. The first exam was written, focusing on history, monsters' anatomy, and the cultivation path. This part of the exam was why many attended school before awakening. It required deep knowledge and sharp intellect, testing their understanding of the world and their future as cultivators. The second exam was a test of strength and endurance. Here, candidates were put through rigorous challenges to measure their power. This test could vary greatly from year to year. Sometimes, it would focus on mental endurance, pushing participants to reach their limits of patience and focus. The third exam was combat. Participants would face off against monsters in a controlled environment. This test evaluated their reaction speed, combat techniques, mastery over their weapons, and their ability to maintain control over the battlefield. It was a critical test for those seeking to prove their warriors' worth. But now, with only one exam mentioned, uncertainty filled the room. What kind of test could replace all three? "And before you think you can use a battle of attrition to study your opponent," the lady said with a smirk, "know this: you will be facing waves of monsters. These waves will start from Tier 2 Lesser to Dark. After each wave, the tier of the monsters will increase, becoming more powerful and dangerous." She continued, her tone more serious. "While you can take your time to defeat them, which will earn you the same points as someone who kills them faster, there's a catch. If you manage to defeat the monsters quicker, the remaining time before the next wave will multiply the points you earn." The hall was completely silent now as everyone absorbed this new information. "For example," she explained, "if you're required to clear the first wave within 5 minutes but you do it in 3 minutes, the remaining 2 minutes will multiply your points. The faster you are, the greater your advantage." Klaus clenched his fists. Every second counted. Klaus felt a wave of relief when someone asked the question that had been on his mind as well. "Senior, can undistributed points be allocated while in the Oracle?" "Yes, you can," the lady answered calmly. Klaus felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He still had most of his points unallocated, and he knew he would need them soon. Though, he chuckled inwardly. He had already cleared out an entire region of monsters before; this should be no different. Or so he told himself. The lady continued, "Also, for those who won't make it into the top 200 selected ones, know that your trial video will be made public. This means your performance could still gain recognition, and you might attract attention from other academies. So, even if you don't succeed here, your chances are not entirely gone." Klaus could hear the sighs of relief around him. It was clear that not everyone expected to be in the top 200, but knowing that their effort wouldn't be wasted gave them hope. "Now," the lady's voice continued, "you will all be transported to your test areas. Prepare yourselves to enter the Oracle and start your trial." Immediately after her words ended, countless doors opened along the walls. "Enter one by one," she instructed. People began walking through the doors without wasting time, and soon, the hall started to clear out. Anna turned to Klaus, giving him a nod and a smile. "Good luck," she said as she headed toward one of the doors. "Same to you," Klaus replied with a smile as he approached a different door. As Klaus stepped through, he found himself inside a small, futuristic room. In front of him was a sleek, bedlike chair, and beside it, a helmet that looked like something out of a video game. "Sit inside the chair and put on the helmet," a calm voice instructed him. Taking a deep breath, Klaus did as he was told. Immediately, he put on the helmet, his vision darkened.

Chapter 89: The Structure and Rules

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