Chapter 50 : End of the Entrance exam (2)

Words : 1522 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 50: Chapter 50 : End of the Entrance exam (2) In the dense thickets of the eastern part of the deserted isle, four human candidates crouched beneath the thick canopy of leaves. Their breathing was ragged, their clothes torn and stained from surviving the brutal first day of the Zenith Academy entrance exam. Despite the danger surrounding them, their voices remained hushed. "Did you see him heading that way?" "Yeah. Silver hair, blue eyes. He went east." The group of four human candidates stood in a loose circle, whispering among themselves. Their breath fogged in the slightly chill morning air, though the humidity of the jungle around them made their clothes cling uncomfortably to their backs. Despite the chaos of the ongoing Zenith Academy entrance exam, their current mission had nothing to do with earning points. Their expressions were tense, their eyes darting around as they made sure no one was listening. "Princess Charlotte gave us direct orders," one of them, a sharp-chinned boy with cropped red hair, muttered. "We find him, we inform her. Not a word to anyone else." "No mistakes this time," said another. "She made it clear—no one interferes." Unfortunately for them, someone was listening. Unbeknownst to the quartet, a faint shimmer in the air behind a tree slowly condensed into the shape of a person—an observer cloaked in subtle magic, eyes glittering with interest as he absorbed every word. They were just wrapping up their discussion when the air shifted. A shadow moved. A figure blocked the sunlight breaking through the canopy. "Oh no," one of the candidates whispered, his voice trembling. They turned. And their hearts nearly stopped. Standing casually in their path, one hand on his hip and the other resting lazily on the pommel of his sheathed sword, was none other than Alden von Crestvale. Recognizing him instantly, their hearts nearly stopped. Dressed in sleek combat attire marked with the Crestvale sigil—a stylized serpent coiling around a silver sword—Alden’s expression was one of amused disdain. His hair gleamed under the broken rays of sunlight, and his smirk was the stuff of noble nightmares. The Heir to House Crestvale. The golden boy of the Crestvale Duchy. Famous for his arrogance, his unmatched sword skills, his smug superiority complex... and his tendency to speak only to those he deemed worth his time. Rumors about Alden were many: how he won tournaments from a young age, cleared his first dungeon at twelve, and once told a marquess’ son to shut up because he didn’t like his voice. And now, he was standing here, before them, radiating the kind of energy that made you question your self-worth. His narrowed gaze swept across the group, piercing and cold. Under that stare, all four of them immediately began examining their boots with renewed interest, not daring to meet his eyes. Then he spoke. His voice was smooth, deep, and annoyingly smug. "I heard what you said," Alden said, brushing a leaf off his shoulder as if the entire forest was beneath him. "Now, unless you four want to experience a level of pain previously reserved for medieval torture devices, you’d better tell me where that silver-haired candidate went." All four flinched. Sweat pooled at their temples. The red-haired one gulped. After a brief silence, one of them—a wiry boy with the beginnings of a nobleman’s goatee—stepped forward. He bowed. "Lord Crestvale. An honor." The others followed suit. "We... we mean no disrespect, truly. It’s just... we’re followers of Princess Charlotte. And we were given explicit orders. We’re to report his location directly to the Princess. No one else." A beat passed. Alden’s lips curled. Then he laughed. It wasn’t a cheerful laugh. It was the kind of laugh that echoed through the forest, unsettling birds and sending a squirrel scrambling up a tree. Then, abruptly, the air changed. The laughter cut off. And Alden stepped forward. His tone was sharp. "Do you know the only reason you’re still standing here?" The group leaned back instinctively. Alden’s grin turned predatory. "It’s because of her. If it weren’t for Charlotte, you’d be in a healing pod right now with negative points." They gulped. "But," Alden continued, placing a hand on his chest dramatically, "I’m a reasonable guy. I understand people. I empathize. So how about you tell me nicely... before I stop being understanding." There was a pause. Then a collective thought ran through their minds: "This guy? Understanding? HA!" The irony of those words wasn’t lost on anyone. Alden Crestvale, understanding? That was like saying a dragon was cuddly. They wanted to laugh. Slap him. Scream into the abyss. Because they knew—knew!—that Alden von Crestvale was many things: smug, powerful, a top-tier duelist, handsome enough to make bards write songs. But understanding? Absolutely not. They’d all attended enough noble banquets to hear the rumors. One of them had even witnessed Alden dismiss a noble for having a "funny face." But the alternative? Refusing him? Elimination. Pain. Shame. And all of their effort surviving for this long after enduring everything on this accursed island would go down the drain. So, with trembling voices and heavy hearts, they answered. "He was heading to the Eastwood Waterfalls, my lord. Eastern side of the island." A grin spread across Alden’s face. A terrifying grin. The four backed up instinctively. But Alden didn’t move toward them. Instead, he turned smoothly, eyes glinting with amusement. "Tell my cousin I said hi," he called over his shoulder as he disappeared into the foliage, leaving behind four very stressed and traumatized examinees. He vanished into the trees, heading east. The silence left behind was deafening. The four collapsed onto nearby rocks and logs. "Sweet merciful heavens, we’re alive." "Who was he talking about?" "Who do you think? Princess Charlotte. They’re cousins." Meanwhile, Alden was already far ahead. As he jogged lightly through the forest, his EVOband beeped. Current Rank: 6 / 1,000,000 Points: 6,660 He clicked his tongue. "Tch. I was at 4 just a few hours ago. Damn that bet with Ethan and Alex." He frowned. Ethan. That golden-haired monster. He was definitely climbing the ranks. Alden could feel it in his bones. He scoffed. "No way Alex is higher than me, though." Still, he couldn’t shake a feeling of unease. As he moved eastward, he noticed something strange. Groups of humans and vampires—dozens of them—were also heading east. Some wore armor. Others moved in tight formation. And many bore the crest of the royal family on their sleeves. Charlotte’s forces. Alden raised an eyebrow. "What’s she planning?" Finally, a realization dawned on him. "Damn it!" Alden muttered, slapping his forehead as he landed atop a rocky ledge overlooking the forested eastern stretch. "In all that excitement, I completely forgot to ask those fools why Charlotte’s looking for that silver-haired guy." His brows furrowed, and his voice dropped into a grumble. "Because as far as I know, there’s only one silver-haired crazy weirdo," he scoffed, running a hand through his wind-tossed hair. "What the hell did that lunatic do now to catch Charlotte’s attention?" A pause, then a wild smirk. "This is gonna be so much fun." He shook his head, eyes narrowing as he focused ahead. --- Elsewhere, beneath a leafy canopy near the Eastwood Waterfalls, a silver-haired young man was hunched over, panting. "Finally... made it." Alex Dragonheart straightened and wiped sweat from his brow. His cloak was torn at the edges, and his boots were soaked from wading through a marsh. But he was grinning. "Ah, a peaceful waterfall in the middle of chaos. Just what I needed—nature’s apology for the peace I’m about to shatter." He glanced around the clearing. He paused momentarily, eyes scanning the distance. The rumble of a waterfall reached his ears. "Eastwood Waterfalls," he murmured, leaping forward. The Eastwood Waterfalls sparkled in the morning light, cascading down a mossy cliff into a serene pool. The waterfall flowed like liquid crystal, tumbling over mossy rocks into a tranquil, clear-blue basin. Sunlight pierced the jungle canopy, making the mist shimmer like stars. Quiet, cool, and hidden—it felt like a secret haven untouched by time. "It really looks beautiful." He dropped his bag and crouched. "I sensed way too many presences on the way here. Hope they do what I expect, or I’m seriously doomed." Sighing again, "Let’s just hope they take the bait." He had purposely let himself be seen heading east, knowing Charlotte’s and Lilith’s network would pick up on it. Now, he had to prepare. His eyes turned to the waterfall. His trap. His gamble. "I hope this works out..." He cracked his knuckles and stood. The mist from the falls clung to his silver hair. His expression turned serious. He decided to check his points. Current Rank: 1 / 1,000,000 Points: 10,950 A soft sigh escaped his mouth. "Finally, first place. It was risky as hell, but I finally got it." "Just one hurdle remains—surviving until only 2,000 candidates remain, and the exam will end." After resting a bit, he stood up. "Now, time to make some preparations to welcome our guests."

Chapter 50 : End of the Entrance exam (2)

Comments (0)