Chapter 29: EXAMINATION BEGINS

Everyone stared at the old man, their eyes wide with uncertainty and disbelief. The silence was thick, the weight of the moment anchoring their voices in their throats. "Is he really...? Is Stone really dead?" a woman among them—Hailey—asked hesitantly, her voice trembling. She clutched her bruised arm tightly, as if afraid that speaking it aloud would shatter the fragile hope she held. "Just as I said," Aaron replied calmly, his tone unwavering. "Can you really give us the chance to fight back?" Barnes questioned next. His expression was one of disbelief, bordering on desperation. The man had the look of someone who had been promised too much in life but had received nothing in return. "I wouldn’t be saying so if I didn’t mean it," Aaron responded. "Then help me! Help us protect our home!" Derrick, a young man with shaggy blond hair and vivid green eyes, suddenly stood. His body bore numerous wounds, yet his spirit shone through. "We’ve suffered enough," he continued, his voice rising. "The demigods and leaders look down on us like dirt. They ignore our cries, our pain. But if you can help us... then we will be indebted to you for life!" He bowed deeply before Aaron, his bruised frame shaking from the strain. "Yes! Help us fight back!" another voice echoed, followed by more and more as the crowd stood, each offering their respect and resolve—those who could, at least. Some remained kneeling, their injuries too severe to allow movement, but their eyes burned with the same fire. Aaron let the moment hang for a while before he finally nodded. "Very well," he said solemnly. "I will offer you power—true power. But not now. Doing so immediately would only raise suspicion from the higher-ups. When things settle down, when the dust clears, I will return." Doubt flickered in their eyes—he could see it—but he didn’t hold it against them. Trust was a rare currency for people who had been betrayed too often. He expected as much. "Before then," Aaron continued, his voice carrying a subtle, unnatural weight, "you will all forget this conversation. The moment you first laid eyes on Flameborn, everything you saw or heard from then till now will be buried within your minds." His eyes glowed crimson, a gentle hue casting shadows across the sanctuary as a mass hypnosis washed over them like a silent tide. When it was done, Aaron quietly exited the sanctuary. He appeared in a quiet alley far away from prying eyes and gently laid the unconscious group in an orderly fashion on the ground. From his pocket, he withdrew a card—black as midnight, with the image of Death’s hand clutching upward and lightning crackling across the top like divine retribution. He placed it on Derrick’s chest. Satisfied with his work, Aaron teleported back to the sanctuary, spent a few minutes playing with Flameborn, then finally returned to the hotel. He slipped into bed beside the still-sleeping Rose and drifted off, the tension in his muscles finally giving way to rest. --- The Next Morning Liam had already submitted his report to the higher-ups. It detailed everything: the evidence he found on Stone, his decision to bring the man to justice, and the clash with the mysterious man who called himself Void of Retribution. As expected, Liam received nothing more than a slap on the wrist. It wasn’t that his actions weren’t dangerous or unsanctioned—they were—but Liam was a genius with a terrifying growth rate. Even the demigods were cautious around him. Only a demigod could discipline Liam, but who wanted to earn the grudge of someone who might, one day, surpass them? --- Aaron slept deeply. For the first time since becoming a vampire, he actually felt tired. His clash with Liam had drained him more than he’d expected. "Hey... are you awake?" Rose murmured, stirring from her sleep. "Yes, I’m up," Aaron replied, stretching slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "Today’s the big day. I can’t afford to miss it." "Oh! That’s right—the exam!" Rose exclaimed, sitting upright with a hint of embarrassment. "I almost forgot you’re taking it today." "We should get ready," Aaron said, rising to his feet. "You’ve got plenty on your plate too, I’m sure." He headed into the bathroom to freshen up. Minutes later, dressed and sharp, Aaron and Rose checked out of the suite and parted ways at the lobby. --- "Aaron! You lucky bastard!" Leo’s voice rang out as he approached. "A whole suite to yourself while I get stuck with three weirdos in a cramped room? Unfair!" Aaron chuckled. "How’s your rib?" "Good as new!" Leo flexed dramatically. "I’m in top shape for the exam." "Glad to hear it." They walked side by side toward the examination’s rendezvous point. The field was wide and open, packed with dozens—no, hundreds—of students, all around the same age, their faces reflecting varying degrees of nerves, confidence, and excitement. Aaron scanned the crowd. His keen eyes quickly picked out a few with promising auras—formidable talents, likely to go far. A smirk tugged at his lips. Not bad. "System, draw," he muttered in his mind. > [Congratulations on receiving the God-rank item: Limiter.] Limiter – A black bracelet capable of restricting the wearer’s strength or that of another. The user can select the percentage of power allowed to be used. Aaron opened his infinite inventory and found it—a sleek, dark bracelet with a design that looked carved by time itself. He slipped away to a more secluded spot and wore it, setting his strength to the peak of E-rank. He couldn’t afford to reveal his real power—not in a test crawling with observers from various powerhouses. Using his full strength would be overkill, a red flag to those watching. Now, with the limiter in place, he had nothing to worry about. --- A hush swept across the field. A man stepped forward—old, perhaps in his seventies, with long braided white hair and a beard to match. His presence alone commanded silence. Behind him stood dignitaries, principals of elite academies, special hunters, and high-ranking officials. Among them, Aaron spotted Liam, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, his usual cold aura concealed behind a calm expression. No one needed to be told who the old man was—he radiated power. One of Earth’s few demigods. "This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for," the demigod began, his voice deep and commanding. "The moment to prove your worth. A time to decide your destiny. A time to determine your rank in the new world that awaits you." The crowd remained deathly quiet. No one dared to whisper, breathe too loudly, or fidget. To offend a demigod was to sign one’s death certificate. "This trial will take place in a simulated world created by Demigod Dream herself," the old man continued. "She has gone to great lengths this time—to ensure realism, danger, and difficulty. Consider this your final warning." His gaze swept across the field like a tidal wave of pressure. "You can die in there. If you fear death, walk away. But if you are brave enough to risk it all—your life, your comfort, your future—then step through the rifts and show the world what you’re made of. I commend your courage." With that, the demigod stepped back. The examination had officially begun.