Reaching the second floor, Evo began a brutal massacre against the gray wolves. He passed through them, splitting bodies, crushing skulls, and impaling his sword into their abdomens. What made the scene slightly less grotesque was the absence of blood — the creatures didn't have any. Otherwise, it would've been a massacre straight out of hell.
In the middle of the fight, he noticed two things: one satisfying, and the other... not so much.
The first disappointment was realizing he wouldn't gain any experience from defeating the tower's monsters — apparently, those creatures were formed by the tower's own magic, which he'd already suspected.
The second point, which cheered him up, was the faint but noticeable growth in his skills and abilities. A pleasant surprise.
– Maybe I can come back here later to train them… But first, I need to expand my arsenal. I need a sword art or some offensive technique. And I'll get that... maybe at this academy.
He kept climbing. At times, he completely abandoned the sword and went barehanded. Sometimes he relied only on thrusts; other times, on fast slashes in succession; and occasionally, on single, raw, brute-force strikes.
He used that place to consolidate what he already had.
While deliberately stalling to let others take the top spots, he calculated his moves. The suspended board above showed only the top six, and Evo planned to finish between 51st and 60th place.
With that thought, he reached the nineteenth floor.
– Second to last floor. The fights for the top spots should be over by now.
He looked up at the panel:
1 – Lívia Sollares
2 – Blanche Von Eldrath
3 – Tllier
4 – Alfred
5 – Brendon Molttres
6 – Julie Rafelli
– Some positions changed, but Lívia's still first. Overall, still the same six. No newcomers.
– Well... I think I've wasted enough time. Time to speed things up.
Evo advanced into a mountainous region — the territory of thunder bears.
He charged forward, facing a group of beasts roaring furiously.
Leaping high, he landed on the first bear and drove his sword straight into its skull. The creature thrashed wildly, trying to throw him off.
– Whoa! Easy there, champ. – He yanked the sword free and jumped back.
Another bear lunged, its paw raised to tear him in half, crackling with lightning.
Evo leaned back; the claws grazed past, slicing a few strands of his hair.
With a swift movement, he gripped the sword tightly and stabbed it into the beast's neck. It roared one last time before collapsing.
– Now there's just... – he muttered, turning toward the three others charging his way.
– I should move up a bit. Too cramped to fight all three here... Hmm, actually, this might work better.
He decided to hold his ground.
– Just need to step back a bit... Perfect, this'll do.
The bears arrived, growling, sparking with electricity. But then—
– Hahahahaha! Perfect, perfect, you idiots!
The three of them were stuck — too large, jammed against each other between the trees.
– Rrrrrrrr! What's wrong? Weren't you gonna get me, you walking furballs? – he mocked with a cocky grin.
– Let's wrap this up. I've got things to do. So... bye-bye!
He channeled energy into his blade, glowing gold. With a single sweeping slash, three heads rolled — and vanished into dust.
– Now for the final floor. They say the monsters there are volcanic salamanders... that spit torrents of lava.
He sprinted toward the twentieth floor.
The region was volcanic, the air heavy and scorching. Spotting a cave, he dashed straight for it.
– There!
The moment he entered, streams of molten magma rained down, burning through his clothes.
– You bastards! Do you have any idea how much this outfit cost?! I'll slaughter you all! – he roared, charging deeper into the cave, laughing maniacally as he struck back.
– Hahahahaha! I warned you, you pests! I loved that outfit, did you know?! Maybe I'll make a new one from your hides, you miserable lizards! – he shouted, slicing through them mercilessly, magma splashing around.
After several minutes of carnage, he glanced back and snorted in satisfaction.
– Hmph! Serves you right, idiots. That's for burning my clothes!
– Alright, time to leave and head to my appointment. But... why's the teleport taking so long?
– What's going on? Did something break? Hey! I'm done he—
Grrrrrrrrrk.
– No way... it can't be, right? – he turned his head slowly. – Oh, shit.
BOOM!
He was slammed into the wall.
– Argh! Damn it... there was still one left... – he groaned. – A damn Titan Salamander.
Titan-class monsters were rare — freak mutations within their species. Bigger, faster, stronger, and tougher than the rest.
– Hmmm... – he stretched his neck, cracking his joints.
He brushed the dust off his tattered clothes.
– Well, maybe this isn't so bad. The fights were getting too one-sided... I was getting bored. – He pouted dramatically.
– But! – Plarr! – You came to make my day better. So... thanks. – he said, bowing slightly with a dubious smile.
– Now then... – he picked up his sword. – Shall we continue?
The salamander charged, its massive body scraping the cave walls, shaking the ground.
– Well, tables turned quick, hahaha. A few minutes ago, cramped space helped me against the bears. But here...
PLINNNN!
He blocked the blow, sword held before his face, both hands trembling. His feet sank into the floor.
– Here I'm... completely... – he rolled back – at a disadvantage!
– Har har har... what do I do? Only its head and front legs are exposed. If I jump to strike, it'll nail me midair. – He scanned the cave, analyzing the beast's movements. – Maybe... just maybe... this could work. If it doesn't? Well...
– Hmmm... I'll get crushed alive. – He sighed, weighing the odds.
Without another thought, he dashed forward like a rocket. When they met face to face, he grinned and waved as if saying goodbye.
– Bye-bye! Hehehe, nice knowing you!
The beast roared, but suddenly — Evo was gone.
He'd thrown himself backward, sliding beneath its body. Out of its sight, he exploited the narrow space — the salamander couldn't turn, only retreat.
Seizing the moment, he slashed at its weak spot: the belly.
As he slid under, he tore open a massive wound across its abdomen. The creature crashed down, shaking the ground.
It was a close call — one second slower, and he would've been flattened.
– What matters is it worked. Let's finish this with something I wanted to test. – He approached the dying monster.
While climbing the tower, an idea had struck him:
"What if I concentrate all my mana at the sword's tip, compress it, and release it the instant it hits the target? How powerful would it be?"
He closed his eyes, feeling mana flow through the blade.
– Alright. Now for the hard part... compressing it all.
He clenched his teeth, sweat dripping, until the sword glowed gold, pulsing like it was alive.
– Now... – he bent his knees, aiming at the lizard's rear. – Sorry, but this is gonna hurt.
He lunged, driving the tip forward.
– Nowwww! – he shouted gleefully.
BOOOOOOM!
A blinding flash filled the cave. The salamander's upper half simply vanished. The ground began to collapse, magma leaking through the cracks.
– SHIIIIIT!Get me outta here already, you lunatics! – he yelled.
A purple light surrounded him, teleporting him out.
Now, covered in burns and holes in his clothes, he looked up toward a balcony above the tower — where a figure watched, smiling in amusement.
Evo narrowed his eyes, mouthing silently:
– You did that on purpose, didn't you?
The woman only smiled wider, confirming it.
– Haaaar... – he sighed. – What's her problem? Does she think I'm her personal clown? – he muttered, sitting in a corner to wait for the end.
Every now and then, he looked up again. The director smiled and pouted, gesturing playfully as if to say, "It was just a joke."
– She reminds me of someone... – he murmured, shrugging.
An hour later, Ravina appeared once more to announce the end of the exam.
– Students, your rankings will be posted on your temporary dorm doors.
Those from 1st to 50th place will be in Block 1, Platinum Class.
From 51st to 101st, Block 2, Gold Class.
Benefits are detailed in the envelopes found in your rooms. Congratulations, everyone!
Evo sighed.
– Well, I'll be in Gold Class. That's perfect. My calm, peaceful life is secure... or so it should be.
Later, in his room, he looked at the envelope on his door, trembling.
– H-how... h-how did this happen?! How?! – he stammered, shaking the paper.
– Shit! Shit! Why does it always end like this?!
The envelope read:
Congratulations, student Evo Eylam, for completing the exam with excellence.
Rank: 11th place.
Block 1 – Room: Platinum.
Welcome, and good luck!
– Damn it, damn it, damn it! My peaceful, low-profile school life is ruined! – he cried, staring blankly at the ceiling.
– Hmmm... I wanna die... – he muttered, nearly tearing up.
– I'll find a way to move down a class. No way I'm staying like this. – he said, determination rekindled. – But first... time to visit the blacksmith. I need to order a new sword.
Evo got dressed, locked the door, and headed toward the forge in the academy's commercial district.
Author's Note:
Hey everyone, sorry to bother you for a sec — but please leave a review! It really helps me improve the story and spread it to new readers. I'm counting on your support in these early chapters. Thank you!