Somewhere in the gigantic library, a green haired student restlessly ran throughout the place.

The student occasionally stopped as he ran, shoving the wooden shelves near him as it formed a small blockade for the bolts of lighning chasing behind.

Crackle—!

Xiao panted, beads of sweat pouring down on his face while his body highlighted darkened spots on some areas.

Behind him, several bolts of lightning chased after him aggressively.

Feeling the bolts of lightning closing into him, Xiao rolled over to one of the shelves near him, using it as a blockade to cover his body from the bolts of lightning. After that, he quickly stood up from the ground and pushed his body to run.

Crackle—! Bam—!

The bolt of lightning exploded upon contact, destroying the wooden shelves on the area. The nearest few were completely destroyed by the explosion, while the far ones had managed to sustain the damage. From the explosion, smoke erupted and covered the whole area.

This kind of scene was happening at four places, at the same time in the library.

'...It was a mistake to seperate the group.'

Xiao thought, remembering what happened earlier.

'If only I had realized that sooner..'

A few hours ago, before this sorry situation of theirs—they had just arrived at this library, exhausted from a long walk. Oddly enough, the entrance path they took was unusually a long, and arduous one.

It took them an hour just to arrive in the library, and when they did arrive in the library... the situation turned chaotic quickly. They met some other student—proclaiming himself as a text examiner for the third phase of the exam..

The stared at man blankly. It was all too sudden, and before they could even process the student examiner's words—the person attacked, launching a wide area offensive skill that forced all of them to separate each other.

However, that was a mistake. They didn't realize it back then... but it was obvious that it was the student's objective.

They only realized once they all tried to hide themselves. It was impossible. In all of the areas in the library, not a single one of them was safe from the student's eyes.

Whether it was at the back of the shelf, at the bottom of a table, the most corner side of the library... a bolt of lightning seemed to always find them head on .

He didn't know how the others faired, but with him being a mere Sorcerer and lacking any athleticism or body training at all... It was safe to say, he suffered a lot.

Crackle—! Boom—!

Xiao raised his head, looking above. On the air, flying bolts of lightning continued to fly through different directions, most likely chasing after his other three teammates...

On his view, he could see three to five bolts of lightning speeding up to him to strike him head on.

Xiao sighed, shaking his head. If only he had some time to concentrate... then he could easily get out of this ugly situation.

One thing to note, while Sorcerers were more destructive than Martial Artist... they were less practical and tend to take more time than the latter.

Sorcerers were more heavily reliant on the mind than any other professions. Because most, if not all, the skills they use are about controlling nature... concentration and focus was needed.

Unfortunately, the homing bolts of lightning after him wouldn't give him a chance to concentrate and use any skill.

"Tsk."

Xiao clicked his tounge, annoyed. If only he had company to help him here...

Woosh—!

At that momeny, while he was thinking of his teammates—a long drawn flash of a blade materialized, blocking the bolts of lightning from blasting towards him.

Xiao widened his eyes, stopping his body. He turned to look behind him.

Speak of the devil...

"Yo." Kojiro said with a smile. He waved his hand nonchalantly, greeting Xiao. "For a moment there we thought you were already fried. But knowing you...."

"Wait." Xiao stopped, bewildered. "We...?"

Kojiro blinked, chuckling. He raised his hand, poiting towards his back. "...Yeah, we."

On his back, two figures were seen standing beside him, hiding themselves as their eyes warily darted around. Venice had a pained, tired expression... while Fallio looked ugly, with a messy appearance and traumatized eyes.

"...What happened to them?" Xiao asked, staring at both with apprehension. "They look like they been forced into eating shit."

"Hahahahaha! Hear this, Xiao!" Kojiro laughed. "Apparently, that student gigolo were targeting both of them specifically, by their words!"

"It's true!" Fallio snapped, turning towards Kojiro. "It really is... I kept hiding, running, walking, sleeping... or anything! That damn lightning was always there to hit me!"

"How many times were you hit?" Xiao frowned.

"Every. Single. Time! With no exceptions! I don't know how that dude managed to find me everytime..." Fallio gritted his teeth. "I tell you, even if I was not breathing... I was always found!"

"That's odd, did you not see the birds?" Xiao asked, puzzled.

"..Huh?" Fallio blinked, confused. "What birds? There are birds...?"

Xiao stared at him blankly, not knowing what to say. Kojiro laughed loudly, holding his stomach.

"Alright, can we please stop this?!" Venice suddenly shouted, veins pulsing on her head. "We're going to get all the lightning exploded onto us with all your yappering...!!"

"..Yeah, you're right." Kojiro nodded, acknowledging the situation. "Anyways, so... what's the plan for today, Xiao?"

Xiao turned to look at Kojiro, returning the stare as he nodded understandingly. He gestured the whole group to come together.

"I don't have much time to explain, but..."

The group listened to him in confusion.

"I need all of you to give me your weapons and give me some time to concentrate for two minutes or so... and also, kill the eyes. Kill the watchers."

Kojiro closed his eyes, nodding. "If that's all you need then, don't worry... the situation is already safe and clear from spies."

—

In the middle of the library, a curly black haired student narrowed his eyes in interest.

"Interesting..."

Cassius muttered, his lips curling into a smirk.

"I can't see anything.."

If some other student would hear his words, they would be extremely shocked. Cassius the all-seeing was unable to see? It was one thing if his opponent were the top 10, but if it was mere First Years...

"Very interesting. The only feedback they gave back was a short flash... From the other reports, it's most likely their leader who did it.." Cassius lowered his head, deep in thought. After a while, he shook his head. "Regardless, they can't do anything at this time anyway. The best they can do is stall until..."

Boom—! Rumble—!

While he was deep in thought a loud explosive sound suddenly echoed in the library, rumbling the ground as the shelves and book tored apart from the force.

Cassius swayed, holding onto his staff tightly to not fall.

Woosh—!

Just as he was recovering from the sudden surprise, a feminine suddenly figure leaped to the air with a maddened, furious expression. On the female student's hands, a large steel warhammer was held tightly.

Wihtou hesitation, Cassius suddenly closed his eyes and held the staff on his hand tightly. He whispered.

"[Hurricane of Lightning.]"

At that moment, the wind shook as they converged at the middle of the library, forming a whirling hurricane that sucked the books and rubbles from the ground. Inside the hurricane, bolts of lightning ocassionally flashed within,.

historical

Woosh—!

"Ah...those precious books..." Cassius sighed, pained. He shook his head, staring at the falling figure on the air. "It's a necessary sacrifice.."

Cassius nudged the staff slightly, pointing it at the falling female student on the air.

Following his command, the hurricane slowly moved towards Venice who was falling from the air.

Venice narrowed her eyes. She raised the warhammer on her hand, reinforcing it with magic. While the hurricane slowly closed into her, she suddenly closed her eyes...

Cassius stared at her in confusion.

Woosh—!

At that moment, Venice opened her eyes.

"Haaaaaaaaa....!"

Venice suddenly shouted, letting her body fall into the hurricane. She gritted her teeth, holding the warhammer tightly, she raised her arm strongly and spun the warhammer around with inhumane force beyond her imagination.

Woosh—! Woosh—!

The warhammer spun wildly, making Venice body rotate. Venice looked like a spinning tornado against a mighty hurricane. The hurricane slowly dispersed from repellant force of the warhammer...

"What is this inhumane strength, is this girl really a Rank E First Year..? How strange..." Cassius looked at her strangely, taken a back. "Well, let's see you handle this then."

Cassius closed his eyes and tapped the staff to the ground.

"[Somnus..."

Woosh—!

While he concentrating on using the skill, a loud flash suddenly resounde. Before him, fwo figures suddenly appeared, holding a sabre and a katana—Cassius suddenly widened his eyes in shock.

Without wasting any time, Cassius closed his eyes again and quickly casted a different skill.

"[Strengthened Repel]"

At that moment, the wind gathering near his body blew harshly. One of the two figures couldn't react properly, blown away by the wind to somewhere in the library.

Woosh—!

However, the other figure holding a katana...

"This is checkmate," Kojiro said, smirking. "You damn annoying gigolo."

"Hmm?" Cassiu smiled. "Is that so?"

At that moment, the smartwatch suddenly beeped loudly.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: A week has passed in the real world. The test has officially ended. Students who are still in the exam, please stand by and wait for security to escort you back...]

[To repeat: The exam has officially ended.]

Kojiro blankly stared at the air, quickly losing his smug smile.