266 Chapter 265: End of the treasure
hunt (1)
The ground shook.
A deep, horrifying roar filled the crystal chamber.
ROAAAR!
Dust rained down from the celling as the stone walls trembled.
Arthur's team stumbled backward as a massive figure rose from the cracked ground in front of the pedestal.
It was a Chimera.
Not an ordinary monster.
Not some simple beast created for a training exercise.
It was an A-rank monster.
A creature designed to force multiple teams to cooperate-or be destroyed.
The Chimera's body resembled that of an enormous lion, but its build was far larger and more monstrous.
Its muscular torso was covered in dark golden fur, while patches of black scales ran along its ribs and neck.
Its massive front paws ended in claws capable of tearing through solid stone.
Two curved horns rose from the sides of its head.
But its most terrifying feature was its main head.
Instead of a lion's head, a massive serpent's head rested atop its muscular body.
Its long, scaled neck rose above the creature as crimson eyes stared down at the students.
Its forked tongue flickered between rows of jagged fangs.
Black venom dripped from Its mouth.
Every drop that touched the stone floor released a faint hiss.
A second head, shaped like that of a goat, protruded from Its left shoulder.
The goat head had dull yellow eyes and Jagged teeth, constantly snapping at the air.
On the Chimera's right shoulder was another serpent head.
Its tongue flickered rapidly as black venom dripped from its fangs.
And behind the Chimera's lion-like body rose the tail of a giant scorpion.
The segmented tail was covered in black armor, ending in a massive stinger that glowed with crimson polson.
The main serpent head slowly turned toward Arthur's team.
Its jaws opened, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs.
Crimson eyes glinted in the dim chamber.
Then an enormous red bar appeared above the monster's head.
{A-Rank Dungeon Boss: Infernal Chimera}
[HP:100%}
The HP bar was massive.
It stretched across the air above the Chimera like a warning.
Arthur's heart sank.
The monster's health pool was ridiculous.
Even with all 5 of them working together, defeating it would consume a huge amount of mana and leave them vulnerable to the other academies waiting outside.
But behind the monster stood the pedestal.
And upon that pedestal rested the egg-shaped crystal.
It glowed with a warm golden light.
The treasure.
The objective.
The reason they had entered this cursed dungeon.
Arthur stared at the crystal.
"Well, that is convenient.'
The Chimera suddenly raised its serpent head.
ROAAAR!
Its roar shook the chamber.
Arthur drew his katana.
"Get ready, everyone!"
The Chimera charged.
Its enormous claws slammed into the ground with enough force to crack the stone floor.
Arthur's team scattered immediately.
Victor leaped to the left.
Jasmine moved toward the right wall.
Evangline rolled behind a fallen stone pillar.
Rubina stayed close to Arthur.
The Chimera's claws crashed down where they had been
standing only a second earlier.
BOOM!
Stone exploded beneath its claws.
The creature didn't stop.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Arthur and Rubina.
The serpent's Jaws opened.
A fiery glow appeared deep inside its throat.
Arthur's eyes widened.
"Move!"
A massive stream of fire erupted from the Chimera's mouth.
Arthur grabbed Rubina and pulled her into his arms.
Then he ran.
The flames swept across the chamber.
Arthur weaved between broken pillars, narrowly avoiding the blazing attack.
Everywhere the flames touched, stone melted into glowing fragments.
Rubina held tightly onto Arthur's coat.
"Arthur!"
"I know!"
Arthur jumped over a broken wall.
A wave of fire passed beneath them.
He landed behind another stone pillar just as the flames consumed the area behind them.
Evangline raised her Desert Eagle,
"Let's see how you like this!"
She pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The modified bullet slammed into the Chimera's shoulder.
BOOM!
An explosion erupted against its body.
The blast shook the monster.
But it barely moved.
The HP bar above its head shifted only slightly.
{HP: 98%}
Evangline's eyes widened.
She fired again.
Bang!
BOOM!
Another explosion struck the Chimera's chest.
The monster roared, but the damage remained insignificant.
Evangline stared at the HP bar.
"Is this really only an A-rank monster?"
Jasmine raised both hands.
Ice mana surged around her.
"Frost Barrier!"
A thick wall of blue ice erupted from the ground.
The Chimera slammed its massive claws into the barrier.
CRACK!
The entire wall shook.
Cracks spread rapidly across its surface.
But it held long enough to buy them a few seconds.
Arthur looked toward the team.
"Don't fight it seriously yet!"
Victor turned toward him.
"What?"
"Conserve your strength," Arthur ordered. "Avold its attacks until I tell you otherwise."
The team exchanged uncertain glances.
But they obeyed.
Victor focused on blocking the Chimera's attacks without using his stronger techniques.
Jasmine created small ice barriers whenever necessary.
Evangline fired only enough shots to distract the monster.
Arthur kept Rubina away from danger.
They ran.
Dodged.
Blocked.
And waited.
Meanwhile, Arthur led Rubina toward a massive stone pillar near the edge of the chamber.
The Chimera was busy chasing Victor and Jasmine on the opposite side.
Arthur looked at Rubina.
"Do you know any concealing spells?"
Rubina nodded quickly.
"Yes."
Her voice was more confident now.
"As a healer, I learned that hiding my presence is Important. I can conceal myself from mana senses and most tracking spells."
She hesitated before continuing.
"I also know several advanced mana recovery spells. I can restore some mana for everyone if necessary."
Arthur's expression brightened.
"Good"
Rubina blinked.
Arthur placed both hands on her shoulders.
"You are the one who is going to make this crazy strategy work."
Rubina's face became slightly red.
Arthur leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Listen carefully."
Rubina nodded.
"Conceal yourself so no one can find you."
Arthur raised one hand.
"When I clap my hands, cast your recovery spell on all of us."
Rubina's eyes widened.
"Use as much mana as you safely can."
Arthur then pointed toward the exit.
"And when I say run, run with everything you've got. Leave this place immediately."
Rubina looked nervous.
But she nodded firmly.
"I will do whatever you ask."
Arthur patted her head.
"Good girl."
He smiled.
"You're far better than those morons."
Rubina smiled softly.
Then Arthur heard something.
Footsteps.
Voices.
Many voices.
They were getting closer.
Arthur's lips curled into a smile.
"It is time."
Rubina looked at him.
"The other academies have arrived."
Arthur moved away from her.
Rubina immediately activated her concealing spell.
Soft green light covered her body.
Then she faded into the shadow of the pillar.
Her presence vanished completely.
Even Arthur could barely sense her anymore.
.......
The other academies entered the enormous chamber.
Their eyes widened immediately.
The Infernal Chimera was rampaging through the room.
Arthur's team appeared to be struggling desperately against it, constantly avoiding its flames, claws, serpent heads, and scorpion tall.
From the outside, it looked as though Celestias Academy was barely surviving.
None of the other teams had seen Arthur hide Rubina.
They had not heard the plan.
All they saw was a powerful A-rank monster and a team desperately trying to survive.
Christopher entered with the remaining Black Star Academy students.
The moment he saw Arthur still alive, his expression darkened.
"Damn it."
Then Glacier Peak Academy entered.
Ava and Eva stepped forward together.
Their eyes immediately settled on the golden crystal behind the Chimera.
Ava raised her voice.
"Everyone!"
The students from the remaining academles turned toward her.
"As you can see, the crystal is behind the monster."
She pointed toward the glowing pedestal.
"And I can guarantee that no academy can defeat that Chimera alone."
Her eyes moved across the gathered groups.
"Even those monsters from Celestias Academy are struggling."
Arthur heard her from across the chamber.
He almost laughed.
Ava continued.
"Our only choice is to work together."
She raised one hand toward the Chimera.
"First, we defeat the monster."
Her voice became firm.
"After that, we fight among ourselves to decide who takes the crystal."
Several students exchanged glances.
They thought about it.
There was no better option.
If they fought each other now, the Chimera would tear them apart.
No one would get the crystal.
The academy representatives slowly nodded.
"We agree."
"The monster is the priority."
"First, we kill the Chimera."
Ava looked toward Christopher.
What about you, Christopher?"
Her volce was calm.
"Do you agree with this plan?"
Christopher gritted his teeth.
"I can't believe I'm being played by a first-year brat."
Ava and Eva glanced toward Arthur.
"It is the same for us," Eva said.
Ava nodded.
"It seems he planned this very carefully."
Christopher's expression darkened.
"Fine"
He looked toward the Chimera.
"I agree."
Then he raised one finger.
"But who will land the final strike?"
Everyone fell silent.
Christopher's sunglasses reflected the flames burning across the chamber.
"As you all know, the person who delivers the final blow will receive the monster-kill points."
He looked toward the Chimera's HP bar.
"That A-rank monster is worth 5 points."
Christopher smiled faintly.
"I believe all of us would like to claim those points."
The academy representatives looked at one another.
Distrust spread through the group,
Before anyone could answer, Arthur's voice came from behind them.
"Why don't we leave it to our skills?"
Everyone turned.
Their eyes widened.
No one had noticed Arthur approaching.
He stood behind the gathered teams, his katana resting casually against his shoulder.
"Whoever is quickest gets the points."
The academy representatives stared at him.
Arthur gave them a calm smile.
"I think all of you should start fighting now."
The Chimera suddenly turned.
Its crimson eyes locked onto the gathered students.
Then it charged.
ROAAAR!
Its serpent mouth opened.
A torrent of fire exploded from its throat.
Christopher's eyes widened.
"You bastard!"
Everyone scattered.
The flames tore through the place where the academy teams had been standing only moments earlier.
The students spread out around the Chimera.
Then they raised their weapons.
"Attack!"
Magic erupted throughout the chamber.
Fireballs.
Lightning spears.
Ice blades.
Wind slashes.
Illusionary attacks.
Earth spikes.
Mana arrows.
Curved blades glowing with desert magic.
Heavy weapons crashing into the monster's body.
The chamber instantly became a battlefield.
Christopher raised both hands.
Dark mana gathered around him.
"Dark Star Destruction."
Several black spheres appeared above him.
They spun rapidly before shooting toward the Chimera.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The attacks exploded against the monster's armored body.
The Chimera roared.
Its HP began dropping.
{HP: 85%}
Students from the other academies aimed for its weak points.
Its eyes.
Its exposed throat.
The joints in its legs.
The serpent heads.
The goat head.
Arrow after arrow struck its body.
Spells exploded across its fur and scales.
The Chimera became enraged.
Its serpent head opened wide.
Another wave of flames swept through the chamber.
Three students from Martial Star Academy were caught in the attack.
They screamed.
Their bodies dissolved into motes of light.
Eliminated.
The remaining students continued attacking.
They had no choice.
Ava and Eva stepped forward together.
Their mana began resonating.
A cold wind filled the chamber.
Their eyes glowed pale blue.
"Frozen World."
The temperature dropped violently.
Frost spread across the floor.
The Chimera tried to move.
But ice rapidly climbed over its massive legs.
The twins' spell froze the monster from the ground upward.
Its paws became trapped.
Its legs stiffened.
The Chimera roared and struggled.
But the ice held.
The Glacier Peak Academy students immediately seized the opportunity.
"Now!"
Several of them rushed forward.
Ice blades formed around their weapons.
They attacked the Chimera's right serpent eye.
Slash!
Pierce!
The attack struck directly.
The eye burst.
The Chimera screamed in pain.
It became blind in one eye.
Its HP bar dropped rapidly.
{HP: 20%}
Arthur watched from the edge of the battlefield.
His eyes moved toward Jasmine.
Then he raised his voice, "Everyone, concentrate your attacks on the monster!"
The students turned toward him.
"We cannot let anyone else get the crystal before us!"
Arthur pointed toward the pedestal.
"The crystal is protected by a spell. It can only be claimed after the boss monster dies!"
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"And that A-rank monster is worth 5 points!"
The greed in the students' eyes Intensified as they fight even more fiercely now.
Chapter 266: End of the treasure hunt (2)
Arthur's voice rang through the massive crystal chamber.
"Everyone, concentrate your attacks on the monster!"
The students from the arriving academies turned toward him.
"We cannot let anyone take the crystal before us!"
Arthur pointed toward the golden crystal resting on the pedestal behind the Chimera.
"The crystal is protected by a spell. It can only be claimed after the boss monster dies!"
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"Together with the 5 points this A-rank monster gives, this is the best chance any of us have!"
For a moment, the chamber fell silent.
Then a collective sense of relief spread through the gathered students.
Arthur's words made sense.
They had all seen the protective barrier surrounding the crystal. No matter how tempting it was, none of them could touch it while the Chimera remained alive.
More importantly, they did not doubt Arthur.
If he had been capable of stealing the crystal while the monster was distracted, he would have already done it.
Instead, Arthur had stayed in the fight.
He had gathered the academies together.
He had directed everyone's attention toward their true obstacle.
The Chimera.
With renewed determination, the academies attacked together.
The Infernal Chimera roared in fury.
Its massive body was covered in wounds.
Burn marks covered its golden fur, while ice clung to its legs.
Blood flowed from its blinded right eye.
Its main serpent head hissed wildly, while the goat head snapped at the air in pain.
But it was still fighting.
It continued breathing fire, swinging its massive claws, and whipping its scorpion tall with enough force to crush anyone caught in its path.
The students had no choice but to keep attacking.
Lumina Academy moved first.
Their students raised their hands.
Golden light gathered around their palms.
"Light Spear!"
Dozens of concentrated beams of holy light appeared in the air.
They shot toward the Chimera's remaining eye, throat, and front-leg joints.
Shh!
Shh!
Shh!
The spears struck their targets.
The Chimera roared.
Its vision blurred as the holy energy disrupted Its movements, slowing it down for a brief moment.
Martial Star Academy immediately seized the opening.
Their students rushed forward.
They did not rely on complicated spells.
They relied on their bodies.
Aura-enhanced fists slammed into the Chimera's legs.
Heavy kicks crashed against its ribs.
One student wearing reinforced gauntlets leaped toward its chest and punched with enough force to create a shockwave.
BOOM!
Another Martial Star student swung a massive hammer into the Chimera's damaged leg.
CRACK!
The monster stumbled.
Its HP bar dropped sharply.
[A-Rank Dungeon Boss: Infernal Chimera ]
[HP: 5%]
The Chimera roared in desperation.
Flames erupted from its mouth.
Its scorpion tall whipped through the air.
Its serpent head snapped toward every student who came
close.
The entire chamber descended into chaos.
Arthur watched the HP bar carefully.
The moment it reached 5%, he clapped his hands.
Clap!
"Ruby!"
A faint green light appeared behind one of the massive pillars.
Rubina emerged from her concealment.
The other students had not even realized she had been hiding there.
Her hands glowed brightly.
"Greater Restoration."
Warm green energy spread throughout the chamber.
The spell did more than heal injuries.
It restored stamina and recovered a portion of their mana.
A soft green aura wrapped around Arthur, Victor, Jasmine, and Evangline.
Their exhausted bodies suddenly felt lighter.
Their damaged mana circuits stabilized.
Their remaining mana reserves increased.
The other academies noticed the green glow surrounding Celestias Academy's team.
Then their eyes shifted toward the Chimera's nearly empty HP bar.
They immediately understood what was about to happen.
The final blow.
"The final strike!"
"Those 5 points belong to our academy!"
"Attack!"
Every academy moved at once.
Lightning arrows shot through the air.
Fire spells erupted from raised hands.
Wind blades sliced toward the Chimera's throat.
Students blurred forward with swords, axes, spears, and daggers raised.
Everyone wanted the final strike.
Everyone wanted the 5 points.
Lumina Academy launched another barrage of holy light.
Martial Star Academy rushed forward with reinforced fists and weapons.
Black Star Academy formed dark mana spells.
Glacier Peak Academy created ice blades around their weapons.
Every academy attacked with everything they had left.
Meanwhile, Ava and Eva had already begun moving toward the pedestal.
The twins were not interested in the monster anymore.
Their target was the crystal.
The moment the Chimera died, the protective spell would disappear.
They planned to seize the crystal before anyone else could react.
Then they would escape and take the first place and the 8 points that came with It.
They never suspected that Arthur had simply made all of it up.
Arthur had convinced them that the crystal itself could only be taken after the monster guarding it was defeated. Since the monster was an A-Rank creature, none of the students were actually expected to defeat it in the first place.
Everyone believed him because his story seemed to make sense. If there really had been no restriction preventing them from taking the crystal, Arthur would have simply taken it himself.
And that was exactly where they were wrong.
Arthur could have taken the crystal.
He simply hadn't wanted to.
The A-Rank monster had given him a huge number of points, and Arthur was far too greedy to leave those points behind. So, Instead, he had fabricated a believable lie and let everyone draw the wrong conclusion themselves.
It was a clever move.
No one realized just how greedy Arthur truly was.
Meanwhile Christopher's eyes narrowed.
'Hey, can you hear me?"
The mysterious voice inside his mind answered.
"What do you want, boy?"
'Give me more strength. More mana.'
Christopher stared at the Chimera.
'I will take those 5 points no matter what.'
The voice Inside Christopher's mind answered.
'Alright.'
Its tone was amused.
'But remember, you will have to pay me back'
Christopher gritted his teeth.
'Just do it, you bastard.
In the next instant, mana surged around his body.
A dark violet aura exploded outward.
His strength increased.
His mana capacity rose.
The restrictions of the Virtual Subspace weakened around him.
Christopher raised both hands.
"Void Sphere!"
A massive purple sphere materialized above him.
It spun violently, distorting the air around it and pulling dust and loose stones into its orbit.
Then Christopher unleashed it.
The Void Sphere shot toward the Chimera at blinding speed.
Christopher smiled.
"Those 5 points are mine,"
But his smile disappeared.
A massive ice wall suddenly rose between the Vold Sphere and the Chimera.
BOOM!
The Vold Sphere crashed Into the barrier.
The Impact shook the entire chamber.
Cracks spread across the ice.
But it held.
Then the dark sphere exploded.
BOOM!
The barrier shattered.
But the explosion had been stopped.
The Chimera remained unharmed.
Every student turned toward the person who had created the barrier.
Chapter 267: End of the Treasure
Hunt (3) Final
Jasmine stood near the center of the chamber.
Her hands were still raised.
Her face was pale.
Her mana was almost completely depleted.
But her eyes remained cold.
She had created an enormous ice barrier that covered nearly half the chamber.
Several students who had charged too close were caught within its range.
Frost climbed over their legs.
Ice wrapped around their weapons.
Some were completely trapped before they could react.
Jasmine slowly lowered her hands.
Her breathing was heavy.
Even the mana Rubina had restored had already been consumed.
"It is up to you guys now."
Evangline immediately saw the opening.
She raised her Desert Eagle.
Then she started firing.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Her bullets did not target the Chimera.
They targeted the attacks almed at it.
A lightning arrow exploded before reaching the monster.
A fireball was destroyed in mid-air.
A wind blade was intercepted.
A dark spell shattered.
Evangline precisely destroyed every attack that could have landed the final blow.
The chamber filled with explosions.
"That bitch is stopping us!"
"Take her down!"
"Kill Celestias Academy first!"
But Arthur and Victor had already moved.
Their bodies became blurs.
They sprinted toward the Chimera.
Using its frozen legs as footholds, they climbed toward its massive upper body.
The Chimera sensed them.
Its serpent head turned.
Its jaws opened.
Fire exploded outward.
Arthur and Victor immediately jumped apart.
The flames passed between them.
They landed on opposite sides of the Chimera's shoulders.
Mana gathered around both of them.
Victor's eyes became cold.
Ruler of Eclipse."
His talent activated.
The terrain beneath the Chimera shifted.
Massive black spikes erupted from the ground.
They pierced upward around the monster's legs and body, locking it in place.
The Chimera roared.
It struggled violently.
But the spikes held.
Victor raised his sword.
"Dark Sword, Fourth Form."
Darkness gathered around his body.
His skin seemed to melt into shadow.
A massive amount of dark mana wrapped around his blade.
"Shadow Severance"
Shh!
Victor swung.
The Chimera's goat head was cleanly severed from its shoulder.
Dark blood sprayed across the chamber.
The monster screamed.
Arthur watched Victor's technique.
Then his gaze shifted toward his own katana.
"Let's try this"
[F-Rank Talent: Imperfect Imitation is in use.]
Arthur tightened his grip.
Darkness gathered around him.
But it was deeper than the darkness surrounding Victor.
The shadows throughout the chamber began moving toward Arthur.
They wrapped around his body.
For a moment, he felt as though he had become one with the darkness itself.
Then his body vanished.
Arthur reappeared beside the Chimera's main serpent head.
His katana flashed.
Slash!
The blade cut cleanly through the serpent's neck.
The massive head flew through the air.
The Chimera released one final roar.
The sound shook the entire chamber.
Then its enormous body collapsed.
BOOM!
The monster crashed into the ground.
Its HP bar reached zero.
{A-Rank Dungeon Boss: Infernal Chimera Defeated. }
{5 points awarded to Celestias Academy for defeating an
A-rank monster.}
The chamber shook once again.
A massive gate appeared 50 meters away.
It led toward the only exit from the dungeon.
The gate began glowing brightly.
But Arthur barely noticed.
A new notification appeared before his eyes.
[Your understanding of shadows has increased.]
[Shadow System has reached Level 2.]
[Shadow Summoning Capacity has increased.]
[You can now summon 20 shadows.]
Arthur's eyes widened.
His Shadow System had leveled up.
His summoning capacity had increased.
But before he could think about it further, Victor looked toward him.
Victor's mouth hung slightly open.
He had seen Arthur copy Shadow Severance.
After watching the technique only once.
But Arthur had not merely copied it.
He had used it with an even deeper darkness.
Victor's eyes narrowed.
Arthur finally came back to his senses.
"This is not the time.!
He looked across the battlefield.
They still needed the crystal.
They still needed to escape.
They still needed to win.
"Victor. Evangline."
Arthur's voice became sharp.
"Cover me with whatever strength you have left."
They nodded.
Victor raised his sword.
Evangline loaded another modified magazine.
They Immediately moved to stop the other academies from reaching the pedestal.
Victor blocked the students attempting to approach the crystal.
Evangline fired at anyone who came too close.
Arthur's eyes shifted toward Ava and Eva.
The twins were already approaching the crystal.
They moved quickly.
Their hands were almost touching it.
Arthur ran.
But he did not run toward the crystal.
He ran toward Rubina.
She was still standing near the pillar where she had concealed herself.
Arthur stopped beside her.
"Ruby."
She looked toward him.
"As soon as I disappear, grab the crystal and run toward the exit."
Rubina blinked.
"What?"
Arthur pointed toward the glowing gate.
"Do it."
Then Arthur ralsed his voice.
"Everyone, head toward the exit now!"
Jasmine, Evangline, and Victor heard him.
They Immediately stopped fighting and ran toward the exit gate.
Christopher's eyes widened.
"Everyone, stop them!"
The other academies rushed forward.
But Arthur raised one hand.
Ice mana surged from his body.
A massive ice barrier erupted between the other academies and the exit.
The students crashed into it.
Some immediately tried to break through.
Others began casting spells.
But the barrier bought them the few seconds Arthur needed.
Victor, Jasmine, and Evangline reached the exit.
Rubina looked toward the pedestal.
Her expression became confused.
"But where is the crystal?"
Before she could think further, Arthur whispered.
"Blink"
[Blink has been activated.]
Swap.
Arthur vanished.
At the same Instant, the crystal vanished from the pedestal. In Arthur's place, the crystal appeared.
Rubina's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
She quickly grabbed the crystal.
Then she understood.
Arthur had swapped places with the crystal.
Rubina turned and immediately ran toward the exit.
Her teammates were already walting ahead.
Meanwhile, Ava and Eva's hands had been only inches away from the crystal.
Then it disappeared.
Arthur suddenly appeared before them instead.
His katana was already drawn.
Neither twin had enough time to react.
They could not block.
They could not retreat.
They knew they had lost.
But Arthur did not attack.
Instead, both twins suddenly fell into his arms.
One landed against his right side.
The other against his left.
"Eh?"
Both girls gasped.
Their eyes widened as they looked up at Arthur.
Arthur smiled.
Then his body vanished again, leaving behind only a faint blue trail.
"What just happened, Sister?" Eva asked.
Ava stared toward the exit.
"I have no idea, Sister"
The twins stood there in stunned silence.
They had failed to claim the monster-kill points.
They had falled to claim the crystal.
And somehow, Arthur had hugged both of them before disappearing.
Behind them, Christopher screamed.
"Nooooo!"
Meanwhile, Arthur and his team successfully passed through the exit gate.
The Golden Colosseum erupted with cheers.
Celestias Academy had claimed the first crystal.
And with it, the first major victory of the Inter-Academy Tournament.
Chapter 268: Fame
The moment Arthur and his team passed through the exit gate, the Virtual Subspace began dissolving around them.
The dark dungeon disappeared.
The ruined corridors vanished.
The smell of blood, smoke, fire, and damp stone faded away.
A moment later, Arthur, Victor, Evangline, Jasmine, and Rubina reappeared on the grand central stage of the Golden Colosseum.
For one second, the enormous arena fell completely silent.
More than 100,000 spectators stared at them.
The glant mana screens above the arena immediately replayed the final moments of the battle.
Arthur's team standing against the A-rank Chimera.
Evangline firing her modified thermal bullets.
Victor transforming the battlefield with his talent.
Jasmine raising her massive Ice barrier at the crucial moment.
Rubina restoring the team's stamina and mana from concealment.
Arthur and Victor climbing onto the Chimera before delivering the final blow.
And finally, Arthur using Blink to swap places with the crystal, allowing Rubina to take it and escape.
The audience had seen everything.
Then the Golden Colosseum exploded.
ARTHUR!"
"VICTOR!"
"EVANGLINE!"
"JASMINE!"
"RUBINA!"
The entire arena shook with cheers.
People jumped from their seats.
Students waved Celestias Academy banners while spectators screamed until their voices became hoarse.
The noise was so overwhelming that even the stone beneath Arthur's feet seemed to tremble.
The final battle had been unforgettable.
At first, it had seemed as though every academy would be forced to fight the A-rank Chimera alone.
Then the academies had formed a temporary alliance to bring the monster down.
But what truly made the match memorable was Celestias Academy's teamwork under Arthur's leadership.
Arthur had manipulated the other academies into taking the same route.
He had forced them into fighting the Chimera together.
He had kept Rubina hidden until the most important moment.
He had relied on Jasmine to stop the final attacks with her massive ice barrier.
He had created the opening Victor and he needed to land the final strike.
And when everyone turned toward the crystal, Arthur had
stolen it right from under Glacier Peak Academy's nose.
The audience loved every second of it.
They had watched the entire strategy unfold in real time.
Every move had been bold.
Every move had been risky.
And somehow, every move had worked.
The atmosphere Inside the arena became electric.
Rubina looked completely overwhelmed as thousands of people shouted her name.
Her face turned bright red.
Victor remained composed, but the faint pride in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Evangline happily waved toward the crowd with a bright grin.
Jasmine stood with her arms crossed, pretending that the applause did not matter to her.
Arthur, meanwhile, simply looked exhausted.
Inside another luxurious VIP box, some of the most powerful figures on the continent watched the celebration below.
The private room was reserved for rulers, dukes, heads of great families, guild leaders, and some of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
The Queen of the Ashford Empire sat near the front.
Several dukes from the Velmora Kingdom occupled nearby seats.
The heads of powerful noble families watched the arena
with sharp, evaluating eyes.
Among them was Oliver Blackthorn.
Victor's father sat with his arms crossed, his dark suit perfectly pressed.
His expression remained stern and composed, but his eyes never left his son.
Nearby sat Edgar Vale Valmont, the father of Julia and Aaron.
His massive martial artist's body barely fit inside the specially reinforced chair prepared for him.
Ravina Crown, Isabella's mother and the head of the Crown Family, sat beside Queen Ellana.
At the corner of the VIP box sat Eliana Ashford.
The Queen of the Ashford Empire.
She was also the mother of Evangline and Jasmine.
Her elegant expression remained composed, but the smile on her face grew brighter as she watched her daughters' performance.
Evangline's rapid shooting.
Jasmine's flawless ice barrier.
Their teamwork.
Their courage.
Ellana was clearly proud.
She simply did not say it aloud.
Then a middle-aged man beside her spoke.
"You seem quite pleased, Queen Eliana."
Oliver Blackthorn's voice was calm.
It seems your daughters have surpassed your expectations."
Ellana looked toward him with a smile.
"You look more pleased than I do, Oliver."
Her eyes shifted toward the arena.
"It seems your son Victor has surpassed your expectations as well."
Oliver's expression Immediately became serious.
He tried to hide his emotions.
"It was nothing special."
His voice was dry.
"As the heir to the Blackthorn Family, it was expected of him."
But nobody in the room belleved him.
The faint pride in his eyes gave him away.
A loud laugh suddenly came from across the table.
Edgar Vale Valmont leaned back in his reinforced chair.
"Are you all forgetting the name of that monstrous child?"
Everyone looked toward him.
Edgar's expression was filled with excitement.
"Arthur"
He shook his head.
"I cannot believe I am saying this, but that child is extraordinary."
His gaze returned to the arena.
"Almost more extraordinary than any child of his
generation."
Ravina Crown smiled.
"Lord Edgar is right."
She looked toward Arthur.
"Arthur was Incredible out there."
Her eyes shone with admiration.
"The way he manipulated the battlefield, used the other academies to his advantage, and adapted to every situation..."
Her smile widened.
"His Intelligence is simply remarkable."
Eliana nodded.
"I could not agree more."
Her voice was warm.
"That child is something else."
The others nodded in agreement.
Then Edgar's attention shifted toward a red-halred man sitting quletly in the corner.
Ryan Stromborn.
The Duke of the Velmora Kingdom.
The head of the Stormborn Family.
And the father of Damian and Diana.
"Do you not think the child is special too, Ryan?" Edgar asked.
Ryan looked toward Arthur.
Then he simply nodded.
He said nothing else.
Edgar laughed.
"A man of few words as always."
He turned his attention back toward the arena.
"I am curious to see how your son Damlan and daughter Diana perform in the upcoming matches."
Eliana looked toward Edgar.
"And what about your own children?"
Her smile became teasing.
"Julia and Aaron?"
Edgar sighed.
"To tell you the truth, most of my expectations are on Julia."
His gaze briefly shifted toward Aaron.
"Aaron's abilities are not that special."
Then Edgar looked toward the far side of the VIP room.
His voice became louder.
"I wish I had a son like Arthur."
The room grew quleter.
"I would never abandon him like those Imperius guys."
Edgar's eyes settled on Sylvia Evan Imperius.
"Isn't that right, Miss Sylvia?"
Everyone turned toward her.
Sylvia had been sitting quietly a short distance away.
She had not joined the conversation.
She had not spoken once.
Her golden hair rested over her shoulders, and her gaze remained fixed on Arthur below.
For a moment, nobody expected her to answer.
Then Sylvia slowly looked toward them.
"You are right, Lord Edgar."
Her voice was qulet but clear.
"I failed him as a mother."
The room fell silent.
Sylvia continued.
"And I admit that."
Her gaze returned to Arthur.
A warm, heartbroken smile appeared on her face.
"But I have learned my lesson."
She lowered her eyes slightly.
"I am simply happy for my child."
Her voice softened.
"For his growth."
She paused.
"Even if he hates me, I will continue to support him."
No one spoke.
They had not expected such words from Sylvia.
The cold matriarch of the Imperius Family.
The woman known for her distant personality and ruthless decisions.
Yet, as she looked at Arthur, there was no calculation in her eyes.
She was not looking at him as an asset.
Not as a problem.
But as her son.
Ellana looked toward Sylvia.
A soft smile appeared on her face.
"I am happy for you."
Sylvia quietly nodded.
Then someone unexpected spoke.
Ryan Stromborn.
"Is Adrian still trapped?"
His voice was calm.
"Getting beaten by his own child?"
The entire VIP box became silent.
Everyone waited for Sylvia's response.
Sylvia smiled faintly.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?"
A strange chill passed through the room.
At that exact moment, footsteps echoed outside the VIP
box.
Slow.
Heavy.
Controlled.
A terrifying pressure approached.
Then a chilling voice came from the entrance.
"I hope none of you missed me too much."
Every person in the VIP room turned.
A man stepped Inside.
Dark hair.
Amber eyes.
A tall, powerful body.
And an aura that Immediately made even the academy heads become alert.
Adrian Evan Imperius had arrived.
Edgar's eyes widened.
He could feel the terrifying pressure radiating from Adrian.
"I cannot believe it."
His body stiffened.
"That pressure..."
Edgar stared at Adrian in disbelief.
"He broke through to SSS-Rank"
The room froze.
Nobody spoke.
Adrian was free.
And he was stronger than before.
The man considered one of the most dangerous figures In the world had returned.
Before anyone could say anything else, the announcer's voice suddenly echoed throughout the Golden Colosseum.
It pulled everyone's attention back toward the stage.
.....
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
The announcer's excited volce rang across the arena.
"After that thrilling battle and the first massive victory of Celestias Academy, please give them another huge round of applause!"
The crowd erupted once again.
Cheers filled the Golden Colosseum.
The announcer walked toward Arthur.
"Mr. Arthur, would you like to give a victory speech?"
He held the microphone toward Arthur.
"How did you come up with such brilliant plans?"
Arthur stared at the microphone.
Then he shook his head.
"No way in hell"
The entire Colosseum fell silent.
Arthur simply turned around and began walking away.
The announcer remained standing there, completely stunned.
For a second, the audience did not know how to react.
Then laughter exploded throughout the arena.
Arthur ignored them.
He stretched his arms.
"Let's head back to the meeting room."
He looked toward his team.
"I am tired."
Victor, Evangline, Jasmine, and Rubina followed him.
They entered one of the long corridors leading away from
the central stage.
But they did not get far.
A white-haired woman suddenly stepped in front of them.
The tournament manager.
Arthur sighed.
"Professor, what Is It now?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"I am exhausted. Please let me go."
The white-haired woman smiled brightly.
"Our stars of the show?"
Her smile became mischievous.
"Not that easily."
Behind Arthur, students from the other academies were also making their way through the corridor toward their assigned meeting rooms.
The white-haired manager looked around at all of them.
Then she raised her voice.
"Do you not all want to see your scores?"
Her words immediately caught everyone's attention.
The corridor fell silent.
Every student turned toward her.
The tournament manager smiled.
"Let's see who is actually leading the Treasure Hunt."
Chapter 269: The Points Table
The white-haired woman's words Immediately captured everyone's attention.
Even though they already knew that first place had slipped from their grasp-and with it, the massive advantage that came with winning the first match-they still wanted to know how they had performed.
They could have simply walted for the announcer to reveal the results to the entire Colosseum.
But none of them wanted that.
After everything they had experienced Inside the Virtual Subspace, the last thing they wanted was to stand in the middle of more than 100,000 spectators and become the center of attention again. They had already endured more than enough attention for one day.
However, the white-haired woman had stopped them before they could even return to their respective meeting rooms.
She seemed determined to show them the results herself.
The professor looked around at their reactions, clearly enjoying their curiosity.
Then, without warning, she began clapping.
Clap-Clap-Clap.
Her applause echoed through the quiet hallway.
A strange, almost sadistic smile appeared on her face.
"That is how a Treasure Hunt match should be played!"
Her voice carried through the hallway.
"You have to be bold and brave if you want to achieve
victory."
Before anyone could react, her figure suddenly disappeared.
In the next Instant, she reappeared directly beside Arthur.
She leaned slightly toward him and reached out toward his face.
Arthur's expression instantly hardened.
His hand shot forward and caught her wrist before she could touch him.
His crimson eyes narrowed as he stared at her with a stern expression.
The professor looked at his hand around her wrist, then back at his face.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Jasmine and Victor, who were standing beside Arthur, exchanged confused glances.
They clearly had no idea what was going on with this woman.
The professor eventually smiled and stepped back.
Arthur released her wrist.
She casually adjusted her sleeve as though nothing had happened.
Her strange expression disappeared, and her usual cheerful demeanor returned.
"I am impressed," the professor said.
Her words immediately drew everyone's attention again.
"You could have taken the crystal without defeating the boss monster"
She paused.
"But you chose not to."
A collective gasp spread through the students.
One of the students from Royal Knight Academy Immediately stepped forward.
"W-What does that mean?"
Confusion filled his voice.
"Wasn't there a spell cast on the crystal that prevented anyone from taking it until the boss monster was killed?"
The professor stared at him.
For a brief moment, there was complete silence.
Then-
"Pfttt..."
Her shoulders began to tremble.
"Heheheheh..."
The professor suddenly burst into laughter.
The students stared at her in confusion.
Arthur remained completely expressionless, his crimson eyes fixed on her.
"Spell?" the professor finally managed to say between laughs. "Is that what he told you?"
Arthur's expression didn't change.
His teammates, however, looked just as confused as the other students.
The professor wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes and finally managed to calm herself.
"There was no such spell cast on the crystal."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The professor allowed the statement to sink in before continuing.
"The A-Rank monster with that enormous health bar was never meant to be defeated."
The students' expressions slowly changed.
"The reason it was worth 5 points was precisely because defeating it was considered practically Impossible for students whose physical abilities had been restricted."
She gestured toward the direction of the Virtual Subspace.
"The actual objective was much simpler."
"The teams were supposed to distract the monster away from the pedestal, steal the crystal, and escape through the dungeon's exit."
She smiled.
"That alone would have been enough to secure victory."
Nobody spoke.
The hallway had fallen completely silent.
The professor's smile widened.
"So, in conclusion..."
She looked around at the students.
"You all have been had by him!"
The moment those words left her mouth, the students' expressions turned grim.
They finally understood what had happened.
They had believed Arthur's claim that the crystal was
protected by a spell.
At the time, his explanation had seemed completely reasonable.
After all, the A-Rank Chimera had been standing directly beside the crystal.
If the crystal could simply be taken, then why hadn't someone already taken It?
None of them had possessed enough time to verify Arthur's claim.
Instead, they had trusted his words and Immediately joined the fight against the boss monster.
They had risked their lives.
They had exhausted their mana.
They had used their strongest abilities.
All to defeat a monster they had never actually needed to kill.
Only now did they realize the truth.
They had fallen directly Into Arthur's trap.
'So he used all of us to defeat a boss monster that wasn't even meant to be defeated...
'Just to get those 5 points?"
The realization made several students feel both foolish and furious.
Christopher's face darkened.
"Damn this bastard!"
His voice echoed through the hallway.
The other students could only stand there in disappointment.
It was a hard pill to swallow.
They had been completely manipulated, and there was nothing they could do about it anymore.
Arthur, however, didn't seem particularly Interested in their frustration.
"Forget these fools."
He glanced toward the professor.
"Show us the points. I'm more Interested in seeing how far ahead we are."
His words Immediately shifted everyone's attention toward the results.
The white-haired professor smiled.
Without saying a word, she raised her wrist and tapped the watch-like device attached to it.
Beep.
A faint pulse of mana spread through the hallway.
A massive holographic screen materialized in the center of the room.
The students Instinctively looked up.
Moments later, the results appeared.
[MATCH 1: POINTS TABLE!]
#1 CELESTIAS ACADEMY-19 POINTS
#2 BLACK STAR ACADEMY-7 POINTS
#3 GLACIER PEAK ACADEMY - 4 POINTS
#4 MARTIAL STAR ACADEMY-4 POINTS
#5 LUMINA ACADEMY-4 POINTS
#6 CHERRY BLOSSOM ACADEMY - 4 POINTS
#7 MIRAGE CROWN ACADEMY - 3 POINTS
#8 RAVEN ACADEMY-2 POINTS
#9 STORMVEIL ACADEMY - 2 POINTS
#10 THE IRON FORTRESS ACADEMY-1 POINT
A hush immediately fell over the hallway.
Every student stared at the holographic ranking.
For several seconds, nobody sald a word.
Then, one by one, their eyes widened.
Celestias Academy had taken the top position with an overwhelming 19 points.
Black Star Academy followed in second place with only 7 points.
Glacier Peak Academy and Martial Star Academy had 4 points each.
Lumina Academy and Cherry Blossom Academy also had 4 points each.
Mirage Crown Academy had 3 points, while Raven Academy and Stormveil Academy had only 2 points each.
At the very bottom was Iron Fortress Academy with just 1 point.
But the number that shocked everyone the most was the gap between first and second place, 12 points.
A difference that was enormous after only a single match.
Christopher stared at the screen in disbelief.
W-What?"
His eyes widened.
"How can the difference be so huge?"
The white-haired professor slowly turned her gaze toward him.
Her smile disappeared.
Instead, she gave him a cold glare.
"Ask yourself that after giving such a pathetic performance."
Christopher's expression stiffened.
The professor crossed her arms.
"You should learn a thing or two from Arthur."
Christopher's face darkened even further.
Arthur, meanwhile, simply stared at the professor.
There was something about this woman that made him uncomfortable.
'For some reason... she's giving me the creeps!
The System's volce suddenly echoed inside his mind.
[Me too, Host.]
Arthur's eyebrow twitched.
He didn't even bother responding.
"Let's leave."
He turned around and began walking away.
His teammates followed him without hesitation.
Behind them, the other students remained where they were, silently staring at the points table.
Some looked disappointed.
Others looked frustrated.
A few simply lowered their heads, clearly unhappy with how their respective academies had performed.
The first match had already created a significant gap between the academies.
And now, everyone understood that the competition would only become more Intense from this point onward.
Every academy would have to bring their best in the next match if they wanted to close the gap.
Meanwhile, the white-haired professor remained where she was.
Her eyes stayed fixed on Arthur and his group as they walked farther down the hallway.
A faint smile slowly returned to her face.
She continued watching them until they finally disappeared from sight.
A/N:- Guys, the chapter order I updated ahead is wrong, but once it's done, the word count becomes a problem, and fixing it can mess things up even more. So, you'll have to unlock the chapters based on their chapter numbers rather than the order in which they are lined up.
Sorry for the inconvenience.