Chapter: Aftermath of the Final Round
(Alastair's POV)
Alastair stood quietly at the edge of the virtual battlefield as chaos unraveled before him. Ryu was a blur, his sword vanishing from sight entirely—only a faint afterimage of crimson arcs lingered in the air. One by one, glowing red lines danced across the bodies of the main cast, their bodies reacting a second too late to what had already ended.
[Hell Waltz elimination]
A technique that didn't allow room for thought, for breath, for survival.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Then, a soft chime.
[Final Round Concluded]
And everything went dark.
Silence..
Then
Hisssss...
A slow hiss broke the silence as the capsule's locking mechanism disengaged. Thin tendrils of nerve wires detached from his spine and arms, retreating back into the machine with a faint metallic click.
The capsule lid opened with a gentle whirr.
Light poured in.
Alastair blinked, adjusting. Slowly, he sat up and stepped out, boots pressing against the cold floor of the exam hall.
He took a moment,scanning the space.
Most of the VR capsules were empty now.
Examination hall was also mostly empty.
Out of the two hundred-plus students who was present in beginning of examination, barely fifty remained in examination hall, conscious and upright.
All of missing student had been sent to the infirmary. The academy staff still worked fast, moving between the pods, checking vitals, carrying stretchers. Most students had collapsed from the trauma of experiencing a simulated death. It wasn't uncommon—pain, even fake, leaves an impression on the mind.
Let alone students, who experienced vr world for first time.
He can tell that those who stood in hall were not truly unaffected, some students was rubbing there necks or other part of body still thinking about there virtual injuries.
His eyes moved again scanning the hall.
Then he saw, a blonde haired boy.
Leon Valerius. On a stretcher.
No visible injuries. Just unconscious. Two medical staff members wheeled him away. Selena Vale blonde haired commener saintess stood just outside her capsule, still in her exam uniform. Her brows were knitted tight, worry dancing across her face.
She wanted to run after him. Alastair could tell, anyone could tell. Her eyes followed the stretcher, body tense like a bowstring drawn tight. But the academy rules were strict. No student was allowed to leave until dismissed—unless they were injured or unconscious.
His gaze moved again.
Rael Thunderfang, golden fured tiger beastkin stood at side of hall. A white haired and blue eyed wolf girl,Lyria Starfang stood nearby. Rael's fists were clenched so tight his knuckles had turned white, his face twisted with frustration.
"I couldn't even land a single hit." Rael murmured, voice low, shoulders shaking.
Lyria gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You did your best," she said softly, though her eyes betrayed her anxiety.
On the far side, Evelyn, Morganna, and Elaine stood close. Their expressions were unreadable, but their posture was tense. Morganna was quiet for once, her usually sharp tongue sheathed.
Dain was pacing in front of Cassandra, talking animatedly.
"I'm telling you, it was impossible. That guy wasn't just fast—he bent space or something. There's no way he should be that fast at E-rank!"
Cassandra wasn't listening. Her red eyes were elsewhere, scanning the hall. She looked like she was searching for something—or someone.
Kieran leaned against the wall, arms folded, his normally cocky expression replaced by something grim.
Lunara and Veylen stood apart, their silver hair and red always slightly removed them from the rest.
Lunara was staring at Ryu.
No, not just staring. Watching.
Her lips curled into an amused smile, though the emotion behind it was anything but joy.
It was something deeper.
A twisted sort of amusement danced in her eyes.
Ryu, for his part, stood on the other side of the hall, arms crossed, leaning against his capsule like this was just another day. No trace of fatigue. No guilt. Just that calm face with his purple eyes scanning the room, daring anyone to speak. In his own world as if he hadn't crushed strongest students from first year alone.
Not only lunara but several other gaze was directed at him.
Some filled with fear, other with frustration or awe.
Students and professors alike.
After all now he had shown his strength. Not only did he fight strongest students all alone, he crushed them.
But why now? Why did he hold back before?
Orignaly in game this was explained as.
Ryu is the last heir of heavenly demon sect, escaped with part of or what was left of the heavenly demon devine sect. After the dismiss of sect by its enemys.
He and other suriving members moved to Aurelian Empire. Staying low.
He joined academy to grow strong while staying low, gathering the strength in shadows.
But now he had shown his strength to whole academy.
The reason? Resources.
If he had decided to stay low key. He had to miss on resources, limiting his growth.
Which is against his goal of joining academy to grow stronger.
Breaking my thoughts, a commanding voice rang out.
"Students."
Everyone turned.
Professor Selena Loventic stood on the high platform reserved for instructors. Her red hair flowing like molten lava, golden eyes scaning the crowd and pristine black robes rippled slightly as she descended the steps, hands clasped behind her back.
She was the very image of beauty and composure.
"Congratulations on completing the final round of the entrance examination."
Her golden eyes scanned the gathered survivors.
"What you have experienced today was not only a test of strength, but of will. You all have done well."
She stopped near the front of the hall, folding her arms.
"You may now return to your dormitories. Rankings will be revealed tomorrow morning at the Lecture Hall. Until then, rest. You have earned it."
The students stood silent for a moment.
Then slowly, the tension broke.
Pairs and small groups began murmuring and moving toward the exit. A few lingered. Some, like Rael, took a few seconds longer to accept their defeat.
Alastair turned without a word.
He walked toward the exit at his own pace, black boots echoing softly on the marble floor.
***
The sun had begun to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the stone pathways of the Grand Arcanum Academy.
Rael and Selena finally rushed toward the infirmary wing.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Selena asked, her voice tight.
Rael didn't answer right away.
"He is built like a truck and He's strong. He is gonna be ok."
Selena brows frowned "what do mean by build like truck?"
To be continued...