The students stood to attention, watching Torvane Ironglass deliver a short speech calmly.
His deep voice carried through the halls.
"I understand that you have all already passed tests to be selected for this academy... but I will be taking that further."
The students stirred slightly, but no one dared to speak.
After all, they were aware of Torvane and what he was capable of.
His name had spread throughout the human countries and had even stretched as far as the elf lands.
All were aware of the many heinous crimes he had committed.
No One knew that he was no longer the same man, but rather the indie game dev, Alvin.
"This test is simple. As you all know, our academy is located on the face of Hades Volcano. Inside, there are ten floors, each of which acts as a dungeon. Today at midnight, you will all spend an hour on the first floor. Those that survive will be accepted into the academy."
Silence followed, but Torvane could sense the urge to speak on many of the students' faces.
He let out a sigh. "Any questions?"
Instantly, hands shot up around the room. They mostly came from the weaker kids, whose names he didn't even know.
"Yes?"
"What sort of monsters can we expect on the first floor?"
"Nothing too difficult. Though if you traverse too close to the staircase leading to the second floor, you could run into the floor guardian, which is ranked high silver."
The students shuddered, but there were still more questions.
"Will there be professors in the volcano with us, to make sure we're safe?"
"No. If you fail, you die. Similar to the war against the elves. Next?"
"Can we bring whatever items we like?"
"Yes, I suggest you all bring fire resistance potions. There is an alchemy lab on the academy's third floor."
...
After he had answered all the questions, he dismissed the students.
Some lingered, speaking about the upcoming trial, whilst others ran off to prepare.
Torvane left shortly afterwards, heart rate slightly faster than usual.
Torvane Ironglass, the Villain, was used to committing acts of evil. However, Alvin the game dev was not.
What he planned to do was unforgivable by his standards, but it was necessary if he wanted to survive.
So, he left the academy and made his way up the pathway towards the volcano's peak.
It was time to set a trap like his life depended on it.
---
Hades Volcano was nothing like your average, hollow Volcano.
Instead, it acted more like a cave system. Once entering the narrow top, it would open up to a large cave-like space, crawling with low-tier monsters and items.
Like a regular dungeon, there were many routes you could take, but only one would lead to the second floor.
However, there were other routes of equal importance. Routes that could potentially lead to rare items.
That was how Torvane planned to set his trap for Elyis.
Torvane Ironglass had an incredibly rare talent, [Triunal Affinity]. This meant that he had an affinity towards all three base elements, granting him a +50% efficiency when wielding them.
This as well as the fact that he has the following skills:
Advanced Fire Manipulation (8/10)
Intermediate Air Manipulation (UPGRADE!)
Intermediate Water Manipulation (4/10)
Makes him an incredible mage, especially for a high-gold rank.
These levels of element manipulation granted the user the ability to cast many differenct spells; however, they also allowed them to have general control over the elements, controlling them to their will.
The higher their skill rank, the better their manipulation of the element was.
Of course, to use these elements, they also had to have a level of mana manipulation that was higher than the type of element manipulation they hoped to use.
Torvane was already a Master Mana Manipulator, so he didn't need to worry about that for now.
As he stood at a dead end on the first floor, untroubled by the monsters due to his rank, he started planting his trap.
From his pockets, he pulled out a handful of Demonseeds. A rare consumable found only on floors four and below in Hades Volcano.
Elyis was an elf, which meant that her senses were enhanced. With this, she would smell the seeds, and her curiosity would draw her right to his dead end.
All he had to do was hide here and wait for the professors to announce the beginning of the test.
---
Midnight...
Torvane hid inside a shrub of devilgrass. He had used a simple air spell to mask his scent.
In the distance, he heard all sorts of sounds.
Chatter.
Screams of pain.
Swords tearing into monster flesh.
Spells being cast.
Some of the students would be surviving well on the first floor, whilst others would sadly lose their lives.
Torvane found it strange that he didn't care much for either. In his mind, this was for the greater good.
His survival.
Tap Tap Tap
His chest suddenly tightened at the sound of approaching footsteps.
They were the only pair that was heading towards the secret dead end.
He had to hope that they belonged to his target.
However, he did not need to hope for long, because soon his death sense kicked into action, slightly draining his mana by the second.
He peeked his head out of the shrub, and there she was.
Elyis Lightknot.
Her blonde hair fell over her serious face as her eyes scanned the ground. Her white robes covered her entire body, but on her hip was a visible steel sword.
Almost there...
Finally, Elyis found the demonseeds.
She crouched to the ground and lifted one, bringing it to her nostrils to smell.
After a few sniffs, her face crumpled up.
"How did these even get here—"
Her words were cut off.
Torvane rose from the shrub and activated his mana veins. In an instant, a blue casting circle formed in the air in front of him, sending a wave of water towards Elyis.
The water moved too fast for her to react.
Before the water could crash into her, another summoning circle formed in front of Torvane's outstretched hands.
This time, it was an orange circle that spat flames hotter than lava. They roared towards the water creating a sharp sizzling sound that produces a thick cloud of smoke and mist.
Elyis choked, before trying to react. Elves often had an enhanced movement, innate to their race, but even that wasn't enough.
Before she could escape from the smoke, Torvane outstretched his hands further, clenching his fists, and dragging his arms in a circular motion.
The mist and smoke that formed around Elyis began to swirl at speeds so high, that their temperature and pressure rose dangerously.
Torvane's air control was Intermediate. Strong enough to pull off such a feat.
A current of rotating air pressure formed around the elf, trapping her in a bubble of constantly swirling pressure.
She tried to dive through, but was only repelled away.
Torvane felt his mana veins draining, but only slightly.
[Mana: 6500/7900]
[Technique Used: Steam Sphere Prison]
[Intermediate Air Manipulation Increased!]
[Advanced Air Manipulation Achieved!]
Just like that, he had captured the woman that was out for his head.