The exam would be held just beyond the city's western walls, where ruins stretched across the land. Between the walls and the ruined grounds rose a cathedral, perched atop a small hill.
Unlike most of the shattered buildings in the exam zone, this cathedral had survived both time and catastrophe.
Inside the cathedral, the Union higher-ups and powerhouses gathered while the audience, examinees, and Union members were outside.
At the entrance of the cathedral, the examinees registered and received numbered handbands.
In the midst of the crowd of more than a hundred examinees, Rhen and the rest huddled together after completing their registration.
Four of them received consecutive handbands numbered 62–65, while Lilac's was 34.
Oscar, with Rhen's support, devised this strategy to introduce Lilac – a newcomer from afar drawn to their group by their strength.
It was not impossible – Oscar and Nina had outstanding Talents, and although the world was yet to know, so did Rhen. Only Einar, their friend who hadn't awakened, was an outlier.
They had all gathered here strategically to make their encounter with Lilac seem natural.
Rhen scrutinized all his friends, taking note of them.
Nina, a B-rank Talent specializing in agility, carried a one-handed longsword with a black hilt, white guard, and dark orange blade. Her stoic face betrayed no emotion, though Rhen imagined her quietly planning how to kill everyone present.
Oscar, clad in leather armor with twin shortswords strapped to his back, stood with his eyes closed – either calming his nerves or mapping the battlefield in his head.
Lilac, her beastman traits hidden beneath a cap and skirt, was going to rely on her Talent rather than weapons.
And then there was Einar, tall and broad, his bright orange hair and complementary blue eyes impossible to miss.
Despite being the weakest on paper, he brimmed with confidence as he chatted at Nina about the other examinees.
The longsword looked plain, but Rhen had bought it for him from the Enma System for 120,000 En, hoping the enhancements of the Rank 3 longsword gave him an advantage.
'Yeah. He has dedicated more of his life to training than I have – he'll definitely be fine.'
Pushing the thought aside, Rhen noticed the registration was about to end and said:
"There's no grand plan. The average amount of points needed for qualification is 175 points, so aim for 200. I won't appreciate any one of us falling behind.
"Einar, Oscar, you two will stick together. Nina, Lilac, and I will move alone. Oscar will be keeping watch over all of us, so if you need help, raise your hand to your head and we'll regroup under his lead."
Einar was the first to speak with a laugh.
"Rhen, are you still underrating me? Don't be so conceited just because you became a bit taller and stronger. You should worry about not falling behind my awesomeness too much."
Oscar sighed. "I'll watch him. I trust the others too, but will you be okay?"
Oscar wasn't sure how Rhen had become so strong, and he didn't want to ask.
Still, he needed to be certain Rhen could handle himself—especially with the risk of being attacked.
Rhen waved it off dismissively.
"I'm way stronger than you think. And Einar," he smirked, making Einar shiver slightly. "Anyways, they're about to start the briefing."
At the same time, someone stood at the grand entrance, gazing down at the crowd below.
The person was dressed in normal clothes, but had the blue handband with the Union's logo.
"The rules are simple: survive for three hours. The twenty examinees with the highest points will qualify.
"E-rank monsters are worth 1 point, D-ranks 3, C-ranks 5, B-ranks 10, A-ranks 20. Eliminating another examinee will earn you 15 points.
"Your handbands, and those attached to the monsters, are proof of your score. Return them intact."
Most people were already familiar with the general rule of the exam so there were no questions.
"Without any further ado, the exam begins."
As the man declared, images of the different parts of the exam field appeared in the courtyard, pulling the attention of the audience.
Meanwhile, immediately after the declaration, the examinees ran out of the courtyard toward the wide expanse that had been marked as the exam field.
Lilac, Nina and Einar had also moved, leaving behind the remaining two.
Noticing Oscar, Rhen said, "At this rate, you'll lose Einar."
Looking towards the cathedral second floor, Oscar replied, "I doubt that. After all… nothing escapes my eyes."
Intrigued, Rhen followed Oscar's gaze, eventually leading to a smirk.
Standing behind a dark window on the second floor was a boy of similar age to Rhen.
His green eyes were locked on Rhen with unconcealed malice.
The boy mouthed, "You are dead."
'Ah, nobody taught him manners? Oh wait, I led the only person that could teach him to death.'
Rhen scratched his head slightly and shrugged.
'It's not like that guy could teach good manners.'
Turning around, Rhen said to Oscar, "I guess we should expect something."
Oscar followed behind, rubbing the bridge between his eyes.
"I'm having second thoughts," he muttered.
He was about to ask Rhen if they could reconsider and plan more, but Rhen had already taken off.
He walked down the stairs on the hill, steeling his resolve.
He was scared. Of the exams. Of battles. Of bloodshed.
That was why, despite having a strong Talent, he didn't join any organization knowing that he would be used in ways he didn't like.
But Oscar was inspired by Rhen and if he could support this individual, he believed he would find a place where he still had freedom.
Slapping his two cheeks, Oscar cursed bitterly and chased after Einar.
- - -
In the old cathedral's main hall."
The officials were talking amongst themselves, with a display of the exam in the background.
One of the five fangs of the Union sat alone, swirling a drink as he watched Rhen enter the exam grounds.
His underling, Jake, had his eyes on this boy and he wondered how Jake would handle it.
He didn't have any problem with it – Rhen had once indirectly crossed this man by bringing down Jake's brother.
What this man didn't know was that this would play out in ways he did not expect.