A few seconds after vanishing from the exam arena in a flash of light, Jericho and the other successful candidates reappeared in a new location.
They found themselves standing in front of a massive stone fortress that loomed like a monument to war. The building resembled a castle, built from ancient gray stones veined with moss.
Jagged spires pierced the sky, and steel-reinforced gates stood at least thirty feet tall. The land around it was empty. There were no towns or villages nearby, just an empty field of wind-blown earth and blackened trees. The place was located in the middle of nowhere.
Before the stunned crowd of candidates stood the familiar figure of the announcer, his flowing dark robe fluttering in the wind. Hovering just in front of his mouth was the glowing magic cube that amplified his voice as he spoke.
"You all have been selected and officially admitted into the Demon Slayer Academy," the announcer declared, his voice booming with solemn weight. "And for the next three years, this place will be your home."
A few candidates looked at each other uneasily, while others beamed with pride. The announcer paused for a moment, then continued with his speech.
"You will undergo brutal training to prepare you for the impending war against the demos," the announcer continued, his tone sharpening. "We urge you all to give it your all."
As the words left the announcer's mouth, a low wave of murmurs swept through the crowd. Jericho stared up at the towering walls of the academy, looking at the place he would be spending the next three years of his life.
"We finally made it," Cody said, his eyes wide with awe as he took in the beauty of the towering fortress before them. "Let's give it our all."
Jericho nodded slowly, his gaze locked on the massive building before him. "I plan to," he replied in a low, steady voice.
After giving them a moment to take everything in, the announcer turned and began walking toward the massive doors of the building. Without needing to be told, the newly admitted candidates followed closely behind him, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls as they entered the grand hallway of the academy.
As they walked, the announcer's voice carried over the soft murmurs of awe.
"You will each be assigned to a room suited to your size and needs," he began, his voice calm. "Take a look at the badges you were handed earlier. You'll notice the numbers on them have changed. These new numbers are your room assignments. Each room is large enough to house three individuals that will be chosen at random."
He paused, allowing a few seconds for the students to check their badges.
"Breakfast will be delivered to your dorms every morning. Lunch and dinner, however, will be served in the academy cafeteria. Be sure not to miss meals. Your training will be demanding, and your bodies will need the fuel."
Eventually, the group reached a separate wing of the building. The corridor here was quieter and narrower, lined with large wooden doors set into the stone walls. Each of the doors was marked with a number above it, which was the room number.
"This is your dormitory wing," the announcer said. "Find your room and get settled in. Tomorrow, you will be evaluated and assigned to classes, as well as the attributes most suited to your natural abilities."
After delivering the final announcement, the announcer turned on his heel and walked away in silence, the sound of his boots fading into the distance. The candidates were left standing in the wide corridor, glancing around at the numbered doors lining the walls.
Cody turned quickly to Jericho, hoping to be assigned the same room as Jericho. "What room did you get, dude?"
Jericho looked down at the badge in his hand and noticed that the numbers had indeed changed. "Room ten," he said, raising a brow. "You?"
Cody blinked, then broke into a wide grin. "No way," he said, the happiness in his voice visible. "Same here! I got room ten too! Looks like we're roomies. Fate must want us to be best of friends."
Jericho gave a small, surprised smile. "Yeah, you can say that."
"Hell yeah!" Cody clapped him on the shoulder. "This is awesome. I was really hoping we'd be in the same room."
Their conversation was interrupted by the chatter of other candidates calling out their room numbers, scrambling through the hallway in search of their assigned dorms.
"Come on," Cody said. "Let's check it out."
Soon, Cody and Jericho reached the door labeled Room Ten. The door was a dark wooden slab carved with intricate patterns.
Cody didn't hesitate, and with a swift motion, he turned the handle and pushed the door open.
As they entered the room, Cody and Jericho were stunned by the interior of the room. The room was larger than either of them had expected. It was spacious, with smooth stone walls polished to a subtle shine.
On the far end of the room, three beds were mounted along the walls, each adorned with thick woolen blankets that were neatly arranged.
At the center of the room stood a round table with three chairs for each of them, and against the far wall, a large window overlooked the dense forest beyond the academy grounds.
At the side of the room, a wooden door led into their shared bathroom. It was spacious and well-furnished, complete with polished stone floors, a steaming hot spring pool, and all the essentials they needed for their daily use.
"Woah," Cody breathed, stepping in and jumping on the nearest bed. "This is way nicer than I expected."
Jericho followed behind, his sharp eyes scanning every corner of the room. "Yeah… this feels more like a noble's quarters than a dorm."
Each bed had a small chest at its foot and a rune-carved wardrobe beside it. Everything was pristine and untouched.
Cody looked around, his wide grin still playing on his lips. "Who do you think our third roommate will be?" Cody asked.
"Don't know, but I really hope it's not Drake."
Before Cody could say a word, the soft creak of the door swinging open drew both of their attention. Their heads turned in unison toward the entrance, watching quietly as the third roommate entered the room.
The moment the figure stepped through the doorway, both Cody and Jericho froze where they stood. Their third roommate was none other than the white-haired elf from the arena, the one who had effortlessly crushed his opponent and copied Drake's ability like it was child's play.
Without so much as a glance in their direction, the elf walked past Cody and Jericho in complete silence. He slowly approached the third bed and, with precise movements, unbuckled a sheath from his hip.
Strapped to his waist was a long, elegant blade. Its scabbard was wrapped in black silk and bound with silver runes. During the entrance exam, neither Jericho nor Cody had even noticed that he was carrying a weapon because he didn't use it during his fight.
As the elf settled into the room, the air was heavy with silence. The only sound was the soft rustle of fabric as he laid his sheath carefully across the bed. Jericho sat on the edge of his bed, cautiously watching him in silence.
The silence in the room was soon broken when Cody walked over to the elf to introduce himself. Wearing a wide grin on his face, Cody approached the elf confidently.
"Hey," Cody said with a smile. "I'm Cody. Looks like we're going to be roommates. What's your name?"
The elf boy didn't reply to Cody. He didn't even turn to look at him. He simply set his blade aside and, without saying a word, walked out of the room and into the hallway.
Jericho exhaled quietly as the door closed behind him. It was clear the elf wasn't one for small talk.
"Looks like he's not much of a talker," Cody said, turning to Jericho.
"Yeah, I noticed," Jericho replied.
"Well, I'm going to take a quick stroll around, get to know the place. You coming?" Cody asked Jericho.
Jericho considered it. He did want to explore the academy, but the weight of the day had caught up with him. He was very exhausted, and the night had already fallen.
"Nah, I'm good," he said with a small shake of his head.
"Suit yourself. I'm out of here," Cody said, and with that, he turned and left the room.
Without wasting a beat, Jericho collapsed onto the bed. The mattress welcomed him like an old friend. It was soft, warm, and far more comfortable than anything he had ever known.
As he sank deeper into the mattress, a thought crossed his mind. He suddenly remembered the system and realized that he hadn't checked it since the combat test.
The moment the thought registered, a soft chime echoed in his ears, and the familiar glowing screen popped up before his eyes, displaying his current stats.
[Stat Tab.]
[Strength: Ten.]
[Speed & Agility: Ten.]
[Stamina: Ten.]
[Endurance: Five.]
After showing him his stats tab, the screen shifted and displayed another tab.
[Point Tab.]
[Health Points: Ten.]
[Magic Points: Ten.]
[Experience Points: Eight.]
After reviewing his stats, Jericho dismissed the screen with a quiet thought and let his body fully relax. Within moments, he drifted into a deep and peaceful sleep.