The cheers of the audience outside were deafening, and real-time comments on the Imperial Star Network flooded the screen.
Yet in front of the teleportation array of the Abyssal Simulation Domain, an unusual silence prevailed.
Linus, a Star-Ranked Mentor from Imperial Contract Academy, held a silver tray and handed a rhomboid crystal to each contestant. "Contractors from the nine academies, I am Linus, the chief referee of this challenge battle."
"You will be teleported to the Abyssal Simulation Domain, the Shadow Abyssal Rift. This place replicates the prototype of the empire's only proactive battlefield."
"Allow me to introduce it to those unfamiliar with this place.
The Shadow Abyss is an abyssal rift suppressed beneath the imperial capital, and it is the only battlefield where our Arcana Empire takes the initiative to launch offensives."
"Within this abyss, besides the imperial garrison, there are five upper Sequence races entrenched: the Spirit Tribe, Four-Winged Python Tribe, Two-Headed Griffin, Frostmark Giant Elephant, and Specter Yaksha."
"War between races has no right or wrong. What makes the Shadow Abyss special is that different abyssal calamities are triggered with the rotation of the seasons.
Now that it is late autumn, the calamity here is the Blizzard Calamity."
"After teleportation, you will encounter bone-chilling cold and blizzards as sharp as knives that can slice flesh.
To survive, you must cross the Frostwind Path, shrouded in blizzards, and kill simulated beasts of the five races to earn points."
"Completing the Frostwind Path grants 100 points. Each beast killed earns 10 points, and eliminating an opponent also earns 10 points.
The time limit is three hours. After three hours, the top eight contestants with the highest points will advance to the elimination round."
"Remember, the dangers of the Abyssal Simulation Domain are not illusory.
If you face a life-threatening crisis, squeeze the crystal in your hand to be teleported away."
"I do not advise you to be reckless. If you die in there, it will be a real death."
As Linus finished speaking, the contestants' faces darkened.
He looked at these freshmen who had only enrolled for half a month and sighed silently.
Even though they were all geniuses, facing life-and-death trials so early was ultimately too cruel.
But war never waits for humans to be ready.
Yesterday, he had just received a secret report from the abyssal rift: an upper Sequence race ranked among the top twenty was plotting to break through the imperial defense line and invade this world.
Kylen was bowing his head to sort out his thoughts when a voice filled with scrutiny suddenly came from beside him.
"I originally thought Saint Laurent's Kylen would be as sharp and unrestrained as he was in the competition. I did not expect you to look so ordinary."
Kylen looked up and quickly recognized the other person. "Brandt from Riverside Beast Contract Academy?"
Brandt was about the same height as him and was widely regarded as one of the championship favorites for this exchange tournament.
Kylen had watched his battle footage before.
This man's talent leaned toward close combat. Under the defensive cover of his contracted beast, his own destructive power was comparable to that of a mid-tier abyssal creature.
Therefore, most of his contracted beasts were defensive types.
Brandt nodded. "It's me. Lysander, who lost to you, is an old acquaintance of mine."
Kylen raised an eyebrow slightly. "So you're here to avenge him?"
Brandt's gaze swept toward the silver-haired girl not far away, his tone hinting.
"No, he lost willingly. I'm here to make a proposal. How about we join forces first to take care of her?"
Kylen followed his line of sight and saw Sylvia standing in the Imperial Contract Academy team.
Her silver hair flowed like moonlight, and together with Avelia beside her—one ice-cold, one crimson—they formed the two most striking figures in the venue.
"No interest." Kylen refused outright.
Are you kidding? Sylvia was his prey. How could he hand her over to someone else?
Moreover, this melee format was tailor-made for his and Avelia's plan. In a regular arena, the referee would intervene at any time, but in this simulated world, there was plenty of room for maneuver.
Kylen curled his lips into a smile, his tone playful.
"I'm at least a gentleman. I wouldn't do something like gang up on a girl. If you lack confidence, after I defeat Sylvia, I can let you try to take her from me."
Brandt's face froze instantly. He had long heard that Kylen was arrogant, but he did not expect the other party to look down on him so much.
"Very well, then we'll rely on our own abilities." Brandt suppressed his anger. "If you and that vampiric slime are still at the level of defeating Lysander, I can only tell you that you have no chance of winning."
With that, he turned and walked back to his team. The pigtailed girl, Nia, beside him immediately stepped forward, her voice soft and sweet. "Brandt, what did you talk to him about?"
Brandt stroked her hair gently, his tone softening. "Nothing. Just an arrogant and condescending guy. I'll let him know what a real genius is."
"By the way, Lysander is your cousin. This time, I'll avenge him and regain his honor."
Nia nodded with a smile. "I believe in you."
After Brandt left, Avelia immediately leaned close to Kylen's ear, her voice as soft as melted gel. "Little one..."
"Hm?"
"I smelled another nice scent."
Kylen froze for a moment before realizing it was the smell of blood. "Who?"
Avelia's eyes locked onto Nia. "The woman beside the man who was talking to you just now."
Kylen remembered the information Seraphina had given him and suddenly realized. "You mean the girl beside Brandt?"
Avelia nodded gently. "Her blood isn't as sweet as yours, but I've been drinking only your blood, and I always feel bad about it. Someone has to share the burden for you."
Kylen rubbed his forehead helplessly. He certainly remembered that Avelia had four maids to supply blood before, and he was the only male.
But in this law of the jungle in the abyssal world, morality was far less important than survival.
Avelia would only need more blood in the future. Finding a backup blood source in advance was not a bad thing.
"Okay." Kylen nodded in agreement.
He took Avelia's hand. At this moment, the teleportation array had lit up with a light blue glow.
With a slight dizziness, the 72 students from the nine academies were simultaneously pulled into a spatial vortex and disappeared on the spot.
When they opened their eyes again, the snowfall filled the sky, almost blocking their vision.
The howling cold wind was like countless ice knives, cutting sharply against their skin.
The Blizzard Calamity of the Shadow Abyss truly lived up to its reputation.
Fortunately, before coming, Kylen had specially consulted Bartholomew from the logistics department and exchanged 50 credits for a Silver Class Abyssal Armament that could resist blizzards.
He took out the equipment from his storage bag. It was a palm-sized bronze lamp with a beating orange-red crystal as its wick.
[Abyssal Armament: Ember light]
[Rank: Silver Class]
[Note: With a Fire Demon Core as the wick, the warmth it emits can melt ice and snow condensed by magic]
[Ability: Frost melt: Forms a ten-meter radius warm light domain. Within the domain, magic ice and snow will melt quickly.
[Side Effect: The Fire Demon Core may occasionally lose control, and the wick may erupt into lava. Use with caution.
Kylen lit the Ember light.
The warm orange glow instantly dispelled the cold around him.
He turned to Elara and the others behind him. "Let's go. It's time to win the first victory for Saint Laurent."
Elara and the other Saint Laurent contestants immediately followed.
The group stepped on the thick snow and embarked on the long, ancient Frostwind Path.
The challenge battle of the Abyssal Simulation Domain officially began.