Even after Group Seven left, murmurs still lingered among the crowd. A few students exchanged glances, lowering their voices as they began talking behind their backs.
"Do you really think they can win?"
"Heh… wouldn't this be the downfall of Special Entry No. 1?"
"Hey, keep your voice down! Don't you remember there's another No. 1 around here?!"
Hearing the students badmouthing Group Seven—and even Knox, Cindy, Claudia, and Merida—Cindy shot them a sharp glare.
"Those guys are unbelievable."
As Cindy watched the scene unfold, she tried to suppress her anger and step forward, but Knox quickly blocked her path.
"Hold on, Cindy."
"Knox!" Cindy snapped.
"Anyone can tell this happened because Meilyn pushed herself too hard," Knox said calmly.
"...Yeah, that's true," Cindy muttered.
"Putting aside what those people said about Group Seven, don't forget—besides them, there are still people like us who are worried about them. So don't get too upset."
"...Okay."
At Knox's words, Cindy nodded and forced herself to calm down.
Claudia looked toward Group Seven, worry evident in her eyes.
"Are those kids going to be okay?" Claudia asked.
"They'll be fine. Besides, judging from their formation—switching Meilyn with Simon—I think they already have a plan," Knox replied.
"Well... that makes sense," Claudia said with a small nod.
"...It's good that you're worried about your friend, but we should focus on what we need to do first," Merida added quietly.
"Yeah... okay."
Then, a moment later, Knox, Claudia, and Cindy suddenly froze.
Slowly, the three of them turned to look at Merida.
Their eyes widened.
"...Why are you all looking at me like that?" Merida asked, turning her face away slightly. The tips of her ears were faintly red.
"Wait—hold on!" Cindy suddenly leaned closer and stared at her.
"Who are you?!"
"...What?"
"The Merida I know would never say something that mature!" Cindy pointed accusingly. "And that shy face too! Speak! What did you do with the real Merida?!"
Merida pressed a hand to her forehead, veins faintly throbbing.
"Cindy... shut up."
Meanwhile, Knox and Claudia simply watched the scene in silence.
The two of them exchanged glances.
Then they looked back at Merida with oddly proud expressions.
Ah... our daughter has finally grown up.
Back to Group Seven
"Huuu..."
Simon took a deep breath, trying to calm his trembling heart. As he put on the vest, a barrier gauge appeared, projected from the mana projector on the ceiling.
If that gauge ever reached 0%, the combatant would be declared unable to continue, and the test would end immediately.
Behind Simon, Rick, Meilyn, and Camibarez stood in their designated positions. Fortunately, Meilyn had convinced the doctor to allow her to act as a stationary support.
"Nothing's really changed."
Simon turned toward his teammates.
"Even if the situation is different, everything we worked for hasn't gone to waste. Let's give it our best until the very end."
The three nodded.
Meilyn, who had been somewhat dazed earlier, seemed to regain her focus as the evaluation began. Her expression turned frighteningly serious.
Andrew, the safety officer, glanced at his wristwatch and spoke.
"Next Cyclops. Bring it in."
Rumble!
The dungeon's iron gate slowly lifted. From the pitch-black darkness beyond, a real Cyclops emerged, its massive body restrained by thick chains. Four wardens groaned as they struggled to guide the monster forward.
Gulp.
As the monster came into full view, Simon swallowed hard.
It looked exactly like the simulations… but the real thing was unmistakably different.
A foul stench stabbed into his nose, and the creature's uneven breathing echoed unpleasantly in his ears.
His heart pounded wildly in his chest.
Just imagining encountering something like that out in the wild… was terrifying.
Above the Cyclops's head floated a shimmering Darkness-magic circle.
The monster's pupils were blank, its mind sealed by the curse engraved in that circle. But the moment the curse was lifted, the creature would regain its senses—and attack whatever stood before it.
Clack! Clack!
The wardens quickly removed the chains before fleeing from the dungeon.
—Group Seven's practical evaluation will now begin.
Jane's voice echoed from the ceiling.
—There is no need to push yourselves. If at any point it becomes impossible, anyone may raise their hand to request the test be stopped.
"Yes, Professor!"
At some point, even the safety officer Andrew had turned transparent, disappearing from sight.
Now, only the four members of Group Seven—and the Cyclops—remained in the arena.
—Curse lifted. Commencing test.
Clang!
The magic circle above the Cyclops's head shattered into fragments.
At the same time, the monster's empty eyes suddenly regained focus.
—GRUUUUUAAAAAAAGH!
The beast let out a deafening roar. The sheer wind pressure from it alone felt strong enough to knock someone off their feet.
"Simon! Focus!"
The battle began instantly.
Simon grabbed an imaginary lever and summoned skeletons.
Three skeletons, each wielding a weapon, rushed in from different directions.
Just like we practiced. Just follow the plan!
Even though the combatant had changed, their strategy hadn't.
While Simon held off the Cyclops with skeletons, Rick, Camibarez, and Meilyn would apply curses. They would stack Exhaust until the Cyclops could no longer move—then Simon would pierce its solar plexus to finish it.
But—
CRASH!
The Cyclops didn't even acknowledge the skeletons.
Like a charging tank, it bulldozed straight through them and rushed directly toward Simon.
"...Huh?"
"W-What the—?!"
Their plan fell apart from the very start.
With bloodshot eyes and ruptured veins, the Cyclops raised its club and swung violently.
Meanwhile, Knox watched the scene unfold.
His expression hardened.
Looks like even though I already destroyed Flema's vessel… she's still causing trouble.
BOOOOM!
Simon threw himself aside just in time. The club smashed into the ground where he had been standing, sending tremors through the entire dungeon.
"Rick! What's going on?!"
Camibarez shouted in panic while preparing his curse.
"This isn't anything like the simulation!"
"Is this supposed to be their way of teaching us that simulations and reality are different? No… this is..."
Rick bit his lip.
It's like it's targeting Simon from the very start!
From above, Knox narrowed his eyes.
Of course it's targeting Simon.
That Cyclops… has been tampered with by Flema.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Drool flew from the monster's mouth as it wildly swung its club.
The relentless assault forced Simon to roll across the ground repeatedly just to avoid being crushed.
"Ugh!"
The rough stone floor scraped painfully against his back.
After narrowly avoiding another strike, Simon sprang to his feet and thrust his arm forward.
Clatter—clatter!
A skeleton darted behind the Cyclops and slashed its back.
Tch! It's way tougher than in the simulation!
Not even a scratch appeared on the monster's skin.
As if the attack meant nothing, the Cyclops ignored the skeleton entirely and continued chasing Simon.
Stay calm.
Simon's eyes sharpened.
Diagonal downward strike.
He bent both knees and tilted his body sideways. The club swept through the air just above him.
Horizontal sweep… long wind-up!
Using quick footwork, Simon retreated backward. The next attack missed again.
The students watching from above gasped in amazement at Simon's nimble movements.
Of course, Simon himself felt like he was dying inside.
Who would've thought all that analysis I did on the Cyclops to help Meilyn would end up saving me?!
—RAAAARGHHH!
Just as the enraged Cyclops prepared another charge—
"Exhaust!"
All three teammates finally activated their curses.
The Cyclops's movements slowed for a brief instant.
Simon seized that opportunity.
Leaping off a patch of Darkness mana, he pulled his arm back.
A skeleton hurled a spear toward him.
The weapon landed perfectly in Simon's hand.
Now's my chance!
WHOOSH!
The spear shot forward like lightning—
straight toward the Cyclops's eye.
Splash!
Simon's spear grazed the Cyclops's cheek by the narrowest margin.
So close!
Swallowing his frustration, Simon landed lightly on the ground. Enraged to the core, the Cyclops began swinging its club even more violently.
Boom! Boom! Booooom!
Each time the club smashed into the floor or the walls, the entire dungeon shook.
From the outside, Simon's evasive movements looked nothing short of incredible.
In reality, however, he was hanging by a thread.
Th-thank you, Professor Hong Feng…!
If it weren't for the internal Darkness control she had taught him, he would have been taken out long ago.
The Cyclops lunged forward and brought its club crashing down.
KWAAAANG!
"Simon!"
Camibarez shouted.
At that moment, through the cloud of dust rising from the impact—
Simon burst out from the side.
[Barrier Gauge: 72%]
Simon wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
Not a single direct hit… They were all just grazes, and yet…!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Cyclops advanced, its eyes blazing with madness.
A strong sense of wrongness crept over Simon.
Even after taking three stacks of Exhaust, the monster was still moving almost normally, as if the curse barely affected it.
Rick seemed to realize the same thing, sweat running down his face.
If three stacks only slowed it this much…
How many do we need to actually stop that thing?