The three stepped through the classroom doors, filled with energy and determination to face whatever awaited them in the first phase of the exam.
But were taken aback as they saw over 100 students filled in the hall—all staring at them.
Miki: "Why are there so many of them? Could it be… they're all applicants?
Aturia: "Well it's nothing to be surprised about since it is an international exam.
An oppressive aura of tension and bloodlust hung over the room as most of the applicants fixed the trio with death stares while they calmly walked to their seats.
Seig "They all look immensely strong.
They sat down and Team M stepped in the room and walked over to them.
Nara Okotsu: "What's this? Are you three going to take this bothersome exam too?"
Mochito Oni: "hey guys long time no see. He says gleefully stuffing his face l with a jumbo size burger.
Luna Hoshino suddenly jumped on Miki, wrapping her arms around her from behind.
Luna: "I've been waiting for you ever since I heard you'd be joining the Rank 2 Exam!" she said, gently patting Miki's head.
Miki: "Ah!"
Miki nearly lost her balance before turning around.
"Y-You startled me... But... I'm really glad you came to see me, Luna," she said with a warm smile.
Luna smiled warmly.
Luna: "Of course! I'd miss you. What kind of childhood friend would I be if I didn't?"
Team A walked in and walked over to everyone.
Finral Belmont: "Well, well... it seems everyone's finally here. Has it really been three months since we became Rank 3 Magic Knights? And I see there are plenty of beautiful women here too."
He flashed Aturia a charming smile.
"Don't worry, Aturia. You'll always have a special place in my heart.
Aturia "Shut the hell up, pervert.
Finral clutched his chest dramatically, crying on the inside.
Boa Yu "Still as cold and distant as ever, I see... Uh Aturia.
David Alaba: "Hey, what's up, guys?
He murmured the greeting without taking his eyes off the comic he was reading.
Finral "Our team has trained a great deal too. We team A won't lose to any of you.
Seig "Shut up, pervert. I'm not sure about Aturia—but I sure won't lose to the likes of you
Luna sighs: "This is embarrassing—arguing for no reason at all.
Weird tension filled the air—until someone interrupted.
Alastor "Hey—you guys should be a little quieter. You guys are the rookie nine fresh out of the academy, right? This exam isn't going to be a field trip, you know."
Nara "Who do you think you are—acting all haughty?
Alastor "My name is Alastor. And you should look around—everybody here in this hall is tensed and hot-tempered about this exam. So I thought I'd warn you guys to keep quiet… before you get your asses kicked.
Miki "Alastor, right? You look older than the rest of us. Is this your first time participating in this exam?"
Alastor "No—it's my seventh time. This exam is only held twice a year—so it's now my fourth year.
Boa Yu "Then that means you know a lot more about this exam. But why haven't you passed? Is the Rank 2 exam really that tough?
Alastor: "As your senior, allow me to share a little information with you."
With a faint smile, he pulled a deck of cards from his pocket.
Mochito "what are you doing with those cards? Is it a game? He says while munching on his burger.
Alastor: "They're basically cards that have information coded into them through the use of Mana.
Aturia "In that case do you have cards having detailed information about Fuuga from the Earth Kingdom? That guy still gives me the creeps.
Alastor drew a card from the deck and channeled mana into it. Instantly, an image of Fuuga appeared on its surface, along with detailed information about him.
Alastor "Well then let's see, Fuuga of the earth kingdom he's also a rank 3 rookie same as you guys.
Mission experience: He's completed 7 C-rank and 4 B-rank missions, that's crazy.
Luna "I guess it can't be helped—even though everyone here is an elite Rank 3… we're the newest, most inexperienced rookies.
Seig suddenly let out a thunderous battle cry, his voice echoing throughout the hall with excitement.
Seig: "Listen up, everyone! My name's Seig Pendragon! I won't lose to any of you clowns—got it?!"
Nara covered his mouth "Stop being reckless, Seig. It won't do any good to provoke everyone.
Finral smirks "That idiot will never get depressed! Absurd!"
David "In no time at all—you've made enemies."
Seig "But what I said was the truth!
Team Fuuga looked at them from the back of their seats
Kirito "Isn't it those three kids from before?"
Alice "The dog's bark is bigger than its bite."
Fuuga "Just ignore them."
Their two former academy classmates, now members of Team T, also turned their attention toward them from their seats across the room.
Kawaki Senji "He's quite mighty and highly spirited.
Levi opened one of his eyes from his nap: "Don't also forget—he's hot-headed and annoying.
Kawaki: "Maybe you didn't bully him enough, Levi."
He let out a quiet chuckle before quickly shooting an irritated glance at his younger sister, Miki from across the room, then looked away.
The class door suddenly slammed open as a loud voice echoed.
A bald, middle-aged man stepped into the room. A long black coat hung over his uniform, dark glasses concealed his eyes, and a massive screw pierced through his head.
Mr. X: "Silence, you filthy maggots! And take your seats! Sorry to keep you waiting."
"My name is Mr. X—and I'm the proctor for the first test of the Rank 2 Magic Knights Exam. And I do hope we don't have any problems.
He snapped his fingers and a crystal ball in front of the class glowed and suddenly the walls and roof of the room disappeared. As the confused hundred rank 3 applicants stood facing a giant fenced forest stretching out before them.
Seig panicked: What the? How the hell did we get here? What happened to the walls and roof?
Boa Yu "So the room we were in was nothing but a high level illusion spell by a magic artifact.
Aturia scoffs: "How dramatic.
Mr X: "I welcome you all to the venue of your first examination THE FOREST OF DEATH.