The Director's Office was quiet, save for the gentle hum of floating magical screens. Each screen displayed live feeds from the forest where cadets were undergoing their Entrance Exam. Beatrice leaned back slightly, observing the progress.
"Many cadets this year are advancing better than before," a voice , the man's eyes lingering on several screens. "And with promising cadets like Sylvia, Nova, and Celia… I'll be amazed to teach them this year."
Beatrice smiled. "Don't get too excited, Professor Starc. Remember, even though they have such reputations, anything can happen. As we've seen, our expectations for some cadets let us down, so judging them beforehand isn't worth it."
Professor Starc, pacing slowly behind her, nodded eagerly. "Don't get me wrong, Headmaster, but… could you blame me? It's my first time teaching magic to the three biggest houses' cadets in a whole decade. You know how I'm feeling!" He scratched the back of his head nervously.
Beatrice let out a soft sigh, her gaze still fixed on the screens. "You never listen, Professor Starc. Remember, even though these cadets are from powerful houses, anything can happen. Judging them before the exam is pointless." shifting her attention to a different screen. Her lips curved slightly, more out of curiosity than amusement. "Well… I'm interested in something beyond just the three houses' cadets this year."
*****
Lucas crouched low behind a tree, staring at the colossal fox before him. The creature's fur blazed like molten fire, its enormous claws scraping the forest floor. "Just look at me and that beast… in size, we're like one to a hundred!" he muttered, exasperated.
[So what are you saying, kid? Ignore the massive, scary opponent and just go whack E-rank goblins like some coward?]
"Uhh… I mean no, but—" Lucas stammered, shifting nervously.
[Penalty – Immediate Death if task is ignored.]
"Fine! Fine! I'll do it! Stop blackmailing me!" Lucas groaned.
He took a deep breath, staring at the enormous fox. Every disadvantage was obvious: Lucas was small, his attacks were limited, and any direct blow from the fox would be fatal. The sheer size of the beast made it seem impossible to land a hit.
But then, an idea sparked. "Wait… what if I just keep attacking nonstop in one spot? Keep it distracted and chip away at it?" Lucas whispered to himself, a new determination settling over him.
Whisperfang materialized in his hand, gleaming in the faint sunlight filtering through the canopy. The mana within it pulsed gently, as if responding to his resolve. "Alright," he said, tightening his grip, "let's try this."
The gigantic fox froze for a brief moment, and Lucas felt his chance. "This is it!" he muttered, leaping from the branch of a tall tree directly above the beast. His body hurtled downward, dagger gripped tightly in both hands. As he met the fox's massive face, he drove Whisperfang through its flesh, dragging the blade downward and leaving a long, deep scar. The creature roared, shaking the forest with a deafening sound.
Landing on the ground, Lucas scrambled back immediately. "Alright… now I need to run as fast as I can! It noticed me!" He bolted through the trees, the fox instantly giving chase, its claws tearing through the dirt behind him.
Ahead, the path narrowed into a rocky tunnel, the kind where a creature this massive couldn't follow. "Perfect," Lucas muttered, planting himself firmly at the entrance. The fox skidded to a halt, glaring at him, and let out a furious roar.
Lucas smirked, summoning Whisperfang to his hand. "Now it's my turn." He swung with all his strength, chanting the spell instinctively. "Mega Slash!" A thick, brilliant arc of mana shot from the blade, slicing through the air and colliding with the fox. It staggered slightly, giving him confidence that he could handle it even if he is out of the tunnel for which He didn't hesitate, stepping out he released slash after slash, the glowing arcs striking with precision. "Take this! And this! And this!"
The fox twisted its massive body, its face contorting, but the attacks barely made a dent. "What!?" Lucas muttered in disbelief, swinging again and again, only to see the creature swat the final mega slash aside as if it were nothing. "How… how is this possible?"
Tch! Lucas realized too late that the fox had been baiting him, luring him out of the safety of the tunnel. Now he was in open territory, and the beast's size advantage became terrifyingly clear. It stomped violently, rocks and dust flying with each step. Lucas barely dodged, rolling aside as stones struck him, leaving bruises and cuts, blood seeping from a fresh gash on his arm as he managed to get little distant from the fox.
"HAAAAHHHH!" he roared, fury and fear combined. He swung Whisperfang in a blur, releasing a flurry of mana arcs. The fox recoiled slightly, but not enough. It pressed forward, and with each stomp, Lucas felt himself weaken. 'Why… why do I feel like I'm losing all my strength?'
[Mana Limit: 2/60 — too low to make spells or attacks]
'Tch! Why now of all times?!' Panic rose in him. Then he remembered 'unallocated stats! how many do I have?'
[Unallocated Stat – 5]
"Okay… upgrade mana—wait, no, that won't even hurt it! Maybe it only felt a little… tingling. What do I do? What can I even do?" Lucas's eyes scanned the beast. Then, realization struck. "Agility… all five points in agility!"
[Agility 9 → 14]
Breathing deeply, Lucas launched into motion. He sprinted around the fox, weaving in unpredictable patterns. The creature spun, confused, stomping randomly, trying to catch him. Dust and smoke rose from the stomps, clouding the battlefield. Lucas waited until the fox's movements slowed, exhausted from trying to pin him down.
When the smoke cleared, Lucas was gone. The fox scanned desperately, growling.
"Over here, you dumb fox!" Lucas shouted from above. With a swift drop, he drove Whisperfang directly into one of its blazing eyes. The fox roared, thrashing violently, but Lucas held on, channeling every ounce of strength and mana into the dagger. "Final… Mega Slash!" The mana arc erupted in a blinding strike, slicing across the eye and down the beast's face.
The fox staggered from side to side before finally collapsing to the ground, dead. Lucas exhaled, his chest heaving. "Finally…"
____________________________________
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
____________________________________
[Congratulations! You have successfully defeated the Gigantic Fox]
[Massive Stat Enhancement Achieved]
[Level – 7][Health – 100][Mana – 80][Strength – 20][Agility – 19][Defense – 18][Stamina – 22][Unallocated Stat – 0][Magic – Not Awakened Yet]
[Skills – 1: Mana Perception][Weapon – Dagger: Whisperfang]
[Regenerating Player's Health]
_____________________________________
Lucas sank onto the grass, letting the system's regeneration knit every scratch and bruise back into perfect health. "Woah… that's a massive stat increase. I guess it really was worth taking on a strong opponent. The higher the risk, the better the gain," he muttered, a grin spreading across his face.
The calm was short-lived. A sharp cry pierced the air. "Help!!"
Lucas spun sharply toward the voice. Racing forward, he found the source: a female cadet, the same one who had humiliated him before the exam crying for help.