Chapter 2331 Survival
The group exammenced at the grand Academy docks, where a massive gathering of selected acolytes from 120 different halls awaited their transport. The air buzzed with anticipation as the crowd stood before a fleet of Magus Alliance cruisers. Headmaster Goldstein, his presencemanding, stood at the forefront, addressing the acolytes with a speech brimming with hope and motivation.
His voice echoed through the docks, "Perseverance and strength, these are the traits that will guide you through this trial. And may each of you return safely, stronger than ever before!"
The headmaster''s words hung in the air as the halls began boarding their assigned cruisers, a mixture of excitement and nervousness rippling through the crowd. The lower and mid-halls quickly filled half of the ships, embarking on their own survival exams on distants. The remaining six cruisers were assigned to the higher and top halls, destined for more dangerous tests.
Hardy stood at the head of his group, leading the 12 acolytes of Hall 33: Ha Ron, King Rig, ine, Bena, Ullong, Titus, Armenius, and four others. They marched confidently toward the cruiser named Starfire, carrying them to their exam location, along with acolytes from nine other high-ranking halls.
Meanwhile, Shinta, leading the 20 half-bloods from Hall 9, strode toward their vessel, the Enigma. Alongside them were acolytes from two of the academy''s prestigious top halls. As thest acolytes boarded their ships, the cruisers powered up, their engines roaring to life. Within moments, all a dozen cruisers lifted into the air, departing in perfect formation and ascending toward the dark expanse of space.
The Starfire and Enigma flew side by side toward one designated.
[Veloria Prime]
[ss C - Savage Level 5]
Veloria Prime was unlike any other savage used for academy exams. Though it was ssified as a ss C, considered unsuitable for colonization or development, it possessed all the vital conditions for life—fresh water, breathable air, and abundant resources. Yet these advantages were counterbnced by its treacherous environment. Nine out of the''s twelve-month cycle were consumed by violent storms and extreme weather that rendered much of its surface hostile to life.
Even more unnerving was its history. Veloria Prime had once been home to a great civilization over 3,000 years ago. Remnants of its past grandeur still dotted thendscape, now crumbling ruins overtaken by nature and swarmed with mutated creatures—monstrosities born from the disasters that had wiped out the''s inhabitants. Those creatures now ruled thend, making survival on Veloria Prime a test of both wits and strength.
As the Starfire and Enigma cruisers descended through the atmosphere, the turbulent winds of the greeted them, shaking the ships as they navigated throughyers of thick clouds. The acolytes, gathered in their respective halls, listened closely as the academy''s briefing began, detailing the nature of the exam and the challenges ahead.
The exam wouldst for one month—an entire lunar cycle on Veloria Prime. A daunting timeline that meant weeks of exposure to the''s dangers. Furthermore, none of the acolytes were permitted to bring any personal equipment aside from what the academy had provided. This included a safety vest that served multiple purposes: tracking their location, monitoring vital signs, and, in the worst-case scenario, teleporting them back to the cruiser in case of a life-threatening emergency.
Finally, they were given a storage ring containing a selection of standard tier-5 weapons, just enough to keep them alive against the''s hostile fauna. The ring was to be shared among the group, forcing cooperation in a way that tested not just individual skill, but teamwork and resource management.
However, some personal items were allowed, subject to the academy''s approval and of course, there were always a few acolytes who managed to smuggle in prohibited items, hoping to gain an edge that might make the difference between survival and failure.
Learning from past mistakes, particrly the tragic events that unfolded on Andora, the Academy took extra precautions for this exam. They had seen how quickly things could spiral out of control when unmonitored, so this time, each group of acolytes was assigned a handler—a Magus who would oversee their safety from afar.
For the higher halls like Hall 33, elite Moon Magus were chosen, individuals powerful enough to intervene should disaster strike. For the top halls, where the stakes were even greater, Grand Magus figures were assigned, ensuring that the academy''s prized acolytes wouldn''t fall victim to unforeseen dangers.
Once all final checks werepleted, each group was instructed to enter their personal pods—small, durable capsules designed to transport them safely from the cruisers in orbit down to the''s surface. Then came the signal. A loud hiss escaped as theunch mechanisms activated. One by one, the pods were ejected from the cruisers, plummeting down through the atmosphere like falling stars. From the''s surface, it would have looked as if dozens of meteors were raining down, streaks of light trailing behind each pod as they cut through the clouds.
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Dozens of instructors watched the process through the monitors, hoping their top acolytes would prove their worth in the survival exams. Some, in particr, gathered in corners, whispering their well-prepared ns with ominous chuckles and smiles.
"I assure you, even if they''re lucky enough to survive the mission, they won''t have the guts to go against us anymore." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Good, good. Mydy will be pleased."
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Author Notes.
This chapter concludes the month of September, and once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude. I hope you have enjoyed the reading experience, and if there is anything that still feelscking, I will do my utmost to improve next month.
SPOILER ALERT!
The group exam will not be a long arc, but it will be a necessary one to reveal all the hidden figures behind the academy. I also n to wrap up the entire three-year academy storyline in theing month, so expect another one-year time skip before entering the imminent duel with Kronos.
Special Announcement!
This month marks the fourth anniversary of Earth''s Greatest Magus. YEY!!
Unfortunately, I am not in a situation to offer discounts, but I n to do multiple mass-released chapters in theing week. Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you''ll join me again for next month''s privileged chapters.