With a shimmer of energy, Alex and Alice materialized in the heart of Star City, courtesy of the [World Map].
The bustling city greeted them with its vibrant life. .
“Let’s move,” Alex said.
His [Mask of Concealment] shimmered faintly, hiding his true identity.
The academy wasn’t far, its grand gates visible even from the square.
As they approached, the atmosphere shifted with tension.
Reaching the gates, Alex slowed to take in the towering structure of the [Golden Star Academy].
Its intricate spires and glowing runes radiated an aura of majesty.
“Ready?” Alice asked.
Alex nodded and stepped through the grand gates of the academy, the air immediately thick with tension.
The moment his foot touched the marble walkway, a sharp pulse of energy rippled across the courtyard.
Before Alex could take another step, a figure materialized in front of him with a flash of light.
Dominic, the academy’s chairman, stood tall and imposing, his piercing gaze boring into Alex like a blade.
There was no trace of warmth in his expression, only a cold, calculating judgment.
“…?” Alex almost thought that his [Mask of Concealment] didn’t work.
“Took you a while to return,” Dominic said, his voice calm but carrying a weight that seemed to echo across the courtyard. “Why?”
For a moment, Alex was silent, the pressure of Dominic’s overwhelming aura pressing down on him.
It wasn’t just the man’s presence, he could feel the eyes of students and faculty alike watching from the shadows.
Windows above were filled with curious onlookers, and even teachers affiliated with the [Hatred Sect] paused what they were doing, staring at the confrontation.
Alex’s heart raced, but his expression remained unreadable, thanks to the [Mask of Concealment] obscuring his features.
He had taken every precaution before coming here.
The [Vial of Undead Blood], the precious item he had stolen, was safely stored in his mage tower, far beyond anyone’s reach.
If they wanted to get it they would have to fight Arceus, and it would be amazing if the grand mage could get rid of them all to be honest.
As for the [Heart of Calamity] concealed within him, Alex was confident.
So far, it seemed only [Lord X] possessed the ability to detect its presence.
Dominic might be powerful, but he wasn’t omnipotent.
Dominic tilted his head slightly, his penetrating gaze scanning Alex from head to toe, as if searching for something beyond the surface.
Finally, a faint smile curved his lips.
“Very well,” he said. “You’ve proven yourself capable, after all.”
With a wave of his hand, a golden scroll appeared midair, floating gently before Alex.
“This is your reward for placing first in the [Golden Star Academy Entrance Examination],” Dominic announced, his voice carrying throughout the courtyard. “You earned it. Use it wisely.”
The scroll shimmered with an otherworldly light, its intricate runes glowing faintly with power.
He reached out, taking the scroll carefully, his fingers brushing against its surface.
[Golden Scroll (Divine+)]
[Can be used to summon a mythical item or powerful divine boss/summon]
[Note that it cannot be used right now, it will serve its purpose later.]
“Huh…” Alex didn’t understand how the chairman thought this would help, but regardless, he simply nodded, “Thank you.”
Dominic lingered for a moment longer, then turned and vanished just as suddenly as he had appeared.
The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the onlookers slowly returned to their business, though whispers and murmurs filled the air.
“Hey, what about my item?!” Alice shouted.
The moment she did, a small bracelet appeared out of nowhere in front of her, dropping to the ground.
“…” the girl looked down before crouching to grab the small item.
[Celestial Bracelet (Legendary)]
[Grants a permanent +10% boost to Spirit and Agility while worn.]
Of course, Alex made sure to use his [Cursed Eyes of the King] to ensure there was nothing shady, but surprisingly enough there was nothing.
He was sure that the chairman and the academy would give some cursed items or things to observe people, but none of what they received were from either category, as otherwise he would see it.
Alice put the bracelet around her wrist, and she immediately received the boosts.
“This is actually really good…” she mumbled to herself, knowing that this reward would definitely help in the long-run.
“Yeah, better than mine,” Alex laughed.
He slipped the scroll into his strongest backpack and headed back toward the square.
[1 hour before the “Monster Tide Trial”!]
…
Meanwhile, preparations for the upcoming [Monster Tide Trial] were reaching their peak.
In the heart of the newly established [Overlord City], Daniel stood atop a makeshift platform, addressing a crowd of adventurers, mercenaries, and guild members.
His voice boomed with confidence, carrying over the excited murmurs of the assembled group.
“I’ve received thousands upon thousands of requests to join the defense of this city,” Daniel declared, his grin widening, “This is a historic moment. Together, we’ll create a bastion that will stand for ages. There’s no chance we’re losing this!”
The crowd erupted into cheers, their enthusiasm palpable. Members of Daniel’s [Overlord Guild] were already organizing patrols and fortifying the city’s defenses.
Walls were being reinforced, traps laid, and supply caches distributed to ensure the defenders could hold out for the full twelve hours of the trial.
Among the defenders were representatives from other powerful families, all eager to see how this would pan out with Daniel.
After all, they were planning to do that right afterward to ensure they could have the highest amount of power in Universal Descent.
The promise of rewards for participating in the trial was also too tempting to ignore.
Even Dawn, the enigmatic leader of the [Madmen Guild], had shown interest, his guild members quietly setting up their own operations within the city.
As the first city that will be established, it was normal everyone was eager.
Daniel surveyed the scene with satisfaction. Everything was going according to plan.
Thousands upon thousands of players from every profession had gathered, their numbers alone forming a formidable defense force.
Though he hadn’t had the time to recruit NPCs, it didn’t seem to matter.
The sheer scale of the operation was enough to intimidate most challengers.
“Is the altar secured?” Daniel asked, turning his gaze to Dawn and the two other representatives beside him.
“It’s fortified,” Dawn confirmed with a calm nod, “There’s no chance of any monsters sneaking past the defenses. As for players, anyone thinking of defying us would probably be too afraid to act.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Victor, one of the leaders of the [Black Flame Family], grinned smugly.
“What about this [FateBreaker] fellow?” a sharp, authoritative voice chimed in.
The question came from Alaric Garden, the dignified yet enigmatic representative of the [Garden Family].
The old man adjusted his monocle, his piercing gaze sweeping over Daniel. “Do you believe he’ll make a move, or is his reputation exaggerated?”
Victor scoffed at the question, crossing his arms.
“Let him come. One man, no matter how skilled, can’t take on this many players, especially with monsters swarming around. If he’s smart, he’ll stay out of this.”
Daniel’s expression tightened too, but he quickly masked it with a confident smile.
“I doubt he’ll make a move against us,” he said, his voice steady. “Even if he does, we’re prepared. With our numbers, the altar’s defenses, and our coordination, he’d be walking into a death trap.”
Alaric tilted his head, the faintest hint of amusement curling at the edges of his lips.
“Preparedness is commendable, but overconfidence can be fatal.”
That is all the old man said before leaving the game, not in the mood to participate in such battles even though he was level 180.
With that, the other three went back to what they were doing.
…
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the atmosphere grew tense. Everyone knew what was coming.
The thought of the upcoming [Monster Tide Trial] lingered in Alex’s mind as he kept looking around [Star City], simply waiting for the moment the notification would appear.
“…”
Ding!
A system notification rang out across the world, capturing the attention of every player.
[System Announcement: The first-ever Monster Tide Trial is about to begin! All players may now choose their camp!]
Two clickable panels appeared in front of every player.
[Attack Camp]
[Defense Camp]
[Or, you may remain uninvolved, simply observe, and avoid all risks.]
The message was concise, yet it carried the weight of the world’s first major event of this kind.
Players everywhere froze as they contemplated their decisions.