The expressions of the spectators distorted, and Randy’s expression brightened. Dracolius remained expressionless, while Arthur stood with a glistening smile plastered over his face. He seemed to be struggling to suppress his excitement.
It was possible. He had discovered a way to pass the mana test without the need to use mana.
‘Putting that in my auto-biography in the future,’ Arthur thought, letting out a chuckle while thinking about the future. However, what he ignored was the matter at hand, and the gratitude Randy felt.
“Thank you…” Randy muttered, gazing absent-mindedly at the shattered pieces of the orb. It was an obstacle he believed he would never be able to pass, but the crimson-eyed man had offered assistance.
“I don’t offer help for free, Randy,” said Arthur, placing his hand on the muscular man’s shoulder. ‘Well, most of the time, anyway. If that Harry guy thinks he doesn’t owe me a favor, he’s completely delusional.’
“Anything,” replied Randy, nodding in determination.
“For now, just don’t die,” said Arthur returning to his previous location, in which he sat calmly, sorting his thoughts. He didn’t hold any concern for Randy’s well-being, but the man was certainly interesting.
Entering Heaven’s Spire without access to mana was foolish, but passing the mana test without it was miraculous.
For now, Randy simply had to stay alive and prove his worth.
A few minutes passed, and everyone entered the portal, including Randy. A few people–14 in total–were left behind to perish, as they simply didn’t possess enough mana to shatter the orb using their pressure.
Even after utilizing the tactic Harry offered them, they couldn’t complete the objective, and were forced to bid farewell to their life in the world of the living. Dracolius simply caused their bodies to explode with a flick of his wrist.
Everyone else had already entered the portal, so there wasn’t a single witness.
*
As the newbies stepped out of the portal, they were exposed to the World of Tutorial.
It was a special floor in Heaven’s Spire, designed solely for the purpose of conducting tutorials and transporting newbies to the Outer District once the examination was complete. It was somewhat of a bonus floor.
However, it was also like a massive planet by itself.
The Tutorial World stretched for millions of kilometers, enough to encompass several planets, or perhaps even a small star within its area. It was home to several Guardians, and the location where a branch of Tower Administration was located. ｏｖ𝚕．ｃｏ𝚖
Although the Tower Administration didn’t consider the Tutorial World their main headquarters, it was visited quite frequently by executives.
However, aside from that, the Tutorial World was basically paradise.
Between trials, many newbies preferred to explore the world to familiarize themselves with the atmosphere of the tower. Heaven’s Spire would eventually become their home… There was nothing wrong with exploring one’s home.
“This is the Tutorial World,” Dracolius announced. The eyes of the newbies lit up at that moment. “You all are free to explore the entire planet, as you will be training here for a few weeks.”
The atmosphere lightened, and everyone was glad.
“That is, after you pass the first trial,” Dracolius followed up with shocking words, and the scenery around the newbies changed in an instant. Now, they stood upon a ravaged wasteland, littered with the flesh and blood of those who fought upon it before their eventual deaths.
“What is…”
“What is this? Why are we here?”
“Weren’t we going to explore the Tutorial World?”
“Welcome to the first trial,” Dracolius announced, revealing a dangerous smile that highlighted his sharp fangs. His expression was one that accurately displayed his sadist nature. “Only ten of you will survive this hellhole.”
The newbies were shocked, trying desperately to process the information. A few seconds ago, they’d been glad to have passed the mana test, but now most of them would perish?
“A few other newbies have been brought to replace those who died,” Dracolius announced, flicking his wrist as a few newbies manifested, filling the crowd and bringing the number back to 100. “Ninety percent of you will die.”
The faces of the newbies were pale.
It seemed their satisfaction at passing the mana test was merely fleeting.
“The First Trial is simply a battle royale,” Dracolius announced as massive walls encased the party of newbies within a closed space, where the trial would be conducted. “However, you shall be met with intense heat as time passes, eventually to the point where your skin will melt. Once ten people remain, the battle royale will end, and the temperature will revert to its original state.”
[A/N: Reference to my first book.]
“Begin,” announced Dracolius as he faded away into nothingness. The trial shortly began, and the temperature rose a few degrees instantly.
The newbies were able to process the information once their skin began stinging due to the intense heat that permeated the surrounding wasteland. Their breathing was the first aspect that was affected.
Breathing hot air was uncomfortable. But that was it. It wasn’t harmful in the short term.
And they couldn’t allow the temperature to rise further.
“I’m sorry,” said a long-haired man in a white shirt. He unsheathed his weapon before cleanly slicing the head of his comrade, ending his life. The blood splattered onto his clothes, staining them forever.
He was only the first of many.
The newbies weren’t clueless. They weren’t untrained in the art of killing, and could end lives for their benefit. However, as mentioned before, there were some who entered as slaves or workers, and a few who were unprepared from the beginning.
Not everyone was a prodigy.
As expected, the pack of wolves wished to take advantage of the tiger, first. The tiger who seemed to have unparalleled knowledge, and was suppressing the potential dragons of the tower.
At least, that’s what they believed.
“At least hide your presence,” said Arthur, turning around rapidly, evading a dagger that aimed at his lower back. He then snatched the dagger, twisting the arm that held it before pushing the assailant onto the ground.
Then, using Skofnung, he impaled his assailant’s body.
Skofnung was stained with blood for the first time in forever.