Ten days had passed since the Island Trial beganâŠ
A third of the exam duration was already over.
For some, it had been ten days of sheer sufferingâŠ
For others, ten days of thrill and excitement.
The citizens of the Empire had thoroughly enjoyed watching us edge closer to the exam's midpoint.
In a short span of time, countless battles had broken outâboth one-on-one duels and chaotic group skirmishes.
Everyone had witnessed the students struggling to survive. This year's Victoriad felt more like an action-packed survival movie than an ordinary test.
By the tenth day, the intensity had reached its peak.
The competition had grown absolutely insane.
âDing!â
Day 10 Rankings Released:
10 â Danzo Smasher: 1,450 points
9 â Dawn Polaris: 1,600 points
...
5 â Ghost Umbra: 1,900 points
4 â Magnus Drill: 2,350 points
3 â Frey Starlight: 2,500 points
2 â Snow Lionheart: 3,440 points
1 â Daemon Valerion: 3,480 points
(You may spend 500 points to reveal the location of a player of your choiceâŠ)
The reason for all this excitement?
It was right there in the rankings.
The first and second place holders were the cause of the madness.
They had been clashing non-stop for days⊠and they still were.
Daemon couldn't afford to spend 500 points to locate Snowâthe gap between them was too narrow, and any slip-up could cost him his position.
So, he had no choice but to sprint across the massive island, searching for Snow at every potential rendezvous point or crossing pathâŠ
But the island was enormous.
Even ten days weren't enough to fully explore it.
The madness continued.
---
âDay 11 on the Islandâ
âDing!â
Updated Rankings:
1 â Snow Lionheart: 3,600 points
2 â Daemon Valerion: 3,580 points
"He passed him!"
"Snow took the lead!"
The spectators roared.
The scenes involving Snow and Daemon had become the center of attention.
---
âDay 12 on the Islandâ
âDing!â
1 â Daemon Valerion: 3,840 points
2 â Snow Lionheart: 3,800 points
The tides turned once again.
"What kind of competition is this?"
"Do they even sleep? When do these people rest?"
The world began to wonder whether those students were even human anymore.
---
âDay 13 on the Islandâ
âDing!â
1 â Daemon Valerion: 4,100 points
2 â Snow Lionheart: 4,095 points
By now, it had become common to see crowds gathering in corners of the EmpireâŠ
"Hurry! Place your bets now! Who will finish first in the Victoriad qualifiers?"
The people of the Empire constantly wagered their fortunes on their favorite contender.
Even nobles and high-ranking officials weren't exempt.
The Victoriad was fulfilling its purpose.
For a brief time, everyone forgot that war was looming.
That heavy, depressing atmosphere caused by past massacres had slowly begun to fade.
And more importantly, the Temple had once again proven itself to be the number one source of talent in the world.
What they were seeing now on those screensâŠ
Was the power that would soon lead the Empireâand the warâto come.
And this crazy competition?
It was far from over.
Even the heads of guilds and the leaders of great noble houses were watching this trial with keen interest.
---
âDay 14 on the Islandâ
âDing!â
1 â Snow Lionheart: 4,380 points
2 â Daemon Valerion: 4,375 points
"He passed him again!"
"First-years are insane this time!"
The sight of Daemon ruthlessly blasting his opponents with storms of lightning had become something of a routine by now.
On the other hand, Snow, who danced through battle with a wild sword styleâchanneling an absurd number of elemental powersâwas a visual spectacle like no other.
Their ongoing rivalry, as they continuously clashed with the other Temple students, had fueled the excitement to a fever pitch.
And clearly⊠those two stood far above the rest.
Even upper-year students from the second and third years couldn't match their dominance.
And nowâhere we are.
---
âDay 15 on the Islandâ
âDing!â
Daemon Valerion: 4,500 points
Snow Lionheart: 4,500 points
The entire world held its breath.
Eyes were glued to the screensâno one dared to blink.
The points were tied⊠but that wasn't what mattered.
What happened nextâwas the turning point.
Checkpoint F7.
They stood there, facing each other.
They had arrived from different paths.
But that didn't matter.
For the first timeâthey were standing on the same ground.
Snow Lionheart and Daemon Valerion.
Their gazes locked.
Anyone watching could feel it. The answer to this moment was clear.
A battle was inevitable.
Daemon Valerion vs. Snow Lionheart.
The long-awaited clash was finally about to unfold.
Daemon brushed back his golden hair as he stepped toward Snow.
His massive frameâthose thick, coiled muscles nearly bursting from beneath his black armor, lined with golden patternsâmade him an imposing sight.
He was terrifying.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this, Snow LionheartâŠ"
Snow said nothing.
His appearance was modestâwearing the Temple's standard white armor, a sign of his lack of noble background.
But his presence didn't fall short in the slightest.
His white hair and calm expression had already made him wildly popular among the Empire's girls. You could say each of them was born to be the face of an eraâin their own way.
Snow slowly drew his sword.
"Come."
Daemon bared his teeth.
"You've been a thorn in my side this whole time... I'll admit itâI've never pushed myself this hard before."
"But it ends now."
He slammed his fists togetherâcrackling with a terrifying surge of lightning-infused aura.
"Here and nowâlet's end this!"
âŠ
The wind howled around them. All nearby creatures fled.
The battle⊠was about to begin.
...
...
....
"Hooooooooooffff"
With a deep breath, Daemon Valerion roaredâhis sculpted, muscle-bound body surging with raw might.
Bzzzt...
Bzzzt...
The electricity crackling from his body was no joke.
Now fully cloaked in explosive Lightning Aura, Daemon let out a war cry and charged forward.
"Let's go!"
The golden tank slammed the ground, bursting into a bolt of lightning as he rushed toward Snow.
Snow, in response, anchored himself with Gravity and Earth Aura.
"Come!"