Chapter 25
In the end, the team name was decided as Team Seven, and the paperwork was submitted.
While the students who had formed teams were chatting in a relaxed atmosphere, Simon was observing the other students in Class A.
Simon’s team was Team 7. In other words, 28 students had formed teams so far. The competition among the remaining students was not just fierce, it was brutal.
There were hardly any students left acting alone. Most had formed teams of two or three and were now trying to recruit the rest.
"Wouldn’t it be better to just join us? There’s two of you and two of us…"
"You’re both from Toxicology. Why would we join a trash team like yours?"
"Wow, they’re really something. What is that? A team made up of Darkness, Darkness, and more Darkness?"
This was the problem with forming teams based on friendships or social circles.
They had become close quickly due to having the same interests or desired majors, but forming teams with the same specialties for group classes often had negative consequences.
The Elementary Black Magic course assessed eight subjects in total.
Ideally, all four members should have different intended majors. Having overlapping majors only put the team at a disadvantage. Those who had not yet completed their teams were mostly struggling for this very reason.
"I’ll save just one person from your team."
A blonde girl stepped forward, twirling her finger with a smug expression. She had already completed her team with three members.
"Get lost!"
"If you hadn’t taken Lucy, we’d already be four!"
As the other students growled with displeasure, a girl stepped forward.
"T-Team leader?"
"Sorry, guys."
She spoke without even looking back.
"I’m going for Haemotology. There’s no overlap, right?"
"Welcome! I knew you were sharp. TA, we’d like to register!"
With that, another team of four was completed as a team leader defected.
The remaining students trembled with rage and a sense of betrayal.
‘…That’s brutal.’
These were the things happening during the student protection period.
Simon was beginning to understand, if only vaguely, why only three hundred out of a thousand students had survived.
“No time to worry about others, Simon.”
Dick said.
“If we can’t claw our way forward, we’ll be weeded out too. And in Keyzen, being weeded out means goodbye.”
“I don’t even feel bad.”
Maelyn said, brushing her fingertip and blowing on it.
“Lack of effort, lack of preparation, lack of skill. It’s been four days since we entered Keyzen, what have they been doing? Even if their grades were lacking, there were plenty of other ways to form a team.”
Dick and Maelyn seemed very accustomed to this kind of atmosphere.
Eventually, the 30 minutes Jane had mentioned came to an end.
Eight students were left. They had split into groups of two, three, and three, but none had managed to finalize a team.
“Students who failed to form a team, please come forward.”
Jane arbitrarily created two teams.
Team 15: Darkness, Darkness, Toxicology, Magical Combat.
Team 16: Darkness, Darkness, Darkness, Magical Combat.
The reason there were relatively many remaining applicants for Darkness Dynamics was that it was a core subject, and students aiming for other majors also tended to have high scores in it.
Because of this, the market demand for Darkness Dynamics applicants had plummeted, and they were left until the very end.
The students called up to the podium hung their heads with stiff expressions, while some students who had already formed teams glanced at them and sneered.
“Wow, Team 16 is really three Darkness majors? Seriously?”
“Pfft. Bet we won’t see them next week.”
“If even one Katarology question comes up, they’re toast.”
At the snickering of the other students, Teams 15 and 16 shrank further, their shoulders drooping.
Jane, who had also assigned the team leaders, looked at them and spoke in a quiet voice.
“Are you angry?”
The students gave slight nods. Some even shed small tears.
“Just because the start is off doesn’t mean the end will be too. Remember this feeling of frustration, and fight harder. Even if you’re aiming for Darkness Dynamics, divide the study load across other subjects and raise your team’s average above the line. Then you’ll see a glimmer of hope.”
The students nodded, their expressions hardened with determination.
Teams 15 and 16 returned to their seats, and Jane stepped forward again.
“Now, for the major announcement. Starting next week, with the end of the student protection period, we will be conducting a group performance evaluation during the first Elementary Black Magic class.”
A collective gasp spread through the room.
A performance evaluation meant a test that would directly affect grades. This was when things truly began.
“Let me explain the content of the performance evaluation.”
As she gave the signal, the TA activated a mana projector. A large image of some monstrous creature was projected before the students.
“This is…!”
Even Simon recognized the monster.
Cyclopes.
A mid-level, one-eyed monster known for its immense strength. It mainly inhabited the western mountains of the continent and reigned as the king of the peaks.
“Yes, your next opponent is none other than the Cyclops.”
The students’ jaws dropped open.
Isn’t this skipping way too many steps?
“Here are the rules. You and your teammates will enter the underground dungeon within Keyzen and work together to defeat the Cyclops.”
There were sighs of relief as the students heard they would be entering with their teams.
“However, only one student will directly face the Cyclops. The other three will stand in set positions to support their teammate or weaken the monster. Direct attacks using black magic are forbidden for these three.”
Murmur, murmur, murmur.
The three students in set positions couldn’t use offensive black magic. That meant this wasn’t even a true 4-on-1.
Jane continued her explanation.
“Debuffs like exhaustion, restraints, and blindness are, of course, allowed. If the monster takes damage incidentally from these, it will count as a valid attack. Haemotology-induced bleeding and Toxicology’s poison effects are also allowed. Naturally, summoned creatures may also attack.”
“But direct offensive spells cast by necromancers, like Smite from Magical Combat or Blood Arrows from Haemotology, are prohibited. The exact criteria will be detailed in a handout distributed by the TAs after class.”
The students nodded with serious expressions.
“The student entering combat will be protected by a powerful black magic shield under supervision by Keyzen’s safety personnel. The grading criteria include: successful subjugation of the Cyclops, speed of subjugation, safety, teamwork, creativity, and the proficiency of the black magic used.”
She looked around at the now silent students and concluded.
“To face a Cyclops, you’ll need to push your abilities to the limit over the next week. Don’t skim through any class, master every bit you can and apply it to the performance evaluation. That’s all. Any questions?”
Countless hands shot up across the room. Jane pointed to the student in the front.
“This is Jaime Victoria! W-we’re not really fighting an actual Cyclops, right? I heard Keyzen has a virtual battle simulation system, so maybe we’ll…?”
“It’s a real, living, breathing Cyclops, freshly captured from the western continent.”
Jane replied coldly.
“You will be required to sign a life waiver before taking the performance evaluation.”
At those words, Jaime’s face darkened instantly.
“Still, due to the restraints of curses and the effects of tranquilizers, it’ll be weaker than a Cyclops you’d encounter in the wild. Next question.”
“I’m Scott Snyder! You said whether or not we succeed in hunting the Cyclops will be graded, but… what happens if we fail to defeat it?”
“A failed hunt, regardless of other criteria, results in the lowest possible score. If there are multiple failed teams, your ranking will be determined in comparison with them based on the evaluation factors.”
A heavy silence fell over the lecture hall.
“There are three conditions under which a team will be judged to have failed. First, if the participating team member becomes incapacitated. Second, if the professor or safety personnel determine that the battle can no longer continue. Third, if any one of you raises your hand and declares that you forfeit the test. Next question.”
Students continued raising their hands and firing questions, and Jane answered each one without pause.
In fact, most of the students’ questions were similar, and by the time five more had been answered, all raised hands had gone down.
“I believe Class A has two more Elementary Black Magic classes this week. In the first, each team will present their strategy for hunting the Cyclops. In the second, as Jaime mentioned earlier, you’ll adjust to the feel of real combat through a simulated battle against the Cyclops. Then, the third class next week will be the real thing.”
The word real filled the classroom with tension. Jane checked her wristwatch.
“During the remaining time, you’ll discuss your Cyclops hunting strategy with your teammates. First, decide who will participate directly, and prepare in a way that fully draws out the power of the other three supporting members. I’ll be here, so come up if you have questions.”
Jane finished speaking and sat down heavily in her chair. The TAs clapped their hands.
“Alright, students! Begin!”
As if they had been waiting for it, chatter erupted all around the classroom. Dick and Maelyn leaned eagerly toward the table.
“…As expected from Professor Jane. Going straight to a live monster battle the moment the protection period ends? Brutal.”
Dick said. Maelyn’s eyes sparkled.
“I love it. My heart’s pounding! Now it finally feels like I’m really at Keyzen.”
Simon looked around once, then spoke.
“Let’s make a plan too. Does anyone want to volunteer to face the Cyclops directly?”
Maelyn shot her hand up. In the process, she smacked Dick next to her, making him yell out, “Ack!”, but she didn’t even notice, eyes shining.
“Me! I want to do it!”
“Are you confident?”
“I’m the strongest one here. Obviously, I should be the one.”
Dick rubbed his cheek and glared at Maelyn.
“Hey, hey! This isn’t something to decide so simply. We need to think strategically! If you ask me, this performance evaluation is practically rigged in favor of teams with Magical Combat applicants.”
“I agree with that.”
Kamibarez quietly sided with Dick.
“Cyclops attacks are heavy and hard to block with black magic defense. It uses up too much Darkness. Dodging is the best option.”
Simon subtly turned his head to check on other teams.
It seemed the others were thinking the same. Magical Combat applicants who had struggled to join teams earlier were now confidently sharing their opinions. Most teams with a Magical Combat member were likely going to send them in as the front-line fighter.
“No, I think the opposite.”
Maelyn calmed her expression again and crossed her arms.
“Did you forget? Only the participating team member can directly attack the Cyclops. What offensive spells do the Magical Combat students even have right now? Punching it over and over with a Darkness-enhanced fist? How are they supposed to kill a Cyclops with a thick hide that way?”
“Ah…!”
“That’s definitely a problem.”
As Kamibarez and Simon agreed, Maelyn smirked and leaned back in her chair.
“Then, Maelyn, do you have a way to take down the Cyclops?”
“Of course I do, Kami.”
She confidently smiled and held out her palm.
A magic circle formed above her palm, and black flames surged from it. Kamibarez let out an awed gasp.
“Dark Flare from the Darkness elemental spells. Satisfied?”
“Amazing! You’ve already mastered that spell…”
Dick still found Maelyn’s smugness annoying, but even he had to admit, Dark Flare was impressive.
“Alright, let me explain my plan.”
Extinguishing the black flame, Maelyn leaned forward.
“I’ll face the Cyclops and incinerate it with Dark Flare. The three of you will go all-in on curses! Keep stacking Exhaust curses to slow the Cyclops down, and I’ll reduce it to ashes in one clean sweep!”
Dick crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
“That plan makes you shine, but what about us? So you’re the main fighter while we’re just back there spamming curses like machines?”
“Then what’s a better plan than this? Go ahead, tell me.”
Dick was momentarily speechless, unable to come up with something better, but he countered by twisting the point.
“Your plan assumes you can dodge the Cyclops’s attacks while casting Dark Flare. Can you really avoid them?”
“What’s there to dodge?”
“From what I’ve seen, your stamina’s a joke. During Magical Combat class, you were gasping for air at the back of the line during running drills, and when we had to leap over that gorge, Professor Hongpeng had to help you.”
This time, Maelyn’s face turned bright red.
“T-that may be true…! No, wait! Isn’t it your job as the curse team to make sure I don’t get hit in the first place? If I get hit, that means your curses are garbage!”
“We’re not even curse specialists, you are!”
As Maelyn and Dick snarled at each other, poor Kamibarez was caught in the middle, her head whipping back and forth.
Smack!
Both of them flinched and turned their heads.
Simon had slapped the table with his palm, wearing a serious expression.
“Then let’s do it this way.”
Superb.