"Well, I hope everyone is well rested! How about we continue to our next sector?"
Countless whispers within the room disappeared in an instant, and everyone in the room averted their eyes back to the injured semi-pure. On her clothing, three of the flags engraved on her changed to neon red.
They were the flags engraved for her on the second section.
"Three only? The young lady is truly extraordinary, with only three people managing to instill their flags."
'Three?! There were two more?? How? I didn't even know?!'
"Don't worry, everyone. Unlike the first test, I won't fail you. That was exclusively meant for the people on the first test. However, since the majority of you still failed the second sector, I still have to punish you all."
Clarifying the test rules further, the participants who didn't manage to use their flags in the second sector had their expressions eased, but were still wary of the punishment ahead.
"I am shortening the initial ten-minute timer by half."
The participants' once-eased expressions immediately dropped upon hearing the bombshell. And while the flag bearers' faces went down, Ena's only brightened further.
"What?! That's unfair!" A random participant exclaimed, and soon more people joined in on his complaint. Showering the room with insults directed at the speaker.
"Shut it!" The speaker's voice dominated their ears, causing them to tremble slightly at the sudden shift.
"You all are lucky I only halved the timer; if it weren't for the rules of this test, I would have gladly taken all of you out of this test. And while I still can't meddle with the rules of this test, I still have the authority to evaluate you. Keep in mind that the evaluations aren't merely based on points, but your active actions and attitudes."
The room became silent for a minute before the speaker changed her tone back to playful.
"Well then, now that that's settled, how about we start the third sector?"
'I heard about bipolar people like these, but I didn't think I'd meet one of them. At least she isn't entirely like Kilian, only playing people all the time.'
Simultaneously, a timer set to five minutes presented itself from thin air.
While others were hesitant to rush toward Ena, knowing that the second restraint had been broken, they grew wary of her, especially after her power surged tremendously only after one restraint was broken.
Then, a volunteer rushed forward.
'This guy again!!'
It was the same person who first rushed toward Ena in the first sector. And also the same person who was elected to be her teammate during the previous test, too.
'Zaid!'
Earlier, when Ena had figured out that two more people other than Joules managed to instill their flags, she was honestly quite shocked. But soon came to terms with that reality. What she couldn't accept was that the amount exceeded what she expected, which was two.
Among those two was Joules himself, and the other, whom she suspected was Ranya, who had close contact with her at the time.
But the final one she suspected was none other than Zaid. Little information was known about him by Ena. It was true that Zaid participated in the team battle, but she had yet to witness him use his ability. That fact alone made him the person Ena was most wary of.
For Zaid himself had witnessed Ena's ability.
'Information-based ability or stealth… It's either one of the two. It might even be a skill.'
Without a breath of hesitation, Ena swung her blade at Zaid. However, after a quick realization, she soon realized what she struck was nothing more than air.
Zaid had vanished.
And soon, it didn't take long till she figured out he was behind her, instilling his flag on her shoulder without even a single effort.
'So it was him.'
From then on, she realized that the biggest nuisance of all was none other than the person named Zaid. After her encounter with him, she was sure that the third person to engrave a flag was none other than him.
Seeing his back, she seemed rather pissed by his arrogance.
'Just because you managed to do this one time, you're suddenly a bigshot?? Did you forget I'm still the strongest here? I would know because I was elected as Headmaster!'
Ena couldn't help but express a sour expression as she saw the fleeting back of the arrogant mutt.
'Back when I first entered this test, even you were shaken when you saw me! Don't think I didn't notice it, you punk!'
Ranya, seeing this chance to strike Ena, charged at her with her great axe.
"Keep your eyes focused, you bitch!"
Ena, her gaze still fixed in a single direction, threw one of her emperor blades at the rushing midget.
Surprised by her sudden throw, Ranya planted her feet on the ground and deflected the heavy projectile away from her.
Claaang!
"When you're going to attack, don't shout it. Only dumb people do that. Then again, that title matches you."
Just inches away from her was Ena, her eyes emitting a soft red hue, before her stomach was met with a kick.
Gasping for air, Ranya instinctively released her grip on her axe and placed it on her abdomen. Ranya, feeling an unbearable force on her abdomen, stumbled a few steps before she regained most of her composure. Glancing back, she saw Ena preparing to send a downward slice using her own axe against her.
Ranya's face paled at the sight, still in a state where she couldn't move.
"Seriously… For someone who can't even take a kick in my current state, why go through the trouble of calling yourself a warrior?" Recalling her declaration during the previous test.
"Don't worry, this time in this test, I don't need to vent my frustrations. And also, I won't kill you, at least, not yet."
Ena plunged her own great axe all the way to the floor. However, it wasn't a result she expected.
Juliette and Joules pulled Ranya just before the axe could separate her into two. Amidst the swing, they were early enough to save Ranya's arm, but also late to save the grazed flesh from the axe.
Ranya, who was in a daze during the swing, regained most of her composure as she continued to be pulled by her allies.
Amidst her rationality, the groan that was delayed finally escaped her lips. With it, she bit her lip to endure the pain, but having most of the flesh torn away from her shoulder was too painful an injury for her to endure.
As they scrambled to pick up their injured ally, a blade was on its way to Juliette's collar.
Joules immediately intervened, deflecting the blade from the side before picking up Ranya and fleeing to create distance.
Not wanting to waste more of her breath, Ena picked up the axe that lay on the ground, then threw it at the trio escaping.
'Calling herself a warrior when she couldn't even hold her axe properly. Other than her unnatural strength, she's no better than a dull.'
Thinking to herself, she dodged every one of the other flag bearers with considerable ease. Glancing to her right, she looked at the timer that had followed her the whole test.
[1:42… 1… 0…]
'I've regained enough to avoid these people. There's no need to worry about them anymore. The only ones I have a problem with are those four using them as bait…
It's better to take care of them now before—'
On her way, a sharp pain spread throughout Ena's entire being, causing her mind to turn white. Her vision blurred for a moment as she tried to find the cause of that pain.
She spread her hand to touch the injury, and soon she found the blade lodged within her shoulder.
'What…?'
She shifted her gaze to her back, curious about the person who had bypassed her vision and then attacked her.
"You really are proving to be the biggest nuisance in this test, Zaid."
Familiar tiger-like eyes met her glaring gaze. Not wasting more time than needed, Zain twisted his blade and disconnected her arm completely from her upper body. In that same instant, he took that arm and threw it at the other flag bearers to collect.
The arm rolled on the ground with her blood splattering everywhere on the floor.
There, one participant made their way to the arm, their eyes as cautious as everyone else's.
[0:46… 45… 44…]
On the 40th second, the same man who appeared cautious brought their hand forward, touching the reddened cloth for three seconds until a red flag appeared on her sleeve.
"…!"
The participants' eyes glimmered with joy as each one of them gathered around her severed arm. With the timer soon closing in on its 20th mark, they all fought for the 'first-come, first-served' pick.
All of them fought, barely even making it past the three-second mark. However, some managed to.
[0:00]
In the exact moment, the exact moment where the timer hit zero, her severed arm had been covered with flags all over. The total flags she had accumulated had now reached 24.
Ena, seeing her arm torn away from her body, made her jaw clench until she began leaking blood from the corner of her lips.
Both Zaid and Ena looked at each other, filled with contempt.
In Ena's mind, it was natural for her to have a severed limb during the test; in fact, she had expected it to happen. After all, she had planned to do it to the other participants as well, knowing she was restricted from killing.
"…"
However, having Zaid intervene despite already passing the overall test with three flags made her feel a sense of rage she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Hoho… Something interesting just happened."
The tone of the speaker changed as her voice rang through the room.
"So one of you finally passed… But that same person still dared to injure the Headmaster."
Kekeke…
"You know, not a lot of people do that, not saying that it's wrong, but none of them were brave enough to sever an arm completely. Actually, I praise something like this. There has never been a rule that you can't injure the headmaster after raising three flags…"
Ena's eyes twitched as she continued to listen to the speaker.
"And also never a rule that a severed limb doesn't count as a way to instill a flag. There was always an option to stay in the test despite having all three flags, to earn more points. Be proud, a person with that mindset will surely survive in the real world. Oh, to be young again~."
"…"
Ena snickered, rolling her eyes before taking her steps. From there, she made her way to the crowd and brushed past the multiple participants, taking her severed hand from the ground.
"Two more sectors to go. Hah… It's been a while since something this interesting happened. It's going to be hard to move on from this headmaster~."
"Start the next sector," Ena said, her eyes directed at the ceiling.
"…!"
Everyone in the room widened their eyes, shock creeping its way onto their faces as they gazed at the semi-pure.
"What?! You can't just decide that on your own!" one participant shouted.
"Yeah, that's right!!"
Soon, most of the participants were showering Ena with complaints and insults while she remained silent.
Through gritted teeth, Ena counted all the flags within her sleeve, her eyes turning more bloodshot with each number. And by her 3rd count, she could no longer deny her predicament.
"24..." She was down to her last flag.
'Right now, I only have one more chance left. Tsk, because of that bastard, I'm in a spot where I can fail at any moment. Hmph, like I'll give people like them a chance to pass,' thought Ena.
"HAHA! This particular test really is better than all the others I managed. To think the Headmaster would willingly remove their own break. But fine, I'll permit your request."
The speaker giggled as she disconnected from the room. Then, simultaneously, a timer appeared to every participant, their eyes filled with confusion as they prepared themselves for the upcoming sector.
[4:59]
[The restraint of halved physicality has been lifted.]
Ena glared at the flag bearers in front of her before swinging her severed arm so hard that it turned purely into blood.
In that same beat, Ena rushed forward and severed one of the participants' legs.
'This is what I should've done from the start. But considering how weak I was, it makes sense that I couldn't.'
Continuing that rhythm, she shot her legs at another random participant, making a fleshy sound that created a space between the calf and the thigh.
While Ena's face did not have an expression, her eyes flamed with rage as she scanned the room for the bastard who had severed her arm. In her thoughts, a familiar shadow appeared at her side, preparing to thrust its blade into her.
But it was futile for Ena to grab him by the throat, not even allowing him to take a single step after his appearance. Joules groaned within her grip.
Ena watched Joules change his gaze to a new person, making Ena do the same. Behind her were two charging at her with their weapons ready.
Juliette, one of the two, focused her forearms and gaze on Ena's lingering back, and before Ena could turn her head.
Ena, sensing the arrow, turned her whole body in a full 180 and used Joules as her shield for the arrow. The impact of the arrow made Joules shriek in pain as crimson liquid sprayed out of his wound.
'There you are!!'
Ena's glare shifted to her right, throwing Joules in that direction within the same motion.
Surprised by the semi-pure's throw, Zaid quickly raised his hands to prepare for the impact.
Thud!!
Ena swung her hand in a delicate motion, glaring at the two bodies while she lunged her way in their direction. Midway through her charge, she changed her center of gravity to face her back, and there she sent one of her hidden blades that was tucked in her sleeve.
Ranya groaned in pain, her swinging motion ending with just a single blade to the shoulder.
Clang!
The surface of the axe landed on the floor, only for it to be picked up by Ena with one hand before she threw it at the archer's position.
"Hehe… It hasn't even been more than half a minute, and you've caused this much chaos already? You semi-pures really are the nuisances of every generation. Conditioned and practiced doing many things, on top of having an enormous amount of wealth and influence. I'm quite jealous, you know~."
Ena stepped toward the struggling Ranya as she tried to will herself to stand. Seeing her state, Ena couldn't care less and grabbed her collar and threw her at the ceiling.
"No one here wants to hear you talk," Ena said.
"Hoh…"
[1:59]
Multiple other participants joined their assault, surrounding Ena. Ena didn't dare to kill them; the restraint for murder was yet to be lifted, so until then, she could only sever a limb or two, costing her an enormous sum of time for each one she severed.
The room contained many scattered limbs of Ena's victims, with their owners groaning in pain as they lay flat on the cold floor.
'Did I go too far? They were even the ones I was angry with. At least they won't die in real life, anyway.'
"Well, it's too late for you to do anything anyway."
Like the previous scene, Zaid had lodged his blade on her shoulder once more, planning to sever her final arm. Ena, looking at Zaid, did nothing but watch as her arm detached from her body.
[0:05]
Ena glared at Zaid before kicking her own severed hand midair toward his stomach, as she bit through her own flesh while retreating with it right after.
[0:01… 0.]
[The restraint of abilities and skills has been lifted.]
[You are now allowed to kill.]
***
"Geez, not a single one even survived. Let alone for ten seconds."
Twelve bodies with the stench of mixed blood stained the once testing room. The four people who had once overwhelmed her in the first sector now lay dead on the floor—even Zaid wasn't able to keep up with the semi-pure in this section.
"Twenty seconds. It took you twenty seconds to clear this complete section without a drop of sweat. Now I could tell why that old man wanted me to watch you closely. You're a monster…"
'Well, I got my revenge. Honestly, it was rather fun killing them to vent my frustrations.'
"…You haven't even unlocked the peak of path divergence, let alone reached B-tier equilibrium. You're just like those crazy Andreev siblings and the other one."
"Are you just going to keep talking, or are you going to let me go to the next test?!"
"You're such a bum~ At least have some decency to talk to people. Well, I guess you would be too perfect if you were an extrovert too. But I won't hold you here any longer."
Then, right after her sentence, a white door that exuded a white aura appeared before her.
Ena didn't hesitate to turn the knob and enter her new test. Quiet giggles echoed through the room as the speaker watched Ena's fleeting figure vanish from the room.