The white light faded entirely, leaving behind the yellow glow of the academy lamps.
The smell of blood from the simulation vanished, replaced quickly by the scent of the academy's polished floor.
Being pulled back into the normal world felt like waking up from a terrible fever dream.
You know you are safe, but your heart is still beating fast.
All around the vast training hall, the freshman students started grabbing onto each other.
Some fell directly to their knees, crying silently into their hands, while others just hugged their friends tightly.
They had finally escaped what seemed like a guaranteed death sentence to a bunch of unblooded newbies.
The older students, both second and third years, walked among the crowd to console them.
They patted shaking shoulders and kept repeating the same tired lines, saying an experience like this is actually crucial for our growth.
They claimed that when we finally dive into a real cave next month, this trauma would help us keep our minds stable.
'What a load of garbage,' I thought to myself, rubbing my sore neck.
You do not prepare someone for a fight by throwing them at a boss monster unarmed.
"Attention." Professor Blaze cleared his throat loudly.
His voice echoed perfectly across the wide room, making all the crying students turn and stand perfectly still.
"This was not the outcome we expected today. The academy's top medical mages will treat all of you immediately for any lingering physical or mental damage."
'Not exactly what I expected either,' I muttered under my breath.
The main plot of this world is operating way too fast.
Does the cult leader Anasthesia have the ability to come back in time, too?
How many different people actually regressed to make such changes to the original storyline?
Or what if this is not a regression at all, but a completely different timeline playing out from the start?
My mind raced frantically, going through every single possible solution for this mess.
It is definitely time I started securing real abilities and advanced combat skills from the system.
I simply cannot afford to exhaust my entire core with basic, unpowered sword strikes anymore.
While I was busy analysing the dull aches spreading through my body and the slight trembling of my right hand, a sound echoed through the tense air.
Ding!
The LED screen floating right in the centre of the training hall suddenly lit up bright blue.
It displayed the official trial results for everyone to see.
==== [Individual Trial Rankings]
1 - Shane Newman: 1900 Points
2 - Mia Daithene: 1350 Points
3 - Zephyr Myloth: 1300 Points
4 - Raven Seahorn: 1200 Points
5 - Melissa Aviant: 1200 Points
6 - Lucian Maxith: 1150 Points
7 - Kiara Vasylia: 1100 Points
Of course, the board only showed the top seven scorers.
"Ahh, seriously, dude?" a boy near the back groaned loudly, dragging his hands down his face.
"I was totally sure I would make at least the top twenty this time."
Frantic whispers quickly spread among the surviving students.
For the majority who did not appear on the main screen, their black bracelets beeped softly, displaying their individual placement and final scores on the tiny glass screens.
Zephyr kept his eyes glued to the stone ground for a long while.
He looked completely drained of life.
Then, he slowly tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling, letting out a long breath. His body was still recovering from the severe aftereffects of the broken test.
Almost immediately after looking at the board, everyone's eyes slowly turned toward my direction.
Leading by such a ridiculously large margin had an unexpected side effect.
The ambitious second-year students, the ones who were fighting over me just a few hours ago, were now completely hesitant to even walk near me.
My score was simply too high.
They realised I was not just a strong pawn they could easily recruit and bully for their little academy factions.
"You will be awarded according to your final ranks next week," Blaze started speaking again, breaking the awkward, staring silence.
"Dormitory assignments will be officially changed tomorrow morning for the top rankers. Your assigned seniors will guide you on those specific matters. Go take a long rest. Tomorrow, your regular classes will happen as scheduled."
A collective sigh swept through the remaining freshmen.
Going back to boring classroom lectures right after surviving a literal hell event felt completely absurd to them.
I did not care about classes right now.
I just wanted a hot shower and a soft bed.
Before turning to the exit, I glanced over toward the far corner of the room.
Melissa was standing quietly, holding Mia tightly by her small hand.
My eyes lingered on her for a long moment, trying to read her posture.
Then, almost as if she could physically sense my stare, she slowly turned her head and looked at me.
She was not smiling.
She was not even reacting to the loud environment around her.
Her face held an expression so blank and still that it was hard to think she was the one making it.
It was like looking at a creepy statue.
Then, a slow, unnatural smile stretched across her lips.
I turned around and walked straight out of the large doors.
'Finally, I am getting out of that stupid, cramped commoner dorm room,' I thought, focusing on the only good thing to come out of today.
The cool air of the academy hallway felt amazing against my bruised skin.
"Uh, excuse me, Student Shane."
"Hmm?" I stopped walking and looked to my left.
A short, green-haired senior stood nervously near the large stone pillar.
She was wearing round glasses and extending a crumpled piece of notice paper toward me.
Her hands were shaking visibly.
She was clearly not a combat person, probably a scholar track student who drew the very short straw to recruit out here in the hallway.
"Would you, um, would you like to join our library club?" she asked, her voice squeaking just a little bit.
She looked like she expected me to yell at her.
Being in a quiet club with unrestricted access to the academy's hidden archives is exactly what I need right now.
It is the perfect cover to research the changes in the timeline without drawing unwanted attention from the combat instructors or faction leaders.
"Sure," I nodded, taking the paper from her trembling hands and giving her a polite nod.
"Sign me up."