Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents
Chapter 51: The Island Exam [5]

Chapter 51: The Island Exam [5]

’Well, isn’t it interesting?’

Maya, seemingly reluctant to fulfill her role as the [Year II, Division B: Class Alpha]’s leader of Group 2, sensed the slight tremor in the atmosphere.

One could say that she was presently the most sensitive individual on Ranaya Island when it came to mana sensitivity.

It hadn’t been an hour at most since the first semester’s crucial exam began when her instincts assured her that something unwelcome was happening near the central region of the island.

That being said, taking up the role of a leader, or one could say forced to, Maya began to command those under her, who were occasionally glancing as they waited for their next course of action.

"Before we set up a camp, let’s divide our roles first."

Maya assessed them half-heartedly, dividing the group including herself into five squads—those who were tasked to find and procure food; those who were appointed to cut trees and build makeshift shelters; those who were given the role of securing the perimeters for any possible unwanted guests, while some were commanded to look for any source of water.

Maya continued, "It will be temporary since I have a plan. That’s why my role is... to find a dungeon."

The nineteen students looked at each other before nodding silently. No complaints were voiced. In fact, they felt more secure being led by the Infinitum’s Tower Master’s only disciple, whose specialty was altering the space.

*

Meanwhile, the battle started between Alana and Caelen—both from the Seven Hero Bloodlines.

The latter expected that the former would continue to go against him toe to toe. However, Alana’s thoughts were different, knowing that continuous fighting was not the solution to the current matter.

That’s why...

"Where do you think you’re going? You bitch! Aren’t you ashamed?!" Caelen seethed, his irritated voice reverberated.

Alana didn’t let out her thoughts. She only dodged his attacks before going for the central region of the island—specifically the historical labyrinth, the presumed purpose of the demonkind invading this place.

’Caelen attacked me openly with no regard to eyes above. It means that the surveillance artifacts throughout the island were already compromised... Then it’s possible that...’ Alana had a realization.

Even with no concrete evidence, her deduction was terrifying.

Being chased by Caelen, who was screaming at the top of his lungs, Alana fell into a dilemma—it’s a race against time.

It’s to go after the demonkind that would do something ominous or... to find and eliminate those who aligned with the demonkind among the students.

’I have to warn Sir Ragnar!’

"Seraphmire..." Just as that thought sprouted within her mind, Alana murmured.

As if recognizing the will of its master, the twin-headed golden scythe hovering beside her-

Crack... Shing!

...split itself into two.

One of the golden scythes then quickly hovered above and propelled itself in a certain direction as though it had a life of its own.

Divine weapons—especially the ones blessed by the Goddess of Light—always submitted to their masters’ will. This was not an exception as whatever Alana intended, half of Seraphmire would fulfill it.

Caelen saw the flying golden scythe getting past him, but he didn’t pay it any more attention than necessary.

His sole focus was the girl in front of him, who at this point was outpacing him at such an incredible speed.

’Damn it!! Is what her brother said really true?! No... That’s not possible! There’s just no way it’s possible!’

Caelen was a True Hero Candidate alongside Alana’s deceased brother. During this time, the latter would occasionally flaunt his young sister... and how... he didn’t want her fate to be tied by becoming a True Hero.

Unfortunately, that would only be possible if he had not perished alongside the Demon King three years ago. After all, according to the tradition of the Hero Bloodlines, even if many Demon Kings were generationally anointed by the Demon God, if the True Hero was still alive, he would continue to eradicate them throughout his lifetime.

It was a grueling divine mission for the sake of humanity.

If Alana’s brother had survived, he would have become the nemesis of the next Demon King... And if by any chance he survived again its threat, he would remain the demonkind’s nemesis... Over and over again until his last breath.

After all, the Founding Hero was known in the Abyss Lands as—the Executioner of Pure Evil. It was because he reigned as the True Hero for over three hundred years.

His name sparked fear among the demonkind, whether they were the elders, the offspring, or the children. He had slain the Demon God’s spawn without an ounce of mercy in the name of the Goddess.

"A-Alanaaaa!!!"

And now, as someone who had submitted to evil due to the unfairness of the Goddess of Light, Caelen had heard ominous talks in the shadows.

’A-Are you telling me that even when she’s yet to become a True Hero... the demonkind already recognized her as an existential threat? There’s no way I’d believe that bullshit!’

Because of such a disbelief, Caelen volunteered to blatantly expose himself and face Alana for the greater plan—the awakening of someone... or something in this very island.

His scream continued to echo as his patience ran thin.

’I don’t want to expel mana at this point, but you give me no choice!’

"Blinking Light."

Caelen’s figure abruptly vanished. Similar to light that illuminated the world, his body disintegrated and momentarily assimilated itself to it.

It was as if he came one with light to cover the distance between him and Alana in almost an instant.

It was not a simple blink. After all, he could only target distances that were being brightened by the sky as feasible coordinates.

It’s a talent weak against total darkness.

Sensing Caelen’s presence that seemed to have glitched among spaces being illuminated by the afternoon sun, Alana was momentarily taken aback.

She had never underestimated him. Not even once.

However, it was too late as Alana’s composure quickly returned just as the intricate golden lance was about to reach her behind.

"SERAPHMIRE—!!"

At that moment, the other part of the scythe floating with her suddenly glowed, steadying itself vertically as something sun-like manifested from it—a portal!

Caelen’s vision was disrupted, causing his attack to falter.

"Wh-what!?"

Whoosh!

Just as the corrupted lance was about to pierce in Alana’s direction, her body was consumed by the golden light.

Woom!

Silence stood still where Caelen was standing.

Veins bulged in his forehead, and as he gnashed his teeth, Caelen shouted in fury as his gaze met the serene sky.

"You coward bitch!! Alanaaaaa—!!!"

*

Divine Weapons had at least one ability of their own.

In Seraphmire’s case, the twin-headed scythe could separate itself into two. Each one could then serve as a gateway to two different points, as it could conjure a sun-like portal known as the [Sun Door].

With that said, Alana arrived at where the other scythe she let go had traveled—to the main camp for the personnel of the Island Exam, where they were previously assembled one last time.

Appearing in everyone’s supposedly starting point, she was greeted by an unwelcome scenery.

"S-Sir Ragnar?"

Taking a cigar out of his mouth, blowing a smoke, Sir Ragnar, covered in blood, surprisedly looked at the sudden appearance of the student.

"What happened here?"

It was not just him, professors were all drenched in blood... and the perpetrators were...

"Are they the crew of Koatz? From the Kingdom of Grisha?"

Since becoming a professor of the Hero Academy was no mere joke, the prowess of the professors accompanying the students was exceptional.

However, as they were caught off guard, some of them were critically wounded, causing Alana’s composure to shake.

Noticing this, Sir Ragnar asked,

"How are you..."

"The demonkind." Alana’s cold voice cut him off; he sensed an unusual spirit surging from her demeanor.

"The students are in danger."

Stopping to take this specific individual as a mere student, Sir Ragnar’s expression hardened.

The ones who attacked the main camp didn’t display any kind of evil power. But as the True Hero Candidate, he didn’t question Alana’s words spoken with conviction.

"..."

"We need to contact-"

This time around, Sir Ragnar interjected.

"We are cut off from the world as of this moment." His gaze then landed on one area, which Alana followed.

There, numerous communication artifacts were shattered to oblivion, which could be said to be the ambushers’ main objective.

"We have to save anybody we can." He added.

Alana bit her lip.

’Anybody... Not everybody...?’ Her thought was a mess.

"Rest here and find any way to contact the Hero Academy. I’m sure they’ll notice that something’s wrong with the communication artifacts..."

"There’s a problem." Sir Ragnar continued, sensing the restlessness in Alana’s demeanor.

"We are only tasked to report the progress of the exam after the third day. It means that unless something happened outside of this island that needed our attention... The academy would not in any way contact us first until the third day of the exam."

Alana’s purple eyes seemed to darken, but it was something the professor didn’t notice as it was momentary.

"...Tend to the wounded and find a way to leave this place."