Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents
Chapter 52: The Island Exam [6]

Chapter 52: The Island Exam [6]

The sixteen raid groups of four divisions—from first and second years—were separately transported to the four regions of the Ranaya Island.

From the east, Maya’s group settled discreetly, avoiding any possible unwanted encounter until their leader told them the next step. In this exam, caution was undeniably vital.

Aside from them, however, a certain group from Class Mu was lurking. But since the regions of the island were vast in themselves, it’s entirely possible they wouldn’t see others even throughout the exam duration.

From the north, the Imperial Princess Rosanna, along with her faction, safely arrived. However, since she didn’t have any experience living in such a seemingly primitive way, even for just an hour, ever since she was conceived in this world, Princess Rosanna used her leadership to find anyone who could take on menial roles.

Because of her status as the potential empress of the Holy Empire, even if the [Hero Academy] lived by a code of [no ’status shall reign under its watchful eye], the students under her grasp instinctively obeyed her.

At this early point of the exam, disharmony would only result in trouble, and some might even be irreversible.

Then, apart from her group, two first-year groups and another second-year group were lurking in the same region. One could say that since there were sixteen (16) groups overall, four groups were arbitrarily warped to every region aside from the center of the island.

On the other hand, the south and west were harboring the Crown Prince, Vaeron Imperius Al Divinia, and the Golden Crown Merchant’s master respectively. Even then, the commotion that immediately began after the exam kicked off seemed to have yet to reach everybody’s ears.

Although the main camp for the professors and additional facilitators was in the northern region, as one of the groups nearest to the assembly camp, the Imperial Princess had yet to discover that something was wrong in this place... and that silent battles were currently being waged against the unknown threats.

But no one knew how long that ’silence’ would last.

*

The labyrinth known as [Atlan Sphere] resembled that of an underground ruin. But since it’s a place that had already been explored and conquered, no threats of any kind remained in this place.

That’s why the journey of the individuals from the Abyss Lands, devotees of the Demon God, was terrifyingly smooth considering their purpose.

Two dozen men and women in dark cloaks, with all of their figures obscured by darkness, as their silhouette was merely illuminated by hovering spherical objects around—a kind of peculiarity borne in this labyrinth, quickly found the right place.

No one knew what these bubble-like spheres, all of which possessed the characteristic of being translucent and iridescent... At least that was the case.

"We will welcome the arrival of the Demon God’s offspring."

As if they knew every nook and cranny of the labyrinth illuminated by spherical objects swimming mid-air, which were surrounding them as though they were being thoroughly observed, the leader of the demonkind assigned for this mission continued,

"The child of apocalypse..."

In the spacious, grand-hall-like room of the labyrinth, as this once resourceful place was historically examined and proven to be an old, fallen laboratory, an enormous magic circle began to manifest on the ground.

One could say that this very place could very well be similar to a kingdom’s throne. The only difference was that—

It was an abominable structure used for untold experiments.

"Heed the call of your kind."

Azure magic circle filled with unknown runic symbols that only the demonkind could comprehend started to harmonize with corruption.

"For you are one of the Demon God’s creations. His blood is in yours. His spirit is in yours. Free us from the chains of light!"

As the twenty-four Demon God Worshippers circled the forbidden magic being cast by the demonkind leader, their chants echoed everywhere.

"The personification of His blood.

"The Evil That Laughs yet you love the sea’s serenity.

"Wake up in this world! For your mission shall be our freedom!"

It was at that moment that something happened.

The magic circle burst, shattering itself as its shards dissipated along the atmosphere.

The leader of this mission, Radakith, one of the demonkind’s High Priests, immediately noticed that something... or someone interrupted the ritual.

It was an arduous one, and the [Invitation] had yet to be fulfilled. However...

"Did Caelen lose track of the former True Hero’s sister?!"

That was the wrong answer.

"That hurts my pride, you know."

The space distorted as a girl’s amplified voice reached the worshipers’ ears.

It was Maya—whose eyes were heterochromic, an amethyst and azure. And her expression was grey—a kind of coldness she had not shown even during the threat she faced after abducting Bishop Jacob.

"I thought bugs only crawl on all fours? How dare such pests walk in this place?"

BOOM!

Without any warning, a massive dark gravity ball shook the entire labyrinth.

No...

The entire island.

*

Thirty minutes before Maya arrived in the Labyrinth of the Atlan Sphere.

Caelen Caelthorn, Alana’s cousin, who adamantly chased after her, stopped in his tracks to report the progress of the situation...

That’s what he had planned to do until the same figure he had chased surprisingly arrived to confront him.

"I see. It seems you already have an idea of where something might take place, my cousin? Well, I’d be surprised if you didn’t. After all, it’s one of the basic lessons taught to us, to anyone part of the Hero Bloodlines—that labyrinths are often the target of demonkind’s rituals."

"..."

"I should have known... I lost patience when you disappeared... Alana."

Alana’s golden eyes squinted, and her glare was boundless. It was as though she had let go of any thought.

"You have made a mistake, Caelen."

"Hah? HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Caelen, grasping a sturdy shield and lance, cackled.

"Is that perhaps a threat–"

Whoosh!

Holding the twin-headed scythe in its original form, combined and more destructive, Alana lunged forward at a speed that wouldn’t get caught by an average human.

Bang!

Anticipating the attack, though his face had a mix of surprise, Caelen smiled.

"That’s it. That’s it, Alana! Prove to me that you are worthy!"

"...?"

Bang!

Swiping the shield that blocked Alana’s weapon, Caelen caused her to jump back. Then, following that momentum, he lunged forward without holding back before his presence turned into dots of light, only to reappear behind her.

"RAAAH!"

BOOM!

The area trembled, and the surrounding trees were torn apart. It was a battle without regard for nature.

"Lance of the Golden Sky!" Caelen screamed.

His lance, made of divine metal, turned into condensed light, bathed in a bluish-white aura as if to represent the sky and the wind. It was the same, to say the least, compared to the Imperial Princess’ royal knight, Adelle’s Spear of Light that pierced Lugh into oblivion.

Following that, Caelen continued to push Alana back, who seemed to have been forced into defending.

"That expression...! I hate that expression!"

However, Alana’s eyes contained no emotion. It remained that way, seemingly unable to determine the potential danger she put herself against.

There was only one thing on her mind—why?

It was a vague, one-word thought that only her soul was aware of.

[Caelthorn Divine Lance Mastery, First Technique, Split Earth!]

Numerous illusory lances appeared behind Caelen as he rushed forward, and the immaterial-material lance in his grasp stabbed through the air, trembling the earth as the dozens of conjured lances followed.

BOOM! BOOM! BANG!

This time around, Alana didn’t remain unscathed as one of the illusory lances pierced through her right shoulder, while another one pierced her left thigh.

It made her lose her balance as she used Seraphmire to support her body from completely falling.

"I don’t understand, Alana... Are we and the other direct families of the Founding Hero not a threat to the demonkind? That only the Astraea Family Name is the one that occasionally brings fear to them?"

Caelen looked at her pathetic state, who remained silent through all of this.

"It’s laughable, really. I wonder what they will say if I bring your head to them as a token of my gratitude for granting me such an additional power."

If there’s one thing that separated the Demon God Worshippers from normal heroes, or even the True Hero when it came to mana utilization, it’s the characteristic... Or [Passive Talent] known as [Soul Penitent].

They could use their souls as mana fuel to increase their mana output and potency in exchange for turning themselves from holiness.

In other words...

Blasphemy gave them power.

"...What happened to you? Did a cat get your tongue?" Caelen was cautious.

Even if he was spouting crap or whatever was in his mind to let out his boiling rage against the unfairness of the Goddess of Light, he didn’t let his guard down against the sister of the former True Hero.

Even if he couldn’t comprehend the fear of the demonkind had... especially against someone who had yet to receive the blessing of the Goddess, Caelen didn’t underestimate her.

"Caelen..."

Some distance away from each other, Alana murmured.

"...?"

From the ground, as her blood continued to merge with the earth, Alana raised her gaze.

Meeting Caelen’s eyes, she continued,

"Since when... did you become someone I should prove my worth to?"

It was at that moment that Caelen’s vision flipped upside down.

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