"This is the final test of the day!" Conrad, the exam commentator, shouted into an amplifying crystal sphere. Beside him, a mana screen broadcast the event live. "You are now watching the Promotion Exam and the 5th BMAT. Ah, and just as I was saying!"
вЂTMKWOOOOOOOAR!вЂTM
From the sky, Hector, transformed into a black dragon, let out a deafening roar. His opponent, a white deer wielding a thousand tentacles, was a virtual recreation of the ‘Dungeon LordвЂTM from their previous expedition.
The black dragon streaked through the air, spitting rapid bursts of breath, but the Dungeon Lord evaded each one with agile leaps.
The Dungeon Lord counterattacked. A thousand white tentacles surged through the sky like a blizzard, but Hector only dove faster, unleashing another volley of breath.
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible! HeвЂTMs dodging every single attack!"
"Hector iz one of the ztudentz who haz grown the mozt at Kizen," Hongfeng remarked from her seat, a pleasant smile on her face. "Inztead of relying on the privilegez of the Moore family, he achieved top-clazz gradez in all zubjectz through excruciating effort. Hiz ability to perform under any circumztance iz the driving force that brought him to the final ten and to thiz Dungeon Lord tezt."
"I see!"
The commentator, who had been listening to HongfengвЂTMs accented speech with a goofy grin, straightened his expression at a signal from a broadcast assistant. An unexpected variable had occurred.
HectorвЂTMs breath had struck the rushing tentacles, exploding in a cloud of smoke that momentarily obscured his vision.
вЂTMStab!вЂTM
Seizing the opportunity, tentacles shot through the smoke and pierced the Corpse DragonвЂTMs wings.
"Aah—!"
A collective gasp went through the parents watching on the screen.
"With his wings disabled, HectorвЂTMs flight has been neutralized! This is a true shame. He was so close—huh?"
The commentator trailed off, his eyes widening. As the smoke cleared, the tattered wings and scales were split open like a shed snakeskin, the center completely empty.
"H-HeвЂTMs gone! Where is Student Hector—!"
вЂTMFwoosh!вЂTM
Hector burst from the smoke, having shed the remnants of his dragon form. He descended in his human state, clasping his hands together.
<Hector Original – ‘RuptureвЂTM>
вЂTMThwack!вЂTM
His fists slammed into the boss monsterвЂTMs head. Black magic flared with a dull thud. As the monster staggered back from the concussive blow, Hector lunged forward, closing the distance as if to embrace it.
<‘CaumaвЂTM>
His shirt was torn to shreds, revealing four curse magic circles etched onto his body. The curse began to raise the temperature of both Hector and the monster.
"Grrrraaaah!" Hector roared.
The commentatorвЂTMs jaw dropped.
"S-Such tenacity! Student Hector is using his entire body to activate the curse!"
"A zmart decizion," Hongfeng noted. "‘CaumaвЂTM iz a high-temperature curze, and that Dungeon Lord iz extremely vulnerable to changez in itz internal temperature. Look. It canвЂTMt control itz tentaclez!"
Just as she said, the tentacles wrapped around HectorвЂTMs body had gone limp.
"But wonвЂTMt Hector be in danger himself?!" the commentator asked urgently.
"Student Hector, who shoots scorching Dragon Breath, has a natural resistance to heat. He can endure it!"
Just then, Hector threw his head back and, with a vicious snap, sank his teeth into the Dungeon LordвЂTMs neck.
вЂTMSplurt!вЂTM
A spray of blood erupted. The spectators were left speechless. To bite a monster with his bare teeth, not even in dragon form!
"Gulp! Grrrr!"
вЂTMSplurt!вЂTM
As his teeth dug deeper, another torrent of blood gushed out. The commentatorвЂTMs face flushed with excitement.
"He broke through! He broke through its neck with human teeth!"
Finally, the tentacles around Hector went slack. Still holding the Dungeon Lord, he bent his knees and launched himself into the air.
вЂTMFwoooosh!вЂTM
Reaching the apex of his ascent, Hector released the monster and spread his arms. The empty shell of the Corpse DragonвЂTMs wings and scales fitted themselves to his body like armor, transforming him back into a black dragon.
вЂTMHiss!вЂTM
Hector held his breath and arched his back. His abdomen bulged, the energy rippling upwards through his chest and esophagus until, as his draconic jaws opened, a blazing flame of Jet-Black erupted.
<‘Dragon BreathвЂTM>
With a roar like a cannon, a full-power Dragon Breath slammed the falling Dungeon Lord into the ground, detonating on impact. The heat incinerated the surrounding grass. The earth cracked, and trees swayed violently.
вЂTMThud!вЂTM
Hector landed and looked to the sky. A new message appeared before him.
<Success – 21 minutes, 07 seconds. New Record Achieved. 1st Place.>
"Student Hector! Student Hector finishes the make-up promotion exam with the highest score!"
The black dragon let out a triumphant roar.
Three hours later.
"And now! LetвЂTMz welcome to the ztage Ztudent Hector, who pazsed the bozz battle tezt in firzt place!"
Hector walked onto the stage to the fervent cheers of the audience. Hongfeng clapped from behind him.
"Welcome! That waz a performance that had uz on the edge of our zeatz! Haha!"
The commentator laughed cheerfully as he approached Hector, but he flinched when their eyes met.
An aura. Perhaps it was because he had just witnessed the fight, but he felt an unapproachable presence from the seventeen-year-old boy. His toned, muscular body was a monument to his training, covered in the calluses and scars of his effort. The commentator felt a profound respect for him that transcended age.
"An upset has occurred! Defeating Serne Maer, whom everyone expected to take first place, by a margin of just a few seconds, you have passed the make-up promotion exam with the highest score! Student Hector, a word, please!"
Taking the amplifying crystal sphere from the commentator, Hector quietly closed his eyes, then opened them. He stared intently at the magic camera.
"Are you watching?"
His voice was a low, steady rumble.
"Even if I pass a pathetic test like this with the highest score, you, who has already secured first place, are probably lying comfortably in the hospital ward."
The crowd began to murmur. The commentator, sensing a sensational story, practically lit up.
"Ah! First place would be Student Simon Polentia! Do you perhaps have any complaints about him securing first place...?"
As he asked, the commentatorвЂTMs mouth snapped shut. Hector was glaring at him with murderous intent. Struck dumb, the commentator averted his gaze.
"No Kizen student," Hector declared, raising the crystal sphere, "has any complaints about Simon PolentiaвЂTMs first place."
"...Ah."
"He risked his life to protect us. To come here, defeat some pathetic fake Dungeon Lord, and challenge his position is..."
The corner of HectorвЂTMs mouth lifted into a sneer.
"A disgusting thing to do."
The audience fell silent. The commentator broke out in a cold sweat. Hector stared into the camera once more.
"I worked like a madman to catch up to you. And now that the first year is over, you are the only one above me."
His large fist clenched.
"YouвЂTMd better keep your promise, Simon Polentia."
At the same time.
"Hah! Hah!"
Simon, dressed in his patient gown, was sweating profusely as he trained in his hospital room. With no mana screen, he was completely unaware of HectorвЂTMs interview. He just trained. Right now, he was doing one-handed push-ups, his other arm behind his back.
[Mwahaha! To think youвЂTMre training even now,] PierвЂTMs clone remarked. [Why not wait until youвЂTMve fully recovered?]
"Hah!вЂTM IвЂTMm... вЂTMhuffвЂTM... not overdoing it!"
Finally managing the last push-up, Simon collapsed onto the floor. PierвЂTMs voice was filled with disbelief.
[Your first year is over. A new skill, physical training... what are you working so hard for?]
Lying flat on his back, Simon answered, "ThereвЂTMs still a long way to go. I need to get the legion recognized, and I have to defeat Magnus."
[Indeed.]
"Of course, thereвЂTMs another reason."
Simon raised a hand, the infirmary ceiling visible between his fingers.
"I promised Hector weвЂTMd settle things before the break."
[Mwahaha! You mean the boy who turns into a dragon!]
"Yes. Since I canвЂTMt use Herseva anymore, I have to make up for it with the ‘ChaosвЂTM I just acquired."
Lying down, Simon spread his palms. Divinity in one hand. Cloud in the other. He then brought his hands together, creating Chaos, a violent vortex of the three powers. He could manage this much easily now.
[But, boy,] Pier suddenly interjected.
[IsnвЂTMt it more dangerous to be discovered using Divinity than to be revealed as a Lord Commander?]
"Of course," Simon affirmed. "ThatвЂTMs why the ultimate goal of ‘ChaosвЂTM isnвЂTMt just to cycle between Divinity and Jet-Black, but to create an entirely new, third form of magic."
He was constantly adjusting the proportions of Jet-Black, Divinity, and blood, searching for the perfect ratio.
"Look at this."
The combination of Jet-Black and his SM-1 blood created Cloud. But as he altered the formula, a new phenomenon emerged.
"See? Divinity is mixing into the SM-1."
[Kwahaha!]
PierвЂTMs manic laughter echoed in his mind.
[YouвЂTMve made another insane discovery!]
"To be precise," Simon said with a small smile, "when Divinity moved to eliminate its antithesis, Jet-Black, I increased the ratio of the SM-1 blood that acts as a barrier. Instead of piercing the blood, Divinity began to permeate it, trying to get closer to the Jet-Black."
[Hmm!]
"In that case, wouldnвЂTMt this also be possible?" SimonвЂTMs gaze sharpened with intensity. "I could trap both Divinity and Jet-Black inside the SM-1 blood and transform them simultaneously, just like I do with Cloud."
[Indeed. Another stroke of madness!]
Simon shot upright in his bed.
"I contacted Professor Parahan and asked for any White Magic research on combining blood and Divinity. Apparently, priests have a spell that infuses blood with Divinity for healing purposes."
[Then if you learn that technique...]
"Yes." SimonвЂTMs eyes glinted with purpose. "I might be able to use Divinity at its full potential, even here in Kizen, the heartland of necromancy."
вЂTMKNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.вЂTM
A sharp rap sounded from outside the hospital room. Simon instinctively clamped a hand over his mouth before remembering ParahanвЂTMs soundproofing spell and letting out a relieved sigh.
"Yes, come in."
The door opened, and the now-familiar face of a ward attendant peeked inside.
"Um, Simon? You have a visitor. Would you like to see them?"
SimonвЂTMs eyes widened. "Pardon? I donвЂTMt have any visitors scheduled for today."
"W-Well, theyвЂTMre insisting they must see you right now..."
"Pardon the intrusion."
Before Simon could grant permission, a man strode past the attendant and into the room. He was dressed from head to toe in a pristine white suit.
"P-Professor Bahil!"
Bahil, the Cursology professor, smiled at the sight of him.
"IвЂTMm relieved to see you looking so well. May I have a word?"

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