Chapter Ten — The Beginning of Phase One
Narrated by Valen Veridian
The battlefield was silent, yet the sound of clashing eyes was heard in the minds of warriors.
Marcus Alderwood, after successfully interrupting the clash between Galahad and Siegfried, stood tall. The allies of Marcus pointed their swords at Siegfried and Galahad, yet both were exhausted to the point where they didn't have enough strength for retaliation. They both lay on the ground in a miserable condition. Marcus looked at both of them and prepared his face to speak. He spoke in a deep voice, "Both of you will join me now, because you have been defeated."
After hearing his words, Siegfried sighed and replied in a weak voice, "I don't have a problem with you taking advantage. Strategy is needed in war and life—it doesn't matter where you are. But you could have at least let us finish the duel." Hearing his words, Galahad agreed with a nod.
Marcus heard Siegfried's response and replied further in a friendly voice, "My apologies, friends. I won't do it again."
After hearing the full conversation between them, one of Marcus' old allies frowned and looked at him in disbelief. He said, "You can't... You cannot do this to us, Marcus. We are the ones who helped you in the first place, and now you are abandoning us?"
Looking at their situation, Galahad remembered the time when he came to the academy a few days ago and the words told by the instructor.
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Flashback
Many rising stars of the empire, who had already made names for themselves—and also an unimaginable amount of unknown names—gathered outside the gates of the Imperial Academy, ready to leave a mark on the history of the Empire.
Some sought to destroy the world of illusions, while some lived in the memories of those illusions, comfortably.
Some were destined to shine as bright as a dying star in their final breaths of life, while others were destined to be forgotten.
Some wanted to destroy everything they hated, while others wanted to protect it—because it was the only part of themselves still alive.
Some already had everything they desired, while others were forced to swallow the glory they didn't want.
Some sought knowledge, while others were rotting in the memories of glory—hating even the concept.
Yet all of them knew one thing: they needed to survive for their dreams to come true.
And one among them sacrificed himself for his dreams, becoming the first beacon—whose light would provide the world courage and eliminate darkness.
As everyone stood at the gates of the Imperial Academy, the moment they had waited for came.
The gates of the academy opened.
A tall, muscular man with a bald head and several scars on his face stepped out of the academy and reached the stage in one giant leap. Then he spoke to the contenders and told them about the pre-trial.
He started to explain about the first phase:
> "The first phase will teleport you to the virtual space where the trial will be held. There, you will need to gather 3 points to pass.
For the first 3 points, you will need to claim a base.
After that, to gain more points, you will need to defeat another team—which will give you 3 more points.
After defeating the team, you can recruit one player from their side.
A team will have a maximum of 5 members—you can have less if you want.
Now, do you have any questions?"
One boy raised his hand and asked a question in a voice loud enough to reach the instructor.
The instructor shifted his gaze toward him and said, "Go for it."
After the instructor's approval, the boy asked,
> "I have two questions. First, are there any rewards for the trials—or for anyone who passes the test first?
Second, what happens to the other members when the team leader chooses someone else? And what happens to those who fail the tests?"
All the participants locked their gazes on the instructor.
Then the instructor replied:
> "The answer to the first question is simple—the Imperial Academy is the biggest reward in the Empire.
As for the second:
Those who contribute the least to their team are replaced by those the leader chooses.
And if you get eliminated from any phase, your life is ruined.
You can't enroll in another academy ever again."
Hearing the instructor's answers, all of the cadets were shocked.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Half of them gave up on the spot and started to walk away.
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Present Point of the Story
The scene shifted back to the area where all of Marcus' allies were present.
Galahad looked at Marcus and his allies—and felt pity for them.
When Marcus was faced with the question from one of his old teammates, he looked at him and pointed to two guys in his group.
Then he spoke in a provoking tone:
> "Those two have done nothing but be a burden to us.
They're useless pieces.
I will replace them with the kings."
Hearing his words, the two participants Marcus had chosen to remove were broken.
They got on their knees and begged Marcus to reconsider.
One of them started kowtowing in front of Marcus and said in a pitiful voice:
> "I beg you, Marcus.
Please don't choose them over me.
I won't be able to reach my dreams if you do this. Please... don't..."
Marcus stood there like a mountain, unfazed by his cries.
He looked at the boy and spoke in a heavy voice:
> "So you want me to destroy another person's dreams...
Because you were so useless, so wasted, that you couldn't contribute while organizing your dreams.
Because you were so undisciplined that you couldn't prove yourself to your team—or even to your own dreams.
Listen to me:
If you had been more useful, you could have survived.
Yet despite all of this, you want me to choose you over them?"
After his cold words, he turned to Galahad and Siegfried and proceeded to officially select them.
The boys who were eliminated noticed their bodies disappearing.
As a final effort, they gripped their swords and proceeded to attack Marcus.
To no one's surprise, he eliminated them instantly.
Looking at their end, the remaining members looked at him—and they understood.
They had to do something for themselves…
or they would be next.
Marcus turned to Siegfried while Galahad was deep in thought.
Galahad mumbled to himself:
> "So this is the price for victory…
Sacrificing someone's life… and dreams."
Then Siegfried asked Marcus how he knew about their location.
Marcus revealed to them how he manipulated Linven.
Both of them were impressed.
But what they didn't know…
was that a lone huntress was watching them as her prey.
And above all of them—above the clouds—there was a flying griffon, and on its back stood two figures watching everything unfold.
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End of Chapyer Ten