Chapter 38: Professor Albert
When the participants entered the Void, they found themselves in a large empty space with a dark forest stretching out before them.
However, none of the awakeners were able to properly perceive their surroundings. All of them began to feel an excruciating pain slowly building up in their chests, making it harder to breathe.
Some were better at enduring the pain than others. Yet, with the exception of the male examiner who had told them to enter the Void, no one was able to keep their composure.
He bore long dark hair and piercing blue eyes that were permanently etched into a frightening frown.
"Welcome to this year’s entrance exam, future scholars. You may refer to me as Professor Albert from now on." He began his monologue, seemingly uncaring about the struggle of the awakeners.
"For those who haven’t done their homework, what you are currently experiencing is the slow exposure to corruption. As you are all well aware, the Void represents a realm of its own. Think of it as a separate dimension that effectively connects to all planets. Thanks to it, you are able to travel basically anywhere by land, as long as you can endure the dangers inside. The corruption being one of them."
While Albert was still speaking, some of the participants weren’t able to take it any longer. Their faces lost color, growing ghostly pale. Overwhelmed, they collapsed onto their knees, clutching their throats as if they were choking.
But he remained undeterred. With a flick of his hand, he moved his wand. Those who seemed on the verge of collapsing were lifted off their feet and flung backward toward the portal, straight back to where they had come from.
"This is the starting phase of the examination, and its purpose is to test how adept you are at handling the corruption. If you are about to lose consciousness, you are out."
Albert paused, taking a moment to judge each participant closely. Those who adapted to the corruption more easily tended to have higher-ranked Bloodlines and higher levels than the rest. In rare cases, some even possessed a class or simply had a determined spirit.
Leonard took slow and controlled breaths. He felt the foreign power slowly seep deep into his bones. Fortunately, the years he had spent living in the Lower Sector, where he was forced to adapt to the polluted air, played in his favor.
The sensation was essentially the same, just more intense. As for the unbearable pain, it was noticeable, yet it paled in comparison to when he underwent the awakening of his Primordial Bloodline.
"How are you holding up?" Leonard asked, glancing at Winston.
Winston raised a shaky thumbs up. He was out of breath, like he had run a marathon, yet he was faring better than the average participant.
In his case, the accumulated fat he had gathered around his body functioned like a cushion. Essentially, the larger the mass, the longer it took for the corruption to seep through.
"Who would have thought that eating all those muffins would pay off someday?" He chuckled, patting his belly.
Thanks to their conversation, they found it easier to keep it together, diverting their focus from the pain of the increasing corruption.
With each passing second, more participants were being dismissed right from the start. If they were so weak-minded that they couldn’t withstand the corruption in a controlled environment, then it was better to crush their dreams early on rather than letting them hurt themselves.
Albert waited patiently until everybody had stabilized enough to be able to stand on their own.
"More than half of the participants have been discharged. Congratulations on making it this far. Now, the real test can begin." He announced.
He pointed his wand toward the sky. Instantly, a large dome formed across the area, bringing relief to the awakeners.
[Corruption 3%]
Leonard glanced at his corruption and noted that it had stopped increasing. The examiner’s dome had halted its advance, though it didn’t decrease its influence.
"Just like the other cities, Eternia City controls a territory inside the Void: the Eternia Bastion, which provides a shield from corruption. It can be found past this forest. Those who wish to enroll in the academy must navigate through the forest and reach the other side."
Albert waved his wand a few more times. Hundreds of rings rose into the air and settled onto the fingers of the participants.
"These are teleportation rings. If you sustain a grave injury, they will save you from death, though you will have failed the examination. Additionally, any monsters you may encounter and defeat can be teleported with the ring. The value of the monster corpses will be used to assign your final score, which will determine which grade you are sorted into."
Withstanding the corruption was merely the start. Reaching the Eternia Bastion was the bare minimum to enroll. The true way the exceptional gems would be sorted by the majority was through the monsters they were able to defeat.
"Exit the dome and head toward the Eternia Bastion when you are ready. You may form parties if you wish. Keep in mind that attacking other participants will lead to instant failure... Any questions?"
One brave man raised his hand.
"Mr. Albert, how long will the test last, and is there a limit to the number of participants allowed in a party?"
Suddenly, the constant frown on Albert’s face darkened, his gaze fixing on the man who asked the question.
"The examination will last a week, and there is no limit to the number of people in a party... though that doesn’t concern you anymore since you have just failed."
"H—Huh?! B—But why?!" The participant’s face drained of color.
"...Why?" Albert repeated slowly.
Using his wand, he lifted the man high into the air, his eyes colder than ice.
"From the very first moment we met, I made it clear. It’s Professor Albert. I have not spent years in academic research and even more on the deadly battlefield just so one entitled little brat would mistitle me the first chance he gets. Basic manners are a necessity for any scholar, and you have proven that you have none."
Before the participant could plead his case, he was mercilessly hurled backward and thrown out of the Void.
Albert’s gaze fell back upon the rest.
"Any further questions?"
"..."
"Good. You may start forming parties."
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