How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game

Chapter 215: A New Semester A New Evaluation 5.5

Even then.

A bead of sweat trickled down her cheek as the nervousness she had been holding back started to take root.

She had known from the beginning that the academy was home to some of the most talented individuals of their generation, but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely.

The gap between them and this senior-this untouchable figure-was far greater than she had anticipated.

Her brother had warned her.

Riley had told her that his generation of students was particularly special, even calling them a ”golden generation.”

But no matter how much information she gathered, no amount of preparation could have prepared her for this.

Watching the senior-his effortless movements, the way he controlled the flow of the fight without breaking a sweat-made her realize just how wide the chasm was between herself and these students.

The young man on the stage might be even stronger than her brother for all she knew.

Trying to keep her composure, Reina decided to distract herself while she still could.

After all, soon enough her name would be called, and sheʼd be facing the very same senior on stage who had just decimated his opponent.

The tension in her chest was building, but she needed to keep herself calm before her nerves got the better of her. ”So, Vanessa... is your examination over already?” Reina asked, turning to her newfound companion in an attempt to focus on something other than her impending match.

Vanessa, who had been watching the matches with the same calm smile she always wore, nodded gently. ”Yes, my name was called rather early, so my fight ended sooner than most. Am I bothering you by being here, perhaps?”

Reina quickly shook her head, her expression softening into a small smile. ”No, not at all. Actually, I was curious...”

Since mage department students held their exam in a much more secluded area within the gigantic training grounds Reina couldnʼt see what had been going on, on their side of the exams.

She glanced down at Vanessaʼs robes, which appeared pristine-barely a wrinkle or sign of wear, much less any damage from battle.

That alone caught her attention, knowing that fights between mages were usually destructive affairs, full of explosions, energy blasts, and magical collisions. ”How did your exam go?” she asked, genuinely intrigued. ”I mean, how did your test go? If itʼs not too much to ask, of course.”

Vanessa tilted her head, her smile deepening as she saw the curiosity in Reinaʼs eyes. ”Oh, I won,” she replied nonchalantly, her tone light as if the victory had been nothing worth mentioning.

Reinaʼs eyes widened in disbelief, her eyebrows shooting up. ”Eh?.... Youʼre kidding, right?”

It wasnʼt that she doubted Vanessaʼs strength-she had no reason to-but the fact that Vanessa looked completely untouched and unbothered by what should have been a difficult battle was more than a little surprising.

Fights with seniors were meant to push first-years to their limits, and yet Vanessa seemed like sheʼd just strolled through it effortlessly.

Vanessa chuckled softly, shaking her head. ”Not at all. Though the senior I fought was a fairly tough opponent, I still won.”

She paused, a playful gleam flickering in her eyes. ”I actually got pretty lucky, to be honest. My opponent couldʼve easily been someone like the Golden Mage or the Frost Princess, and Iʼm just glad they werenʼt part of the seniors chosen to test us.”

Though the schedule for the practical examination tests within the academy had been unexpectedly changed to take place before the grand opening ceremony, the essence of the test remained unchanged.

Its purpose was still clear: to evaluate the first-year students and determine their class placements, ranks, and ultimately, their future trajectory within the academy.

It was a trial designed to push them to their limits, forcing them to face powerful seniors in combat-an almost impossible task meant to inspire and humble them all at once.

For most first-years, defeating a senior was a distant dream, something to strive toward but not realistically achieve on their first attempt.

The seniors, after all, had years of experience and training under their belts, and the gap between their power levels was evident.

But the fact that Vanessa had won her match against a senior so early on was nothing short of astounding.

It meant that she was almost guaranteed a place in the academyʼs prestigious top 10 rankings within her department and year.

Class-A and a coveted spot in Killian Hall-the elite dormitory reserved for the academyʼs best students were practically hers already.

Reina couldnʼt help but feel a mix of emotions as she processed this.

Pride for her new friend, Vanessa, certainly-but also a twinge of jealousy.

It wasnʼt that she resented Vanessaʼs success; it was more the weight of her own insecurities bearing down on her.

Glancing back at the senior she was about to face, a cold shiver ran down her spine.

The towering figure of her opponent seemed to radiate confidence, his sharp eyes and powerful stance intimidating her from even this distance.

Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, and she swallowed nervously, her palms slightly damp with sweat as she clenched her fists. ʼI just hope I do well enough...ʼ ”Reina Hell, please come to the stage.”

The sound of her name echoed across the training grounds, and Reina felt her heart skip a beat.

This was it.

Her hand instinctively gripped the handle of her blade, its familiar weight offering a sense of security, albeit a fleeting one.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Reina nodded to the test proctor, a stern-looking professor dressed in flowing robes, his gaze sharp as he observed the proceedings.

She stepped forward, passing through the shimmering barrier of the magical forcefield that encased the stage.

The energy tingled against her skin as she crossed over, a clear reminder that this was not just a simple test but a high-stakes trial where the difference between victory and failure would be felt keenly by everyone watching.

As she took her position, her eyes locked onto the senior standing before her.

His presence alone was overwhelming-tall, with jet-black hair and golden eyes that seemed to pierce right through her.

It was like he could see into her soul.

The aura he emitted was suffocating, and up close, the weight of his experience and power bore down on her like a heavy cloak.

Outside the forcefield, his presence had been intimidating enough, but now, inside the barrier, the sensation was magnified tenfold.

Reina swallowed hard, her nerves threatening to overtake her. ʼThis is your moment. Donʼt lose yourself.ʼ

She forced herself to take a deep breath, steadying the racing of her heart.

Despite the fear gnawing at the edges of her confidence, she couldnʼt afford to falter here.

Not when so much was riding on this.

She shook her head slightly, clearing away the doubts clouding her mind.

Then, with as much composure as she could muster, she bowed toward the senior in front of her. ”Itʼs an honor to face you, senior. Please, donʼt hold back!” ”You are....”

The young manʼs expression shifted, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as he took her in.

He mumbled something under his breath, though Reina couldnʼt quite make out what it was.

Was that... surprise?

There was something in the way he looked at her, like he recognized her-or maybe heʼd heard of her.

But Reina couldnʼt afford to let herself be distracted by such thoughts. She needed to focus entirely on the battle ahead. ”Start!” the professorʼs voice rang out, cutting through the tension.

In an instant, mana flared within Reina, igniting like a wildfire coursing through her veins. There was no time for hesitation, no time to second-guess her strategy.

She had already decided that the only chance she had was to go all out, to hit hard and fast before her opponent could overwhelm her.

A prolonged fight would only lead to her inevitable loss. She knew that much.

Her only option was to pour everything into one decisive strike.

With a sharp inhale, she launched herself forward like a bullet.

Her speed was blinding, the world around her blurring as she focused all her mana into her legs and blade.

She could feel the air whipping past her, her heart pounding in sync with each powerful step she took.

Her blade gleamed in the light, a silvery streak as she swung it toward her opponent with all the strength she could muster. ”SHIIINNNGGG!!!”

The sound of Reinaʼs blade slicing through the air echoed across the stage, a sharp, cutting whistle that silenced the onlookers.

Her blade shimmered with a silver gleam, forming a perfect arc aimed directly at the senior standing before her.

Everything had happened so quickly, almost too quickly for her to register the movement.

But just as she prepared for the inevitable clash her heart pounding in anticipation—it didnʼt come.

Her eyes snapped open, confusion flooding her mind.

FWOOSHHH!!!

A gust of wind burst from the force of her attack, rippling through the air and sending a powerful shockwave across the stage.

Dust and loose debris swirled around them in the aftermath, and the pressure from her strike dispersed outward, brushing past the barrier around the arena.

The cold steel of her sword had stopped-just millimeters from the seniorʼs neck.

She had stopped.

Reina blinked, her heartbeat still thundering in her chest as the reality of the moment sank in.

She hadnʼt missed.

No, her strike had been true.

But the senior standing in front of her hadnʼt moved.

His sword was still sheathed at his waist, untouched.

Both of them stood frozen, locked in an unexpected stillness.

The seniorʼs golden eyes were wide with surprise, and for a split second, his composed, almost indifferent demeanor had cracked.

His gaze met hers, and Reina could see the same shock mirrored in his expression. ”What are you doing, Senior?” Reina asked, her voice breaking the silence.

She was still breathing heavily, trying to understand why he hadnʼt even drawn his sword.

Her blade hovered dangerously close to his neck, but he hadnʼt reacted. He hadnʼt even flinched. ”I...” the senior hesitated, his gaze flickering to the sword inches from his throat.

He looked uncharacteristically awkward, like he was struggling to find the right words. ”I didnʼt want to hurt you?”

Reinaʼs brow twitched.

She tightened her grip on her sword, lowering it just enough to glare at him. ”Are you underestimating me right now, Senior?” There was an edge to her voice, her irritation seeping through.

Sheʼd poured everything into that attack, and yet he hadnʼt even bothered to defend himself.

Did he really think that little of her?

The senior immediately raised his hands in surrender, eyes wide as he shook his head. ”No, no, not at all!” His voice was rushed, almost panicked, as if realizing how his words had come across. ”You were just... so pretty. you see... so... what I mean is uh-”

Reina froze, her mind grinding to a halt. ʼWhat?ʼ

Her heart skipped a beat, and heat rushed to her cheeks as his words registered.

Her grip faltered on her sword, and she felt her face flush an intense shade of red. ”Huh...?”

Reina blushed in confusion wondering what was going on here, the same question resonated towards everyone who watched the scene, unfold as well:

What is going on here?