23 Dante's turn
Dante took his position at the center of the platform, facing a newly placed puppet. This assessment essentially served as a showcase of Skills, where proving combat or support utility was key to passing.
"Do you need any adjustments to the puppet?" inquired the instructor.
"Could you add more puppets?" Dante replied.
"How many?"
"Five, and bolster their defenses to that of an ogre," Dante requested.
This piqued the instructor's interest. Thus far, applicants had only demonstrated their Skills with a single puppet. Using more than that was a departure from the norm, as one puppet was generally sufficient to showcase the effectiveness of their Skill.
"Alright," the instructor signaled for a staff member to bring additional puppets. Using his tablet, he elevated their defense to match that of an ogre. A transparent shield enveloped each puppet.
The Holders observed with keen interest. They were intrigued by Dante's Skill. Even though its potential was only rated as C, this didn't diminish their admiration for him.
The puppets were strategically placed around the platform.
Before proceeding, Dante took a moment to review his status screen, recalling that he still had one stat point remaining.
STATUS SCREEN:
Player: Dante (Human)
Health: 130/130
Energy: 130/130
Level: 19 (14092/*****)
Stat Points: 1
Skills:
Concentration(+50%)
Invigorate(+50%)
Attributes:
Strength: 9
Defence: 2
Vitality: 3
Endurance: 3
Agility: 6
Intelligence: 1
Dante allocated his remaining stat point to Agility, increasing it to 7. He also noted that he had just five days left to complete the main quest.
'I'll ponder that later,' Dante thought to himself. He nodded at the instructor, who promptly signaled for him to begin.
In an instant, Dante vanished from his previous position and reappeared in front of the closest puppet. As he closed the one-meter gap, he raised his right hand, conjuring a radiant white light.
Almost magically, a sword appeared in his grasp. With a swift motion, he swung it at the transparent shield enveloping the puppet. The sound of breaking glass echoed as the light shattered, and the sword seamlessly continued its trajectory, decapitating the puppet.
Thud!
Dante swiftly moved to the next puppet, the sword vanishing from his hand only to be replaced by a mace.
Bang!
The mace pulverized the puppet and the ground beneath it, sending a cloud of dust into the air. As the dust settled, Dante emerged, charging towards the third puppet.
This time, a spear was in his grip, which he expertly thrust forward, obliterating the puppet.
For the fourth puppet, Dante opted for a club.
And for the final puppet, he wielded a dagger.
In no time, all the puppets in the vicinity lay in ruins.
This was the "Skill" Dante chose to showcase: his inventory. The weapons he wielded were trophies from the orcs he had defeated in his previous dungeon. Dante could essentially store anything in his inventory, as long as it wasn't a living being or an object larger than three meters.
At this moment, it was the best demonstration Dante could muster. Although the system didn't categorize it as a conventional Skill, Dante recognized its potential.
The instructor's eyes gleamed with interest. Dante's combination of speed and strength was formidable; he dispatched five puppets, each with the defense of an ogre, in less than ten seconds. This feat alone merited him a two-star medal. While the instructor couldn't discern whether Dante's capabilities stemmed from his Skill or his training, the overall result was clear: Dante was highly capable.
'First Noah, and now Eka. There are even two more A-rated Holders on the other platform,' the instructor mused as he announced Dante's success in the Assessment.
"Did you catch his name? Eka?" a Holder inquired of his companion.
"The White Masked Eka?" His friend recalled the rumors he had heard just the day before.
Once more, a Holder renowned for soloing dungeons emerged. He wore a White Mask, its eyes marked with a dark smudge. This was the very rumor that had circulated.
"But considering his Skill, he likely went straight for the Boss, right?"
"Most likely..."
While it might seem straightforward to solo a dungeon by heading directly for the Boss, in reality, it was anything but. Perils lurked in every corner, like Dante's initial encounter with the orcs who attempted to ambush him. There were also deceptive, seemingly harmless plants that could be deadly. And, of course, defeating an F-class dungeon boss was no small feat, especially for a Holder with just one or two stars.
Noah watched Dante return to his designated spot, admiration gleaming in his eyes.
Despite being capable of dispatching five puppets with ogre-level defense, Noah understood that soloing even an F-rank dungeon would pose a significant challenge for him. His Skill consumed a considerable amount of mana and remained unstable due to his inability to fully control it. This heightened the likelihood of death.
Furthermore, he lacked the experience necessary to conquer dungeons.
***
As the clock's hands crept closer to noon, the scorching sun beat down upon the platforms. The number of applicants dwindled slowly, with many failing the Assessment. Though Holders constituted a minority in the current society, close to a hundred had still gathered for the Medal Exam.
"For those with Skills intended for support, another instructor will guide you. Those with Skills suited for combat, remain here," the instructor instructed. The final assessment would also take place on their respective platforms.
"You'll have a 30-minute break before we commence the last assessment."
Dante retreated to a corner, he decided to contemplate how he would go about finding Lucius.
'I'm not even sure where to begin.' This was Dante's first time conducting an investigation of this kind. In a dungeon, Dante could track and hunt a monster as long as there was some trace, thanks to his Skill.
In an instant, realization dawned in Dante's eyes.
'Lucius is no different from a monster,' a memory from the past resurfaced in his mind.
***
George fixed his gaze on the instructor before him.
"Instructor Lou, you know what you need to do, don't you?"
"B-but Sir George, it goes against the rules," Instructor Lou protested. He was the instructor assigned to oversee the final assessment.
"Don't concern yourself with that. Remember, we have influence over you, don't we? Think about what might happen to your wife and unborn child," George intimated menacingly. His attention was particularly focused on Dante, and observing Dante's seemingly straightforward 'Skill,' George believed that getting to him would be a simple task.
Upon hearing this, the hesitation in Instructor Lou's eyes vanished.
"Just don't acknowledge our presence when the final assessment commences," George instructed, turning and exiting the private room.
***
The instructor responsible for the second assessment had departed, engrossed in their own Holder duties and dungeon conquests. Holding a medal came with various perks—free meals at select establishments, complimentary accommodations in certain hotels, and discounts at major stores. These benefits were considered standard for medal-holding Holders. Furthermore, possessing a medal granted access to higher-class dungeons corresponding to one's star rating, which offered significantly greater rewards compared to F-class dungeons. This was why so many Holders aspired to earn a medal.
Starting with a group of at most a hundred Holders, only two dozen remained. This count excluded those who had passed as support-type Holders.
Dante and the others occupied the central platform. Instructor Lou stepped forward and scrutinized the remaining applicants, his gaze lingering on Dante for a moment. Doubt flickered within Dante.
"I will outline the rules for the final assessment. This will be a battle royale. Falling off the platform eliminates you, as does being rendered unconscious. Killing fellow applicants is strictly forbidden, and if you wish to surrender, simply shout for it," Instructor Lou explained. The assessment for achieving a one or two-star rating was actually fairly straightforward, but the simplicity was made complicated by the unique Skills of the applicants. Some Skills were difficult to control, and others had the potential to harm their own Holder. Careful maneuvering was crucial in this round.
"Those initial twelve eliminated will receive a one-star medal, while the remainder will be awarded two stars. And should you secure the top spot, a Skill Enhancement Stone will be yours," Instructor Lou reiterated, though most were already aware of the rewards. They could afford to offer Skill Enhancement Stones, as not every day brought a new batch of applicants. In fact, it was a rarity to have at most a hundred participants in the exam. While some had attempted the exam prior to this day, they were only provided the official exam date.
"Prepare yourselves!" Instructor Lou's voice rang out.
In an instant, Dante's heightened senses alerted him that something was amiss. With each level-up, his other senses had also been amplified.
He triggered his Skill, Concentration. In his perception, the world decelerated: the instructor's opened mouth, Noah's grave countenance, the deliberate postures of the other two Holders with potential for Rated A Skills, every motion of the Holders within his vicinity imprinted itself upon his mind.
His augmented senses guided his focus toward George and his four associates. George wore a malevolent grin, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Dante, his thirst for blood unmistakable. Another of George's companions also bore a bloodthirsty look, though Jacob's desire for violence was somewhat less palpable. They slowly raised their weapons, aligning them in Dante's direction.
Behind his mask, Dante's eyes suddenly turned cold.
"Is this my first taste of a direct conspiracy? Interesting!" He mused, then a smile tugged at his lips.
"Side Quest: Defeat the six conspirators!"
"Rewards: 1 Stat point, 20,000 Exp"
"Punishment: None"
A translucent interface materialized before Dante's eyes, taking him by surprise.
"I thought you only issued quests with the potential to kill me?" Dante inquired of the system.
"That rule only applies to Main quests," the system's emotionless voice reverberated in the slowed-down world.
"I see. Six conspirators, including the instructor, right? Fate seems to be urging me to exact revenge as soon as possible. I won't disappoint you!"
"Begin!" the instructor bellowed!
