(XXX) Entrance Exam (Part Three)

//Author's Note: Get your head out of the gutters! It's XXX as in 30, not... you know! Hehe//

As Leon stepped through the portal with the other participants, he felt a sudden rush of energy that tingled throughout his body. The bright light enveloped him momentarily, and he felt a sense of weightlessness as he was transported to another place when a window appeared before him. 

[Quest Chain (2/3)]

[Practical Examination]

[Task: Place first]

[Reward: Two Bonus Attribute Points]

[Penalty: Attribute Point Reduction]

As the light faded away, he found himself standing in the middle of a massive forest, entirely alone. The trees around him towered high, their trunks thick and gnarled, and their branches reached out like fingers into the sky. The air was cool and fresh, carrying with it the earthy scent of pine and the sweet aroma of flowers.

Leon took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze on his face and the soft grass beneath his boots. He quickly climbed a nearby tree, reaching the peak of the branches. He looked around and saw that the forest was a sprawling expanse of green, with tall trees as far as his eyes could see.

 Some of the trees are thick and sturdy, while others are slender and delicate, their leaves rustling in the wind. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature: the chirping of birds, the buzzing of insects, and the rustling of leaves.

As Leon took in the stunning beauty of the forest, he saw that the trees were not all the same. Some had smooth, grey bark, while others had rough, dark brown bark. The leaves come in all different shades of green, from bright lime to deep emerald. The forest floor was covered with a layer of soft, green moss, and he could see small flowers and shrubs growing amidst the trees.

Finally having a moment to breathe, he climbed down the tree halfway and leaned against the trunk as he sat on a branch and accessed his status window.

[Name: Leon Astrahart]

[Age: 14]

[Primary Class: Forbidden Beast Mage, Secondary Class: Beastmaster]

[Level: 15, Level: 7]

[Title: Third Son of King George Astrahart]

[Occupation: Count Regent of Othniel Levavot Kingdom]

[Strength: 52+3]

[Endurance: 65+3]

[Agility: 48+3]

[Intelligence: 70+3]

[Wisdom: 55+3]

[Charisma: 45]

[Available Points: 43]

He dismissed the window and navigated to the Beast Mage Bestiary. He rapidly scrolled through the thousands of greyed-out names before he located the only name lit up in white: Daemonic Paladin. Then, he accessed the information for his new Bestial Arte and equipped it in one of his free charges. 

[Daemonic Spikes]

[Rank: B]

[The User coats their fingertips in Darkness energy before slamming them into the ground, sending pitch-black spikes with glowing red tips to burst forward in a straight line.]

[Bonus Attributes: STR +1, END +1]

[Added Effect: As the User depletes their Mana Circuit, this Arte's damage increases by 25% for each 10% missing.]

He smirked before leaping back to the ground as the sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm and dappled pattern on the forest floor. Then he called Bella forth from his Magical Beast Ranch. 

The Ranch was a pocket dimension to which every Beastmaster gained access once they reached level five and would expand with each additional five. It served as a safe space for the Magical Beasts to reside in when they weren't needed for battle, along with extra benefits. 

Leon could hear the sound of a nearby stream, prompting him to navigate the trees with Bella quick on his heels. He was eager to find a beast to test his new abilities. 

He saw a small river winding its way through the forest, its clear water shimmering in the light. He cautiously approached it, looking around the small clearing along the bank before kneeling down as Bella ran up and began drinking from the stream. 

He cupped his hands together, scooping the water. He brought it to his lips and drank a few times before standing as he looked down both directions of the river. 

"Bella, do you detect anything nearby?" He asked her, resting his hands against the pommels of his swords. 

"No, Master! I don't sense any creatures nearby." The Shadow Carbuncle chimed, leaping atop his shoulder as she wrapped her body around the back of his neck, laying down. 

Leon stared at a mountain far in the distance upstream, selecting it as his destination. Unlike the other students, he planned to make the most of this little field trip. He wanted to battle the strongest creatures in the forest and claim the fewest medals required to pass.

He walked along the river when suddenly a loud and deep eruption rang throughout the forest, causing him to become defensive as he drew his swords and looked around. In the next moment, a loud firework soared above the trees and exploded in the sky. 

More explosions occurred as a firework for each detonation rose in the same vicinity as the first. Leon lowered his guard and returned his swords to their sheaths as he continued along the path. 

'It looks like the other kids are taking each other out.' He thought as he walked, "Bella, if you sense anything or anyone close by, notify me." 

"Yes, Master!" She mewed, yawning as the runes on her fur began to emit a faint glow.

He continued along the winding river toward the mountain when a loud splash erupted from the river. A gigantic alligator launched toward him, opening its massive mouth to bite him as the Shadow Carbuncle shrieked, "Master!" 

"A little late, don't ya think?" Leon asked sarcastically, leaping backward as blue bands of magical runes wrapped around his arm. Elongated glowing black claws protruded from his fingertips as he crouched down, slamming his hand into the ground and skidding backward. 

Similarly to the Daemonic Paladin, black spikes with glowing red tips erupted before him, launching toward the alligator. His eyes began glowing faintly as he inspected the beast. 

[Gigagator]

[Level: 20]

[Rank: A]

[Learnable Ability: Megalith Bite]

The Gigagator recoiled in pain as the spikes struck its underside, dealing considerable pain as they pierced its thick scales. Blood began to trickle underneath it, causing it to thrash around, destroying the black spikes. 

Its eyes were bloodshot as it flailed its head before locking eyes with Leon. It roared loudly as the birds in the trees leaped from their perches and flew away. 

The young man smirked as he drew his swords. A purple aura enveloped him, and the trio of spear, axe, and mace spirit weapons appeared floating above him.