After three exams with top marks, Darian appeared in a hall. This was where everyone who had passed the previous stages gathered.
That Chromaraic man was there too, surprised to see Darian arrive. But soon he smiled sinisterly, looking excited, then lowered his head and whispered something to an examiner.
Darian noticed and his gaze turned cold. He wasn't looking for trouble and tried to act properly whenever possible. But… he wouldn't back down from anyone who came knocking at his door.
For him to be talking to the examiner like that, it was clear they were on the same side. The examiner just cast a distant look at Darian and said nothing.
After an hour, a few more people arrived at the hall, completing the group. Out of the original thirty, only eight had made it this far.
The exam would start soon, and the examiner explained the rules: those eight would face off in four pairs.
It would be an elimination competition. Four would be eliminated in the first round, and after three rounds, the winner would be decided. Only the final champion would qualify to become an instructor.
However, the runner-up in the final wouldn't necessarily be discarded. He would be considered a candidate for instructor. If any instructor died—which was relatively common—that person could be promoted.
If luck was against them and no one died, a new instructor selection would happen in three years, and they'd have to participate again.
The examiner also implied that all the institutes were holding selections at that moment. It would last another three days, and every day, disciples could register and try.
After the explanation, each of the eight could choose a wooden weapon similar to the one used in the dummy test, but this time with special inscriptions to soften the blows. Clearly, there was a fear someone might die.
Then the examiner repeated the ultimate rule seriously: taking another participant's life was forbidden. Anyone who killed intentionally would be severely punished.
There were two ways to admit defeat: verbally declaring it or raising both hands. As soon as that was done, the examiner would announce the end of the fight.
If anyone intentionally hurt their opponent after the announcement, they would be automatically disqualified.
Finally, the examiner raised a black crystal.
At that moment, everyone's plates glowed in different colors, forming pairs according to the color.
When Darian turned, he was surprised to see his opponent wasn't the Chromaraic man.
His adversary would be a woman—a beast. Since they were the first to fight, she immediately shot a furious glare at the Chromaraic man.
They exchanged looks, and a malicious smile appeared on his face.
Darian snorted, understanding. They must have some old hostility. That meant his priority wasn't just to get first place, but also to knock out that woman, preventing her even from reaching second place. He wanted to eliminate her in the first round.
"Hahahaha, so, you little slut? You gonna fight? If you're not strong enough, step aside. Or don't blame me if I get a little… harsh with my strikes," the Chromaraic man mocked.
"All right! Just wait!" The woman gritted her teeth and immediately gave up. She knew she didn't stand a chance against him.
The Chromaraic laughed loudly, holding his stomach from laughing so hard. Only after a few seconds did he turn his attention to Darian.
"Kid, you still have time to disappear."
Darian just ignored him and focused on his opponent. He would be the second to fight. However, he couldn't hide the murderous aura flowing from his body.
The two moved to the center. But the opponent in front of him was drenched in cold sweat, his face pale.
"I admit defeat." He said immediately.
The result shocked everyone.
Only the most experienced examiners understood, stunned. Darian exuded terrifying pressure; anyone not confident would be immediately terrified.
Then, in the second round, Darian's next opponent also admitted defeat. The same happened with the Chromaraic man's adversary.
After that, the only fight left was between Darian and that Chromaraic man.
Even the beast-woman, who had lost and left furious, returned with other examiners to watch.
"Kid, I admit your courage. That traitor's evil blood of yours must give you an unprecedented boost. That's why you fear nothing, right? Good… I'll rip your teeth out and enjoy myself slowly with you."
The Chromaraic man spoke and opened a sinister smile. Planting his feet firmly on the ground, he charged at Darian, swinging his sword toward his head.
As for Darian… he just stared at him coldly.
Suddenly, he moved like lightning. The wooden dagger shot forward, twisting through the air, and then slammed into the man's face like a meteor.
The sound of breaking bones echoed through the hall, sending chills down everyone's spines. The man's jaw was violently crushed.
Everything happened so fast that, in the very first clash, it was already over.
"Ahhh!" The man groaned in pain, staggering and collapsing to the ground.
His head spun, dizzy. He had never considered Darian a true opponent. In his eyes, he was just a skinny, weak hybrid. Neither of Darian's bloodlines seemed powerful. That was why he wanted to unleash his hatred for demons on him.
Darian walked slowly toward him.
Without mercy, he stomped hard, breaking both of the man's legs. His movements were abrupt and relentless.
Then he pressed his foot against the man's chest. The man grunted and spat blood, trying to resist, but the weight on him was like a crushing mountain.
"What's the matter? Not giving up?" Darian asked coldly.
Despite the cruelty, he still left space for the opponent to admit defeat at any moment.
The man thrashed frantically, slyly moving his hand toward his waist. There… a small poisoned dagger was hidden.
Darian had already noticed and knew that idiot wouldn't hesitate to use it, even if it broke the rules.
Darian kicked him violently in the face, without any mercy.
Everyone watching went pale. The man dropped the dagger like a fool and screamed, blood gushing from his mouth.
It wasn't anything really serious—it wouldn't leave lasting damage if treated—but it was painful and, above all, humiliating. He could admit defeat at any moment… but he would never do it.
"You're breaking the rules! Capture him!"
Only then did the examiner snap out of his shock. With a furious roar, the other examiners advanced, grabbing the wooden weapons nearby and pointing them at Darian.
They were about to reach him. Until…
Darian spun around, furious.
At that moment, the entire atmosphere changed.
A dark aura filled the space. Suddenly, Darian's body was shrouded in darkness, activating his physique to its max.
"Disappear!" he shouted, swinging his wooden dagger and launching it forward.
The examiners' weapons exploded into shards, while his dagger also broke.
The examiners were thrown through the air, their hands bleeding, paralyzed in shock.
How… how could a normal disciple have so much power? It was as if an evil dragon was hiding inside his body.
The main examiner was also stunned. Darian snorted, kicked the Chromaraic man aside, and walked toward him, making his expression suddenly change.
"W-what… what are you thinking…!"
Before he could even finish his sentence, he was thrown away by a punch from Darian. His body flew through the air, smashed into the wall, and collapsed. He tried to get up but coughed up blood and passed out.
Darian spat, snorting and forcing himself to calm down before losing control completely. Inside his mind, it was as if the his demon heart was laughing ecstatically, making him even more disturbed and thirsty for more. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveIＦire.net
Everyone around was frozen, in absolute shock.
They looked at Darian as if facing a ghost. He… he had really taken down all the examiners, who were also instructors of the Battle Institute?