Without warning, Ivar stepped forward, wearing the stern face of the war general he truly was.
"Temple disciples and future spears of the Empire… welcome to the grand event that will be broadcast across the entire world."
Ivar spread his arms as he continued.
"I see many faces before me… excitement, anticipation… Perhaps you wish to make a name for yourselves? Fame? Glory?"
Indeed, the Victoríad was a chance for temple students to shine. If they performed well, they could be recruited by powerful guilds—or even one of the great noble houses or the Church… though the latter demanded blind faith in their cause.
But this time, things were different.
"Don't misunderstand… Soldiers of the Empire—that's what I should be calling you now."
"You are no longer just students. You are the tools of war for what's to come. Warriors who will, with high probability, fill important roles in the war our Empire will soon face."
As expected, the moment he said that, whispers filled the crowd. Surely, those watching from behind their screens were reacting the same.
But Ivar didn't care—his voice easily drowned them out.
"There's no point in hiding it any longer… or rather, no point in pretending ignorance. You all know war is coming—and it might be even closer than we think."
Clearly, Ivar intended to use the Victoríad as a way to solidify the Empire's stance.
"That's why this time, we'll prepare you the right way—not with childish duels… but with a real test of your survival!"
As soon as those words left his mouth…
A massive screen lit up behind him.
There, a 3D projection appeared—two large islands hovering ominously.
"This time, your final test will take place on these islands."
Everyone's expressions turned serious—even those from the upper years, like Ellen White.
"One week from now, the temple will be divided into two groups—three years per island. First, second, and third years together on one side. The rest on the other."
"The duration of the test will be one full month."
A whole month… and our opponents would be the second and third years…
I muttered quietly to myself, engraving every bit of information into my mind. The true nature of this test was beginning to take shape.
Some students complained about the insane duration. Others argued it was unfair to be pitted against higher years.
Ivar frowned as he watched their reactions.
"I don't understand you people… Imagine you're at war against the enemy—do you really think they'll only send opponents your age? With the same level of strength? Do you think they'll care about your foolish ambitions?"
The crowd gradually began to quiet down…
"If you do end up participating in the upcoming war," Ivar continued, "there's a high chance you'll find yourself alone and exposed at any moment… under conditions where survival is nearly impossible. That's why, for the next month, you'll be struggling to survive on that island without any supplies."
"The Ultras were known for frequently launching attacks using Nightmare Creatures… So both islands have been populated with Nightmare Beasts hunted by the Empire over the years. Some are weak, while others belong to the higher ranks—perhaps you might even encounter S-Class monsters."
"A warrior must know when to fight—and when to flee. Keep that in mind."
In other words… this time, we weren't just facing each other. We'd be up against the Nightmare Creatures as well—on top of the harsh natural conditions of those islands.
With a chilling smile, Ivar tried to reassure the terrified temple students:
"There's no need to worry. You won't die—your equipment will prevent you from suffering any fatal injuries.
You'll also be allowed to withdraw. However, I must warn you now… if you fail to reach the required number of points, you won't just lose your chance to qualify for the next stage of the Victoriad… you'll also be expelled from the temple. Keep that in mind."
After unleashing all those dreadful announcements, Ivar finally stepped back.
"Now, your instructors will go over the details."
As soon as he said that, a man in his forties stepped forward, wearing round glasses and a sharp formal suit.
Without delay, he began explaining the finer details of the test.
– Participants in this test will be referred to as "players."
– Each player will have a visible number of points displayed above their head.
– First-year students: 2 points.
– Second-year students: 3 points.
– Third-year students: 5 points.
The same applies to the upper years—from the fourth to the sixth—with corresponding point increases.
– Nightmare Creatures will also have point values shown above their heads. The stronger the creature, the more points it's worth.
– Players will be equipped with smartwatches containing a full map of the island.
– To prevent camping in a single location, watches will enforce movement from one zone to another after a certain time period.
– Reaching zones within the time limit will grant points as well—based on arrival rank.
– Various missions will appear across the island, offering rewards such as points, and sometimes supplies like food or camping gear. So be sure to check for updates regularly.
– Player point values will shift constantly, depending on their rank throughout the test. So the classifications above aren't absolute.
– Forming teams is allowed, but only the individual who lands the final blow will receive the points.
– Upon reaching a certain number of points, players can pay to reveal the location of another player of their choosing.
– The top eight students from each academic year will qualify for the knockout stage of the Victoriad.
– Rankings will be displayed every 24 hours and can be accessed through the smartwatches.
– Also, all players must reach the final designated zone—which will be revealed at the end of the test—or they will be automatically disqualified.
A heavy silence settled over the crowd after hearing the full details of the test.
Everyone was stunned by the sheer intensity and madness of this new challenge.
This test was going to be a war in its own right…
I couldn't help but feel thrilled as the details sank in.
The desire to crush this test ignited within me.
As someone who had survived the Eastern Nightmare Lands for a full year… this island meant nothing to me.
It felt like that extra bit of confidence I'd been needing had finally arrived on its own.
After the full briefing, they moved on to discuss a few formal and educational matters…
Like the protective gear we'd be wearing during the test—not armor, technically, but more like clothing. Lightweight, stylish, and capable of withstanding A-rank blows—but only to vital areas, just enough to prevent instant death.
Still, everyone would be at risk of serious injury at any moment.
Anyone who sustained a fatal hit would be immediately disqualified—since it would essentially count as death. That, logically, would be the end of their run.
With everything clarified, we were finally dismissed.