At that exact moment, two more examinees suddenly appeared in the middle of the room, a cascade of teal light enveloping them, before quickly disappearing. The faces were familiar, to say the least.
A bratish-looking kid with spiky red hair, and a girl with ice-cold eyes. The two of them looked through the crowd and seemed to quickly find their group, and headed there without any hesitation.
'Cedric and Glis huh... I wonder what they're doing in Silvus' group. I mean... I get Glis, but Cedric? He would be too weak I'd imagine to even join that group.'
Lyrian sat on top of his barrel speculating things as he waited around. He was tired, and to be honest, wanted to get this over with as fast as possible. After all, there weren't many more days left in the exam.
"Hey, Alten."
Lyrian turned to the left, as Alten met his gaze.
"What day are we on right now?"
Alten paused, thinking for a second before responding.
"Oh wow, I forgot about the days since I haven't seen sunlight in so long... but it should be the 29th day right now."
This didn't exactly come as a surprise to Lyrian. After this short conversation, nothing else happened for a while except basic small talk. Finally, it seemed multiple hours passed by as one by one, four circles in the ground lit up with a teal aura, as each figure stepped out from the light that encompassed them.
Everyone near the middle of the room made way, having a feeling that it was finally the time they had all been waiting for. The first figure that stepped out was the leader of the Dark Horses -- Uis Jacl -- after that was the leader of the White Knights -- Nelmis Opal -- following him was the Deck Group leader -- Spade Agustus -- and finally, stepping out of the final tower of teal light was the leader of the Yaltan Wind group -- Silvus Yaltan.
All had somewhat serious expressions on their faces. They were the faction leaders, the ones who would control and complete this mission. One of them would undoubtedly be the one to retrieve the golden-tiered core. At least, that was the overall opinion of everyone inside the room.
As the four walked to their groups, they simultaneously shot short and quick glances over to Lyrian, who looked at them all with one eye open and the other shut, since he was too tired to open them both for no reason.
Another hour passed, and Lyrian was nearly drowning in a sea of boredom by now. He had wanted to just go in there and decimate whatever boss or ruler was waiting for him, to compile the dungeon quest as well as get the Yang core, but his team had stopped him.
'I mean... I already know what the final boss will be. It will be the king who hasn't been in the king's seat box for the entire 99 floors that I've completed. However... I just don't know whether that beast will be the true Yang creature.'
Finally, the members of all the factions stood up. Stepping up, Silvus was the one who looked to be chosen to speak. As he simply waved his hand in the air, everyone in the room shut their mouths instantly.
They all stared at him with invincible concentration, not a single out-of-place occurrence slipping out of their body during this time.
"We have decided to do an all-out attack on the final boss. Everyone here needs more rest, but we don't have the time for it any longer, I'm afraid. Those who wish not to go may, I couldn't care less. Those who will go will be led by us. Once you enter through that passageway,"
Silvus looked towards the hallway to the arena, as everyone did the same.
"You follow our orders, and our orders only. If you do not, you will be eliminated on the spot."
With this, a resounding aura of acceptance filled the room, "Yes!" The room shouted unanimously, like soldiers taking orders from their general.
"Then, let's go."
Everyone had expected him to say more. But at the end of the day, Lyrian knew that this was nothing but a battle for one person, for any person who wanted that golden core.
Such a person wouldn't give details on how the fight would commence for no reason, not even himself.
Finally, as everyone began preparing to exit the room, Lyrian walked to the front where the factions were. It wasn't a rule or anything, so although faction members were slightly annoyed, they didn't say anything.
Lyrian on the other hand didn't care about them. Even if they said he had to go to the back or something like that, he would simply ignore them, because he had another plan in mind. One that made him chuckle slightly in amusement.
It was a plan that was going to kill two birds with one stone. Him completing the dungeon quest, and also a way that conserved the most amount of time possible.
Leon and the others stayed in the back, as per Lyrian's command, while everyone began to make their way out into the arena, led by yours truly.
Seeing the back of that boy's head in front of him, many in the factions couldn't help but be irritated.
'Bastard... he is too cocky. To think he can do this and get away with it. At the very least, I'll make him a sacrifice for the final boss.' Kedward thought to himself.
Finally, as Lyrian stepped out into the bright coliseum, a roar of cheers resounded from the crowd. Those in the crowd of examinees looked around in shock, including the faction members.
None of them had ever heard such cheer from the crowd before when they came out. Actually, they hadn't heard such a cheer ever before.
Lyrian grinned slightly, already used to such cheer on his entrance. But he wasn't concerned with any of that. He looked forward, only to see that no one was on the battlefield before him.
As the examinees lined up, weapons in hand and prepared to fight, they created a group near their side of the arena. Lyrian looked up at the seat box of the king, and lo and behold, a being finally existed there.
Seeing him, Lyrian's grin widened.
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦