《The Lord》 The Academy Trail Begins Four centuries ago¡­ A shadow loomed over the royal palace. A lone figure, draped in darkness, strode through the grand halls with an air of absolute dominance. The torches lining the walls flickered violently, their flames shrinking as if cowering in fear. The royal guards¡ªrenowned as the kingdom¡¯s elite¡ªstood frozen in place. Not a single one dared to move. Not out of discipline, but pure, suffocating terror. The bravest knights tried to draw their swords, but their hands trembled, betraying them. Mages attempted to chant spells, yet no words left their lips. The most powerful warriors, nobles, and even the royal family itself could only watch in helpless horror. They did not fight him. They could not fight him. Before his golden gaze, they were nothing more than insects awaiting judgment. The silence was unbearable. Then, in a voice colder than death itself, the figure spoke: "Pathetic. You''re all far too weak." The words were not shouted, yet they echoed like a dreadful prophecy. The very walls of the palace seemed to tremble. And then, as easily as he had appeared, the figure turned his back on them. "I will spare you¡­ for now." With those final words, he vanished into the darkness, leaving only shattered pride and nightmares behind. That night, the kingdom survived, but it was never the same. The strongest families and the royal family itself erased every record of what had transpired. No scrolls, no books, no songs of warning¡ªonly a whispered legend passed in hushed tones. Even his name was lost to time. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. 400 Years Later- Mystravane Kingdom The golden rays of the morning sun bathed the Mystravane Kingdom in a soft glow. Within the walls of a modest yet well-kept estate, two figures stood in an open courtyard, the clashing of wooden swords filling the air. "Again," Raizel commanded, stepping back effortlessly as his sister, Elviana, lunged forward. She was fast, but not fast enough. With a simple shift of his stance, he dodged her strike and countered with a flick of his own sword, lightly tapping her wrist. Elviana clicked her tongue in frustration. "Damn it! I was so close!" Raizel smirked, resting his practice sword on his shoulder. "If you hesitate before striking, you¡¯ll fail the academy trial before it even starts." Elviana frowned, brushing her silver hair back. "You could at least be a little more supportive, you know." He chuckled. "I am supporting you. That¡¯s why I¡¯m being strict. You said you wanted to be one of the strongest women in the world, didn¡¯t you?" Her golden eyes burned with determination. "Of course! I''ll surpass even the royal family''s strongest warriors¡­ and protect you, my dear brother." For a brief moment, Raizel¡¯s expression softened. Then, with a grin, he raised his sword again. "Big words. Let¡¯s see if you can back them up." Elviana grinned, gripping her sword tightly. "When I win, you owe me a fancy dinner." Raizel laughed. "If you win, I¡¯ll cook for you myself." With renewed energy, the two clashed once more, steel meeting steel beneath the warm morning sun. The Trial Begins Elviana tightened the straps of her training armor, adjusting her sword belt with practiced ease. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the nervous energy bubbling within her. Raizel leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Ready?" She nodded. "Yeah. I¡¯m going." He gave a small smirk. "Be safe. And beat them all. Show those royal bastards that they¡¯re not the only ones with power." Elviana¡¯s eyes widened. "Brother, be quiet! What if someone hears you? They¡¯d execute us on the spot!" Raizel only laughed. "Relax. Just go and show them what you''re made of." Shaking her head, Elviana turned away, but she couldn''t help the small smile on her lips. As she walked through the bustling streets toward the academy, her thoughts raced. Will the other students be powerful? Can I beat them? Will I pass¡­ or will I fail? Her heart pounded in anticipation, but more than fear, she felt excitement. She was finally going to fight against worthy opponents. She would meet new people, make allies¡ªmaybe even rivals. Most importantly, she would prove herself. With that final thought, she stepped through the grand gates of the academy, ready to face whatever awaited her inside. The Dungeon of Survival Elviana stood among the gathered applicants in the vast courtyard of Royal Crest Academy, her golden eyes scanning the grand structures before her. The academy was as breathtaking as the rumors claimed¡ªtall spires, intricate carvings, and a central tower that loomed over the entire campus. The air buzzed with anticipation as students whispered among themselves, waiting for the trials to begin. Suddenly, a murmur rippled through the crowd. "Wait¡­ isn¡¯t that the princess?" someone gasped. All eyes turned toward the academy gates, where a young woman walked with the grace of royalty. Her long, golden hair shimmered under the sunlight, flowing like molten gold with every step. The embroidered crest on her uniform left no doubt¡ªshe was Princess Alina. "What is Princess Alina doing here?" a student whispered. "Is she here for admission?" another asked in disbelief. "But she¡¯s a princess! Shouldn¡¯t she already be accepted?" A scoff came from the crowd. "Not in Royal Crest Academy. Even royalty has to prove their worth here. No special treatment, no exceptions." Elviana listened intently, excitement stirring in her chest. If even a princess had to earn her place, then this academy was truly a battleground where only the strongest survived. As the whispers continued, Alina¡¯s gaze suddenly locked onto Elviana. Their golden eyes met, and for a brief moment, the world around them faded. Alina studied her, taking in the quiet confidence in her stance¡ªthe way she carried herself with effortless power. "Interesting¡­ golden eyes, just like mine. And her aura¡­ it¡¯s strong. This might be fun." A small, playful smile formed on Alina¡¯s lips. Elviana frowned. "Huh? Why is she smiling at me like that? Do I look weird or something?" She quickly looked away, trying to ignore the strange feeling settling in her chest. But deep inside, she knew¡ªthis trial would be more than just a test of skill. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The Magic Tower Master Arrives Just as the murmurs about Princess Alina settled, a sudden shift in the atmosphere made everyone stiffen. The air grew heavy, charged with an unseen force. "Look! The examiner is here!" someone shouted. A tall man, draped in deep blue robes embroidered with ancient runes, stepped into the courtyard. His piercing gaze swept over the students, a smirk playing on his lips. His very presence sent chills down their spines. Whispers erupted. "Wait¡­ isn¡¯t that¡­?" "He looks just like the Magic Tower Master!" "You idiot, he doesn¡¯t just look like him¡ªhe is the Magic Tower Master!" A wave of panic spread through the crowd. "But why is the Tower Master here? Don¡¯t tell me¡­ is he going to test us?!" "If he is¡­ then we¡¯re doomed. There¡¯s no way we can pass if he¡¯s the one testing us!" Elviana¡¯s heart pounded. Even with all her training, she knew what kind of monster the Magic Tower Master was. "Do we have to fight him? Or is this some other kind of test? But if it¡¯s really him¡­ then this trial is going to be hell." The Magic Tower Master placed his hands behind his back, his gaze gleaming with amusement as he observed the fearful students. "Hmm¡­ decent power levels. Hehehe, this is going to be fun." Then, his eyes landed on Elviana. "Ohhh? Now that¡¯s interesting¡­ Her aura is stronger than the rest. And the princess is here too. Along with other children from powerful families¡­" A low chuckle escaped his lips. "Hahaha¡­ this will be even more entertaining than I thought. I can¡¯t wait to crush their hopes~" His laughter sent a shiver down their spines, and in that moment, every student knew¡ªthis trial was going to be hell. The Trial Begins The Magic Tower Master looked at the nervous students and let out a chuckle. "Why are you all so scared?" he asked, feigning innocence. A student hesitated before answering. "Because¡­ this trial will be hard¡­ and you are our examiner." The Tower Master smirked. "Oh? Is that all?" His sharp eyes gleamed with amusement. "Don¡¯t worry, little insects¡ªah, I mean, little children." He waved a hand dismissively. "There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of! The trial will be very, very easy." Inside his mind: "Hehehe. Watching you struggle will be quite the entertainment." Some students sighed in relief¡ªuntil someone spoke up. "So¡­ that means we¡¯ll all pass, right?" The Tower Master¡¯s smirk widened. "No. Only those who prove themselves worthy will pass. The rest? You¡¯ll fail and be sent home. If you¡¯re weak, try again next year." Elviana clenched her fists, her golden eyes burning with determination. "Fine. I just have to prove myself. This is what I trained for." Meanwhile, Princess Alina tossed her golden hair back, smirking. "This trial will be fun¡­ but if I can fight the one I saw at the entrance, it will be even better." The Magic Tower Master clapped his hands, regaining their attention. "Now, let me explain the rules." His voice carried across the courtyard. "You will be teleported into a dungeon filled with monsters. Your task? Survive for one day. If at any point you wish to surrender, just say ¡®I Surrender,¡¯ and you will be transported back to the academy." A student hesitantly raised a hand. "Tower Master¡­ what if someone dies?" The air grew heavier. The Tower Master¡¯s smirk faded, replaced by an emotionless stare. "Then they will be dead. Nothing else." His gaze sharpened. "Any more stupid questions?" A tense silence followed. All the students, in their minds: "But you just said the trial would be easy, you heartless old bastard!" The students swallowed their fear. "N-No, sir! No questions!" The Tower Master clapped his hands. "Good. No more useless chatter. Now, step into the teleportation circle. Your trial begins now." Some students hesitated, fear gripping their hearts. But Elviana was ready. Her first true life-and-death battle was about to begin. As the last student stepped into the magic circle, the Tower Master grinned. In his mind: "Hehehe, this will be fun to watch." A bright light swallowed them, and when it faded¡ª The trial of survival had begun. Hunt or Be Hunted The blinding light of teleportation faded, and solid ground formed beneath the students¡¯ feet. A vast underground dungeon stretched before them¡ªmassive stone walls covered in moss, towering pillars reaching into the darkness above, and distant echoes of something¡­ moving. The eerie silence was shattered by the familiar voice of the Magic Tower Master, his tone dripping with amusement. "Ahem. Attention, little insects¡ªah, I mean, dear students," his voice echoed through the dungeon. "Before you all start running around like brainless chickens, let me explain the rules again." A tense silence followed. "You have one day to survive in this dungeon. There are no fixed enemies, no fixed locations¡ªyou will simply survive. Now, you have two options: 1. You may form a group of up to four people. Teamwork can be useful, but choose your allies wisely. 2. If you think you¡¯re strong enough, you can go alone. No restrictions, no assistance¡ªjust pure survival. But remember¡­" The air grew heavier. "If you die¡­ you die. There will be no rescues, no second chances. If you cannot handle this, I suggest you say, ¡®I Surrender¡¯ and leave now." His words sent chills down the spines of many students. For a moment, no one spoke. Then¡ª The dungeon burst into chaos as students hurried to form groups. Some quickly gathered with friends they already knew. Others frantically searched for people they could trust. "I need one more person! Anyone?" "Hey, let¡¯s form a group!" "We should stick together if we want to survive!" Elviana observed the scene quietly, her golden eyes scanning the desperate students. Someone approached her. "Hey, you," a tall girl with short brown hair said hesitantly. "Wanna join my group? We still need one more person." Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Elviana shook her head. "No thanks. I¡¯ll go alone." The girl blinked. "Alone? But¡­ it¡¯s dangerous." "I can handle myself," Elviana replied simply. The girl hesitated, but seeing the unwavering confidence in Elviana¡¯s eyes, she sighed and turned away to find someone else. As Elviana stood alone, observing the forming groups, a new voice called out. "Hoh? You¡¯re not joining anyone?" She turned to see a young man approaching, his posture oozing arrogance. He had neatly combed platinum-blond hair and sharp blue eyes that gleamed with self-importance. His uniform was pristine, the embroidered crest on his chest marking him as a noble of high status. Behind him stood two other nobles, both watching with smug expressions. "I am Lucian Belmont, of the Belmont Family," he announced, his tone filled with superiority. "Surely, you have heard of us? One of the most powerful noble families in the kingdom." Elviana simply stared at him. "...Okay?" Lucian frowned, seemingly annoyed by her lack of reaction. "A commoner, huh?" He smirked. "Still, you intrigue me. I must say, it¡¯s quite rare for someone like you to possess such confidence. So, I shall be generous and invite you to my group." Murmurs spread through the surrounding students. "Wait¡­ Lucian Belmont is inviting her?" "Why would he do that? There are plenty of nobles to choose from." "Is he just doing it because she¡¯s cute?" "Tch, disgusting. A noble teaming up with a commoner? How shameful." Some students, especially those from noble families, threw Elviana disgusted glances. To them, the idea of a noble willingly lowering himself to work with a commoner was unacceptable. Elviana crossed her arms. "No thanks." Lucian blinked, caught off guard. "...Excuse me?" "I said no thanks. I¡¯ll go alone." His smug expression twitched. "Are you an idiot? I am offering you a place in my group. You should feel honored." Elviana tilted her head. "Why? I don¡¯t even know you. Why would I trust a noble I just met?" Lucian scoffed. "Trust? Hah, I don¡¯t need your trust. You need me. Do you think you can survive this dungeon alone?" The nobles behind him chuckled. "She¡¯s got guts, I¡¯ll give her that." "Or maybe just an empty head." Elviana sighed. "Look, I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re from a powerful family or whatever. I¡¯m not interested." Lucian¡¯s smirk faded. For the first time, he looked¡­ irritated. "...Tch. How foolish." He turned away. "Very well. If you want to act like a savage and struggle alone, suit yourself." With that, he walked away, rejoining his noble companions. Some students sneered at Elviana. "Hah. Serves her right." "She thinks she¡¯s special just because she has golden eyes? Please." Elviana ignored them. She had dealt with this kind of thing before. If she had to prove her strength to shut them up, then so be it. At that moment, the Magic Tower Master¡¯s voice boomed once more. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention something." A sinister chuckle echoed through the dungeon. "Some of you may be thinking, ¡®If we just sit here and hide for a whole day, we¡¯ll be safe, right?¡¯" Murmurs rippled through the students. "Wait¡­ isn¡¯t that a good idea?" "If we just stay here and wait, we won¡¯t have to fight anything!" The Magic Tower Master let out a mocking laugh. "WRONG. If you think you can laze around and survive, think again!" The students stiffened. "You see, to pass this trial, you must hunt monsters and gather 50 points." Gasps of shock spread through the crowd. "If you don¡¯t get 50 points, you fail. Simple as that. And if you form a group of four, your total must still be 50 points¡ªif the group doesn¡¯t have enough, you all fail together." "Wait¡ªhow do we even get points?" a student shouted. "Hehehe. Good question!" The Magic Tower Master clapped. "Each time you kill a monster, it will drop a Point Card. Different monsters have different point values. It¡¯s up to you to decide how to earn your 50 points. Weaklings can kill many small monsters, while the strong ones can take down bigger prey." A deep silence filled the dungeon. The realization hit hard. "Wait¡­ that means we can¡¯t just hide?" "Shit¡­ we actually have to fight?" "If we don¡¯t, we fail automatically¡­!" Students who had hoped to avoid danger paled. Elviana smirked. "Good. At least this trial won¡¯t be boring." The Magic Tower Master¡¯s voice echoed one final time. "Well, well. Have we all chosen our fellow sacrifices¡ªI mean, teams?" He chuckled. "Good. Then let¡¯s begin the trial, shall we?" A faint humming noise filled the dungeon. The floor beneath them glowed faintly. "Ah, one last thing," the Tower Master added. "I won¡¯t tell you where the strongest monsters are lurking, so be careful where you walk~" Before anyone could react¡ª The light beneath their feet flashed, and the dungeon around them shifted. The trial had begun. The First Hunt As the last echoes of the Tower Master''s announcement faded, the dungeon remained still for only a moment. Then, the students erupted into motion. Groups formed quickly, alliances were made, and those who had no companions hesitated, debating their next move. Elviana, however, had already made her decision. She had no interest in groups or unnecessary distractions. Without sparing another glance at the scrambling students, she turned on her heels and strode toward the deeper parts of the dungeon. Some students noticed her departure. "Should we invite her?" one murmured, watching the silver-haired girl walk away. "Didn''t you see her reject Lucian Belmont?" another whispered. "Why would she accept our offer? Let''s just find someone else." With that, they moved on, leaving Elviana to disappear into the dungeon¡¯s dimly lit corridors. Lucian Belmont stood in stunned silence, still processing what had just happened. He, the heir of one of the greatest noble families, had been rejected¡ªno, outright dismissed¡ªby a commoner. His hand clenched into a fist, but he quickly schooled his expression. ¡°Tch. Whatever,¡± he muttered. ¡°She¡¯ll regret that decision soon enough.¡± His companions exchanged wary glances before one of them hesitantly spoke. ¡°Lucian, we should get moving. If we want to win this trial, we can¡¯t waste time.¡± Lucian exhaled sharply, forcing a smirk. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll take first place¡ªlet¡¯s go.¡± Just as he turned, a voice rang out. ¡°First place, huh?¡± Lucian stopped. His eyes flickered toward the speaker¡ªa girl with flowing black hair and piercing violet eyes. She walked with effortless grace, her noble attire a perfect blend of elegance and practicality. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Lilith Valefort. ¡°Did you forget that Princess Alina is also in this trial?¡± she said, her tone amused. ¡°And the other three powerful families? You think you can take first place that easily?¡± Lucian¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Lilith smirked. ¡°Lilith Valefort. Surely you¡¯ve heard of my family?¡± Murmurs spread through the crowd. The Valefort family¡­ One of the richest noble houses! Why is she even here? I thought she never participated in these things¡­ Lucian scoffed. ¡°Tch. And? You think you can fight monsters with money?¡± Lilith chuckled. ¡°No. But money gives access to the best training and weapons. Unlike you, I don¡¯t get rejected by commoners.¡± Lucian¡¯s jaw tightened. His companions stood silent, unwilling to get involved. Lilith¡¯s smirk widened before she turned to her own group. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll let the ¡®great¡¯ Lucian Belmont talk while we actually earn points.¡± With that, she walked away, her group following without hesitation. Lucian exhaled through his nose, forcing himself to remain composed. ¡°Annoying Bitch,¡± he muttered under his breath before motioning his team forward. ¡°Come on. We¡¯re wasting time.¡± And with that, they vanished into the dungeon¡¯s depths. Above them, the Tower Master watched through floating magic screens, a smirk playing on his lips. ¡°Oh? So she¡¯s going alone, huh?¡± His gaze followed Elviana¡¯s solitary figure. ¡°Expected. The others still cling to safety, but she chooses solitude¡­ Interesting.¡± His eyes shifted. ¡°And there¡¯s Princess Alina¡­ also going alone, as expected. A prideful one.¡± Then, something else caught his attention. His grin widened. ¡°Oh? And isn¡¯t that the son of the Vaelmont family? Azrael¡­ Interesting. But more intriguing is that figure beside him. I didn¡¯t notice them earlier¡­ Now this trial is getting fun.¡± Deeper inside the dungeon, Elviana moved cautiously. The air was damp, thick with the scent of mold and decay. The flickering torches along the stone walls cast shifting shadows, making every corner seem alive. Then¡ª A growl. Elviana¡¯s grip on her sword tightened. Her golden eyes scanned the darkness, searching for the source of the sound. A wolf-like beast lunged from the shadows, its matted black fur bristling, bloodshot eyes gleaming with hunger. Its claws scraped against the stone floor as it charged. Elviana didn¡¯t hesitate. She stepped to the side at the last second, her sword flashing in a precise arc. Steel met flesh¡ªa deep gash opened along the beast¡¯s side, blood splattering across the cold floor. The creature howled in pain, but it wasn¡¯t dead yet. It turned sharply, snarling, and leaped again. This time, Elviana didn¡¯t dodge. She met the attack head-on, driving her blade straight into the beast¡¯s chest. The force sent a jolt up her arm as the monster let out a strangled cry before collapsing. Silence followed. Elviana exhaled, lowering her weapon. A small card materialized above the slain beast. [Point Card: 5 Points] She picked it up, studying it for a moment before slipping it into her pocket. ¡°So this is how it works¡­¡± Without another word, she turned and walked deeper into the dungeon. ¡ª Above, the Tower Master leaned forward, eyes gleaming with amusement. His gaze lingered on Elviana. ¡°She already killed one¡­ and got 5 points? Hah, she¡¯s fast. Even Princess Alina hasn¡¯t taken down a monster yet, and she¡¯s already ahead. Interesting¡­ This is going to be fun to watch.¡± His smirk widened as he sat back, letting the screens display the unfolding trial.