The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

The stone tablet fell apart, and another new golden tablet was revealed underneath with large engraved words saying 'Fight As A Team'. The letters shone and glimmered from the crystals' light, emphasizing their message. But to Oscar and Serena, the letters of gold were like a big taunt, teasing and annoying them.

Oscar furrowed his brow at the letters. Everything this month's Inner Hall Promotion Exam had driven in was the fact the students would compete against each other. The point system, the placement in exiting the labyrinth, and fighting duels were laced with that intent.

Suddenly throwing in a cooperation trial like this in the safe zone was out of the ordinary. Oscar could not help but smile, acknowledging whoever came up with this labyrinth. Whether it was the trials, the rules for duels, or this strange trial, it showed quite the eccentric character behind it.

Oscar's face relaxed, and he turned to Serena. "We'll be working together for this one. I'll be in your care."

Serena faced Oscar with an awkward smile with a hint of embarrassment. First was her absolute confidence before being struck with the realization of Oscar's placing. The second was this sudden shift to a team-oriented objective after she declared her future victory against Oscar.

Who wouldn't be full of embarrassment after making bold statements twice before being shot down? Serena was not unfamiliar with working in groups, but she didn't know if the Pavilion may suddenly change something midway through the trial.

But an idea crossed her mind, and she smiled with her hand outstretched. "Likewise, I hope we can work well for the next three days. Let's hold nothing back and earn those 8000 points."

Oscar looked at Serena's open hand and gazed right into her green eyes.

Serena tensed up a bit. She didn't know why but his deep obsidian eyes stared as if they were looking through her. Her arm stretched out further.

"Hmmm," Oscar grabbed her hand and shook it once before letting go. "Then let's head out."

He walked past the golden tablet, leaving his back exposed to Serena, but he didn't care because the rules said to work together.

Behind him, Serena followed with a smile. Her eyes narrowed, gazing at Oscar's back in deep thought.

'I'm confident in myself, but since this person was number one for a while, he may have some things worth noting. Since this is a teamwork trial, I can leave the bulk of the work to him, see how he fights, and push him to show all his abilities. Even if we don't fight in these caverns, we may fight each other later.'

Serena hummed slightly, practically skipping along the way with an upbeat expression. If she could gain the information, she could formulate a plan to defeat Oscar. 'We are the top rankers so far in this exam. This trial shouldn't be that bad. Eight thousand points and information on a rival I may have to defeat are great rewards.'

Oscar didn't turn back but stared straight ahead. However, he had a slight grin; he knew what Serena was planning when she opened her hand to cooperate. There was no shame in her line of thinking, and Oscar even admired her wily nature despite her prideful attitude.

'But do you think it'll be that easy?' Oscar heard the small hums from Serena's mouth. The sound was soothing and pleasant to hear, but Oscar knew it was a product of her delight in her plan. 'You can watch all you want, but would you be able to tell what I'm doing?'

Oscar's Prinstyct was something that Greater Apprentice Exalts were not supposed to have unless in very specific circumstances, such as his training with Robert. Even the two Elders, Dustin and Ava, didn't consider if Oscar had Prinstyct during the battle with the golden construct because that was too absurd to think of.

Finally, his Reis was a power that a few knew of, and barely anyone could recognize it. If anyone were to try judging Oscar based on his Ein and spells, then they would be in for one bludgeoning shock.

Feeling that there was no issue with following along with Serena's plan, Oscar decided to create an amicable relationship. He turned his head slightly and said, "I am Oscar Terr. Nice to meet you."

Serena stopped her humming and said, "I am Serena Fulgir. Though you already know that from earlier, thanks to Mary."

Her smile turned upside down after mentioning Mary.

It wasn't just her smile; her whole demeanor changed as her hands tightened on her axe. Oscar stared back and asked, "Do the two of you have some quarrel?"

Serena scoffed and draped her out-of-place wavy hair behind her shoulders. "We were on a mission together a while ago. She was such a disagreeable person. We fought and argued, and she screwed up her role, causing us to fail and go back empty-handed."

For the students of the Pavilion, failing a mission was shameful and a red mark on their records. For their pride as Exalts, that could not be allowed. Oscar could tell Serena was very prideful, so this must have felt worse for her.

"So, did you retaliate?" Oscar asked. "Mary also seems to hold something against you."

Serena chuckled as if that was a joke. "She believes it was my fault we failed the mission. We nearly fought each several times, arguing over whose fault it was. Do you want me to tell you what happened?"

"Nope," Oscar said. "That business is between the two of you, and I don't feel like you would give an unbiased retelling."

"What?" Serena snapped. "Did Mary tell you already? Are the two of you close?"

"Wrong again. I simply don't want to get involved in your squabble. I only knew Mary from the one time at the Grand Gathering. In any case, it's good to see the both of you had the sense not to try anything drastic against each other."

Oscar recalled when Samuel and his group ambushed Frederick, Emily, and himself on their first mission. That event was years ago, but Oscar remembered the battle like it was yesterday. During the years, Oscar still could not comprehend Samuel's excessive hatred and behavior.

'Well, the fact he lost his mind after losing to Emily meant he was never mentally stable from the start.'

Serena made a funny face at Oscar's words. "What sort of person do you think I am?"

"I don't know, and didn't I just say it's good that both of you didn't take things too far." Oscar ignored Serena and looked down at the floor. They had been walking for some time now, but there was not a single thing noteworthy in this trial.

By now, Oscar expected something to happen.

Serena refocused after Oscar fell silent and looked around warily with her axe at the ready. Same as Oscar, she found it odd that nothing happened. The eerie calm of the unending cavern made her frown.

Finally, they came upon a stone door. They had been walking with caution the entire time, only to find there was nothing but a door. With an angered look, Serena grumbled. "What the hell was the point? If we knew, we could have just sprinted away."

Oscar observed the stone door and walked carefully toward it. He placed his hand on its stone, feeling the vast heaviness of the door. He noticed a groove on one end that looked like the outline of a hand.

"Do you place your hand here?" Serena was checking the door after Oscar confirmed it was safe. Her hand was on another outline on the other end of the door. "Looks like you have one as well. Hurry up and place your hand. We don't have to waste."

Oscar nodded and placed his hand inside the outline. He and Serena quickly retreated after hearing a loud click. Oscar had his buckler in hand while Serena was ready with her axe.

The two hand outlines began to sink into the door, and the sound of gears moving echoed through the tunnel. The large stone door lifted up into the ceiling, allowing Oscar and Serena to pass.

Serena didn't move but said, "Since you have a buckler, you are most suited for the vanguard. If there are any traps, you can block them, can't you?"

She didn't let up on her plan for Oscar to do the bulk of the work. His wielding of a buckler made it a perfect excuse for her. Her axe twirled around in her hand as she stared at Oscar with an innocent look.

Oscar remained silent and stepped through the open entrance. His eyes widened as they gazed into the large room.

Behind him, Serena followed in, and her face turned to a daze from the sight she was seeing.

There were many stone platforms scattered about a hot ocean of lava. Smoke and bubbles spewed from the lava, but the stone platforms were quite clear to see. There was nothing atop the stone platforms.

"Just how far does this place go?" Oscar looked in the distance but could still make out more stone platforms.

"It's hot." Serena wiped the sweat from her brow and began circulating her Ein to combat the heat. However, pressure bore down on her. Her knees fell to the ground, dirtied by the dirt and her breathing grew ragged.

Oscar also felt immense pressure but managed to stay on his feet.

Suddenly, a burst of lava spewed up from the side, and a red, molten metal tablet fell to the floor.

"The only way to relieve the pressure is to combine your Eins and hop from one platform to the other. You have one full day to reach the end, or else your trial ends short."