Xerox Zee : An Extra into a Novel

The written exam lasted for a whole week. 

Most students looked exhausted, with dark circles under their eyes, probably from staying up all night to cram before the test.

I wasn't any different. 

I also pulled an all-nighter to make sure I could score as high as possible.

After the test, the hallways were filled with frustrated voices.

"What was with those mana theory questions? How do you survive without mana? And how do you stabilize a mana core?"

"I can't take it anymore. My brain feels like it's going to explode!"

"I think I completely failed. I left most of my answer sheet blank."

"Please, no more studying! I can't do this!"

Students who didn't study or struggled with the exam were outside, complaining and shouting.

Despite the chaos, I thought the written exam went pretty well for me. 

Sure, there were a few questions I didn't understand, but overall, I felt confident about my answers.

Once the written exams were done, including subjects like math, we were given a few days off to rest before the practical exam.

We weren't told much about the practical exam. 

The only instruction was to meet at the training ground at 8am on Monday.

However, I knew what to expect—it was going to be a survival test. 

We would be taken to a dungeon created by the staff using illusion magic.a

The exam would last five days, and the goal was to see how well we could handle unexpected situations.

The test would start as soon as the professor finished giving instructions.

There wouldn't be any time to grab extra supplies or prepare.

Luckily, I had already packed everything I might need. 

I bought food, water, a tent, and other essentials from the store. 

It wasn't easy since shopping here wasn't as convenient as online shopping back in my universe. 

I stored everything in my spatial ring.

In the days leading up to the exam, I focused on light exercise to stay in shape. 

I avoided intense training to make sure I didn't injure myself before the test began.

The Practical Exam Begins....

Monday finally arrived. 

It was the day of the practical exam. 

I went to the gathering spot, which was crowded with students.

"I'm a bit nervous."

"I didn't do well in the written exam. This is my only chance to pass."

"Do you think it'll be a duel like last year?"

"I hope I can make it into the Top 100!"

The students were murmuring, some nervous and others excited. 

Seeing so many anxious faces made me feel a little uneasy, even though I was confident in my preparations.

"Quiet, everyone!" 

The professor's voice silenced the crowd. 

"I will now explain the rules of the exam."

The professor stood on the podium and began. 

"In a few minutes, you will all be sent into a dungeon. You must survive there for five days. Whether you choose to team up or go alone is up to you. You will need to find your own food and water."

The announcement caused an uproar.

"A survival test? That's new."

"Do we have time to prepare?"

"Five days in a dungeon? Isn't that too dangerous?"

The professor ignored the noise and continued. 

"Your goal is to survive and hunt monsters. The points you earn by defeating monsters will determine your score. If you encounter a life-threatening situation, you will be ejected from the dungeon, and you will fail regardless of your points."

The professor explained further. 

Students could steal supplies, defeat each other for points, or work together to hunt monsters. 

The only rule was to survive for five days.

"There will be 1, 2, and 3-ranked monsters. Additionally, there are five 4-rank boss monsters, each worth 100 points."

When the explanation ended, tension filled the air. 

Some students looked paranoid, clearly worried about fighting others. 

A few started forming groups to increase their chances of survival, but most of the top students decided to go solo. 

Sharing points wasn't worth it for them.

"Students will now be teleported into the dungeon one by one," 

the professor announced. 

"Step forward when your name is called."

The professor began calling names. 

Finally, my turn came.

"Xerox Zee, Alia Sharp, Morris Schofield…"

I stepped into the portal. 

A strong force pulled me in.

Inside the Dungeon......….

-WHOOSH! -THUD!

When I opened my eyes, the scenery had completely changed. 

I was in a forest surrounded by tall trees. 

The air was colder here, but it didn't bother me since I practiced Ice skills.

 My body was more resistant to the cold than others.

The dungeon looked just as it was described in the novel. 

Snowy mountains loomed in the distance, and lush green trees surrounded me. 

It was a strange mix of beauty and danger.

My first task was to find a hunting spot. 

Monsters were usually near sources of water, so I decided to head north toward the mountains.

After walking for a while, I encountered my first monster—a Basilisk. 

The Rank-2 creature was five meters long, with a stone-like body and poisonous attacks.

-HISS!

The Basilisk lunged at me, trying to sink its fangs into my flesh. 

I dodged and countered with my technique.\

"Shadow Style: Shadow Slash!"

My blade sliced through its neck, but the monster wasn't dead yet. 

Basilisks could survive even after being decapitated. 

I quickly finished it off by slashing its head apart.

"That went well," 

I said to myself as I continued north.

The forest gradually gave way to rocky terrain. 

After some time, I found a lake. 

A Lone Wolf was drinking from the water. 

Taking the opportunity, I attacked.

"Shadow Style: Shadow Slash!"

The Lone Wolf fell easily. 

Speed was its strength, but with a sneak attack, it wasn't much of a challenge.

I decided to make this area my base. 

Monsters often gathered near water, making it an ideal hunting spot.

A Day in the Dungeon......…

By the end of the day, I had killed a group of five goblins, two more Basilisks, and the Lone Wolf. 

As night fell, I set up camp.

I used an alarm artifact to create a 10-meter detection radius around my campsite. 

If anything moved within that range, the alarm would ring. 

Next, I set up my tent, which expanded into a large shelter when I infused it with mana.

For dinner, I cooked some packaged meat using a portable grill from my spatial ring. 

The aroma was delicious, and the taste was even better.

"Not bad," 

I said, enjoying the meal. 

I almost felt sorry for the other students who were likely struggling to find food.

After eating, I settled into my tent. 

It was spacious and comfortable, big enough for ten people. 

I lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep, ready to face whatever challenges tomorrow would bring.