Luna: Wow, I knew he was strong but number 2 SS+ rank?!

Red: No.

Luna: No?

Red: Number 1. Vector is number 1.

--- Chapter 88 ---

Luna: No way, he can defeat Darren?

Red: Well, yes, and no. The mage association ranked him higher than Darren but that doesn't mean he can’t win. Plus people like the saints and the bishops… they don’t count.

Luna: Right. What about guild leaders?

Red: They don’t either. It’s very exclusive. You must fall under certain guidelines to get on the list.

Luna: Still, there SS+, and stronger than Darren. They must be incredibly powerful.

Red: Yeah, your right.

Hours pass, the room now filled with around 100 people remaining, 75 teams failing. The proctor walks into the room.

Proctor: Alright! Now that you have rested a bit, we will be pushing your limits. Beyond the door behind me will be enough carts to fit everyone. We will begin the next challenge at the next test location. I will explain when we get there. Oh yeah, and it’s every man for themselves now.

With the last sentence ringing in the air, everyone looks around nervously. Murmur spreads throughout the enclosed dome of rock. They begin into the next room. Within this space are several large and long carts They begin to load in, Hiro, Luna, and Red sitting all the way to the back. Luna sits near the exit, Red next to her, and Hiro across. A blonde girl sits on the left side of Red, and two bald twins sit next to Hiro. Hiro and Red look around, they don’t know how long the cart ride will be but they try and make some friends. Red looks at the bald twins, they seem to be wearing orangish-yellow monk clothing.

Red: Are you two monks?

Twin #1: Yup! Monks from the church of Inariel. What about you?

Red: Nice nice, Elune guild for us three.

He points to the three of them.

Twin #2: Oh wow, one of the legendary three, not bad, not bad, we gotta watch out for you guys.

Red: Haha, you better believe it. What about you?

He says turning to the blonde girl on his left.

Girl: Oh, um, I’m part of one of the four nobility of Camelot.

When the girl says this, Luna gets a shocked face and pulls her hood up. She looks down at the side of the cart, and the direction they came from. Hiro notices this, and thinks for a bit, but doesn't say anything.

Red: Oh wow! So you’re like a princess?!

Girl: No no! Well, kinda. I’m not part of the royal family, but the nobility is highly praised. So it’s kinda like that, but not officially I guess.

Red: Wow, that’s so cool!

Luna tenses, hearing this convo, Hiro still watching her. Red looks over at this girl in hard but weird-looking armor. She seems to be angry, but Red can deduce that’s just how her face looks naturally.

Red: Scary.

Red: What about you, the lady with the funny-looking armor, who are you with?

The girl’s eyes glide to meet his.

Girl: First off, the name’s Jina. Second, I’m with the mage association. The armor is specially made to ward off mana.

Red: Oh, ok.

Proctor: We are almost there! So start getting ready!

Everyone makes sure they have everything they need, and the carts make their way through yet another forest. They arrive at a small campsite. Everyone gets out of their carts, and then the carts depart. The camp resided inside a massive magical circle.

Proctor: Ok, now for the third exam, you will go out into the woods, and search for a lamp. Return the lamp to camp, and you move on.

The proctor passes out two things, a firework-like object, and a single match.

Proctor: That firework, when lit, will release a gas into the air, causing a warding effect on monsters. Then it will fire into the air like a flare and we will come and get you.

Ryans sister: Um, mam? What’s the point of only giving us one match?

Proctor: Good question.

She holds up a match.

Proctor: You only get one match, and if you use it on the firework, then you cant use it on the lamp. So choose wisely

Ryans sister: But mam? What if we just kept the match from extinguishing?

Luna: Psst.

Ryan’s sister looks up at Luna.

Luna: Read the match.

She reads the match, and on the stick, it reads “powerful 5-second burner.”

Ryans sister: Oh.

Proctor: Any more questions?

Everyone shakes their head no and looks around for anyone who has one.

Luna: Mam?

Proctor: Yes?

Luna: How many lamps are out there?

Proctor: Oh right, I almost forgot. There will only be 10 lamps.

Everyone gasps in shock, frantically looking around.

Luna: Your gonna cut out 90 people?!

Proctor: Just be quick! The test will start at midnight.

Everyone just stands in shock, beginning to panic. Hours pass, people with the association keep heading into the woods to check up. Hiro and Red’s nose perk up and look at each other.

Red: Yup. Incense.

Hiro: In forests this thick, burning that kind of incense could attract a dangerous amount of monsters. And I wouldn’t be surprised to find high-ranking ones serving as queens to their brethren.

Red: Yeah.

Proctor: Alright! It’s time to begin, everyone ready? THEN GO!