Chapter no.5 Dashed Hopes in the Dreamland Array

[Dreamland Array] 

Yuzhen crouched in the shadow of an imposing tower, her breath coming in controlled, even puffs. Her heart pounded in her chest like a frenzied drum, but her eyes were cold and calculating. The monstrous beings patrolled nearby, their grotesque forms casting long, twisted shadows on the cobblestones. But they posed no threat to her - not now, when victory was within her grasp.

A triumphant grin played on her lips as she planned her next move. The Martial Essence Scrolls were close, she could almost feel their ancient power beckoning her. She was going to win this, she was certain of it. She would claim the first place, and with it, the coveted attention of the higher-ups.

Suddenly, the night sky was painted with vibrant hues of celebration. Fireworks exploded in a dazzling display, their radiant trails streaking across the star-studded canvas. The deafening booms echoed across the school grounds, and the bright flares were reflected in Yuzhen's widened eyes.

The sight of the fireworks was a cruel mockery of her impending victory. The test was over. Someone else had claimed the scrolls. Someone else had won.

"No," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper against the resounding echoes of the fireworks. Her mind whirred, grappling with the reality of her defeat. She, who had the strength, the backing of the principal, and the confidence of her inevitable triumph, had been bested. 

Her heart constricted in her chest as a surge of frustration welled up within her. The taste of defeat was bitter, an unfamiliar sting. She had been so close, and yet it had been snatched away. She clenched her fists, the ghost of her grin replaced with a scowl of defeat.

Just as she was wrestling with her thoughts, a brilliant light engulfed her. It was so bright, so blinding, that it momentarily chased away the darkness of her defeat. Yuzhen was left blinking against the sudden luminescence, her mind momentarily blank.

...

[ Cradle of Shadows - Soul Hall ] 

The moment Yuzhen found herself back in the Soul Hall was one filled with disorientation and disbelief. She, along with the rest of the students, blinked in surprise, looking around at the familiar, ominous statues depicting the seven deadly sins and virtues. It was as if the perilous island survival trial they had just undergone was a mere dream. Yet the sweat on their brows, the exhaustion in their bodies, and the fear in their eyes said otherwise.

The Soul Seer, usually a figure of calm authority, was seething with an anger that seemed to radiate from her like a menacing aura. It was palpable and terrifying, causing the temperature in the hall to drop several degrees. Her face, usually serene despite her blindness, was now contorted into a scowl that sent chills down the spines of the students.

"I went to great lengths to create a detailed and layered test, themed around the seven deadly sins and virtues! It was supposed to be a mystery to unravel, a challenge to overcome!" the old woman shouted, her voice echoing hauntingly in the cavernous hall. Her fury was aimed at no one in particular, yet everyone felt its heat. "But it's over. In a mere three hours! Three hours!"

The students exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts pounding with anxiety. No one dared to speak or even breathe too loudly, fearful of drawing the wrath of the Soul Seer onto themselves.

"Dismissed! Leave, all of you!" she bellowed, waving a dismissive hand at the crowd of students. The command sent them into a frenzy, scrambling towards the exit in a desperate bid to escape the hall and the wrathful old woman.

As the hall emptied, the Soul Seer's wrathful facade faded, replaced by a look of profound disappointment. She sighed deeply, pulling out a scroll that had materialized in her hand. It was the point sheet, a comprehensive record of each student's performance in the test.

Her blind eyes, despite their lack of sight, seemed to widen as she read through the points. The scores were abysmally low, with the majority of the students not earning a single point. The only exception was Zhongli, whose score was a staggering 100 points.

Her disappointment turned into surprise as she regarded the score. Zhongli, the calm and collected student, had managed to score high points, perhaps understanding the true nature of her test better than she had expected. But it was too late now, the test was over, and all she could do was reflect on its outcome, contemplating the lessons she herself had learned from this unexpected turn of events.

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"Time?" A distorted, albeit distinctly gruff voice, belonging to a shadow covered individual, asked another similarly garbed person.

"Three hours." The answer was nothing more than a quip, the voice muffled and distorted pretty much the same way the first was.

"Numbers?" As if in a contest to show who was the less loquacious, the first individual asked a single word question again.

"Five squads of the Shadow Abyssal Beast. One casualty." 

Nonplussed, the other shadow gave its report to its officer.

Silence wrapped the little room the two people were in. Part surprise, part uncomfortable, and full embarrassment at the results. The first shadow, seated behind a desk, laced its fingers under its masked visage, resting its chin on their hands.

"He is wasted."

The other shadow, standing, shrugged under its cloak as if signifying it was not their call to agree or not.

"Permission to talk freely."

The standing shadow started minutely. It took a minute to collect itself and its thoughts, humming lightly under its mask. He had been the prime observer of the target for a long while and was intent on giving the commander a clear picture. There was no need to point the good, the report was telling. It did not mean the bad was not present.

"He is undisciplined."

If they did not know the commander never ever snorted, the shadow would have sworn the seated officer just had.

"He is smart being able to figure out the Principal's schemes."

The commander shrugged and waved a hand, inviting the soldier to continue. The first two points were of no consequence. They had all lacked discipline at first and young boys tended to be loud and brash anyway. 

"He wants revenge against the principal."

The commander stilled. That was a good point. The commander smiled behind its mask.

"Exactly."