CH.12

(A/N: Before you read, some of you might confused as to why the test comes so fast, just after the protagonist awakened his attribute, The purpose of sending students into the dungeon is to evaluate their combat abilities and measure the progress they've made during their time at school. This is why they are only given three days to adapt to their newly awakened attributes. From the school's perspective, the awakened attribute is just the icing on the cake. Even if a student doesn't awaken an attribute, as long as they have shown strong performance throughout their studies, passing the dungeon challenge shouldn't be difficult.)

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As the preparations continued, Ain stood calmly near the entrance of the dungeon portal. The rest of the students were still buzzing about in groups, making final preparations and hyping each other up for what was to come. Ain, however, didn't need to hype himself up. He was more than ready.

Suddenly, the sound of light footsteps approached him. He glanced to the side and was greeted by none other than Seraphina Lunaris, the school belle. With her striking features, graceful demeanor, and her reputation as a top student, Seraphina had captured the attention of practically every boy in the school. Her long silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her soft blue eyes locked onto Ain with an unexpected warmth.

"Ain," she called out softly, her voice like a gentle breeze. "Are you going into the dungeon alone?"

Ain raised an eyebrow, a little surprised that she had approached him. It wasn't like they had ever spoken much before. He knew of her, of course—everyone did—but they had never crossed paths beyond the occasional glance in the hallways.

"Yeah, I'm going solo," Ain replied with his usual calmness, not seeing any reason to sugarcoat things. He didn't think too much of it, but the boys nearby certainly did.

As Seraphina took a step closer, a few of the other male students who were in earshot began whispering among themselves. Jealousy flared in their eyes. Seraphina rarely talked to anyone, much less someone like Ain who kept to himself. Yet here she was, standing in front of him, looking like she had something more to say.

"Why don't we team up? I think we could make a great team," she said, smiling genuinely. "I've heard you're pretty strong during combat lessons. It would be reassuring to have someone like you by my side."

The moment she made the suggestion, the whispers around them turned into murmurs of disbelief. Some of the boys outright stared, their faces twisted with envy and frustration. One of them even muttered, "Of all people, why him?" after all, everyone in the school should already know that Ain awaken useless attribute.

But the most intense reaction came from Max Rungkad, a burly student with a reputation for being a troublemaker. He had clashed with Ain before during assessments, and their encounters had left Max nursing a deep resentment. Seeing Seraphina, the girl he admired from afar, approach Ain like this only fueled his hatred.

Max scoffed loudly, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Oh, come on. You can't be serious, Seraphina. Teaming up with this guy?" He sneered, glancing at Ain with thinly veiled disdain. "He might act cool, but we all know he's just a loner. Probably thinks he's too good for the rest of us."

Ain simply glanced at Max with a calm expression. Instead of responding to Max's taunts, he turned his gaze back to Seraphina, who looked a bit flustered by the sudden tension.

"I appreciate the offer," Ain said, his voice steady and polite, "but I'm used to working alone. I think you'll do just fine with another team." His words were gentle but firm.

Seraphina blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting to be turned down so gracefully. After a brief pause, she nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Alright, I understand. Good luck in the dungeon, Ain." She gave him a slight wave before turning to rejoin her own group.

The nearby boys, who had been burning with jealousy, now stared in disbelief. Not only had Seraphina invited Ain to team up with her, but Ain had rejected her offer. It was like something out of a drama, and they didn't know whether to be impressed or infuriated.

Max, however, wasn't taking the rejection lightly. His fists clenched, and his face reddened with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Tch, always playing it cool, aren't you?" he spat, his voice low and dripping with malice. "One day, you're going to regret that attitude."

Ain merely smiled, a calm, almost serene smile that seemed to enrage Max even further. But Ain wasn't bothered. He had no interest in petty rivalries or pointless conflicts, especially not with someone like Max.

Before Max could say anything else, a voice rang out over the crowd.

"Attention, students! The time has come to begin the graduation test. Please proceed to the portal in an orderly fashion. Teams and solo participants will enter according to your designated slots. Remember, this is your final test before graduation, so give it your all!"

The excitement in the air spiked, and students began moving toward the large portal situated at the center of the field outside the school building. The portal shimmered with a soft, otherworldly light, its surface rippling like water as students approached.

Ain wasted no time. With a quick glance at the crowd gathering near the portal, he began walking toward it, his steps steady and purposeful. He could feel the eyes of several students on him—some curious, some envious, and others still harboring that same quiet resentment. But Ain didn't care. His goal was clear, and the dungeon awaited.

As he approached the portal, he passed by Max, who was still stewing in his corner, muttering something under his breath. Ain, unfazed, simply kept walking, his mind focused on the challenge ahead.

The principal stood by the portal's entrance, watching as students made their way inside. As Ain stepped up to the shimmering surface, the principal gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment, recognizing the young man's talent and potential however there was a hint of pity in his eyes.

Without hesitation, Ain walked through the portal, the familiar sensation of entering another dimension washing over him.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of Ain's lips as he felt the slight shift in gravity and atmosphere. Time to get started.

(End of Chapter)