Prologue: You Shall Not Pass!!!
Yukina raised an eyebrow as she was confused about what Pandora was trying to do. But, on the other hand, the candidates who emerged from the bushes and forest didn't heed Pandora's words and continued. Seeing this, Pandora grinned and calmly gestured toward the candidates who didn't follow the simple terms that had escaped her mouth.
Most of those who didn't stay at their place fell onto the ground and couldn't get up. It was as if someone or something was tying them up, making it hard for them to move a single muscle. When the other candidates saw this, they froze and didn't dare to move.
It was dangerous to try anything against someone they didn't have any information about that.
"It saddens me that only violence can make you all follow my words." Pandora shook her head in disappointment as she sighed to herself. "Now, shall we continue on?" A smile appeared on her face as she surveyed the surroundings. It was somewhat strange that they emerged at the same time.
But nothing seems to be on the background other than the candidates.
About a hundred candidates were surrounding the platform where the monolith resided. They appeared to be running here as fast as possible, meaning they were exhausted beyond relief. With this in mind, this was good news for Pandora since she might be able to capture them if a fight broke out.
Though that was only applicable to the arcanas of such people was weak or hard to activate. If a couple of candidates that rivaled Yukina was amongst the candidates here, then that would be a problem for Pandora. But, of course, this was under the possibility of someone rivaling Yukina.
'1..2..5...6...8...11..16...25...29.' That was the number of candidates that Pandora considered to have a good arcana. Quite a lot more than she expected, but at the very moment, they seemed to be hiding their power as if waiting for others to reveal their arcanas.
"What an intriguing lot." Pandora couldn't help but mutter to herself since they were no more than schemers. Though, it was something to expect from candidates trying to enter the Saint Zero Academy. They needed to use their brains, intellect, and problem-solving abilities to pass the test.
"What are you trying to do, Pandora?" Yukina questioned as Pandora continued smiling and calmly responded. "I'd like you to follow this plan of mine. I hope you don't mind, Yukina." Pandora's response signified that she had a plan within her mind. Hearing her, Yukina thoughtfully nodded and used her ice soldiers to surround the circular platform.
"I don't know what your idea is all about. But it sounds interesting enough." The ice soldiers of Yukina held swords as their weapons. They pointed such swords toward the candidates, preparing a fight to the death. Seeing such soldiers unfearful and cold, the candidates felt a chill.
"What do you wish from us?! We didn't do anything against you, so why must you block our way into passing this test," A random candidate shouted as many others looked at him before doing the same. "That is right!" "What did we do wrong?!" "Are you too selfish to monopolize the monolith?!"
With that, the candidates throughout the vast plains within the island's center started complaining about Pandora. Unfortunately for them, Pandora wasn't someone that would be pressured by crybabies. She looked at them without a hint of change.
This resulted in one of the more powerful candidates to start speaking. "What do you wish for me to do? I will do anything within my capabilities." It was quite an intriguing offer, but Pandora did nothing more but smile at him and give a calm response. "Just stand there."
"If any of you wish to pass the entrance test, I advise you to stand there and do nothing else. Otherwise, the terrors wouldn't be the reason why you failed." After responding, Pandora nonchalantly warned the others not to move from their spots.
"Don't bother listening to her words. As long as we attack her together, along with our arcanas, we will be able to defeat her. So stand against the bully!" One of the candidates tied to the ground shouted with all his might. Hearing him, the candidates looked at Pandora before readying themselves.
There were at least over a hundred of them. So why should the candidates fear a single person? With this thought process in mind, they readied to sprint toward Pandora. But unfortunately for the candidates, Pandora wasn't slow-minded. Instead of waiting for them to sprint, she gestured an attack.
Threads then covered their feet as they got dragged onto the ground. Most of those who dared to think of sprinting toward Pandora were pulled from their spot. Then, they got tied to each other in the most secure way possible, resulting in them being disabled.
Each of them was easily defeated by Pandora, and the only ones left standing were 50 candidates. The 50 candidates left unpulled by Pandora realized what kind of arcana she had. They immediately knew that she had the power to manipulate strings and threads.
They turned their gaze downwards and noticed some strings carefully camouflaged along with the tall slick grasses. Not only that, but the wide range of the threads wasn't to be underestimated. Though before they could continue thinking about Pandora's arcana.
A siren resonated throughout the island.
*An emergency has emerged! I repeat, an emergency has emerged!*
*All candidates in the area. Be careful, as a warrior-class terror outside the test zone has been detected and rushed ashore into the island. Be warned that only instructors will have to fight against the warrior-class terror. To those who see it under their view, please retreat from the area all at once.*
A monotone voice kept repeating along with the blaring siren throughout the island. The earth then started shaking as the steps of the warrior-class terror shook the ground itself. The candidates were frozen upon hearing the announcement, and their muscles began to tense.
"It looks like the real entrance test has started." Pandora silently mumbled to herself.