despite the overwhelming exhaustion among the students. The difficulty of the trial was already so extreme that one had to wonder: what kind of fool would risk everything by continuing, potentially losing all their hard-earned points?
All twenty-one students, except for Alexandre, lay sprawled on the icy surface, barely capable of moving after enduring the intense physical and mental demands of the test. Who in their right mind would push themselves further under such brutal conditions?
Jack Blade raised his voice impatiently:
"Alright, slackers! It's time to decide. Those who wish to quit, move to my right; those brave enough to continue, step to my left!"
Several tense minutes passed.
Unsurprisingly, almost everyone immediately moved to the right. Nobody wanted to risk losing the fruits of their painful labor for a mere chance at doubling their points. Everyone knew the sadistic nature of Jack Blade's tests—winning double would undoubtedly demand sacrifices far beyond their imagination.
After a few silent moments, Jack Blade sighed and shook his head:
"Well, I suppose that's clear enough," he remarked dryly. With a deliberate gesture, he slowly removed his gloves, revealing a disturbing hand beneath—an eerie white skin clinging to a skeletal limb, grotesquely scarred and burned. Yet, this shocking sight wasn't the only thing that grabbed everyone's attention; on each finger glittered an array of Hunter artifacts—powerful rings, each radiating mysterious power.
He gently pulled one ring from his finger and snapped his fingers. Instantly, the ring began levitating softly above his palm, glowing faintly. With a mischievous smile, Jack Blade said:
"Whoever chooses to participate in the second part of the test will receive an additional 'gift.'"
Alexandre quickly wiped away the frost covering his Pip-Boy and focused his inspection on the floating ring:
Alexandre retira la glace sur sont Pip-Boy et se concentra sur la bague :
╔═══════Aurora Nexus: Inspection Mode ═══════╕
╟─╼[Ring][Hunter][Epic][Drooped]
╟─╼[Name] Suprem Magical Ring
╟─╼[Price] ?
╠══════════════╡
╟─[STATISTICS] ?
╠══════════════╡
╟─[EFFECT] ?
╚════════════════════════════════════╛
Alexandre muttered under his breath:
"What a bastard..."
Given the astronomical prices of Hunter artifacts, placing such a valuable item at stake was incredibly tempting. An "Epic"-grade artifact, even without knowing its exact market price, could easily sell for over a million dollars. In other words, it could guarantee the owner a life of comfort and luxury for years to come.
Unsurprisingly, the earlier unanimous decision quickly began wavering. The twenty-one students who had managed to reach this stage of the trial began reconsidering Jack Blade's offer seriously.
Suddenly, one student stood up decisively—Drak Wilhelm, easily recognizable by his prominent dragon tattoos. Drak, who had already distinguished himself by successfully completing the pentagram challenge, slowly and deliberately moved to the left side. His eyes locked fiercely onto Alexandre, issuing a clear, defiant challenge.
Alexandre hesitated briefly. If he stopped now, he was guaranteed first place, even if Drak succeeded in the second stage. However, if he continued and lost, he risked losing all the points accumulated throughout the entire trial, possibly even dropping from the leaderboard entirely.
Alexandre was pragmatic. He did not take reckless risks driven purely by pride or provocation. Yet, the artifact Jack Blade had just placed at stake undeniably changed the nature of the test. It was no longer just about points—it was about a priceless opportunity.
Jack Blade smiled smugly, aware he'd successfully set the trap. Increasing the pressure further, he remarked loudly:
"It seems there's only one student here who genuinely deserves to become a Hunter." He paused dramatically before adding, "If nobody else steps up, I'll immediately award the additional 50 points to your courageous classmate. I'm giving you exactly ten seconds to make your final choice!"
Most students looked down at the ice, ashamed, unwilling to risk their entire future as Hunters for this gamble. Marlon, still lying exhausted, also seemed conflicted. Despite his strong desire to continue, he knew he had already exceeded his limits—without Alexandre's help, he'd never have reached this stage. Like the others, he concluded sadly that he must follow William's example and withdraw while he could still secure his points.
Alexandre, meanwhile, grappled with his own decision. He knew there might be challenges ahead that could seriously threaten him—like the terrifying hysteria of the ocean depths he'd already faced. Yet, he clenched his fist, reminding himself that his future life as a Hunter would inevitably be filled with dangers even greater than these.
Without another word, Alexandre took a slow, deliberate step forward, joining Drak Wilhelm on the left side.
Jack Blade's grin widened slightly as he observed them, satisfied that his plan had succeeded. The two challengers stood side by side, ready to stake everything for victory, while the other students watched anxiously, fully aware of the severe stakes involved.