Supply station, control tower.

Several professors were lined up in front of a large projection that displayed over several dozen windows. In each window was a different group. Beside the projection was another projection.

It was currently empty, but it had several numbers that ranged from one to twenty-five, which was the overall number of teams. Beside each name was a red '0' that indicated their score points.

"What do you think? Who do you think will rank first?"

Professor Heart asked.

He was the professor who had brought the second year over.

"Ideally speaking, it should've been Jacob's team. The fifth team."

Answering him was Professor Lambart, one of the first-year professors. His voice was sharp and concise. With short, disheveled brown hair and green eyes that glimmered behind thick, square-framed glasses, he exuded an air of seriousness.

"But..?"

"....I'm not so sure anymore."

As he spoke, the Professor's gaze stopped at a specific window and closed his eyes.

While he didn't show it, one could see the disappointment in his gaze.

"I would've been confident in their ranking if not for the sudden change in captaincy."

"Oh?"

Curious, Professor Heart looked at the specific window and noticed that the captain had indeed been changed from Jacob, the current Black Star, to Linus.

"That's surprising. Did they come to the decision themselves?"

"No."

Professor Lambart shook his head, his lips pursing together.

"That's the most annoying part. The changes were forced upon one of your cadets."

"Mine?"

"Indeed."

He gave a nod and lifted his glasses.

"I'm sure you're quite familiar with him. It's none other than the previous Summit winner, and the previous Black Star."

"Could you mean...?"

"Yes, Julien of the Evenus Household."

"Oh, great."

Realizing what had happened, Professor Heart covered his face.

He was lost for words.

Julien was known for always being indifferent and partial. He wasn't someone that would meddle in things that didn't involve him. It was for this reason that Professor Heart was comfortable with assigning him to his brother.

He thought Julien wouldn't show any favoritism towards him.

And yet...

"That cadet of yours... He's potentially screwed an entire team because he wanted to take care of his little brother. I previously thought he was arrogant, which can be understandable due to his achievements, but this is beyond what I imagined."

"....."

What could Heart even say to this?

He... didn't know how to respond. Staring at the screen and focusing his attention on Linus's group, he could only secretly shake his head.

'I've heard about Julien's little brother. He's smart, but...'

The Professor shook his head.

His meaning was clear.

He was smart, but not reliable.

This team...

They were set for a potential failure.

***

The air felt increasingly heavier the deeper they ventured into the Mirror Dimension.

Holding onto a small lamp, Linus illuminated the path in front of him. Rotten and decayed trees lined up the path, their branches brushing against their skin.

Because of how dark it was, everyone had to stand close together in order to avoid any ambushes from the monsters around them. Usually, one would have the 'tanker' hold onto the light while walking forward, but Linus offered himself for the role.

This decision prompted Julien to furrow his brows, but he didn't say anything and followed from a safe distance.

Amell walked beside him silently.

From time to time, he would look at him and ask, 'What did you mean by what you said before? I look what..?'

Julien would just ignore him and keep his eyes peeled forward. Even if he did sense something, he didn't show it outwardly.

It was up to Linus or his team to sense something.

"Wait."

Soon enough, someone within the group spoke, prompting Linus to stop. When he turned his head, Linus's gaze fell on Jessica who held a dagger in each of her hands, emitting a faint green glow that highlighted her soft blonde hair.

With a petite and small frame, she was very adept in stealth and speed—she was an assassin of sorts.

Narrowing her eyes, she looked towards the front.

"I sense something."

"Get ready."

At Linus's command, everyone fell into position. Stepping forward, a shield materialized in front of Jacob's hand, while Sophia, the elemental mage, raised her hand to reveal a long staff that emitted a faint blue glow.

Beside Jacob stood Rick, his hands outstretched as he gripped a long, crimson spear tightly, ready.

"It's coming!"

Jacob's rough voice echoed within the darkness as the ground trembled.

Thu— Thump! Thu— Thump! Everyone's heart tightened at the muffled sound coming from the distance.

With each 'thump' growing progressively louder, alarm bells rang in their minds as they held their positions, tense and waiting.

Opening his mouth, Jacob was about to shout when he stopped and looked back. Clenching his teeth he held his words back and looked at Linus who bit his lips and held a sword forward.

"It's here."

Jacob's calm voice rang in the surroundings as a soft blue hue appeared in the distance, approaching them rapidly.

"Jacob!"

Listening to Linus's command, Jacob stomped the ground and shot forward, his shoulder against the shield as he let out a soft grunt.

"Humph!"

Hieenk!

Shortly after he took his position, a grotesque creature materialized—resembling a horse, but with skin that seemed to melt down, exposing the bone hidden beneath.

"Rotmane!"

Linus recognized the creature instantly and a series of information flodded his mind. Having studied the monster encyclopedia by heart, he knew everything about the monster as he rapidly detailed the monster's information to everyone.

"Rotmane, Junior ranked beast, charges in a straight line. It's best to avoid frontal—"

Bang!

A loud metallic 'clank' reverberated throughout, stopping Linus mid-sentence. What followed after the clanking sound was a heavy grunt, accompanied by a powerful 'Hieek!'.

Thump! Thump...!

Unable to bear the full brunt of the attack, Jacob was pushed several steps back, his shoulder trembling due to the force of the impact.

Standing not far from him was the Rotmane which kicked the ground and charged at him once more.

"Careful!"

In seconds, the Rotmane reached Jacob who was unable to lift up the shield in time. Just as the creature was about to pummel him, a figure arrived before Jacob, shoving him away in time to avoid the attack.

Bang!

Dirt flew in the air as the ground shook.

When everything settled down, the Rotmane stood in the middle while two figures were down on the floor.

They were both unharmed, but the team composition was completely destroyed.

Linus watched all of this happen before his eyes, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to find his words.

"Do something..!"

What snapped him out of his thoughts was an angry voice, and he quickly turned his head to see Rick thrust his spear in the direction of the Rotmane.

"Ah, no! That's not—"

It was too late.

Hiiiek!

Standing on two feet, the Rotmane skillfully evaded the spear, twisting its body mid-air before landing smoothly back on the ground. In an instant, it rotated its torso with unnatural speed, delivering a powerful kick toward Rick with deadly precision.

Its movements were so fast and abrupt that Linus had no time to reach his spot.

"....!"

Thankfully, Sophia had been paying attention.

Extending her staff, the temperature dropped and her staff glowed. Following this, an ice wall formed right in front of Rick.

Even so, given the little time it took for her to cast, it was far from enough to completely block the attack.

Bang!

"Ahh...!"

He still ended up being hit by it, which sent him crashing against the nearby trees, shattering several at once.

The entire sequence occurred in less than a few seconds.

Before Linus knew it, the entire team was in disarray, with one cadet potentially injured.

"Wake the fuck up!"

Feeling a large hand seize him by the collar, Linus was shoved backward. Before he could react, a massive shadow loomed in front of him, followed by the thunderous stomp of something enormous coming down.

Bang!

The ground trembled and he lost his footing, but thankfully, he was able to avoid the incoming attack as Jacob just managed to push him away in time.

"Humph!"

With a grunt, Jacob lowered his body and shot forward.

In that time, he used his momentum to charge forward; meanwhile, he concentrated his mana and blood, causing his arm to pop and expand.

His presence magnified and the air around his shield funneled.

In an instant, Jacob appeared before the Rotmane, his shield crashing against the front of the monster.

BAM!

A thunderous 'clap' reverberated through the surroundings as the Rotmane was pushed back several steps.

Jacob didn't relent.

His eyes grew fierce and his calves tensed. Swoosh— With a swift motion, he thrust his left hand forward, and the Rotmane came to a sudden halt. Clenching his right fist, his body blurred from the spot, reappearing before the creature in the blink of an eye.

"Now!"

At the same time that he shouted, four other figures appeared on all sides of the Rotmane.

Jessica raised her staff, summoning a sheet of ice that spread beneath the Rotmane. Shortly after which, Sophia slid under the frozen surface, her speed nearly imperceptible. As she moved, small, precise cuts appeared at the monster's joints.

"Ahhh!"

Her movements were followed by Rick who lunged forward, driving his spear into the creature's left flank.

Spurt!

Blood gushed in the air as the Rotmane squealed in pain. But it wasn't over yet.

There was still life in the monster's eyes, but not for long.

"Uhmp!"

A massive shadow loomed over the Rotmane, descending rapidly as Jacob hurtled down with his heavy shield clutched tightly in his outstretched hands. Moments later, the shield crashed into the beast with earth-shaking force.

Bang!

Dust and debris flew in the air in the aftermath of the crash.

When everything settled down, a figure appeared standing on the body of the Rotmane. He looked unharmed and his breathing was fine, but if there was something that wasn't fine, it was his expression.

Turning his head to look at the stupefied Linus, he was just about to say something when he closed his mouth.

Eventually, turning his head in Julien's direction, he murmured in a tone only he could hear.

"I can put down my arrogance, but can you...?"