Holding the map from above a rock formation, Agysmal is certain that the waterfall he sees now is the secret passage to the High Periphery.
This waterfall, known as Melancholia Falls, is located in a dense forest. Many ferocious, dark, and fighting-type Meadow Ferals also inhabit the surrounding area, making access to the falls extremely adventurous.
The waterfall drops from a plateau on top of Eggtray Mountain, creating a breathtaking spectacle. While the surroundings may seem serene, according to the hermit named Beardman, many deadly and aggressive Meadow Ferals swim beneath the water.
Now that he's at the entrance of the school that trains alpha manslayers or Larkansas, there's no turning back for him.
As he plunged himself underwater, he was immediately swarmed by Leechricauns. They bit him, and some sucked his blood. He pulled out his dagger from its scabbard and swung it wildly. The dagger emitted a blue flame, which was quickly extinguished by the water, but due to its unusual heat, the water began to boil. Even if the Leechricauns weren't cooked, they still scattered and swam away.
Agysmal thought his ordeal was over, but from behind him, a choir of mermraids with sharp claws and teeth attacked. With his limited breath underwater, he had no time to face them. He quickly swam towards a strange light he saw above the water, suspecting it was an exit.
As he broke through the surface, he looked around frantically, but all he saw was a blue mist enveloping everything. However, his attention was drawn to a large rock that resembled a platform. He swam towards the platform and, once on top, collapsed onto it. After gathering his strength, he stood up.
"This doesn't look like the gate of the academy," Agysmal muttered to himself. When he heard footsteps, he became alert, gripping his dagger. He heard another footstep, this time closer to where he was positioned.
He could feel the eerie aura of the surroundings, making his skin crawl. The wind that blew was like a knife cutting through his skin. Suddenly, Agysmal was knocked to the ground by a creature shrouded in shadows that emerged out of nowhere. The creature, resembling a human, held a blade and pinned Agysmal down, with the blade pressed against the young man's neck.
After Agysmal managed to deflect the Shadowman's blade, he swiftly punched the figure, sending it flying. He quickly retrieved his dagger, which emitted a light blue flame, and lunged at the Shadowman. The figure popped like a bubble, but another Shadowman emerged from above Agysmal's head, wielding a poniard. However, it too fell victim to Agysmal's dagger.
A lightning bolt struck mere inches from him, sending him tumbling to the ground. As he regained his footing, he was beset by a group of Shadowmen armed with various weapons. With lightning bolts raining down on him, Agysmal's only thought was to flee and dodge the attacks while being pursued by the Shadowmen.
The blue mist made it impossible for him to determine his direction. He ran blindly until he collided with something.
Agysmal and the woman with aquamarine hair were both startled as they suddenly found themselves face-to-face. They simultaneously pointed their blades at each other, but somehow, they both seemed to sense that they weren't enemies. As they were surrounded by the Shadowmen, they realized they shared a common foe.
"Are you here to get into the High Periphery too?" Agysmal asked, standing back-to-back with the woman.
"Whatever my goal is, it's none of your business," the woman replied, her tone coming across as aloof. However, Agysmal found her voice intriguing.
"For now, let's not argue with each other. I'd like to ask for your full cooperation to take down these obstacles in our path."
Even though the woman didn't respond, Agysmal sensed that she agreed with him. They were almost the same height, with the woman's flowy aquamarine hair reaching her waist. Her slender physique and captivating, enigmatic eyes drew Agysmal's attention. She wielded a two-foot-long needle-like sword.
Agysmal's brief training with Beardman, the man who had saved him, had taught him the importance of caring for others. Although it was a short period, he had absorbed every lesson and applied the skills he learned at the Volition Abode to his journey, committing them to memory. On the other hand, the enigmatic woman displayed extraordinary combat skills, clearly experienced in battle.
After defeating their enemies, the blue mist enveloping the surroundings gradually dissipated. However, its disappearance was replaced by a haze. Agysmal spotted a deep gorge, realizing they were standing at the edge of a massive chasm.
He was astonished to discover that he and the woman weren't the only ones vying for entry into the High Periphery; many individuals were also seeking admission to the academy.
A large clock hovered above, and Agysmal's timing was perfect, as the portal would close in mere minutes. Before them lay ten rickety hanging bridges, while on the opposite side stood a colossal gate made of gold, polished to a brilliant shine.
A rectangular panel with wooden designs on either side materialized above the hanging bridges, and a woman's face appeared on the screen. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her lips matched the same crimson hue.
"I am Miss Lauven, the facilitator of the entrance exam, and I'm delighted to announce that you've passed the first part of the exam," the woman declared on the large screen. "The first part of your exam required you to defeat fifty Shadowmen and dodge lightning bolts. For the second part, you'll need to choose a hanging bridge to cross to the other side."
Agysmal's eyes narrowed as he studied the hanging bridges intently. "From the ten bridges available, you'll need to select one to cross to the other side," Miss Lauven's voice echoed. "When you reach the midpoint, I'll signal you to stop. Only five of the bridges are stable and can be traversed. Your fate will depend on your choice. If luck is on your side, you'll make it across. However, if you're unfortunate in your selection, you'll plummet to the bottom of the gorge. Choose your bridge wisely." With that, the screen flickered and disappeared, leaving Agysmal to ponder his decision.
"According to Beardman, every year during the entrance exam, the bridges that lead to the Golden Gate are different, so I won't be able to predict which one I'll be able to cross," Agysmal thought to himself. The large clock above popped up, and the time for deciding began to tick away. There was no guarantee of survival if one fell into the gorge.
The bridges were numbered from one to ten, and at first glance, they seemed indistinguishable from one another. Despite having the same structure and design, he was still searching for any potential flaws in the bridge.
When he saw the aquamarine-haired woman select the third bridge, he didn't feel compelled to follow her lead. Instead, he relied on his own intuition, tuning in to his inner voice to guide his decision.
When all the examinees had chosen their bridges, the wooden-designed screen reappeared, and Miss Lauven emerged once more.
Now that you've all chosen your bridges, I'm asking you to stop," Miss Lauven's voice echoed. Yet, some examinees disregarded her warning, seemingly taking the situation lightly.
They continued to cross, laughing and joking, until they were suddenly and brutally impaled by smoking pitchforks. Agysmal was horrified by the gruesome spectacle, particularly the fate of his fellow examinees on the bridge, who were rapidly reduced to skeletons by the pitchfork's eerie power.
"The Larkansas pay attention to the instructions given by their superiors," Miss Lauven reminded them. "We expect every word from our mouths to sink into your minds. Those who refuse to listen will face consequences." Agysmal knew that the superiors or instructors at the High Periphery were fair but merciless. They were approachable, but one should expect no mercy from them.
"Now, let's find out if the bridge you chose can support your weight," Miss Lauven declared. Agysmal noticed that the examinees on the first bridge seemed nervous. When he looked down into the gorge, he saw only darkness. If one fell, they would be trapped in the dark realm forever.
The first bridge suddenly snapped, and the examinees who fell let out a terrified scream as they saw a massive mouth with numerous teeth open wide. This provided an unexpected snack for the unknown Meadow Feral. Agysmal clung to the rope for dear life.
On the second bridge, the examineers who had chosen it were visibly relieved, as the bridge was sturdy and transformed into concrete. Agysmal smiled when he learned that the third bridge, where the aquamarine-haired woman was, was safe to cross.
The fate of the examineers was revealed one by one.
Now, only two bridges remained, but only one of them led to the Golden Gate. Since number 9 was Agysmal's lucky number, he chose the ninth bridge.
He didn't regret his decision and felt confident that he would cross safely and pass the second part of the entrance exam.
However, he fell.