Chapter 11: This Monster
Marcus walked slowly, having just finished his signature beheading special, and was preparing to return to his cave with his new companion. "No, 'companion' is too polite. More like a maid," he thought.
In the year 215 AD, this moment might appear inconsequential to others, but it marked the day when the dreamer met the woman who would one day be known as the Maiden of Death and the Shield of the Dreamer.
"Maid… ... Maid… ... You, answer me, and call me 'Master' from now on. I am your master, and you are my maid, a shield, if you will. Your purpose is to protect me. Understand? So, get rid of those lifeless eyes, and accept that you are now my pet."
These words, harsh enough to provoke a reaction from even the most docile creature, ignited something in the girl. What thoughts raced through her mind, no one could fathom, but a fire was undoubtedly sparked within her. Those lifeless eyes transformed from a hazy, dull pink to a fiery, bright shade of red-pink.
From that moment onward, she embraced her role as a maid. Perhaps it was the result of months of torture, abuse, or simply the need for companionship, but she accepted her new identity with what little remained of her soul and her entire being.
Just as this peculiar interaction concluded, a thunderous voice reverberated throughout the arena. "This trial is over," it declared. The expansive forest, with its waterfalls, hidden hideouts, and caves, vanished, replaced by a vast, white arena extending beyond the eye's reach.
"You've made it this far, and now it's time for your first awakening," Rolf announced. Seven students remained, excluding Marcus and his newfound companion, making a total of five.
Marcus studied the other five, recognizing a face from his first night. Someone immensely powerful.
"We're here," Rolf said, directing their attention to an orb. "Touch it to determine the rarity of your power. First up, Pearl."
Marcus watched closely as Pearl, his pink-haired maid, walked up to the orb, oh yeah i never brothered to learn her name. "Pearl, nice."
Pearl touched the inky substance enclosed within the orb, and to everyone's astonishment, it started glowing brilliantly in blinding white.
"Excellent. Back in line, Pearl."
With a mix of anger and determination, Marcus stepped forward. He touched the ink in the orb, but to his dismay, it grew darker instead of lighter. Rolf's disdainful words cut deep. "Move your hand already. You're trash. Get back in line and wait."
Marcus seethed with anger but kept quiet. He knew Rolf's reputation and didn't dare challenge him.
The ranking proceeded, and each student took their turn. Finally, Rolf announced the power rankings:
John: SSS
Pearl: S+
Jess: A
George: B-
Ben: B-
Venice: B-
Marcus: F-
"How do you even earn an F-?" Marcus wondered.
"All right, that's it for today. The only thing left is to select your weapons and be on our way. You can only choose once, and once you do, you're committed to using that weapon during your time in the academy. Rest assured, these weapons are of high quality, selected from our vault. Now, let's get moving."
Marcus and the others followed Rolf as they soon reached a massive steel door, which appeared heavily guarded. However, Marcus knew from his past life that what they saw now was only a fraction of the security measures in place.
"Choose a weapon quickly," Rolf urged.
Marcus began to survey the immense treasure trove. He knew he couldn't outwit Rolf to take more than one weapon, even though he typically fought with two-handed axes. As Marcus scanned the selection, he noticed a spear. While not his usual choice, as he favored axes, he was drawn to it. He examined the spear thoroughly.
Just as he was about to pick up the spear, he noticed a sword—a regular sword, though Marcus had read enough novels to appreciate its significance. It was a thing of beauty, with dark black steel and a handle made from lapis or perhaps a mana stone. Marcus picked it up without hesitation. He had never seen such a beautiful weapon and felt he was making the right choice. As he headed toward Rolf, he noticed that his "maid," Pearl, had selected a shield.
But it wasn't an ordinary shield. It was a dark crimson hue with a golden outline, spiked edges that could extend and contract, and even a steel rope on the handle, allowing it to be swung like a flail. Jess picked out a bow with dark brown wood and steel that matched each other perfectly. Ben chose a spear different from the one Marcus had been considering earlier. It looked as though it was crafted from long bone and wrapped in a crimson scarf.
George opted for a more standard choice—a short sword, but it was anything but ordinary. It was adorned in gold and silver and resembled the weapon of a king. Although it appeared slightly heavy, George handled it effortlessly, causing Marcus a momentary pang of jealousy.
Finally, Venice selected a scythe made from a similar dark steel to Marcus's sword. However, Venice's weapon was different, dark and designed to blend into the night sky.
It seemed that the best choices were saved for last. Jhon, the final student, picked a sword. Though Marcus initially thought of him as a copycat, he couldn't deny the beauty of Jhon's weapon. It was a light blue shade, crafted entirely from mana crystals and fire crystals. The handle emitted a radiant blue light, while the blade glowed with a warm orange hue.
Rolf addressed the group, "Excellent choices. Now, I can finally get some rest. I can't wait to get back to…ahem…I mean, see you all in a week. We have some matters to attend to on the front lines."
Then, with an unexpected revelation, he added, "Oh, didn't I mention? There's a war going on, and once you've completed your training here, you don't have a choice—you'll be joining it."
"Ah, I do plan to post more—I mean it. As the author, I'll aim for at least one update per week. I quite enjoy my own story too. I try to create as I write, ensuring it remains new and even shocks me sometimes. I'll think, 'Damn, Marcus, you're doing great.' But yes, I'm going to focus on editing and making sure it sounds good. See you all!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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ogre_5582 FORGIVE ME I WILL POST MORE I SWEAR AT THE VERY LEAST ONCE A WEEK
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