180 Dekan’s Grudge
Unfortunately, when the spell “Blood Annihilation” is completed, it erases all the caster’s states, so even activating “Pain Block” would be useless.
Dekan remembered how Marquis Roderick screamed when he self-destructed.
In the future, Chloix would definitely not resort to such an explosion unless it was absolutely necessary.
“You know, next time we challenge the Shadow World, we can finally bring Chloix along.”
After Dekan reached the fourth rank, he met the criteria to form a team with Chloix, who was at the sixth rank.
However, Dekan began to feel a bit worried.
If the Shadow World detects that Chloix possesses the “Blood Annihilation” during the next entry, wouldn’t it be incensed?
An infuriated Shadow World might try to irritate them at the start of the challenge.
For instance, give Dekan a bizarre identity or a hellish starting difficulty.
“Hmm, there’s nothing to fear, I actually look forward to seeing the Shadow World getting even more enraged.”
…
And thus, the two and the cat left the boundary space.
When they emerged, to Dekan’s surprise, not only was Chloix waiting by the exit, but Professor Arno was also there.
Dekan noticed Professor Arno, his class advisor, had a somewhat stern expression.
“What’s the matter, Professor?”
Dekan asked with some confusion.
“Ah.”
Professor Arno sighed.
“It’s actually the situation regarding the registration of your trio’s team. You need to consider applying as a seventh-rank team.”
The professor replied.
Although Dekan and Cornelia are both at the fourth rank,
the Shadow World seems to default in matching you two into a sixth-rank Shadow World.
This is partly because Dekan and Cornelia’s outstanding performances in the Shadow World previously earned them a rating beyond their ranks.
Additionally,
the larger the team, the higher the recognized strength of the team by the Shadow World.
After all, teams formed with familiar people have inherent advantages in intelligence sharing and tactics.
Hence, most teams consist of two or three members, with only a few highly compatible and well-coordinated teams having five members using team cards.
Generally, most challengers dare not form teams that are too large, otherwise, the difficulty will skyrocket.
Dekan understood what Professor Arno meant from the latest Shadow World experience.
After Dekan and Cornelia teamed up, the Shadow World’s evaluation was that it was suitable for the sixth-rank Shadow World.
Then adding Chloix, who is already at the sixth rank, and taking into consideration the curse that increases the difficulty of the Shadow World on Chloix,
it’s almost certain that when your trio teams up, you will enter the seventh-rank Shadow World.
However, starting from the seventh-rank Shadow World,
these Shadow Worlds are not always available.
Their numbers are limited, showing up at the earliest every month and at the latest every six months.
Most importantly, under the agreement of the Kingdom Union, they cannot be freely selected by challengers.
Once the seventh-rank Shadow World or higher appears,
the Kingdom Union will engage in some discussion to prepare and then allow suitable challengers to enter.
Because once a Shadow World of this level fails, it will trigger extremely intense disasters.
The Kingdom Union aims to maximize the chances of success, even if it’s just by 0.1%.
“So what do we need to do to pass the Kingdom Union’s approval?”
Dekan asked.
“The Norton Kingdom has done its best for your favor, but… the Kingdom Union side has some opposition. I’m sure you know those restless Northern Kingdoms. So, we managed to secure just a fair testing opportunity for you and cannot bypass the seventh-rank team examination with special privileges.”
Professor Arno answered.
For the convenience of experienced challengers to form teams more efficiently,
many of the top-performing elites often work alone, occasionally forming temporary teams.
So a fast lane exists to let them work more efficiently.
The Norton Kingdom believes that Dekan’s team has every qualification to apply for this fast lane.
After all, Dekan and Cornelia’s performance in the passage through the sixth-rank Shadow World was well-documented.
With Chloix joining the team, their apparent rank on paper is low, but they are entirely sufficient to challenge the seventh-rank Shadow World.
However, the opponents persistently seized on the issue of ranks.
They insisted that it was wrong to allow three novices at the fourth and sixth ranks to team up for the seventh, claiming it would significantly increase the chances of the Shadow World’s failure.
Considering the importance of high-ranked Shadow Worlds,
the Kingdom Union has no choice but to go through the standard examination procedure without controversy.
“So…”
Dekan didn’t have to guess who was causing him trouble on the list.
After all, preventing Dekan from participating in the seventh-rank Shadow World is itself an effective way to curb his growth.
“So, you three will have to complete the Kingdom Union’s seventh-rank team examination if you want to team up for the Shadow World challenge. The next review exam is scheduled exactly two months from now.”
Professor Arno added.
“May I ask where it will be held?”
“At least you can rest assured; the examination site is in a neutral kingdom. However, there will definitely be some people trying to snipe or hinder you.”
Despite this, Professor Arno felt that when Dekan heard the exam wasn’t in the Northern Kingdoms, his expression somehow became a little disappointed.
“… Oh, by the way, if I catch anyone intentionally sabotaging us during the examination, how much can I mess with them?”
Dekan asked again.
In this world, he didn’t want to do anything that would excessively embarrass the Norton Kingdom.
So it was better to check with Professor Arno first on the boundaries.
“If someone tries to kill you, there’s no need to hold back; do whatever you want.”
Professor Arno responded with a stern look.
This surprised Dekan somewhat.
He thought Professor Arno would at least tell him not to cripple the other person.
“Really?!”
“… Wait, Dekan, why do I feel you’re getting kind of excited?!”
Professor Arno gradually began to regret saying what he just did.
If others were to take the exam normally, he certainly wouldn’t want Dekan to go too far.
But Professor Arno was worried that some bastards from the Northern Kingdoms might use this opportunity to try and harm Dekan.
So prioritizing Dekan’s safety, he supported the idea of Dekan using full force.
But judging from the current situation, Dekan seems to be taking the high moral ground a bit too far.
“Kukuku…”
Dekan sneered.
He was just about to start planning for payback against the people from the Northern Kingdoms.
He didn’t expect those guys would actually pick this opportunity to cause trouble.
At the very least, one unlucky person would need to serve as an example.
“Professor Arno, seventh-rank hostages must be quite valuable, right?”
Dekan suddenly asked.
Professor Arno: “???”
Professor Arno was inwardly screaming now.
The “anything” I said didn’t include kidnaping!!!
