**Chapter 411: Aren’t Rules Just Fun?**
The candidates quickly figured out that these two chimeras were no ordinary beasts.
Some quick-thinking folks scattered like roaches when the light turns on, but others, not so lucky or fast, ended up getting a face full of trouble.
Ah, adaptability!
The two chimeras were hot on the candidates’ heels, attacking one after another with impunity.
These things were hybrid monsters, sporting a buffet of attack options.
Fire-breathing? Check! Toxic tail? Double check!
They could fly, sprint, leap, and dive, moving fast enough for their massive sizes to make anyone glad they paid for a good insurance policy.
In no time, a few dozen candidates bit the dust. But fear not! Those eliminated candidates didn’t vanish into thin air—they were cocooned in shimmering protective films like leftover burritos.
Meanwhile, the chimeras, oblivious to them, zipped past in search of fresher meat.
Ignored and undoubtedly bored, the eliminated ones could freely roam the area, but they lost their chance at enrollment—now they were just part of the spectator crowd.
The chimeras were relentless, zapping candidate after candidate out of the running. Meanwhile, the temporarily safe candidates pondered the true purpose of this assessment.
Let’s get one thing straight—the academy was testing their adaptability, but did that mean simply surviving the chimeras’ hunt translated to passing?
But for how long? Or how many must fall before they reach a passing mark?
This was shaping up to be a game of chance!
Those emerald-level chimeras were hunting down gold-level candidates like it was a shopping spree; once targeted, escape was merely a question of seconds.
Let’s return to the rules, shall we?
There was just one: Candidates couldn’t harm each other.
No time limit given, no passing criteria explained. So—was it possible that if things didn’t go as expected, they’d end up with hardly anyone deemed “passed”?
After all, Saint Felis Academy wasn’t one to force admissions; sometimes only a hundred students made it in, while other years boasted two thousand.
It was all about luck, a complete gamble—hard to get in at all!
While there were bound to be a few lucky ones, those golden-level contenders weren’t about to wager their fates on hope alone.
Suddenly, one candidate hollered, “Hey everyone! Listen up! The judges are definitely watching us, and we can’t just give up!”
“I say, with seven or eight hundred of us still standing against just two chimeras, are we really that scared?”
“Sure, they’re emerald-level, but they’re synthetic creatures in a new challenge! From what I’ve seen so far, they’re not very stable. If we join forces, we’ve got a fighting chance!”
“I’m putting together a counterattack! I hope you’ll join me. High-level gold candidates should use fire magic or red skills, mid-levels can use water or blue, and beginners, stick with wind magic or green skills.”
“I’ll count to three; let’s form up! One, two, three!”
As soon as he finished speaking, magic and skills erupted into the sky in a riot of colors.
Those who used the same colors banded together.
The speaker was rocking blue skills.
But not everyone was on board with this plan.
Yuliya, for one.
She glanced at the organizer and nodded in appreciation.
Now, that was some quick thinking!
Just for that one shout, he probably already passed.
About five hundred responded to him—a good number, indeed!
Among those, there were over two hundred with beginner-level gold, a similar number at mid-level, but less than fifty at high-level.
Sending a team of that caliber to take on two mid-level emerald chimeras? The odds weren’t great.
But hey, it’s an evaluation, anything could happen!
The challenge team quickly assembled, with high-level gold candidates as the primary force, mid-levels as support, and beginners as—let’s face it—bait!
After all, it was a test; no real deaths here!
They charged ahead, but Yuliya had no intentions of joining the brawl.
It was common knowledge that she was a gentle, peaceful girl who opposed violence.
Plus, with her being just a beginner gold, joining meant certain peril, and that was a definite no-go!
The chimeras were just too ugly; even a brush with one could ruin her day.
Why couldn’t they make chimeras cute? Lots of people love adorable creatures!
Like cats, dogs, or cute little hamsters and parrots!
Imagine fusing them into one adorable little creature!
In any case, she had no desire to come close to this chimera nightmare!
She simply had to avoid it and stay safe.
Scanning for options, her gaze landed on the eliminated candidates.
Chimeras wouldn’t touch them! So, did that mean if you were eliminated, you’d be off their radar?
I’m a little genius!
Everyone was strategizing.
Some tried tanking, others played dodgeball, and a few figured out the chimeras’ moving patterns and started a game of hide-and-seek.
But Yuliya was thinking differently.
Everyone else was focused on the chimeras.
She had her eyes on the eliminated candidates.
“Big Sister, can I hide behind you for a bit?”
The girl she called out looked taken aback: “Can you even do that?”
“Uh, the rules didn’t say I couldn’t!”
They hadn’t mentioned much of anything, really.
The girl, seeing Yuliya was just a kid, chuckled: “Sure, just make sure to hide well! It’d be best to pass the evaluation, but too bad I’m out of chances.”
“Can you not come back next year?”
“Ugh, we only get one shot.”
“Oh… I see.”
While Yuliya chatted, she couldn’t help but keep an eye on the protective film surrounding the older girl.
Suddenly, she tilted her head and asked, “Big Sister, how do you know you’re out of chances?”
“What do you mean? I’ve been eliminated!”
“Did someone tell you that you’re eliminated?”
“Uh… no, but I activated the protection mechanism…”
“But the rules never said triggering it equals elimination, right?”
Rules? What rules?!
Suddenly, a light bulb went off in the girl’s mind.
Oh, right! Who told her she was out of the game?!
Yuliya smiled brightly, “Can you take off the badge on your chest?”
The girl looked and just popped it off.
As she took it off, the protective film peeled away, too.
“What about you give this to me instead?”
The girl beamed with joy, swiftly pinning the badge on Yuliya: “Thanks, Little Sister! You stay put; I’ll take it from here!”
She dashed away, launched a fire spell at the chimera’s head, and left Yuliya basking in her newfound role as the ultimate wallflower!
