Chapter 11 Opening Ceremony (2) The dragon was watching her. ...
With the Demon Lord's condescending declaration, the [Opening Ceremony] officially began.
Xia Ying tugged at the chain around her neck, making a rattling sound: "What is this?"
As soon as she spoke, she suddenly realized that her voice had returned to the auditorium, but this did not mean that everything had returned to normal. On the contrary, a violent change was taking place.
The reliefs on the wall suddenly became chaotic. The strange creatures existing in the illusion realized the impending collapse and fled from the wall. The six high walls collapsed and shattered, and the auditorium was turned into a wasteland in an instant.
Xia Ying's vision suddenly became exceptionally wide. She looked up and saw that the exceptionally long night was still going on. The three moons that had risen to the center of the sky were gradually overlapping, and the radiance of the Bloodscarred Moon had almost completely overshadowed the Skeleton Moon and the Undead Moon.
But the anomalies here did not end there.
The wilderness trembled, the earth cracked, and four arched stone platforms, filled with bloodthirsty spectators, rose from the ground, piecing together a complete ring. In moments, the blood moon, the circular stone walls, and the howls and cheers from the stands formed a new cage, tightly surrounding the unsuspecting newcomers.
Xia Ying suddenly realized that she had changed from being in a hall to being in a gladiatorial arena.
"As you all know, the Cocytus Academy is a neutral region independent of the major forces of the Abyss Realm, and is governed and managed by me personally."
"This is what the Demon Lord, who sits on the supreme throne, said."
"Whatever desires have led you to Cocytus, Cocytus will accept them all; this is the meaning of its existence and the driving force behind its continuation."
He raised his scepter, and the candlelight surrounding the platinum throne coalesced into a bright, flowing serpent of fire.
The fire serpent slithered along the circular stone wall composed of four sets of arcs, pausing and hovering in one of the sections. The abyssal creatures on that platform mostly had ferocious appearances and enormous sizes; they roared deafeningly, and the phosphorescent light emanating from the fire serpent formed the emblem of a blood-red skull wearing an iron-gray crown.
"If you are cunning by nature, good at deception and scheming, and believe in putting profit above all else, then the Shadow Scale Ring will be the most suitable place for you."
The fire serpent continued on to the next stone platform. The abyssal creatures here did not always flaunt their claws, but were accustomed to hiding their deadly weapons in the shadows and mist. Their whispers were like a chilling wave. After a flash of phosphorescence, the emblem that revealed a green-scaled dagger piercing a golden mask slowly disappeared into the darkness.
"If you are cold-blooded, paranoid, obsessed with death-like eternity, and yearn to control and define all things, then the Tomb Ring will fulfill your desires."
The area the Fire Serpent arrived in this time was rather dull. The abyssal creatures here were not as violent and aggressive as the Crimson Crown, nor as insidious and cunning as the Shadow Scales. But this did not mean that their danger had been reduced. Just as the Silver Tombstone bound by Purple Chains served as a symbolic emblem of the Tomb Ring, sometimes the stubborn souls born twisted are more frightening.
"Of course, if you abhor established doctrines, are naturally drawn to chaos and disorder, and are passionate about cruel pleasures, then the Feast Ring might suit your fantasies."
Thus, the four rings had each completed their initial appearance at the ceremony, and the fragments of the fire serpent reassembled, transforming into a colossal...
Xia Ying asked in confusion, "A lottery wheel?"
The spinning wheel burning fiercely in the night sky was divided into four equal parts, each marked with a pattern of a crowned skull, a dagger mask, a chained tombstone, and a composite eyeball, clearly representing four ring domains.
The only human in the area couldn't help but wonder: Doesn't this distinguish between different departments?
"Desire will guide you onto the right path; you will choose the Ring Domain, and the Ring Domain will choose you."
The Demon Lord glanced at the spinning wheel and a slight smile played on his lips.
"Of course, it's not about leaving everything to luck. Each new student's assigned zone will be determined at the end of the first semester. This spinning wheel is just a prop to add to the festive atmosphere."
As Tartarus finished speaking, the Flame Wheel began to spin rapidly, the pointer at the center of the wheel trembling, and the badge area it pointed to kept changing.
[Student Handbook] Suddenly, a notification sound came out. Xia Ying subconsciously looked down at her phone screen and thus missed the moment when the Demon Lord snapped his fingers to stop the spinning wheel.
The clamor in the stands abruptly ceased, and an unsettling silence fell over the ground.
An ominous premonition rose in Xia Ying's heart.
She looked up and saw the pointer sculpted from flames pointing directly at the crown and skull. After a few seconds of silence, the abyssal creatures of the other three rings let out sounds of disappointment, but these sounds were far less earth-shattering than the ecstatic shouts from the Crimson Crown Ring stands.
A quarter of the circular stone wall began to crumble, and as the barrier collapsed, the abyssal creatures on the stands howled and leaped into the arena, like hungry beasts pouring into a flock of sheep.
Xia Ying gasped, gripping the chain around her neck with both hands and pulling with all her might.
"Beep! [Entertainment Program]: The hunters, played by the Crimson Crowned Ones, will slaughter the prey played by the newcomers until March completely overlaps. Please try your best to survive before the program ends."
"Task: [Entertainment Program] Officially Begins."
The moment the mission was announced, the chains around the necks of the new students shattered into dust. Xia Ying, who was already prepared, put on the [Spring of Persephone] and sprang like an arrow toward the gap in the collapsed stone platform.
Before she had run more than a few steps, Xia Ying saw a steel fence rising from the ground blocking the gap. The abyssal creature that accidentally crashed into the fence was struck by lightning and suddenly turned charred black.
The rules followed a beat later: "Beep! Ceremony rules: During the [entertainment program], you are not allowed to leave the auditorium."
"Here we go again!!!" Xia Ying yelled as she braked. Just then, a griffin roared and flew towards her. Xia Ying quickly ducked and slid over. The griffin flew over her head and crashed into the roaring black bear. They quickly tore at each other.
Although she had escaped this attack, a massive, dark army of monsters was closing in, and blood was soon splattering across the arena. Xia Ying rolled on the ground, quickly got up, and turned to run back.
She gripped the [Kusanagi Sword] tightly in her hand, and while running, she retrieved the [Abyss Dangerous Creatures Compendium].
Since the last time she accessed the encyclopedia, Xia Ying has encountered many more abyssal creatures, not to mention that she is currently on a battlefield composed of abyssal beings.
New species entries popped up one after another in the encyclopedia, but this wasn't the time to examine them one by one. Xia Ying went straight to the synchronized skill bar module.
The entry "Infernal Hound" (synchronization rate 99%) meets the selection criteria.
The term "Frost Giant Wolf" (synchronization rate 47%) meets the selection criteria.
The term "Four Evil Beasts" (synchronization rate 34%) meets the selection criteria.
The term "World Python" (synchronization rate 45%) meets the selection criteria.
Currently, I have accumulated 267 synchronization points and unlocked 2 skill slots (33 points are needed to unlock a new skill slot).
Does the host want to equip skills in the skill slots? (Cannot be changed within 30 days)
→Yes →No】
Just like on the Charon train, Xia Ying touched "Yes".
Unlike the [Entrance Exam] mission, the list of selectable skills that Xia Ying sees now is much longer than before. She glances at the [Kusanagi Sword] and makes what she believes is the most suitable choice for the current situation.
[Skill Selected: Four Evil Beasts - Hundred Weapons Manual]
The moment the skill was fully equipped, a wondrous power surged into Xia Ying's body. The [Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi] remained unchanged, but Xia Ying, holding it in her hand, suddenly realized how to unleash the true power of this powerful magical artifact.
Not far away, the griffin flapped its wings and swooped down to the ground like a cannonball, piercing the black bear's right eye with its sharp talons. The excruciating pain caused the black bear to roar angrily, but it still could not withstand the fierce attack of the enemy who had the advantage of air.
Just as the black bear, which was gradually becoming exhausted, was knocked down by another sudden attack, a bright cross-shaped blade suddenly pierced the night. The griffin let out a miserable cry, and only blood-spurting cuts remained where its wings had been extended.
The black bear, having narrowly escaped death, stared in disbelief as the girl leaped onto the griffin's nape and delivered the final blow. The griffin's body collapsed like a mountain, and the girl nearly slipped, quickly taking a small step back to steady herself on the griffin's raised back.
Xia Ying flicked the blood off the blade, glanced at the bear's suddenly clear, beady eyes, and couldn't help but smile at it: "You'd better try your best to survive this time."
As time went by, the hunters from the stone platform had fully integrated into the prey herd, and the high-hanging crimson moon further fueled their fighting spirit.
Xia Ying glanced at the night sky. The overlapping area of the three moons was even larger than before, but there was still some time before the "complete overlap of the three moons" would be completed at the end of the mission.
Fortunately, Xia Ying has gradually found a way to fish in troubled waters during this chaotic battle.
First, compared to most abyssal creatures, she was quite small and not conspicuous in the night.
Secondly, even if a hunter spots her, [Persephone Spring] allows her to move nimbly around, making it difficult for a volatile and easily angered enemy to focus on tracking her as a single prey in the midst of a melee.
Finally, even if a battle is unavoidable, the [Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi] is a very useful magical tool!
Xia Ying felt that her plan was already incredibly meticulous; all she had to do now was keep an eye out for Cerberus's trail on the battlefield...
Just as she was happily making plans in her mind, a dramatic change suddenly occurred in the arena.
When the crimson glow reflected by the Bloodscarred Moon reached its peak, a new abyssal creature joined the battlefield.
Where did it all begin?
hurricane.
Everyone on the battlefield simultaneously noticed a hurricane descending from the sky.
The turbulent air currents came too fast and too violently. Xia Ying, who was running, was caught off guard and fell into the vortex. Before she was thrown to the horizon like a kite, she stuck the [Ama-no-Murakumo Sword] diagonally into the uneven brick cracks, bent the sword with force, and used the force to propel herself out of the storm's range.
Xia Ying covered her head and rolled several times on the ground. The binding effect of the magical artifact caused the [Ama-no-Murakumo Sword] to fly back into her hand. Xia Ying hid behind a large, beast-like abyssal creature, finally finding temporary shelter from the raging wind.
She breathed a sigh of relief, then unexpectedly came face to face with a beast's head, its eyes bulging and blood flowing from its seven orifices.
"It's a bit of a hellish joke, but thank you for dying here..."
Xia Ying muttered to herself as she turned the beast's head away and looked up. She found that the crimson fog had covered the entire sky, with the fog churning and surging, and lightning flashing, making it impossible to see what was hidden inside.
But she soon realized that it wasn't just the abyssal creatures in the arena that were restless; those on the stone platform were as well.
Just as Xia Ying began to have doubts, a blinding golden light cleaved through the thick fog, revealing the terrifying answer to her.
In the night sky, a huge shadow appeared before its form, and the membrane wings that blotted out the sky unfolded, tearing the blood mist into pieces in an instant.
The terrifying creature's scales were dark red like cooled magma, and its horns resembled ancient trees that spiraled upwards, splitting into halberd-like branches at their tips. Each edge gleamed with a dark, rusty sheen.
Xia Ying recalled the dragon fighting the Kraken in the relief sculpture in the auditorium.
"Beep! The Crimson-Crowned King, the Evil Dragon Fafnir, has joined [Entertainment Program]"
The dragon's jaw scales shimmered with a golden-red light. Xia Ying keenly sensed the impending danger and immediately retreated, running as fast as she could into the distance.
Just a few breaths later, the dragon fire poured out like a torrent, its deadly light engulfing part of the stone platform before flooding the arena, leaving behind screams and charred bones indiscriminately.
Xia Ying could feel the rapidly heating and distorted air. She didn't have time to look back at the tragic scene behind her; all she wanted to do was seize the opportunity during the dragon's fire breath to find a safer place to land.
Just as she expected, the second shower of fire did not immediately follow, but Xia Ying suddenly felt a chill, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
That was also a premonition. This time, she sensed an inescapable sense of crisis and a strong, clear malice, or rather... a lock-on from some ancient predator.
Xia Ying turned around and met a pair of incredibly bright, golden dragon eyes.
The dragon was watching her.
A note from the author:
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Fafnir, a dragon in Norse mythology.
The author actually quite likes to write vivid and descriptive scenes [hugs][calico cat emoji]
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