Dimminglights

To part ways.

The hall buzzed with energy as Yusuke stood amongst the 100 candidates, glancing around at his fellow soon-to-be adventurers. Octavia was a few steps ahead, ignoring him, her body language cold and distant. Raizo, on the other hand, seemed lost in his own world, his usual cheerfulness eerily absent. Yusuke noticed Akiko and Julian getting close, sitting together with their arms wrapped around each other, completely engrossed in their private little world.

Suddenly, the soft chatter came to a halt as an elderly man walked onto the podium, his presence commanding attention.

"Welcome, candidates, to the Adventurers' Trial Academy," he began, his voice steady but authoritative. "Here, you'll be tested on the field you've chosen. This will not be easy. You will be pushed to your limits. Whether you're a support, mage, fighter, tank, or marksman, your resolve and skills will be put to the ultimate test."

Yusuke listened intently as the elderly man described the challenges that lay ahead, his words sharpening the atmosphere of tension in the hall.

**Support candidates** would be healing, buffing, and performing rescue missions. Their tests would be a blend of magic and modern methods, managing the essence of both worlds.
**Mages** like Akiko and Tetsuo would face trials of mana control, elemental manipulation, and arcane puzzles-situations where intelligence and creativity in casting spells would be the key to success.
Yusuke and Octavia, both **fighters**, would be plunged into intense combat trials. They would be tested on their mastery of weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and endurance. Yusuke couldn't help but glance toward Octavia, wondering how she'd handle the trials, but she remained aloof, not spring him a look.

Tanks like Julian would need to withstand relentless attacks, using both brute strength and defensive strategy to protect others.

And surprisingly, Raizo had chosen to be a marksman, the last field Yusuke had expected him to pick. Marksmen were all about precision, quick reflexes, and skill with ranged weapons-everything Raizo had never really talked about.

The elderly man continued, "The fields you're about to enter will challenge you. Some of you may think you know your limits. I assure you, you don't. By the end of the first week, half of you will be cut. By the second week, less than half of half will remain. And by the final week, if you're lucky, fewer than twenty of you will become adventurers."

A cold chill settled over the room as the severity of the trial dawned on everyone. This wasn't just some game-this was survival of the fittest. Yusuke felt a strange mixture of excitement and dread. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the enormity of what lay ahead settling in.

"You may now head to your respective fields," the old man said, motioning for them to gather their luggage and belongings. "Good luck."

Yusuke picked up his things and stole another glance at Raizo, who simply smiled, as carefree as ever. His friend's casual demeanor only made Yusuke feel more uneasy. He couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was wrong. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it-he had a trial to face.

He caught up with Octavia as they headed toward the fighter section. Her face remained emotionless, refusing to even acknowledge him, a stark contrast to how they had been just a few days before. He opened his mouth to say something but stopped. There was no time for distractions now.

Yusuke jogged to catch up with Octavia as they entered the fighters' area. His eyes widened at the sight before him: rows of arenas, obstacle courses, and stations dedicated to all sorts of combat training. The area buzzed with the potential for action, and Yusuke couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. This was going to be intense.