Flames of Ambition

49: The first part of the first test

Chapter 49: The First Part of the First Test

Suddenly, all of them experienced a drastic increase in gravity around them. A deep, malicious laugh echoed across the illusion forest, relishing the struggles of every young examinee beneath the suffocating weight.

“Can you all feel the pressure?” the mysterious voice asked, laced with mockery. “Well then, listen closely. There is a tower located at the bottom of this illusion forest. Inside that tower, you’ll find several doors. Another proctor will guide you to your next activity. Your only goal right now is to reach the tower—as quickly as possible. Only the first 200 participants to arrive will be allowed to proceed to the next test."

A murmur spread among the students, but the voice continued without pause.

“If you ‘die’ in this illusion, you will feel all the pain of that death before waking back up in reality. However, if your spirit is too weak to handle the process… well, you’ll be disqualified and forced to go home. Consider yourselves warned.”

A beat of silence followed—then the voice chuckled again, darker this time.

“Oh! I forgot to mention—there are many dangerous beasts roaming near the tower. Some are poisonous, others are simply lethal. Insects, animals, predators… they won’t hesitate to kill. Be careful.”

With that final statement, the voice faded, leaving the participants trembling in anticipation. The illusion forest seemed to grow colder, darker, more sinister.

Meanwhile, back at the real gate of Scarlet Academy, Fan Yaoli stretched her arms and mumbled, “Oh! I wish I could’ve entered that illusion. It’s just like our training back in the mountains. I wonder if the second test will be a field test too…”

“We should probably go toward the testing gate,” Zexel suggested, watching the projection screen inside the Academy.

“No,” Feng Zhengying said seriously. “We should conserve our energy for the next trial. This illusion forest is just the first part of the test. Taking the easier path was definitely the better choice.”

Back inside the forest illusion, Fan Qingyou gritted her teeth as she trudged forward under the crushing pressure of increased gravity. She knew the group mentioned by the voice—the 147 who had chosen the easier test—was the same group they had initially followed.

They should have continued walking with them. If they had, they wouldn’t be here struggling through this miserable trial.

Feng Guan Xi was furious, but his anger wasn’t aimed at himself. He was disappointed in Fan Qingyou. She should have told him those people were different. That they were worth watching.

He had been preparing for this moment for three full years—three years of constant training, studying, strategizing—and now he looked like a fool. A complete fool.

First, his mother had failed to reserve a proper hotel room, forcing him to stay at a filthy inn. He had to share a bed with Fan Qingyou, which meant she was now his, whether she liked it or not. No man would want a woman who had already shared a bed with someone else—especially a prince like him.

To him, this was a binding contract. No matter what Fan Qingyou thought, she was now part of his story. He was the next Emperor, after all. She would serve as his Empress only to help solidify his political backing.

He didn’t actually love her. He only needed her because of the power her family held. And besides, she wasn’t too bad. As the "First Genius of Pingjing Country," she had some value.

But right now, they were both suffering under the weight of the forest’s gravity. Their movements were slow, labored, and every step sent waves of pain through their joints. They were drenched in sweat, their legs trembling under the pressure.

Both of them began channeling their spiritual energy to coat their bodies, hoping to resist the gravity’s effects. The technique helped. They began moving faster—though still far from their usual pace.

Fan Qingyou scanned the eerie surroundings. The forest was pitch-dark, thick with fog. Sunlight barely filtered through the dense canopy of leaves overhead. The silence was unnerving.

“Ah'Xi, why don’t we combine our spiritual energy?” Fan Qingyou suggested suddenly. “If we coat each other with our combined power, we can boost our defenses and movement.”

“You’re right, Qingyou. Let’s do it,” Feng Guan Xi replied, already reaching for her hand.

They intertwined their fingers, letting their spiritual energies merge. Together, they felt lighter, stronger, and faster. Without letting go of each other, they ran toward the distant tower at the center of the forest.

It was already afternoon by the time they finally reached it.

“You and your companion are numbers 195 and 196,” a masked proctor informed them as they arrived at the tower gates. “Take a rest. You’ll need your strength for the second part of the test.”

He handed each of them a numbered badge.

The two collapsed onto a nearby bench, their legs barely holding them up. Their chests heaved as they gasped for air, their adrenaline the only thing keeping them conscious.

Fan Qingyou spotted a buffet table in the corner and forced herself to stand. She wobbled over, collected some food for both of them, and returned with two plates piled high.

Their hands trembled as they picked up utensils, but hunger triumphed over fatigue. They dug into the food quickly but still maintained proper etiquette—after all, they were nobles. Representatives of their powerful families. Even now, they had to maintain grace and composure.

Neither of them spoke as they ate. They were too exhausted. But in the back of their minds, they knew this was just the beginning. The real test hadn’t even begun.

In the meantime, the other examinees continued to arrive—some limping, some unconscious and carried by companions, others wide-eyed with terror after encountering beasts or traps. As the hours passed, the number of successful candidates grew.

The first part of the first test was a brutal reminder:

In Scarlet Academy, only the cunning, strong, and prepared would survive.

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Next update: April 26, 2020