Shadow Monarch: Heroines Could Hear My Thoughts?!

Chapter 80- The World Is Truly Unforgiving

A few minutes passed as Elise and Rin sat down and waited for Donnie to come back. He weirdly stayed for longer than they expected which made them think that something could've happened.

"Is it some butterfly effect?" Rin murmured.

"I don't think it should be the case. Everything till now happened according to the original story. Except for the early appearance of the bird, everything else is done perfectly."

Rin's eyes wandered to his inventory when he heard Elise talk about the bird. He had made sure to take the bird with him since he wanted to try and actually turn into a minion he can use. He had been really eager to try it but couldn't find the time or the opportunity for that.

'I will try it once we reach the academy.' He thought to himself.

*Swish*

"He came back." Elise's voice woke him up from his thoughts and made him look up.

Donnie flew back to the bridge and landed near the candidates. His face was weirdly serious and he had a visible frown. He clearly looked as if he had seen something really bad but Rin and Elise couldn't determine what it was.

According to the plot, this accident happened because his subordinates didn't swipe the whole place appropriately before the test started and so a demon slipped in and attacked them. It was a grave mistake, but it should've not made him look that serious, right?

"Is everyone ok?" He asked.

Luckily, no injuries were sustained during this attack except for Rin.

"We shall continue the test, then."

"But, how can we continue the test after what happened?! That's dangerous!!"

"Yes! A demon attacked us once so who guarantees that we won't get attacked twice!!"

"I don't want to die!"

Complaints came down like a torrent from everyone. They were still shocked by what happened and he was now asking them to continue the test as if nothing happened. That's just impossible! What does he take them for? Suicidal maniacs?

"Silence!" Donnie replied with a domineering voice, making them cower with fear because of his aura.

"You all came here to enroll in the most prestigious institute in the whole world and yet you think your lives are guaranteed? Do you think that no matter what happens, someone should protect you? What a load of nonsense!" Donnie hollered at them.

"You are all the hopes of your families and your people. You are their hope for a better future, to reach the glory and respect that you dream of. That's why you were sent here to snatch an opportunity and create your own great path in life. Yet, you all keep whining about useless things. Let me tell you one thing to make it clear. The moment you set foot inside the academy, your lives aren't guaranteed at all. The only thing guaranteed is what you grasp with your own hands! You will see yourselves dancing on the thin line of life and death on more than one occasion. It's not a place for weaklings!"

His words echoed in the place like a thundering storm. Coupled with his powerful aura, no one dared to even speak back. In fact, most of them felt a weird rush of determination and shame from his words.

'What am I even thinking? I came here to become a renowned magician and get my family out of the poor village we live in. I can't waste my opportunity.'

'I already know that my life is at stake! I can't just cower now!!'

'I will do it! When I pass the exam, I will be able to become rich and live a great life!!'

'I want to embrace all the beauties in the world! For the sake of thighs and boobs, I lust- I mean, I must work hard!'

Their spirits alleviated and their fear started vanishing slowly. Seeing that, Donnie nodded his head with a satisfied look.

"Now! We shall continue the test! You all had the chance to rest for a few minutes so be grateful!! It will be even harder from now on!" He said.

*Gulp*

After that, the test was resumed and everyone had to start running again.

'Running with a rigid arm sure sucks.' Rin clicked his tongue as he accelerated to reach Elise.

Time passed quickly as the distance they crossed became gigantic. Rin was sure that they had run at least hundreds and hundreds of miles. Was it not for his monstrous stamina, he was sure that he would've literally died of exhaustion a long time ago.

Across the trip, many were incapable of continuing and could only fall to the ground from sheer exhaustion. Quickly, the fear of being left behind crept into their hearts as they remembered what Donnie said.

So, they had to stand up and continue running or even crawling if they had to.

Finally, after an unknown amount of hours of continuous running, they saw the end of this hellish bridge on the horizon. The only people left running were Rin and Elise at the front. Then, behind them was Phillipe who was now barely able to drag his legs from exhaustion.

Then, behind all of them was a very small group of people, counted in the tens compared to the hundreds that started the test. The others could simply not run another inch as they fell unconscious or dead tired.

However, no one waited for them or even looked back. Many pleaded and even tried to hold another person's legs asking for help but they just shook them off and ran as if there was no tomorrow.

It was cruel, as the failed candidates' screams echoed a few seconds after that. They were shrills of fear and despair.

No one could imagine what they saw or what they were experiencing there, alone, surrounded by darkness.

But, at final, they saw the light of hope. The end of the bridge was a big platform made out of white marble with a root that extended into the deep darkness of the Gate Of Licaria. The platform was barely enough for 100 people at most which made Rin sure that the academy expected no more than 100 people to actually reach this platform.

'We are finally over with this!' Rin sighed in relief as he stepped inside the platform.

"Now, one hour starts! Then the test is officially over and everyone outside will fail the test."

He then stood at the front watching the bridge silently. His old eyes which still had the sharpness and vigor of younger people were seemingly piercing through the dim fog and into the horizon. But, Donnie's thoughts were somewhere else, thinking about the whole incident he saw.

"We don't really know boss. We were doing our routine scanning of the area and suddenly we fell asleep and found ourselves there. We didn't feel anything."

That's what they said. For 5 people to actually not even feel the presence of their attacker was a shocker that's when these people weren't even normal at all. They were his trusted subordinates that he relied on and knew very well how strong they are. It was simply impossible for someone to do that without them being aware.

'How strong this person could be for them to actually pull this off? Or maybe is it done by a whole group? What are they aiming for? And that note, is it a war declaration? A threat?' He asked himself again and again but couldn't find the answer.

Rin noticed the weird behavior of the old man and quickly whispered for Elise.

"We should keep an eye on him. Something definitely happened."

"Mmm, I noticed that." She nodded her head.

After that, in the next hour, a few people were able to reach the platform with much effort. One of them even came dragging himself with his arms like a slug or a turtle. But there was also one unlucky person who tried to reach at the last second.

"Wait, please! I'm here! Just one more meter!!" He begged as he dragged his tired body. But, rules were rules and rules certainly do not favor the weak

"And, the hour is over. The test is officially over." He announced.

"Congratulations to those who succeeded. You all deserve it. As for those who failed." His eyes fell on the young man who was one step away from succeeding. He could see the despair creep into his eyes as he saw his dream vanish from his hands when it was merely less than a meter away.

"It is a huge blow for you. But, the strong always recover and rise from failure. Don't lose hope in yourself, young man." Donnie said with a serious look.

But, even with those encouraging words, the young man fell on his knees and started weeping loudly like a baby. No one would understand how horrible he felt at that moment.

'The world is cruel.' A complicated gaze flashed across Rin's face when he saw the weeping young man. For some reason, in that place, he saw himself, just crying because of his misfortune and the cruelty of fate. He knew that feeling and had experienced it for a long time.

The world is truly unforgiving.

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