"Young Master Stale."

Stale and the other important staff are now in the observation area, this area was certainly made for the VIPs, specially made to watch the students. The final exam will commence today, so everything is lively both for the supervisors and the students.

That very same room is made of toughed tempered glass, it was made to shield the people inside from the Schattens, and students who are expecting will lose their insanity. The battle against the Schatten won't be going to be easy, now that Stale has decided to put the highest rank of Schatten in the examination.

He is expecting that most of the students will die. Only the strongest will remain, and so does his pet.

"Everything is now well prepared, young Master." a female staff informed Stale, "We are only waiting for your signal."

"Then, begin the examination."

"As you wish, young Master."

When the female staff received permission from Stale. She stepped out, informing the other staff about the signal that was given. She fully explains in full detail everything that Stale wants for this examination.

First was taking out some weakling Schatten. The dust. Although the first test for the students was a piece of dust, they will still be going to have a hard time since the dust was actually small and will be elusive.

Secondly, level two is the normal one. The ghost. Who can literally possess anyone who has weak minds? The examination will be deadly, that's what the students marked on their minds in the first place, this will be the chance for the ghosts to infiltrate someone's mind.

Stale wants to ensure that the students who remain standing, in the end, will be the strongest and full-willed weapons.

The third one. The mimic, who can do some tricks, has their own body. Whichever body they will be going to take, it's up to the Schatten.

These are the enemies that will kill all the useless students who came so far, it was the Empire's survival of the fittest.

Stale was sitting in the corner where he could perfectly view the whole scene. He laid his hand on the armchair as he duly leaned his chin in his palm. He was watching the students who were entering the examination premises.

"...!" but surprised he was when he saw Euphemia was holding some kid close to her. "What is happening here? Why is she holding a kid near her?" Stale's voice in taut, his expression bugged out.

"She might be... trying to protect someone. Young Master." The assistant from the back made a reasonable point for the young master. "I taught her that having someone will just be a hindrance. How dare she forget about that rule." but Stale wasn't pleased with how everything commenced.

Stale raised his hand, to order someone to do something for him. The assistant from the back came closer to him, "Ear." The assistant did what Stale wanted. She obediently lends her ear to hear what the young master desired to be done this time.

***

Euphemia's perspective.

Oh god, this isn't my lucky day indeed. Remember the kid I actually protected yesterday, he begged me to protect him in this examination. I'm not good at protecting anyone, I didn't have anyone to protect from the past examinations I have taken in the first place.

But this child kept on crying until I said, yes. He will surely be a burden to me but what option do I have anyway? I meddled in that matter, and so I have to pay for it.

"After this examination. I—I will follow you, sister." I just don't understand why is there a child in this examination. This examination is just for seniors, at least that was what I know. Why include a goddamn child here?

What the hell are they even planning?

I gazed up to where the higher rankers are. They are all looking down at us, we're about to die and they are just standing there with ease as if they are only going to watch a goddamn movie.

"That kid..."

I curled up a clenched in my fist when I saw that white ghost sitting in the seat where he could see everyone. He's going to watch how these poor students die. As I thought, he wasn't just a kid. But how could a kid have such powerful authority in this place?

"Sis—"

"Follow me? I don't want any companion who's weaker than me. It's enough that I will carry you out of this place. Don't burden me."

I wasn't that serious, hopefully, he would try to protect himself using my words. He can't be relying on me. I'm afraid I will fail him, and he would actually die in front of me. However, as long I am the one who's protecting him, I will never be going to give him to the Schatten that easily.

"...I'm sor—"

"Don't apologize. Stop making yourself sorry, idiot. Just try and stay alive..."

I turned my glance to the boy who was about to cry because of my first encouraging words, but I didn't expect that it wasn't encouraging enough. However, he changed his whining expression into a smile when I told him to stay alive. He is just a kid, goddamn these psychos.

The longer we step ahead of this room, the louder the rifle breaks the area. Some of the students want to back out, "I don't want to continue this." more of them are trying to find teams so they can protect each other.

Some actually left. But didn't they know the punishment for the one who leaves? They are going to the detention area, no food, no water, just you and your fucking self in that place for one and a half weeks. Even a cat won't survive that kind of punishment.

They say that the empire gave out this punishment on purpose, to teach the students a lesson, that will cause them to die anyway. It's like, you'll die here or your death will be delayed and you have to suffer first.

Those bitches are nothing but a monster.

We're now lined up by the soldiers who are guiding us. They are stamping some numbers on the back of our hands to show who's dead and who is not. They can easily identify, and update the families of the loss using this strategy.

"Next."

The kid I'm with is in front of me. I can fully see he was trembling in fear. We're against Schattens, "Sighs." how is he going to survive if he is scared? The only way we can win against those creatures is to have a strong-willed mind. I'm sure they are going to put ghosts; those ghosts are good at manipulating and controlling people.

The last time I faced a Ghost-Schatten, it drives everyone mad and I have to kill every single classmate I had just to stay alive.

"Next..." the kid finally got his stamp. He was brought inside the large dome after, "Next." the line continues to proceed, and when it was my turn, I questioned the person who was in charge of stamping our hands about the kid.

"Funny they included a young child in this examination, huh?"

"Yeah. It was rare to have a child in this examination. But I heard he was a prodigy, girl, you're lucky to have him by your side."

"...come again?"