/n/earths-greatest-magus-1172/c-2332
chapter-2331

The group exam commenced at the grand Academy docks, where a massive gathering of selected acolytes from 120 different halls awaited their transport. The air buzzed with anticipation as the crowd stood before a fleet of Magus Alliance cruisers. Headmaster Goldstein, his presence commanding, stood at the forefront, addressing the acolytes with a speech brimming with hope and motivation.

His voice echoed through the docks, "Perseverance and strength, these are the traits that will guide you through this trial. And may each of you return safely, stronger than ever before!"

The headmaster's words hung in the air as the halls began boarding their assigned cruisers, a mixture of excitement and nervousness rippling through the crowd. The lower and mid-halls quickly filled half of the ships, embarking on their own survival exams on distant planets. The remaining six cruisers were assigned to the higher and top halls, destined for more dangerous tests.

Hardy stood at the head of his group, leading the 12 acolytes of Hall 33: Ha Ron, King Rig, Blaine, Bellana, Ullong, Titus, Armenius, and four others. They marched confidently toward the cruiser named Starfire, carrying them to their exam location, along with acolytes from nine other high-ranking halls.

Meanwhile, Shinta, leading the 20 half-bloods from Hall 9, strode toward their vessel, the Enigma. Alongside them were acolytes from two of the academy's prestigious top halls. As the last acolytes boarded their ships, the cruisers powered up, their engines roaring to life. Within moments, all a dozen cruisers lifted into the air, departing in perfect formation and ascending toward the dark expanse of space.

The Starfire and Enigma flew side by side toward one designated planet.

[Veloria Prime]

[Class C Planet - Savage Level 5]

Veloria Prime was unlike any other savage planet used for academy exams. Though it was classified as a Class C planet, considered unsuitable for colonization or development, it possessed all the vital conditions for life—fresh water, breathable air, and abundant resources. Yet these advantages were counterbalanced by its treacherous environment. Nine out of the planet's twelve-month cycle were consumed by violent storms and extreme weather that rendered much of its surface hostile to life.

Even more unnerving was its history. Veloria Prime had once been home to a great civilization over 3,000 years ago. Remnants of its past grandeur still dotted the landscape, now crumbling ruins overtaken by nature and swarmed with mutated creatures—monstrosities born from the disasters that had wiped out the planet's inhabitants. Those creatures now ruled the land, making survival on Veloria Prime a test of both wits and strength.

As the Starfire and Enigma cruisers descended through the atmosphere, the turbulent winds of the planet greeted them, shaking the ships as they navigated through layers of thick clouds. The acolytes, gathered in their respective halls, listened closely as the academy's briefing began, detailing the nature of the exam and the challenges ahead.

The exam would last for one month—an entire lunar cycle on Veloria Prime. A daunting timeline that meant weeks of exposure to the planet's dangers. Furthermore, none of the acolytes were permitted to bring any personal equipment aside from what the academy had provided. This included a safety vest that served multiple purposes: tracking their location, monitoring vital signs, and, in the worst-case scenario, teleporting them back to the cruiser in case of a life-threatening emergency.

Finally, they were given a storage ring containing a selection of standard tier-5 weapons, just enough to keep them alive against the planet's hostile fauna. The ring was to be shared among the group, forcing cooperation in a way that tested not just individual skill, but teamwork and resource management.

However, some personal items were allowed, subject to the academy's approval and of course, there were always a few acolytes who managed to smuggle in prohibited items, hoping to gain an edge that might make the difference between survival and failure.

Learning from past mistakes, particularly the tragic events that unfolded on Andora, the Academy took extra precautions for this exam. They had seen how quickly things could spiral out of control when unmonitored, so this time, each group of acolytes was assigned a handler—a Magus who would oversee their safety from afar.

For the higher halls like Hall 33, elite Moon Magus were chosen, individuals powerful enough to intervene should disaster strike. For the top halls, where the stakes were even greater, Grand Magus figures were assigned, ensuring that the academy's prized acolytes wouldn't fall victim to unforeseen dangers.

Once all final checks were completed, each group was instructed to enter their personal pods—small, durable capsules designed to transport them safely from the cruisers in orbit down to the planet's surface. Then came the signal. A loud hiss escaped as the launch mechanisms activated. One by one, the pods were ejected from the cruisers, plummeting down through the atmosphere like falling stars. From the planet's surface, it would have looked as if dozens of meteors were raining down, streaks of light trailing behind each pod as they cut through the clouds.