"You have 3 minutes of rest before the third section begins!", the supervisor then disappeared, leaving everyone to their own devices.
Gasping, I collapsed backward. I raised both of my hands close to my neck, "Haa, haa, haa-"
My whole body trembled, and my mind replayed that scene over and over again. Goosebumps ran over my arms while cold sweat ran down my skin, drenching my clothes. I swallowed my saliva only to nearly choke, my chest heaving up and down.
I.. I almost died. I wheezed, feeling the strange sensation of having my leg and arm again.
Even though I felt no pain now, it still felt like I was going through it again. Both the feeling of death and regaining my limbs combined were so surreal that I couldn't process them for a moment.
I lost my limbs. I was strangled. I killed everyone. I...lived.
I lived. I lived... I lived! My thoughts looped back again and again, as if trying to convince me that I was supposed to be joyous at this moment. But all I could remember was that distinct feeling of having my neck crushed, just before I teleported here.
Even if just for a second--no, even if it was just my imagination, what I heard before I lost consciousness.
Crack.
Saliva started dripping down my mouth, and my teeth chattered through attempts to keep them still. My view of the world distorted, bringing me back to the moment I was strangled.
Red. Blood. Exhaustion, devouring my insides. The feeling of being unable to breathe.
Then, I blinked. I was back in the maze.
H-huh? UGH!
But I didn't have time to process it, and immediately felt my neck being crushed again. My ears rang. My throat burned. Lully sat across from me. My eyes rolled back, and everything started to turn black-
I looked up.
"..."
I froze, eyes wide. Every single demon around me was staring at me as if I was a freak. Their expressions twisted, spouting words full of disdain. I was back in the stadium.
I couldn't move for a moment. W-was that... [Visualization]?
I looked down at myself, clenching and opening my fists repeatedly. They were trembling, and I couldn't exert my strength well. Although my physical energy was full, my mental exhaustion hadn't disappeared.
Staying in the same position on the floor for another few seconds, I slowly stood up, and came to my senses.
I whispered to myself, "No, all of that is fake. Don't worry. I'm not dying."
I quickly looked around, but to my relief, Lully wasn't around. It looks like he got teleported somewhere far away this time. I took another deep breath. The ringing in my ears faded away.
I shook my head. Right, there's still the third section... I don't have time to be doing this.
I closed my eyes, promising to myself. Just one more time. Another hour. I'll operate at full capacity.
My heartbeat that previously filled my head slowed to a stop. My mind became silent. Or at least, I forced it shut, using [Immersion]. What was the third section again? Oh yeah, that. I should be fine here.
I summoned the contract I signed with Lully again. It appeared with glowing blue mana particles, floating in front of me steadily. I stared at the singular condition on it. I had to assist Lully to pass the entrance exams, and there was still one more section left to go.
However, even if it was the source of all my worries in the second section, it largely dissipated at this point. I was confident that Lully would be able to pass the third section, even if I didn't give him any clue about it. So I could likely forget about it this time. If he couldn't pass this section anyway...then I was never going to make it out alive in the first place.
As for my own chances--as long as I'm honest, I doubt much would happen.
Oddly enough, for this specific section, I was completely calm.
This was the section I loved the most. I swung my arms.
For the remainder of the resting time, I decided to simply practice moving with my leg and manipulating my right arm to get used to the feeling of having all my limbs again. Even if I didn't even go a day without them, it still felt like I had to learn how to walk all over again.
Not far from me, I used [Immersion] to eavesdrop into a few demons' conversations to pass the time.
One demon exclaimed, "I can't take this anymore! How many sections? 1, 2, 3?! I can't! I-I can't..."
Another replied in disdain, "Pathetic. You're like this after just fighting a couple monsters? I guess it's to be expected from commoners."
"Man, that was so fun! I wonder what the third section's gonna be? I can't wait wait wait!!"
"What's the-..."
After some time of listening and mentally preparing myself, the supervisor teleported to the middle of the elevated platform, and cast a silencing spell.
Her voice boomed, capturing the attention of all the demons here, "Your 3 minutes of rest has ended! Prepare for the third section. You will be teleported to the examination site shortly."
She clapped twice, and a large clock appeared behind her, reaching from the platform to the wall. It had a golden sheen, and its two hands counted down anticlockwise back to the 12th hour.
Tick, tock, tick, tock- With every second, the hand moved and resounded throughout the whole stadium. It was mainly for demonstration, and also to instill awe into the demons. But they felt none of it.
Many demons in the stadium panicked as the hand ticked down, getting increasingly agitated the more ticks and tocks they heard.
"Ahh! Wait, I'm not ready!"
"You can't be serious. We only get 3 minutes to prepare?! This...this is madness!"
They put their hands on their head, sought reassurance from others nearby, and trembled in fear at the thought of needing to do anything to survive--all over again.
Don't worry though. There's no more need to think on how to survive. Just relax. My eyes narrowed and my face turned resolute. For this section, I just need to...make a decision.
Tick...tock...tick...
And after exactly 15 seconds, the clock's hands finally moved to the 12th hour.
Tock.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the surroundings dimmed and the ground changed to stone. Everyone stayed in the same place and could still talk, touch, and hear each other. In the shape of a square, building walls blocked every escape route, confining everyone to a single space. They looked like houses, with wooden roofs, a window peeking out, and stone foundations.
In the middle of this large space, an elevated, wooden platform was still there, everything the same as in the stadium--except for one thing.
In place of the supervisor, there was now a guillotine, positioned neatly in the middle.
The blade shined under the unmoving afternoon light. Shing!
"W-wha, what..?", one demon looked around anxiously.
I looked up. The sky was a darker blue, standing on the edge of day and night. No clouds nor suns could be seen. It was awfully clear--and manufactured.
"All of you have now arrived in the examination site of the third section of the entrance exams. I will now explain what you will have to do for this section."
Behind everyone, the supervisor shouted. Everyone turned around to look, and was surprised to find her levitating in the air. Although the atmosphere lingering in this area creeped many out, they made sure to listen closely to her words.
Her gaze ran to the platform, "You should have noticed the guillotine in the middle of the platform, and the stairs leading up to it."
Everyone followed her gaze. Indeed, there were several stairs leading up to the platform behind it.
"This section is centered around that guillotine. Here, we will accompany you and supervise this test directly. This examination site is a replication of one of the most significant moments in demon history--it replicates the moment the very first demon emperor was born."
She lowered her voice, "Long ago, before Demon Emperors existed, rulers were rejected among the demon race. Power alone wasn't enough--rulers were constantly overthrown and leaders were ostracized. As a result, the demon race was scattered. However, one demon changed that.
"They did not care about the risks of attempting to gain rule over us. Why? It was simple. They simply loved demons. It was pure, devoted."
"Thus, they approached a guillotine, carried it to a platform in the middle of the town square, ready to take their own life if their resolve was to be rejected. Facing this guillotine, they pledged their loyalty, life, and entire existence to the demon race.", she raised her voice, "They swore that no matter what happened, they would stand beside demons and lead them to a brighter future!"
Hearing this, some demons put their hands on their chests, paying respects.
"This was what eventually earned the hearts of the people. In combination with power, the intellect of a hundred geniuses, and the determination of a thousand warriors. The first demon emperor was born, and the demon race was united! This became the beginning of a new era!"
She pounded her fist on her chest as she looked at all the demons below, "Over time, many other demon emperors rose to power, one by one, through the same process, same pledge."
"And this, young ones, created a miracle.", she gestured toward the guillotine, and everyone turned towards it.
"The overwhelming loyalty that our exalted demon emperors bore for the demon race. It all gathered in one place--the beginning. The guillotine the first demon emperor swore to became naturally imbued by the loyalty from countless demon emperor generations, and became enchanted. The guillotine here is a mere replica of it."
She retrieved her hand, "The guillotine represents the highest order of magic contracts. Now, for the last section, you only need to do one thing. Approach it, and swear upon something that you hold dear--to mark loyalty to the demon race and never betray it! If the guillotine detects even the slightest amount of impurity, dishonesty, or lacking, the contract will fail to form."
"That is the task for the third and final section of the entrance examination."
When she finished her speech, the whispers began among the crowd of demons. Everyone discussed if that was truly the sole passing condition for this section, or if there was something hidden. Some pondered about their loyalty to the demon race itself, while others were unhesitating in the value of their devotion.
I observed them quietly. Again, the supervisor withheld information.
I cracked my neck. While swearing loyalty to the guillotine is indeed the only task for this section, it's also not the only condition for passing. In fact, there were 3.
The first is surface-level; form a contract with the guillotine, which she disclosed. The second is to, at minimum, stake something of great significance to yourself. It's somewhat abstract, but it could be compared to how much a human would value a limb--something crippling if they lost it.
Meanwhile, the third...
I lowered my head as the supervisor opened her mouth to continue once more. Here it is.
"And for this section, fulfilling the tradition that has existed since the making of the Demon Academy, the Demon Emperor will be descending down personally to watch over us. Be prepared to face their presence. Bow!"
"T-the emperor?", a nearby demon stuttered.
Immediately, chills ran down the spines of everyone here, and they looked around for where the Demon Emperor would descend. Fortunately, they didn't need to wait much at all. Before anyone could perceive it, a thick, black fog hovered in a controlled manner next to the supervisor. She lowered her head.
The next moment, a wave of dark killing intent crashed into the entire square, forcefully bringing everyone to their knees. The air grew heavy to the point it was difficult to breathe. Their kneecaps hit the ground painfully.
"Kuk! M-mercy, mercy!"
"I-I'm sorry, all hail..! ALL HAIL THE DEMON EMPEROR!!"
Realizing they were simply too late in their greetings, everyone proceeded to shout at the same time.
"ALL HAIL THE DEMON EMPEROR!"
"ALL HAIL THE DEMON EMPEROR!"
"ALL HAIL THE DEMON EMPEROR!"
Some were late and others did it too early, creating an almost echo-like reverberation. Sweat trickled down their faces as they looked at the ground, not daring to witness the Demon Emperor's form.
I followed suit with their cries. Although, the Demon Emperor wasn't in their true form at the moment. They had purposefully concealed themselves. If not, then anyone here who bore their naked eyes at it would die immediately. That is how powerful the demon emperor is. I lowered my head further.
It was only after everyone had paid their proper respects that the killing intent was dispelled. The moment it was, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, taking it as permission to stand up and raise their heads. However, before anyone began talking, they looked up at the emperor and hit their chest with their fist once more.
Now this begins the third section, at last.
On cue, the supervisor nodded tactfully to the emperor, then announced, "With the arrival of the Demon Emperor, the third section will now begin!"
"Applicant #1, Huli Koark, please demonstrate your loyalty."
I watched the first person walk up to the platform, legs shaking in fear.
This is the third condition. I recounted.
In front of the Demon Emperor, do not make a single mistake.
Everyone here only gets one chance to form the contract.
Otherwise, they fail, and are disqualified from the exam.
