The massive commander climbed onto the platform, and the entire training ground went silent.

Team Zero stood among rows of students while watching the man who commanded absolute respect from everyone present. The students knew him immediately when he appeared. They straightened their postures without being told. Some looked excited. Others looked nervous. All of them paid attention.

Team Zero did not know who he was yet.

The man was introduced by a student nearby as one of the academy’s top combat teachers when someone whispered the name "Commander Valdis" with both fear and respect.

His voice was strict, heavy, and disciplined when he spoke. "Your first midterm test begins today."

He did not waste time welcoming anyone or explaining gently.

"This is not a written test. This is a combat survival test. You will enter as teams of five. You will hunt demonic beasts. You will earn points. The highest earners will receive rewards and recognition. The failures will be eliminated."

The students already seemed to understand what that meant because they did not react with shock. A few teams checked their weapons immediately. Others whispered strategy among themselves.

Team Zero became alert because they had just arrived and did not know the rules of this world yet.

James listened closely because he knew this was not a normal floor.

Commander Valdis continued without pausing.

"The midterm test will take place in City D."

Some students became excited when they heard the location. Others looked visibly nervous. A few teams exchanged glances that told Team Zero this place was both dangerous and familiar to the academy.

"City D was once a functioning city," the commander said while his voice remained cold and factual. "After demonic beasts broke through its defenses, the area became too dangerous for civilians. The academy now uses part of the fallen zone as a controlled combat test ground."

He did not tell a full story or explain the city’s entire history. He only gave enough for the test to make sense.

Team Zero’s caution grew.

Commander Valdis raised his hand, and a large display appeared in the air above the platform.

"The rules are simple," he said. "Students will enter City D in teams of five. Each team must hunt demonic beasts and earn points. Every beast has a point value based on rank and danger level. The stronger the beast, the higher the points."

The display showed a clean academy-style breakdown.

[MIDTERM COMBAT TEST]

[LOCATION: CITY D — FALLEN ZONE]

[TEAM SIZE: 5]

[OBJECTIVE: HUNT DEMONIC BEASTS AND EARN POINTS]

[TEST DURATION: 6 HOURS]

[TOP-RANKING TEAMS WILL RECEIVE REWARDS]

[FAILURE CONDITION: DEATH, ELIMINATION, OR INSUFFICIENT POINTS]

The commander’s tone remained cold and practical. "The academy will not protect you from every mistake. Danger is part of the test. Some of you will fail. Some of you will be eliminated. Some of you may die."

The training ground stayed silent while the weight of that statement settled over the students.

"The highest point earners will receive academy rewards and better standing. Your performance here will determine your future opportunities."

Team Zero realized immediately that they were at a disadvantage because they did not know this world’s beast ranking system, point values, or which monsters were worth targeting first.

Finn’s expression stayed neutral, but his mind was already calculating unknowns.

As the commander continued explaining logistics, Team Zero quietly reacted among themselves without drawing attention.

Finn leaned slightly toward James. "The mission seems simple. Hunt monsters, earn points."

James was more cautious while his tone stayed serious and tactical. "We don’t know this world’s beast ranks. We don’t know point values. We don’t know danger levels or student team strength. We also don’t know if teams can interfere with each other during the test."

Finn considered James’s words before nodding. "We move carefully until we understand the system."

This was James thinking clearly after the Adrian fight. He wanted strength and progress, but he was not rushing blindly into unknown danger.

Commander Valdis ended the explanation without ceremony.

"Prepare. You leave in three minutes."

The students moved into their assigned teams of five immediately while checking gear, confirming positions, and making final preparations.

Team Zero remained together because the Tower had already placed them as one party when they entered Floor 10.

Huge magic circles began appearing beneath each team across the training ground. The circles glowed with bright energy while complex runes rotated within them.

Some students checked their weapons one last time. Others smiled confidently because they knew what to expect. A few looked tense while gripping their gear tighter.

Team Zero prepared quickly without wasting movement.

Finn confirmed everyone was ready. "Stay together. Move as one unit."

Some students checked their weapons one last time while others smiled confidently because they knew what to expect.

James focused on the circle beneath them and got ready for a possible immediate attack after they materialized because Tower floors often started with ambushes or instant danger.

Commander Valdis spoke once more, but his tone was not warm. It felt like a warning.

"Good luck."

The circles activated.

White light consumed every team at once.

Team Zero disappeared.

Team Zero materialized inside City D.

At first glance, it looked like a forest with thick trees, heavy undergrowth, and vines covering everything. Then they noticed the city beneath it.

Cracked roads ran under thick roots that had broken through asphalt. Abandoned cars were covered in moss and climbing plants. Buildings stood broken open with trees growing through walls and roofs. Shop signs hung from rusted frames while swaying slightly in the wind. Claw marks scarred concrete walls and old barricades that had failed to hold whatever attacked this place.

City D was not a clean battlefield or a monster camp.

It was a ruined city swallowed by nature after disaster struck and nobody came back to reclaim it.

The tone felt eerie and unfamiliar while silence pressed down on them heavier than expected.

There were no students immediately beside Team Zero. They seemed to have been dropped into a separate starting zone away from other teams.

Finn looked around while taking in the environment. "This doesn’t look like what I expected."

The place was quiet in a dangerous way with signs of previous battles scattered throughout the area.

James stayed quiet while studying the terrain and listening for movement in the distance.

After Team Zero took in their surroundings, the Tower System window appeared in their vision.

The academy test translated into their real floor objective.

[FLOOR 10 — STORY FLOOR]

[MISSION TYPE: ACADEMY TRIAL]

[OBJECTIVE: PLACE IN THE TOP 3 OF THE MIDTERM COMBAT TEST]

[LOCATION: CITY D — FALLEN ZONE]

[TEAM: TEAM ZERO]

[FAILURE CONDITION: TEAM ELIMINATION OR FAILURE TO PLACE TOP 3]

[TIME LIMIT: 6 HOURS]

The team realized immediately that this academy test was the actual Tower floor mission. They did not just need to survive or score points. They needed to rank in the top three against teams who already knew this world’s rules.

Finn’s earlier confidence faded slightly. "We need to place top three."

James’s tone stayed cautious but focused. "We should move, but not rush blindly. First beast we encounter will tell us how the point system works."

Finn nodded. "Let’s find a target."

A huge ranking board appeared in the sky above City D before they could move far.

It was visible from anywhere in the fallen zone like a magical screen hovering over the ruins.

Team Zero checked it immediately while their stomachs dropped.

[MIDTERM RANKING BOARD]

[1ST PLACE: TEAM AUREL — 15 POINTS]

[2ND PLACE: TEAM VERA — 9 POINTS]

[3RD PLACE: TEAM KAISER — 6 POINTS]

...

[TEAM ZERO: 0 POINTS]

The board showed that at least one team had already scored 15 points within minutes of entering. This proved the other students knew where to go, what to hunt, and how to earn points quickly.

Finn’s tone shifted from confident to serious. "They’re already ahead."

James decided quickly. "We move carefully but start hunting immediately. Every minute we waste puts us farther behind."

Team Zero began moving through City D.

They passed broken streets where asphalt cracked under tree roots. Ruined vehicles sat abandoned with doors hanging open and windows shattered. Collapsed buildings stood hollow with vines growing through every gap. Trees grew through old concrete while reclaiming the city one inch at a time.

The place was quiet in a dangerous way.

There were signs of previous battles scattered throughout the area. Claw marks gouged deep into walls. Broken weapons lay half-buried in undergrowth. Dried blood stained some surfaces. Torn academy markers hung from trees where students had marked safe zones or warnings.

The team stayed in formation while moving forward.

Finn took front position while scanning ahead for threats.

They heard distant beast roars from far away.

"RRRAAAAGH!"

"GRRROOOWL!"

Occasional explosions echoed through the ruins where other teams were already fighting.

The ranking board updated once while they moved.

[1ST PLACE: TEAM AUREL — 23 POINTS]

Team Zero felt the pressure rising while they were still at zero.

They needed to find a target soon.

As Team Zero moved through a street half-covered by forest roots and broken vehicles, the ground ahead trembled.

Something heavy pushed through the overgrown trees and rusted car frames.

A huge boar-like demonic beast appeared.

Its body was massive and covered in rough dark hide that looked thick enough to stop most blades. Its eyes were completely black without any visible pupils. Dark veins ran around its snout and across its face like corrupted blood vessels. Its tusks looked like iron while curving upward long enough to tear through a person with one upward thrust. Its hooves cracked the road as it stepped forward while each step sent small tremors through the broken asphalt.

Team Zero stopped immediately.

They did not know the beast’s rank. They did not know its point value. They did not know if it was considered weak, average, or dangerous in this world’s system.

Finn prepared to engage while raising his weapon.

James watched the beast’s movement carefully before warning them. "Don’t underestimate it just because it’s our first target."

The boar lowered its head while dark energy rippled across its tusks.

"SNRRRRT!"

Its black eyes locked onto Team Zero.

"RRRRAAAAGH!"

The ruined street shook as it charged.