Chapter 237: The Death Rift Card
"Group number eight's leader, please come forward."
"Cya, team," Stark waved as all his team members watched him walk toward the stage, with the most calm of expressions.
"Ohoh~ if it isn't the little Stark, feeling lucky today?" Theodore smiled as he pointed at the black floating box, "Just place your hand inside the hole and pick a card."
"Alright."
Stark was about to do what he had been told in front of everyone's gazes, wondering what could the boy that had caused two massive scenes ONLY during the entrance ceremony possibly pick.
"Come on…"
"Please…"
Stark's team was on edge as he placed himself in front of the box, seemingly ready to place his hand inside.
But right before he did that… he suddenly turned around, specifically facing toward Lana and Sora, then he shouted.
"Hey, team!" he waved, gathering everyone's attention, even those that were not interested, "I just want to tell you all before I pick a card that my luck is absolutely terrible!"
"…?"
"What?"
Of course, him saying that out loud meant everyone would hear it, and so everyone was left questioning what he meant by that.
"What?" Lana shouted back.
"As I said, my luck is terrible, it's like a curse!" he shrugged as he turned back, facing the box again.
Chatter was now filling the room, and even Theodore and the other teachers raised their eyebrows.
"Does he imply he is going to get the [Death Rift] card?"' Theodore mumbled in the ears of the vice-chairman, who was a man in his mid-thirties with spiky orange hair.
"Not possible, we have set it up with a powerful spell so that the [Death Rift] card only appears after group number 25 passes, meaning that it is literally impossible for him to get it."
This was to increase the pressure in the ceremony for the groups that passed late, as the more people passed and didn't get the card, the more stress they would accumulate.
And the teachers of this academy enjoyed seeing that! Quite sadistic, aren't they?
"Good, thanks Breach," Theodore responded to the vice-chairman, he absolutely loved Stark's personality and how chaotic anything he touched or got near became, and to him, it would have been immensely funnier if Stark did in fact get the hardest rift of all.
But, alas, it was impossible…
Stark reached for the interior of the box, his teammates even more pressure than he did after his words.
'Come on…' Stark kept mumbling over and over as he closed his eyes and sensed the cards inside the box, letting the cold feeling around his fingers decide which he would pick.
And suddenly…
[Talent: Chosen One, activated]
"…!" this could only mean one thing, and so Stark smiled as a card seemingly appeared in his hand out of nowhere.
~FWISH~
He pulled out his hand, and inside of it was… the card with the skull on it.
[SOMEONE HAS PICKED THE DEATH RIFT CARD!]
The holographic screen above the stage displayed some sort of alarm as the room began to flicker in and out with a crimson color.
"As I said," he shrugged as he turned toward his teammates, who were all baffled.
"BREACH?" Theodore turned toward the vice-chairman.
"H-How?" Breach's eyes widened, "This is not possible, Theodore, I can promise you that the spell was successful, this is not logical…"
And so this could only mean one of two things: the spell did indeed have a problem, or… Stark's bad luck defied reality.
"Well, I'll take it I guess," Stark sighed, fainting sadness, but deep inside he was throwing himself a party alongside [Domination] and [Alchemist].
He went back to his group under everyone's watchful gaze, and when he arrived…
"WHAT THE FUCK?"
"IF YOU KNEW YOUR LUCK WAS THIS BAD, YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST ASKED SORA TO LEAD!"
Most of them were complaining, and even Lana looked uncomfortable at the idea of attempting such a rift.
"Don't worry, folks," Stark eased up the atmosphere, "I promise to conquer it by myself if needed, I don't need anyone else!" he hit his chest twice as a sign of promise.
"…" no one could say anything, was this guy insane?
But…
"I think we should trust him… he is strong…" Sora suddenly said, and the sole fact she spoke made everyone shut up as they wanted to hear her, "Stark… is very strong…"
This was all she said, but if even the Sora, who they believed was their only hope, acknowledged Stark, then maybe…?
"See, I told you!" Stark smiled, "You don't even have to enter the rift to be honest, I'll do it alone!"
Of course, this was only said by Stark because he didn't want to be annoyed while exploring, and also so they couldn't steal his experience or kill the 'Godless Demon' apostle!
"Doesn't matter," Lana sighed, "Just us the card, quick."
"Righto!" Stark smiled as he joined his palms and placed the card in the middle, since it was fairly big.
The ominous skull with its crimson eyes almost felt like it was staring directly at their souls, sending a shiver down the spines of several of them, but nonetheless, they still needed this info as it would be all they had.
[Take the card for the information to appear!]
This was written on the card, but as Stark's hands were busy holding the semi-giant card between them, Lana was the one who gently taped it.
And suddenly…
~FWISH~
A crimson panel appeared in the air right above the card, making it possible for everyone to read the information.
…
[Name:] Corpse Cemetery
[Difficulty:] Nightmare
[Level Range:] 125-150 (only people around this level are allowed to enter).
[Boss:] ??? (Godless Demon Apostle)
[Information:] A cemetery corrupted by the curse of the 'Forsaken', the monsters there are all dead, killed by him, yet their bodies move like puppets, following his will, with no chance of ever defying him.
[There are 4 zones in this rift.]
[Location of the Rift:] Each of you has been granted a [Location Panel], check it out to know the location of the rift!
…
This was all the info they got, and below this wall of text were now one, but two pictures.
One was showing an ominous cemetery filled with mist, making it almost impossible to see anything.
And the other… depicted a towering figure, draped in tattered black robes, its skeletal hands gripping a gnarled staff. A swirling mass of shadows hovered around it, twisting and writhing like a living thing.
Below the second imagine was the word "Reaper" written in gold.
This was all the information they would be getting, but the sole sight of that thing on the second picture, which they assumed was the boss, made them cautious.
"Still think you can take it by yourself?" the tall man that had flexed his muscles to Stark before asked.
"…" Stark looked at the pictures, then back at him, "Yeah, I would win."
"Oh well, I am really excited to see that then," he groaned.
Soon after that, all 50 groups had successfully passed, although the ones after Stark did feel relieved as there was no chance they would be getting that hellish [Death Card].
"Everyone got their cards and teams," Theodore gestured as he spread his arms wide, "And this means… that the first trial shall begin, see you all in four months, or less depending on whether 30 groups complete their rifts before that!"
And so just like that, they were all dismissed, meaning that they could do whatever they wanted during these four months, under the condition that they beat the boss of their rift, obviously.
Stark was more ready than ever before, though, no chance in hell he was letting that opportunity slide!