“Forget about rankings, just passing the trial is good enough.”

“Damn it, I wanted to get first place.”

“First place gets a unique skill. Everyone’s crazy for it. Only powerhouses like Autumn Montgomery and Xavier Cartwright have a shot. You, an Iron Fist Brawler, shouldn’t even dream.”

“True.  We have limited strength, so let’s not aim too high.”

“I also heard a rumor. There’s a Black Iron rank 3 Sand Rat King in the Endless Desert.”

“Really? Such a powerful beast?  Aren’t we in danger?”

“You bet. The Sand Rat King is already stronger than normal Sand Rats, and it has skills. If any of us Black Iron rank 1s run into it, we’re dead.”

“My god, good thing I’m in a team. I wouldn’t dare enter the Endless Desert alone.”

…

Overhearing this, Wyatt grew worried.  Soren hadn’t teamed up with anyone. If he encountered the Sand Rat King, he’d be obliterated.

He turned to Soren, who had opened his eyes.  Instead of fear, a spark of excitement flickered within them.

What was going on? Soren wasn’t scared?

Confused, Wyatt asked, “Soren, are you alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Soren smiled faintly.

Wyatt was taken aback. “You can still smile?”

“Don’t you smile when you’re happy?” Soren countered.

Wyatt was speechless.  There was a Black Iron rank 3 Sand Rat King in the Endless Desert!  Was that something to be happy about?

Soren offered no explanation, closing his eyes again.  With his current attack power, hunting a Black Iron rank 3 Sand Rat King would be a piece of cake.  And since the Sand Rat King was a boss-level creature, killing it guaranteed equipment drops, and with luck, even a skill book.  Such opportunities were rare and not to be missed.

…

After over an hour, the bus stopped before a mountain. The entrance to the Endless Desert was within.

Aella Earth had hundreds, if not thousands, of Secret Realms, each teeming with otherworldly creatures. Some were under human control, used for training and trials. The Endless Desert was one such controlled realm.

“Soren, we’re here,” Wyatt nudged his arm.

Soren opened his eyes and looked out. Several buses were parked outside.  Students streamed out, one after another.  He estimated at least four or five hundred.

“The competition is stiff,” Soren murmured thoughtfully.  Standing out among so many wouldn’t be easy.  But he remained confident, his faith rooted in the 32 items within his inventory.

Lysander Longwind stood up. “Students, this trial will take place in the Endless Desert Secret Realm.  The requirement is to hunt three Sand Rats.  This trial not only affects your individual scores but also determines the ranking of each academy.  This ranking impacts our academy’s honor, so while ensuring your safety, strive to kill as many Sand Rats as possible.”

“Don’t worry, Principal, we won’t disappoint you!” Christian Shaw declared.

“We’ll do our best,” the other students echoed.

Lysander nodded. “You’ll each receive a Recording Token to track your kills. Keep it safe.  The trial lasts one day. You must exit within the allotted time.  Latecomers will be disqualified.”

“Understood, Principal,” everyone responded.

After the tokens were distributed, Soren and the others disembarked and headed towards the entrance.  The sheer number of participants meant a long queue.  Coastal City High was at the very end.  They had to wait for all the other academies to enter first.

…

Inside the Endless Desert, yellow sand stretched as far as the eye could see. A few withered plants swayed forlornly in the wind, painting a desolate picture.

The hundreds of students chatted briefly before dispersing in different directions.

“Soren, are you really going alone?” Wyatt asked quietly.

Ninety-nine percent of the students had formed teams.  The few who hadn’t were all powerhouses from various academies, supremely confident in their abilities.  But Soren was no powerhouse. He was practically a weakling.

“To get first place, I have to solo,” Soren murmured, his eyes narrowed. “I’m going ahead. Be careful.”

Wyatt was speechless.  Soren, aiming for first place?  He wanted to dissuade him, but Soren had already run far ahead.

Seeing Soren leave alone, Autumn Montgomery frowned.  She walked over to Wyatt. “What’s with Soren? Why did he go off by himself?”

Wyatt sighed. “He said he’s going solo.”

Autumn was stunned. A Wood Summoner, soloing in the Endless Desert?  How suicidal.

Overhearing this, Christian Shaw smirked. “That weakling thinks he can compete with me?”

Sand Rats weren’t particularly strong, but they weren’t pushovers for a Wood Summoner either.  If Soren encountered any, he was dead.

Meanwhile, Soren had been running for fifteen minutes without finding any Sand Rats.  The trial only lasted a day; time was precious.

He paused, then used his summoning skill to conjure a Lesser Treant.  The treant, about a meter tall, looked like any ordinary sapling.  However, it could move freely and possessed a perception ability with a 20-meter radius.  Within that range, Sand Rats couldn’t hide.

Soren focused on the treant, its status screen appearing in his mind.

Target: Lesser Treant

Rank: Black Iron 1

Attack Power: 0

Defense: 2

Agility: 10

Mental Power: 20

Health: 100

Skill: Perception

“Pretty weak,” Soren sighed.  Besides perception, the treant was useless.

“Treant, search for Sand Rats,” Soren instructed, walking in a specific direction.

After a few more minutes, as they passed a sand dune, the treant stopped and sent a warning.

Soren’s expression sharpened.  A warning meant Sand Rats were nearby, likely hidden within the dune.

Just as he was about to ask for the exact location, a student wielding a massive axe approached.