Fallen angels, some offered power, others offered protection. And many simply smiled while speaking about joining their side.

"Serve us and survive."

"You possess talent."

"Join the fallen ranks."

Most students had no idea what they were even looking at. Only a few truly understood the existence of angels, devils, and fallen angels. To the majority, these beings were nothing more than myths from ancient religious tales.

Meanwhile, deep inside the Beast Realm, Lucien stood silently while staring between the fallen angel and the pink-haired girl who had appeared before him.

His mind was already imagining the battle that could happen between them. The fallen angel possessed the higher rank, but the devil girl’s presence felt terrifyingly overwhelming despite that difference.

He genuinely couldn’t tell who would win, the fallen angel slowly floated back upward from the destroyed mountains in the distance, black mana swirling around her body. Her hazel eyes locked onto the pink-haired girl before a faint smirk appeared on her lips.

As if alerted by something in her mind she sighed and said, "Well..." she said calmly while wiping blood from the corner of her mouth, "perhaps we’ll meet again, devil."

Dark energy flickered around her spear. "I would’ve really enjoyed fighting you properly."

Her eyes slowly shifted toward Lucien. "And I’ll definitely kill you next time, pretty boy."

She chuckled mischievously before her body dissolved into black feathers and vanished completely.

Several seconds later, the black barrier covering the sky slowly began dissolving as well. Cracks spread across it before the entire dome shattered apart like broken glass and disappeared into the atmosphere completely.

Lucien finally turned toward the pink-haired girl properly. "What are you?" he asked carefully.

The girl stared at him calmly for a moment before speaking. "My name is Dahlia." Her long pink hair moved gently behind her while her cold pink eyes remained fixed on him. "And I am a devil."

Lucien’s expression changed slightly.

Dahlia crossed her arms beneath her chest calmly. "More specifically, I serve the daughter of Lucifer as one of her most trusted allies." Lucien blinked once.

Then the realization struck him. "Lucifer’s daughter?" Confusion immediately filled his mind.

The religious stories about angels and fallen angels were actually real? And devils existed separately from fallen angels?

He frowned deeply. "Wait... I thought fallen angels were devils."

"They were once," Dahlia answered calmly. "But after the Great Lucifer died, the fallen angels separated themselves from us. They wanted his throne. They wanted control over all devils."

Lucien stayed silent for a few seconds while trying to process everything. "So why were they here?" he finally asked. "Why create that barrier?"

Dahlia shook her head slightly. "I’m not completely certain." Her expression darkened slightly. "But I believe they’re trying to recruit humans. Creating an army loyal only to the fallen."

Lucien looked toward the forest silently before asking another question. "Why did you help me?"

Dahlia stared directly into his mismatched pair of eyes before answering immediately. "Because I want you to join Lucifer’s daughter’s faction."

Lucien frowned. "Why me?"

"Because you possess both human ranks." Her blue eyes narrowed slightly. "Priest and Dominion. Humans like you are extremely rare, and people with dual alignments usually possess terrifying potential."

"If I actually join you what would you or the daughter of Lucifer offer?" He questioned.

"Power, freedom, knowledge forbidden to the Holy Academy. Ancient Dominion spells, devil bloodline arts. And most importantly..." she paused and looked directly at him, "...protection."

Lucien would raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Protection?"

"Yes." Dahlia’s voice became colder. "The moment the Holy Academy discovers what you truly are, every priest there will turn against you. But Nyx protects its own. Even fallen angels think twice before provoking her directly."

Lucien would fold his arms. "That still doesn’t explain why she wants me specifically."

Dahlia stared at him silently for a few seconds before answering honestly. "Because dual-rank humans are disasters waiting to happen."

Lucien’s expression slightly change.

"Humans with both Dominion and Divine alignments possess monstrous potential," she explained calmly.

"Most lose control and destroy themselves, some become tyrants, some become legends." Her eyes would narrow slightly. "And a very small number become beings capable of destroying the fallen angels, devils and even take out the angels that is why fallen’s hate them because no one can control them, except they want to be controlled."

Lucien would chuckle faintly. "You make me sound dangerous."

"You are dangerous," Dahlia would answer immediately. "You simply haven’t realized it yet."

Lucien chuckled out loud and then suddenly noticed something. "Wait... your academy uniform is different from mine."

Dahlia nodded calmly. "I attend the Dominion Academy." Lucien’s eyes widened instantly.

The Dominion Academy? If he joined her crew, would he end up there instead?

As if sensing his thoughts, Dahlia spoke again. "If you choose our side, then yes. You would attend the same academy."

At that exact moment, a notification suddenly appeared before Lucien’s eyes.

*New Quest*

*Objective: Conquer three devils and obtain their skills.*

*Time Limit: 5 Days.*

*Reward: Hidden until completion.*

Lucien frowned slightly while reading it. ’The system is seriously trying to drag me into the Dominion side...’

He looked back toward Dahlia. "If I entered the Dominion Academy, would I need to take another examination?"

Dahlia nodded immediately. "Yes."

Lucien sighed softly. "Of course."

"But unlike this academy," she continued calmly, "the Dominion examination only has one trial."

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "One trial?"

Dahlia’s lips curled slightly. "You enter a cursed battlefield filled with ancient demonic beasts and corrupted spirits. The trial lasts two days." Her blue eyes locked onto his. "No food, no rest, no escape. And only those who survive while carrying ten corrupted beast cores are accepted."

Lucien stared at her for several seconds. "That’s not an exam," he muttered. "That’s attempted murder."

Dahlia gave a faint shrug. "Weak people die, strong people adapt, or are you weak Lucien Vilor." his eyes grew wide, "don’t look at me like that, I did my research."

Before Lucien could reply, a swirling green vortex suddenly tore through the air behind her and formed a portal.

Lucien folded his arms while thinking quietly for a moment. "I’ll think about it," he finally said. "I still need time to settle things first."

Dahlia smiled faintly for the first time since they met. "Well then..." she said softly while stepping into the portal, "until we meet again, Lucien." And then she vanished.

Several seconds later, Lucien suddenly noticed something glowing on the ground nearby. His eyes widened slightly, four World-Devouring Beast cores.

Even their mana pressure alone felt monstrous. Lucien immediately picked them up while staring at them silently. "Why would she leave something this valuable behind..." he muttered.

Then he sighed softly. "She knows I might never contact her again... yet she still helped me."

Lucien placed the cores carefully into his spatial bag before looking toward the various portals reopening across the Beast Realm for the surviving students.

"I guess..." he muttered while walking toward one of the portals, "...I’ll figure everything out later."

Lucien stepped out of the portal alongside the remaining students and immediately noticed the difference. The academy grounds were still crowded, but compared to before, the number of students had reduced drastically.

The atmosphere no longer carried excitement like earlier. Fear, confusion, and exhaustion had replaced it completely. Some students were injured, some looked traumatized, while others silently searched the crowd for missing friends that would never return.

The priests and priestesses stood at the front once again, though this time their expressions were much heavier than before. The white-robed priest slowly stepped forward while the murmuring crowd gradually became silent.

"We apologize for the incident that occurred during the examination," he announced calmly, though even his voice carried tension. "The barrier that appeared was not created by the academy, nor was it part of the examination." Whispers immediately spread again.

"So they really didn’t know..."

"Then who created it?"

"Was it really devils like some people said it was?"

The priest raised his hand for silence before continuing. "Several students lost their lives during the incident. Others are still missing." The atmosphere instantly became heavier.

Some students lowered their heads while others clenched their fists silently.

"However," the priest continued, "the examination results remain valid. The names of successful students and their assigned classes shall now be announced."

One by one, names began echoing across the academy grounds.

Students celebrated, sighed in relief, or reacted with disappointment depending on their results.

"Lucien Vilor." Lucien raised his head slightly.

"Grade A. Assigned to Class A." Some nearby students immediately reacted.

"Class A?"