The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

"Do you want to fight?" Oscar smiled and took out his buckler, and pointed at one exit. "If we go out there together, we'll trigger the duel and be teleported. I'll gladly fight you for first place."

Serena's shoulders trembled as she burst into laughter while covering her mouth with her hand. She calmed from the hysterics and wiped a tear from her eye. "No way."

"Why not? I thought you wanted to spend more time together?" Oscar asked rhetorically.

"You already know the answer to that. I saw your current strength, and frankly, I don't think I have a chance. Especially not with the strange way you seem to predict movements." Serena crossed her arms and sighed. She tucked her hair behind her ear and hummed. "I love you, but I said I'm greedy. I'm not willing to surrender my number one position to you because of my feelings. I'll take first place and also win you over."

Oscar was taken aback by Serena's response but understood that this was how she was. She had no qualms about being cute and very open to him, but when it came to competition and her interests, she was stubborn and unyielding. If she could have it all, she would take it.

"Oh!" Serena clapped her hands. "But if you want to spend some time here, I'll happily stay with you. There's a pond to soak our feet in and a meadow to walk through."

"No, thank you. I'm grateful for the offer but no." Oscar flatly refused. "Then it's farewell."

"Ah, wait." Serena went behind Oscar, grabbing his attention.

Oscar turned around with a puzzled face, but a soft pair of lips pecked on his right cheek. He quickly backed away with his hand on the affected cheek, his face flushing terribly.

In front of him, Serena blushed and licked her lips with her pink tongue as though she tasted something sweet, and her eyes curled in amusement. "Couldn't predict that, could you?"

Oscar was about to speak when Serena cut him off.

"Don't say that friends don't do this kind of thing. There's an act called the kiss hello; people kiss each others' cheeks to say hello. This was a kiss goodbye, just a mere act between friends." Serena's eyes looked innocently at Oscar as though she had no ulterior motives behind that action.

Oscar's face returned to normal, and he had a frown. No matter what, he could not understand the logic behind Serena's actions as though she were an anomaly. Suddenly a bold idea popped into his head like the whispers of a devil or perhaps an angel who came to smote this succubus.

He stepped toward Serena, who was still smiling because she had gotten Oscar to stay a little longer. But she was not prepared for his next words.

"So you say it's a kiss goodbye. Then doesn't that mean I have to kiss your cheek too?" Oscar stated boldly.

Serena felt like fireworks had exploded in her mind, overloading her brain. She stammered and became red down to her neck. "Y-y-you…."

'Calm down! This is what I wanted! For Oscar to respond to my charms. Yes, yes, yes.' But she could not calm down as this was highly out of character for Oscar, who was normally reserved and easily flustered. The contrast and sudden shift was an ambush to the back that sent her mind reeling.

Oscar also thought perhaps he was getting out of hand. 'I don't like doing this, but I need to get some payback against this minx.' He was incredibly stubborn and didn't like to lose. So, he continued walking forward.

Serena trembled, and her body squeezed closer, wanting to become smaller and hide. She looked completely different from her confident and outgoing self; she was more meek and timid, with a shy look in her eyes.

Oscar stood before her and leaned forward to be at her eye level. He saw how nervous she was. Slowly he moved toward her right cheek.

'Is this happening?' Serena's heart was pounding, and Oscar was so close that she closed her eyes in embarrassment.

However, she was confused. She didn't feel anything tap on her cheek. She opened her eyes and was stunned to find Oscar walking back to the exit. Her timid look quickly changed to fury and shame. "You bastard!"

Oscar looked back and said, "Do your best. I'm going out here."

The door opened, and Oscar stepped out into the labyrinth.

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As the doors closed, Serena's hands balled into a fist. Her shoulders were trembling now, not from excitement or anxiousness but from her flowing anger. "At least I finish what I start, whether it's a hug or kiss! Who the hell backs down at the last second!"

Despite her furious outburst, Serena's face had a wide grin, and her eyes were full of glee. She believed that Oscar would take that last step with a little more push from her.

"I should leave too. I can't let him overtake me."

…….

Not knowing that Serena was not dampened but empowered by his trick, Oscar continued through the labyrinth without a hint of worry. The strange sequence of stairs and doors made him frown as there were no more flowers, the previous clue, to follow. With nothing else, Oscar chose and random door and entered.

"I'll have to find new clues."

The following days were a breeze for Oscar, who had advantages a Greater Apprentice Exalt did not normally have. After the team trial with Serena, Oscar's 9600 points put him in second place, with the third having 8200 points. He finished the trials on the fourth day, so he had only six days to accumulate more points.

The labyrinth was designed so students would inevitably meet each other in some areas and be forced to make choices. Oscar watched as some numbers decreased on the leaderboard while others went up in droves. But he was keeping pace and surpassed Serena in the first place.

He looked at her examinee number 2 and saw her in second place while picturing her mad face. The other one that surprised him was Mary's number 5. Mary Jones managed to claw her way up from last place and stayed at sixth with a comfortable lead.

More days passed. After a long winding trail through the labyrinth, Oscar finally found the exit. The sapphire gates opened slowly to welcome him.

"Should I go through?" Oscar looked at the door with some hesitation. There was one day left in the time limit of the labyrinth, so Oscar thought of squeezing in more points. But he soon shook his head. "What's the guarantee I would end up back here? The rooms are so strange, and I can't see any familiar landmarks or places no matter where I go."

The exit was right before him; there was only one correct course of action. Oscar steeled himself and went through the sapphire gates, ready for what may hit him. But the scene was different from his expectations. The room was small, clean, and contained a round blue table with ten chairs and paintings of many things like landscapes, people, beasts, and more.

Above was a small crystal light that lit up the room.

"Congratulations!" Ava Jones appeared with Elder Dustin. She applauded while Elder Dustin had a scowl, staring at Oscar with hostility, making Oscar confused.

'Did I do something to this elder?' Oscar tried to remember, but there was nothing of that sort. He was sure he didn't know this elder beforehand.

"Ahem!" Ava Jones coughed to get Elder Dustin's attention, staring at him scoldingly. "Back to the topic. You are the first one to exit the labyrinth. Let's see your points."

A large banner was plastered across the wall. It was blank, but words soon occupied its empty sheet. "Oscar Terr, Examinee #9, First Place, 27000 points."

"What an incredible score. You gain an additional 15000 points for exiting the labyrinth first." Ava Jones snapped her fingers. The banner changed to reflect Oscar's current score of 42000 points. "This is an amazing feat. Are there any questions?"

"What's the next stage?" Oscar was curious.

"That is confidential. All will be revealed after the labyrinth ends." Elder Dustin interjected, but his eyes stared coldly at Oscar, who was still shocked by the elder's hostility.

"Is there a resting place?" Oscar ignored it for now and wanted to rest after a long day. He couldn't also help but feel that Ava Jones was staring at him weirdly. He wanted to get out of this place immediately.

"Here!" Ava Jones opened a new door on the side that led into a collection of houses on an island. "This is a safe zone for the exit. You can rest in one of these houses until the labyrinth ends."

"Thank you." Oscar went into a house and lay down to rest.

Hours passed, and the time was ticking down to the end of the labyrinth. Oscar rested on a chair by the island's shore with a book.

"Oscar!"

Oscar's brow twitched from the voice calling out. He knew it would happen but wanted a few more moments of peace. "Hello, Serena. I see you also made it through."

Serena sprinted forward and stared at Oscar in his chair with a bright smile.

Oscar sighed and was confused by the weird looks that Elder Dustin and Ava Jones gave him.

Ava Jones scratched her cheek with helpless laughter and came forth. "In the future, you two should act more reserved."

Serena was confused, while Oscar was shocked.

"We monitor all students, you know…." Ava Jones blushed.

The gears in Serena's head suddenly stopped as her eyes widened and her mouth slowly separated. Her face paled in the realization of what the elder meant. She ran inside a house, screaming like a banshee, "NO!"

Ava Jones let out a dry laugh. "Sorry about that."

"It's alright. I'm relieved. I wanted to read my book in peace." Oscar returned to reading while Serena was curled up in a bed in shame.

After a while, more people came by and occupied the houses. Including Oscar, there were a total of five people. Then the last person came into the safe zone; it was Mary Jones, who looked like she had gone through a marathon.

"Are you alright?" Oscar asked.

"I'm fine." Mary plopped on the soft grass. "It was a difficult run, but I finished it."

Oscar flipped through his book. "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Oscar, what are you doing with Mary Jones?" Serena walked out of the house after letting out all of her embarrassment. She stared coldly at Mary Jones, who stared back with hostility.

"I guess we're friends now?" Oscar tilted his head and pondered. "Yes, we are friends."

"Oscar, don't get entangled with this wench; she's bad news," Mary warned and stared at Serena with caution, "What are you doing with Oscar?"

"Nothing much?" Serena looked at Mary with a mocking smile. They were about to fight when the elders came forth.

Ava Jones looked scoldingly at her niece but continued her duty. "The first part of the exam has ended. All the students assemble in the small room. It's time to unveil the second and last part."

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