Inside the Grand Theater Music Classroom of Demon Academy, an immersive concert was underway.
At the center of the stage, a demon with blue flames wreathing his head sang with fierce passion. His silhouette stood sharp beneath the spotlights, his roaring voice resonant and wild, like a bellow surging from the deepest pits of hell. Every note thrummed with the raw power of death metal.
The judges wore earnest, absorbed expressions as well, some frowning, others closing their eyes to take in the singer's voice.
As the lighting faded, the entire venue plunged into darkness. Then, lights and shadows shifted across the stage, and the singing detonated in the silence, reaching the performance's ultimate climax. Magic erupted in bursts of sparks and flame, instantly illuminating the stage. Cheers broke out from many of the students in the rear rows, resounding through the theater.
For a moment, Lanqi felt that Demon Realm Academy was experimenting with some rather novel teaching methods.
Yet the more bizarre it was, the more sinister this Difficulty 2 classroom seemed.
According to Bachel, it was bound to be several times more difficult than the Difficulty 1 Demon Magic Script exam hall they had just left.
Lanqi scanned the entire Grand Theater Music Classroom.
Though the four music mentors seated before the stage—evidently the judges—appeared to hold high status, their magical power was not particularly strong. In contrast, the teacher standing behind the curtain, who looked like a presiding host, radiated terrifying waves of magic.
This presiding teacher seemed to be the true master and enforcer of rules in the classroom. Judging by his dignified attire and accessories, his faculty rank in Demon Academy was even higher than that of the dragon demon and owl demon from the previous exam hall.
Sure enough.
Seated in the audience, Lanqi, Hyperion, and Bachel soon received examination guides, delivered by an assistant familiar sent by the presiding teacher that resembled a small, black, winged eyeball.
The brown cover of the booklet read:
[Demon Realm Music: Final Examination & Public Performance]
[Location: Corridor G24, Demon King's Bestowed Theater]
"Another exam?" Lanqi murmured to himself as he opened the booklet.
"We're nearing the end of the term, so there are more courses holding final exams," Bachel mumbled at his side.
This was his first time being dragged into a Difficulty 2 classroom.
The moment he stepped inside, his courage had completely vanished.
During this period, walking into almost any classroom meant potentially encountering an exam. Yet, to pay the five credit coins required each day, students had no choice but to grit their teeth and take them; failing to pay still ended in execution. Only students with a substantial surplus of credit coins could afford to take it easy during exam season.
"Well, we're already here," Lanqi said with a nod before reading through the course guide.
The booklet was very thin, and it took only a minute or two to finish.
The rules were actually quite simple.
Once inside the classroom, students could freely choose when to participate—which meant going on stage to deliver a Demon Realm music performance:
[Assessment Requirement: Your music must gain the approval of at least two music mentors.]
[Performance time is limited to two minutes. Each guest music mentor has sworn an oath to the Demon King to judge performances strictly and impartially according to their musical convictions within their respective fields of expertise.]
[Note: While watching performances, students are prohibited from using any magic. During an on-stage performance, any magic that contributes to the effect of the performance may be used. Offensive magic used to harm the music mentors below the stage is strictly prohibited.]
[Violators of the rules will be eradicated directly by the Demon Eye. Those who fail to meet the requirements will be executed on the spot. Those who have not participated by the end of class will also be executed. Those who satisfy the assessment requirements may leave the exam hall when class concludes.]
A further note explained that whether taking the exam early or late, no one could leave midway. Students were required to remain in the audience the entire time, providing live feedback and basic interaction. After all, in addition to being a final exam, this was also a Demon Realm public performance, and it could not afford to lose its most vital element: excitement.
Lanqi looked up and noticed a massive Demon Eye hovering near the ceiling of the classroom. It seemed to be surveying a panoramic view of the entire room, broadcasting the footage elsewhere.
"Lanqi, are you good at music?" Hyperion asked, having finished the booklet. She closed it, rested it flat across her lap, and turned her head toward him.
Since Lanqi had chosen this classroom, he had to have some degree of confidence.
As for herself, though she had received an artistic education since childhood, she could hardly claim to be proficient.
"My music is so-so, but anything involving art shares some common ground," Lanqi replied, folding his arms and staring thoughtfully at the performance on stage.
Musical skill could not be mastered overnight. In the Shadow World, unwinnable scenarios never appeared unless one made a catastrophic error. Therefore, this exam was unlikely to be a pure test of the challengers' artistic refinement; there had to be a hidden method for clearing it.
Of course, there were times when an exceptionally talented challenger could bypass the mechanics entirely for a swift clear.
Take the previous Demon Magic Script exam, for instance. If some absolute monster could actually write out the answers directly, they could naturally stride out of the exam hall without a care in the world.
"Then I'll follow your lead," Hyperion said with a nod. Since Lanqi had no special instructions, her job was simply to protect him whenever he needed help.
Still, she had not expected him to be so confident when it came to art.
"We're dead, we're so dead..." Bachel muttered, his face turning pale as paper after reading the contents of the guide.
He bitterly regretted his greed in following Lanqi into this Level 2 classroom.
Judging by Lanqi's composed expression, the young man might well have a way to pass, but this was a solo performance—there was no way Lanqi could carry him through it!
"Calm down first. You still have to guide us, so I'll cover you," Lanqi said, patting Bachel on the shoulder to soothe his panic.
Bachel nodded vigorously at his words.
The very last shred of security in his heart rested entirely on this radiant demon patron beside him.
Lanqi turned his gaze back toward the stage and the four mentors.
For now, it remained unclear just how difficult it was to earn the mentors' approval.
Just then, the performance of the student they had seen upon entering came to an end, transitioning into the judging phase.
While waiting for the result, Lanqi and Hyperion exchanged a glance.
"What did you think?"
"Pretty impressive."
Fairly speaking, both of them felt the musical performance had been of an exceptionally high standard.
At the very least, the student had won the approval of Lanqi and Hyperion.
However...
In the four large chairs facing the stage, only one mentor's expression hinted at satisfaction with the performance. The other three looked as grim as iron.
"I thought it was decent."
"I don't quite approve."
"Unacceptable."
"Too dreadful."
And so, amid silent judgment, the presiding teacher raised his hand, displaying his singular brand of cold resolve. The next instant, the demon student's body blossomed like a flower of blood, and the corpse crashed heavily onto the stage. A pool of damp crimson spread beneath his feet, bringing the hasty revelry to an abrupt and brutal close!
Chapter 55