The setting for the first combat test was a desert area.
You must overcome all opposing teams while walking on unstable sand in a space bathed in hot sunlight.
“It must be difficult for the students.”
Having experienced life-and-death battles in the desert twice, Ren knew the horror of the desert all too well.
“This test is about being able to adapt quickly to countless situations and how well you can utilize them. “You can’t always fight only in situations you want.”
Ren nodded at Liana’s words.
“Anyway, maintaining and activating this level of barrier costs… … .”
“This test alone probably cost about half a year’s worth of operating funds for the Brilliant Kingdom.”
“… … .”
Although Brilliant’s operating funds have increased considerably now, less than half of the current amount was used until last year.
However, considering that the cost is spent on the academy graduation exam for just a few days, it is an enormous amount even compared to last year.
‘Has the Empire’s magic science developed to this extent?’
The clearly visible shape of the desert and the heat vividly felt on the skin.
The space expands inside the barrier, making the desert vast compared to the size of the test site.
The judges’ seats are not visible as they are separately fenced off. Until last year, the judges’ seats were located outside the fence, but it is said that this has been changed at the suggestion of the president.
“It’s really hot.”
A professor with long purple hair tied back said, fanning himself with his hand.
“Professor Essien, can’t we just use magic to beat the heat?”
“Didn’t you hear what the president said? “I came into the barrier on purpose to feel the cadets’ situation more vividly.”
When she spoke angrily to the professor next to her, the male professor fell silent.
Liana Windrunner looks satisfied with the heat she feels.
Ren saw her like that and thought it was really unique.
“The cadets found each other.”
Eyes filled with anticipation. It was a look of anticipation to see what the cadets would do in such an unfamiliar environment, but those expectations were quickly shattered.
The cadets must have planned their own strategy, so the team members dispersed, created a trap, and waited for the opponent.
However, because it was my first time experiencing the heat of the desert, my concentration dropped faster than expected, and I ended up getting caught in traps I had set up myself, and I was caught in a sandstorm and failed to manifest my magic, making me look unsightly.
Liana’s face, which had been full of smiles, suddenly hardened.
‘I guess you were very disappointed.’
It was a disappointing result for the Imperial Academy graduation exam, the continent’s best talent training institution.
The first combat test is over.
Len wrote down the evaluations and scores of the cadets.
The barrier was lifted and the cadets bowed their heads with bewildered faces. Seeing all the judges’ expressions so serious, they must have been downcast.
“Can I speak first?”
Professor Essien spoke first.
Her irritated face causes concern to appear on the cadets’ faces.
Professor Essien is famous for being strict and sensitive at the academy. Whenever she made an expression like that, the cadets’ scores always went down. The score of this battle test has already been predicted.
“I won’t talk too much. “It was terrible.”
The first evaluation of the graduation exam is very scathing.
One cadet had just heard a word and was already in tears.
“If I’m going to fail at the not-so-difficult magic calculations and not be able to manage the magic circle properly, I don’t know why I wasted my time.”
Afterwards, she harshly pointed out the cadets, glanced at where Ren was, and sighed.
“I don’t know what kind of disgrace this is. “I’ll stop.”
Although one judge’s review had just finished, the cadets were already in disarray and in tatters.
The professors’ evaluations have been completed one by one, and only the president and Ren are left.
Ren spoke first.
“hmm… … , Since you mentioned a lot of things earlier, I don’t have much to say about the mistakes I made.”
Even Ren Argen, who had an expressionless face, didn’t think to raise his head when he said that.
“But, I was more impressed than I thought. “I thought they were indeed Imperial Academy cadets.”
Unexpected reviews follow. The cadets, surprised by those words, lifted their heads and looked at Ren’s face.
“You said you were impressed?”
Professor Essien glared at Ren with a puzzled look on his face.
Everyone is judging honestly, but the look in their eyes asks if they just want to pretend to be nice. Ren ignored her gaze and continued his review.
“Cadet Philia.”
“yes? yes!!”
She quickly answered Ren’s sudden call.
“He stepped on the magic circle created by his teammate. Is that correct?”
“ah… , yes… … .”
She thought it was a compliment and looked forward to it, but she lowered her head again in disappointment.
“The response at that time was excellent. Unlike other places on the continent, the desert is an environment where it is very difficult to detect magical power or the presence of an opponent. Selling a trap with a magic circle was a foolish choice in itself, but since it was my first time experiencing the desert, I think it was possible.”
Ren watched the cadets’ battle more closely than anyone else in the judging panel.
A skill he has called ‘eagle eye’. The skill learned after completing Günter Haider’s quest in the North can control the distance of sight.
Therefore, Ren focused on their combat abilities even in the desert environment.
No matter how much the empire has an education system that is superior to that of any other, there are inevitable limitations unless you go through various situations and experience actual combat.
Ren had no intention of wishing such a thing for the cadets who were just graduating from the academy.
Even in such anomalous situations, it is your skills that can create one more opportunity to survive.
Those who have honed themselves have at least a slightly higher chance of overcoming danger when faced with it.
“The moment Cadet Philia stepped on the magic circle, he immediately noticed the activation of magic and stabbed his sword into the sand to create a sand barrier and minimize damage. “I think it was the best choice that Cadet Filia could have made in that situation.”
“thank you!!”
Philia shouted, bending her waist to 90 degrees. The praise that was like a ray of light came in the midst of all kinds of criticism from the judges.
“You learned well at the academy. Thank you for your hard work.”
Tears welled up in her eyes that she had been holding back until now.
“Next is Harold… … .”
Ren’s detailed reviews continued one after another. While pointing out each cadet’s shortcomings, he carefully identifies things to praise and tells them.
Suddenly, the cadets’ eyes were focused not on the other professors but on Ren Argen.
As the judges looked at this, they felt a little uncomfortable and cleared their throats.
Only then did the cadets urgently pay attention to handling gazes.
Essien complains in a loud voice.
“Isn’t that just praising too much? “Judge Len Arzen.”
“hmm… , I said that based on facts. “What’s wrong?”
“… … no. “Let’s move on.”
I wouldn’t know if Ren had exaggerated something or said something that wasn’t there.
All reviews began with accurate facts and detailed observations.
There were many times when the judges thought, ‘Was there something like that?’ while listening to Ren’s review, but they never said it out loud.
The more you know, the more you can see, and the more you can see, the more accurately you can make an evaluation.
When the judges couldn’t say anything to Ren’s rebuttal, the cadets, who had only heard harsh criticism from them, internally cheered.
“Now it’s my turn.”
Liana opened her mouth.
“What the previous professors said is correct, and what judge Len Argen said is also correct.”
Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes were not at all.
“You can’t like cadets too much. Judge Ren Argen’s praise is essentially praising the Imperial Academy’s system, not you. “There are some things you have learned well.”
The shoulders of the cadets, who had been a little excited by the president’s words, slumped.
“This test is to see how well you adapt to a new environment. “Judge Len Argen is saying this because it is his first time seeing the combat abilities of our graduating cadets, but please know that all cadets taking the graduation exam are at that level.”
“yes.”
“All right.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.
The cadets responded dejectedly.
Ren waited for the next time, thinking that he would have to examine the exam a little more carefully due to the stricter and more decisive atmosphere of the graduation exam than expected.
“These are the next cadets.”
The professor sent the next cadets in.
Nocturne Daris and Senna.
Both were cadets of considerable skill. Two of the people I am most looking forward to in this graduation exam.
‘Sounds fun.’
Nocturne and Senna were placed on opposite teams, so we were able to see the two face off.
Nocturne laughs at her as if she is no match for someone like Sena.
For this test, she cut her hair short and held up her weapon with eyes full of determination.
Ugh-.
The space vibrates and the background shimmers like a haze.
Two teams entering.
The background this time is the opposite of the first, a snowy field full of cold.
Everywhere is covered with snow and ice. It was so cold that just standing still made my whole body tremble.
The judges also wore thick clothes accordingly, and the cadets also walked around the snow field wearing the thick clothes provided in advance.
“Aren’t you wearing it Lord Ren?”
Ren nods to Liana’s question.
“I don’t get cold very well. it’s okay.”
“Knights don’t get cold… “Well, this isn’t bluff, is it?”
“no.”
Liana looked at him with interest, said she knew, and took off his clothes.
The professors at the judges’ table looked at Ren as if he were crazy, then turned their attention back to the snowy field.
The strategy of the team with Senna and the team with Nocturne was the same.
All four people are divided into separate groups and actively enter the opponent’s camp to search for the enemy’s location. As soon as they are discovered, they send a signal to join and fight head-on.
This is a strategy that both teams can choose because they are confident in their own abilities.
Senna and Nocturne move to the front and determine the location of the enemies.
Confidence that we can win no matter who comes.
Even if several people come at once, the situation is created by everyone’s identical thoughts of being able to hold out until their teammates arrive.
Nocturne and Senna, who were running up the ridge of a snowy mountain, found each other at the bottom of the valley and burst into laughter.
“You’re out of your mind. “With what kind of confidence did you come here alone?”
“Because I knew you would come alone like this.”
Wow!!
Nocturne’s giant ax and Senna’s long sword rub against each other, creating a strong clanging sound.
Nocturne, whose expression was distorted by the missed blow, slashed the ax horizontally once again.
Huh!
Senna nimbly leaped into the air, stepped on the axe, leaped again, grabbed Nocturne from behind, and swung his sword.
A sharp sword strike grazing the cheek.
Since both were weapons supported by the Academy, they had no actual lethal power, but Nocturne felt an eerie feeling for a moment.
The feeling that I almost got decapitated. He quickly takes a step back, grits his teeth, and glares at Sena.
“What are you?”
“what?”
She chuckles and tilts her head.
“How did you suddenly become so strong?”
She smiled brightly, as if she had been waiting for that question, and rushed towards the ground.
Kaaa!!
She deflected the ax and dug in, hitting Nocturne in the face with her fist.
“Ugh… !”
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When he turns his head and takes a step back and groans, Sena laughs at him in an accusatory manner.
“Maybe you were weak to begin with?”
“you… , this bastard… … !!”
Nocturne, whose pride was so hurt, grabbed his ax and lunged at Senna again.
The fierce battle between the two begins again.
Interest spreads across the faces of the judges as they watch the scene.
“Nocturne Daris was originally excellent, but Senna is a bit surprising.”
“Was Senna’s movement that good?”
“I felt like it was easier on my eyes to see those two fighting while watching the previous game.”
If we look at the skills they can see now, they are both at the lower level of advanced knights. The level of academy cadets has already passed.
‘Have you been hiding your skills? ?’
Ren tilted his head at Sena’s movements. It was because he definitely wasn’t at that level when he fought Evan before.
[Eagle Eyes]
In an instant, the image of the two people enlarges and begins to appear in detail.
Wrist movements, step intervals, beat, speed… … .
‘I feel like everything has gone up a notch… , This… … .’
This is definitely a case we’ve seen in the past.
It was the same situation as when Ronnie Kar took a body enhancement potion made by warlocks before the fight with Ren and temporarily amplified his physical abilities.
‘no way… … .’
While Ren was lost in thought.
Nocturne, who had been hit on the wrist, lost his grip on the ax and fell to the floor, where Sena stepped on his chest.
“Did I say I would kill half of you so that you would never be able to lift a sword again?”
As Senna’s sword was raised, Nocturne’s face turned pale.
“I’ll give you back the same words.”
After saying that, Sena struck down her sword.