The massive doors of the simulation ground opened with a heavy sound.
Hundreds of meters underground, there was a hall that looked more like a real battlefield than a training class.
Giant metal walls, watchtowers, massive mana crystals, and dozens of combat rings scattered across the field.
As soon as the students entered, whispers rose. Even many elite students rarely got permission to use this place.
Professor Valerius stood in the center of the field, his hands locked behind his back, his cold eyes scanning the students.
"Today we are holding a practical test. I want to see how much each of you is really worth."
"A full team including a tank, a shooter, a healer, a warrior covers all of each other’s weaknesses and can show their best during battle."
"But what about alone? When all your teammates are dead and you have to fight alone to survive and continue the battle?"
"I want to see what you know so I can know what I need to teach you."
The atmosphere immediately became serious. No one was joking. No one was smiling. Everyone knew that Valerius’s tests were notoriously harsh.
A man who had crushed many arrogant students in front of everyone.
The crowd moved to the first field. In the center of the field was a red crystal. A crystal capable of creating simulated monsters.
Valerius explained.
"First test, combat power. Each person fights a monster alone. The monster’s rank is determined according to your power."
"Healers can stand aside and do not need to participate."
"You can use everything I have taught you this week. But in my view, the best teaching is experience. You won’t learn anything until you are put in that situation."
Some students smiled. This test was their specialty.
A few minutes later, the test began. The first student entered the field. A level three monster appeared.
The battle was short, but the student managed to win. Brief cheers were heard.
Second person.
Third person.
Fourth person.
Gradually, the results became clear. Most elite students were between level five and seven. Exactly what was expected.
For them, defeating normal level two and three monsters alone was not hard.
Then it was Lian’s turn.
As soon as his name was announced, everyone’s gaze turned toward him. The unknown boy who had suddenly become the hot topic of the entire Academy.
"The survivor of the tenth realm... I still don’t believe it." Darren Will laughed mockingly.
He was Roderick’s best friend in the elite class and also the number one among his subordinates. A true genius with a three-star warrior class.
In terms of overall power, he was among the top five students in the elite class.
Two of his friends laughed.
"He probably hid behind a rock until everyone else died." Darren continued.
A few others also smiled, but Lian did not even look at him, as if he had not heard anything.
This indifference made the vein on Darren’s forehead bulge.
Lian entered the field. Valerius looked at the control panel, and his eyes paused on Lian’s information for a moment.
Then, without any change in his expression, he entered a number.
The crystal began to shine. A moment later... a massive creature appeared.
The sound of several people’s breathing stopped.
"Level twelve?!"
"Damn!"
"Is the professor serious?!"
"A two-level difference?!"
A level twelve monster was no joke. Moreover, the student who was supposed to fight this monster was level ten! Yes, he had a higher level than his peers, but that did not mean he could fight such a monster.
To defeat such a monster, a full team is needed.
But Valerius just stood quietly.
The monster roared.
The ground shook.
Then it charged straight at Lian. Its speed was high, its power was high, and for a first-year student, it was almost certain death.
But... Lian just took one step. That was all. One step, and his body vanished like a shadow. The monster was still charging when suddenly, a deadly cold filled the field.
[Glacial Reaper Claw]
The ice claw passed through the air.
Silence.
The monster took one more step.
Two steps.
Then its head slowly separated from its body. Its massive body fell to the ground.
BOOM!
The entire field shook. Complete silence ruled. No one spoke. Even the sound of some people’s breathing could be heard.
Darren was stunned. His eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.
A level twelve monster... killed with one hit.
On the other side, a girl with long golden hair looked at Lian with shining eyes and licked her lips, as if she had found new prey.
While another girl next to the golden-haired girl sighed and then her gaze also fell on Lian, but with a thoughtful look.
"Maybe he will be useful for our group," she whispered to herself.
Valerius said nothing, but a faint gleam appeared in his eyes. He had seen exactly what he expected.
"The first test is over. Fortunately, none of you did badly in this test, but there are points I need to mention after watching your battles."
"First, the monsters were weaker than you, yet you still took too long to win. That is not good. If the monster was stronger than you, what would you do?"
Everyone fell silent. If the monster was stronger than them? Could they even do anything?
"The answer is simple. You have to use your brain. Find the monster’s weakness, use the environment, try to confuse the monster and perform sneak attacks."
"If you face much stronger monsters where you naturally have no chance, you will simply die. But if the power difference can be compensated, use whatever is necessary to win, even if you lose your arms and legs, it doesn’t matter."
"Plan ahead and win."
Then the field changed shape again. Hundreds of traps, moving walls, mana blades, and various obstacles appeared.
"Speed test. Whoever crosses the path fastest gets the higher rank." Valerius announced.
Students entered one by one. The results were not bad. Some performed well, some were average, but no one could break the field’s record.
Then it was Lian’s turn.
He entered the path. Valerius gave the start command, and at that moment... for many students... Lian almost disappeared.
"What...?" One of the girls said unconsciously.
The only thing that could be seen was a faint shadow. The traps activated, but none could even get close to him.
Ten seconds later...
Lian appeared at the end of the path.
Silence.
Then a sound echoed through the field.
[New Record Achieved]
This time, even several elite students lost color.
Darren could no longer tolerate it. He clenched his fist and stood up.
"It’s a trick!" He shouted.
Everyone turned around.
Darren pointed directly at Lian.
"I don’t accept this! Someone who wasn’t even an Awakened until last week can’t do these things!"
No one said anything. Darren stepped forward.
"I want to fight him." If things continued like this, Lian would become the new star of the class, and he could not allow such a thing.
Several people held their breath. Valerius was quiet for a few seconds.
"Fine." He then said.
Darren smiled.
But the professor’s next sentence dried up his smile.
"But if you lose, you will be banned from the simulation ground for one month."
Darren clenched his teeth.
"Agreed."
A few minutes later, both stood in the field. Darren drew his sword. Mana gathered around his body.
"We have no hostility. So why do you want to fight?"
"Shut up! You are stealing Brother Roderick’s position. I cannot allow that." Darren said coldly, and his skill activated.
Red flames coiled around the blade. It was an impressive display. Even some students cheered for him.
But Lian just stood quietly. He even sighed inwardly. Roderick really was good at gathering loyal subordinates.
He looked around. Everyone’s gaze was on their battle, and he could even feel two strange looks on himself.
’Who are those two girls?’ He noticed two girls who were looking at him in different ways.
One looked as if she was looking at prey, and the other as if she had found a new target...?
He ignored them for now and focused his attention on Darren. He did not back down from this fight because he had a goal. He wanted to solidify his position in the elite class by decisively defeating this fool.
He still had not forgotten how Roderick had humiliated him, and he wanted to make sure that when he came back, he would have no place in this class.
His face at that time would be worth seeing, right?
And he would become the number one of the class.
"Start!"
Darren shouted and attacked. His sword split the air.
But... Lian just took one step. Then he punched. No skill, no flashy effects, no explosion. Just a simple punch.
BOOM!
Darren was lifted off the ground like a torn doll, flew several meters, and landed hard on the ground.
Absolute silence took over.
The fight had not even lasted three seconds.
Darren tried to get up but could not. His face was red from humiliation, while the entire class was looking at him.
Valerius finally smiled. A very small but genuine smile. He stepped into the field. The sound of his footsteps echoed.
Darren’s face turned white.
The professor stood in front of Lian. His eyes locked directly onto Lian’s.
"Good." Then he placed his hands behind his back.
"Darren, I don’t want to see you here for one month. Get out."
Darren wanted to say something, but in the middle of his words, he swallowed them. With humiliation and shame, he stood up and left the place.
The students’ gazes fell on him but quickly moved away and stared at Lian.
Had a new king appeared in their class?
"You are not bad in combat, but you don’t know how and when to use your skills. Your speed is not bad either, but you have poor intuition and fall into traps, and you use your power to escape when that is not the point." Valerius continued.
"The rest of the day’s training is set. I will assign specialized simulations for each of you to solve these problems."
"But before that, there is the final test. I want to see if you know what responsibility and decision-making are. Do you know what your duty is to the people and the nation?"
"Well, we will soon find out if you know or not."