Participating in the Assessment

The air in the hall thickened with resentment.

As Black stepped through the “Qualified Candidates Only” door in his brand-new uniform,the grief of the rejected turned to fury.

“HIM?!” a voice snarled.

“He didn’t even take the test!”

“Walked right in like he owns the place!”

“Where’s the fairness?!”

The whispers swelled into a roar.

These weren’t just failed applicants—

they were dreams shattered, hopes buried.

For many peasants, this was their only chance to lift their families from mud.

And this pirate, this nobody,had strolled past them all.

Insult.

Betrayal.

Injustice.

The Dragon-Slaying Guards tried to calm them:

“Silence! Black was personally approved by the Lord!”

“His strength surpasses yours!”

But to the crowd, it sounded like elitist lies.

“If he’s so strong, why skip the test?!”

“Prove it, coward!”

Black, shielded by Leon and Land, frowned.

It’s not the anger that surprises me……it’s how much they revere this badge.

Upstairs, Noa watched, tea cup cradled in tiny hands.

Lyra, the white-robed sage, bowed:

“My Lord—shall I intervene?”

Noa didn’t look up from her book.

“No.”

Her voice was soft, final.

“If he cannot handle this……then my judgment was flawed.”

Rosie, Hawkins, and Lyra exchanged glances.

Let’s see what the “prodigy” is made of.

Downstairs, the mob surged closer.

Black saw it clearly:

If he didn’t quell this storm,he’d be a ghost in his own uniform—

hated by peers, distrusted by the Guard.

Worse—the Guard’s reputation would rot.

He took a breath—

and stepped forward.

Leon and Land tried to stop him, but he pushed past.

His eyes swept the crowd—

not with arrogance,but with the cold calm of a man who’d faced Dragon Kings.

The front row flinched, their shouts dying in their throats.

Silence spread like frost.

Then—Black spoke.

“You want a test?”

A faint smirk touched his lips.

“Fine. I’ll take it.”

He turned—

and walked straight into the examination hall.

Inside, the massive puppet loomed—

a hulking construct of black iron and glowing runes,its fists bigger than a man’s head.

Kaiser, the examiner, stood beside it, smirking.

“Ah, the backdoor brat returns!”

He’d just humiliated a brute named Rex—

and mocked the students into submission.

Now, he savored Black’s arrival.

“Beat this puppet,” Kaiser sneered,

“and I’ll kneel and apologize.

Fail… and you crawl out like the worm you are.”

Black didn’t flinch.

He cracked his neck,rolled his shoulders,and charged.

THOOM!

The puppet swung,a blow that could shatter stone—

but Black dodged,using Autumn Wind Triple Cut to weave through its strikes.

He leapt,drew the Overlord Spear (hidden beneath his coat),and slammed it into the puppet’s knee joint!

SCREECH!

Sparks flew—

the puppet staggered, off-balance!

Kaiser’s smirk froze.

Impossible! It’s Level 50!

Black yanked the spear free,spun,and hurled it like a javelin—

THUD!

The spear pierced the puppet’s chest core—light erupted—and the construct exploded into scrap.

Silence.

Then—thunderous cheers from the crowd!

Kaiser paled.

“Y-you…!”

Black strode toward him,voice ice-cold:

“Kneel.”

Kaiser snarled, lunging—

but a golden blur shot from the rafters!

CRACK!

Pascal landed between them,his presence crushing the air itself.

“Enough.”

His eyes locked onto Kaiser:

“You abused your authority.

You dishonored the Guard.”

Kaiser trembled—

then collapsed to his knees,terrified.

Pascal turned to Black.

“Well done.”

Then—to the crowd:

“This is why he walks among us.

Remember this day.”

As the rejected candidates stared in awe,

Black knew: He’d passed the real test.

Not of strength—but of character.

And upstairs, Noa finally smiled.

“Interesting.”