“Lil’ Ti… keep going…”
Timobi’s body was already a mangled mess, and You’er couldn’t bear to watch any longer.
He wanted to call for a halt, but Timobi’s stubborn eyes rendered You’er speechless; he could only cheer him on with fervent shouts from the depths of his heart.
Finally, they reached the fiftieth step…
“Time’s up!”
Just then, Sifney’s cool, clear voice suddenly rang out, and only then did everyone realize that the allotted time had completely run out.
Simultaneously, the Dragon Knights retracted their auras, and the oppressive force that had enveloped the steps vanished in an instant.
“Some syllables omitted here****** Oh, compassionate Water Spirit, heed my call and bestow your blessed drops—Spirit Magic—Life Resurgence, Rain of Blessings!”
A short magic staff materialized in Sifney’s hand, and she chanted mysterious incantations.
In the sky, a colossal aquamarine magic array abruptly took shape.
The magic array summoned forth a rain, a rain imbued with an exceptionally potent life force.
Within this rain, the examinees not only recovered from the injuries sustained during their ascent, but their strength also began to steadily return.
‘To think it’s healing Spirit Magic, truly befitting a High-tier Archmage…’
Seeing Timobi’s wounds gradually mend and his complexion regain its healthy flush, You’er couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
He caught a few raindrops in his palm, then gazed towards Sifney, who stood by the archway, enveloped in shimmering aquamarine elemental energy.
You’er murmured a silent exclamation of awe.
“Though the difficulty was increased, I hadn’t expected only a mere nine individuals to complete all one hundred steps.
Still… I did discover some rare talents.”
Sifney, long accustomed to stares of shock and admiration, paid them little mind.
She glanced at the nine examinees standing atop the steps, shaking her head with a touch of resignation.
As her soliloquy ended, her gaze settled on You’er and Timobi, who were positioned in the middle section of the steps, and for the first time, a different emotion flickered in her eyes.
Timobi’s resilience had greatly pleased her.
As for You’er, who wore a mask, to consistently disregard the Dragon Knights’ oppressive aura, he could hardly be an ordinary person.
“Congratulations, you have successfully passed the second round of assessment.”
Sifney’s words were not directed solely at the nine individuals at the top of the steps, but to all the examinees still remaining on the steps!
“R-really? We… passed?!”
“Yes! Yes!… We passed, haha, we all passed!”
Perhaps the sudden rush of joy was too overwhelming.
The examinees on the steps remained stunned, still struggling to process the news.
After a moment of silence, irrepressible shouts and cheers erupted.
“Big Sister You’er, I passed… I passed… haha, haha…”
His body restored, Timobi scrambled to his feet, brimming with excitement.
He had almost forgotten the hardships and suffering he had endured, and the bloodstains covering him.
He instantly lunged forward and embraced You’er.
“Mhm, congratulations, Lil’ Ti. And I’m so proud of you.”
You’er paused for a moment, taken aback, then broke into a smile, reaching out to smooth Timobi’s disheveled bangs.
While some rejoiced, others despaired.
In stark contrast to the scene on the steps, a chorus of grievances arose from beyond the archway.
“T-this… this isn’t right?!”
“Instructor Sifney, they clearly didn’t reach the hundredth step! How can they pass?”
“Exactly, why?! I protest!”
“…”
“Do you recall what I said at the very beginning?”
Sifney’s gaze shifted towards the outside of the archway, her voice devoid of emotion, chillingly continuing.
“I merely stated that your goal was the hundredth step, but I never said that reaching the hundredth step was the sole criterion for passing.”
“Oh… oh heavens, what have I done?!”
“If only I’d known, I would have held on a little longer. Even if I couldn’t, just collapsing where I was would have been better…”
“…”
A cacophony of wails and lamentations filled the air.
Many beat their chests and stamped their feet, some even banging their heads on the ground in despair.
Alas, there was no such thing as a ‘regret pill’ in this world.
You’er had anticipated such a turn of events.
Anyone who thought about it critically would realize that Sifney’s stated requirement was clearly impractical.
If only reaching the hundredth step counted as passing, Gatarnia Academy would likely recruit only a handful of students this year.
“Those eliminated, return the way you came.
At the end of the Brocade Avenue, someone will be waiting to escort you out.
Do not attempt to sneak through, for that will only incur a price you cannot bear.”
Having delivered this pronouncement, Sifney paid no further attention to the disqualified individuals beyond the archway.
With a wave of her hand, she activated the enchantment on the archway, then turned and beckoned to those who had passed the second round.
A faint smile graced her beautiful features.
“Come along, the academy grounds are just up ahead.
Your final assessment awaits you there.”
****
From afar, the academy city appeared to be a continuous expanse of buildings with a distinctly modern architectural style.
Yet, only upon drawing truly close and standing beneath its walls, could one perceive the ancient, elegant charm it concealed.
The academy gates and most of the frequently used buildings within the grounds were crafted from exceptionally rare and precious spirit wood and spirit stones.
These materials were impervious to decay, far more resilient than concrete structures, and exuded a tranquil, pleasant aroma.
The atmosphere inside and outside the academy gates felt distinctly different.
While the concentration of various elemental energies was roughly similar, their quality was several grades purer within the grounds!
Beyond the academy gates lay a vast training ground.
One could see crowds of people milling about in the training ground, though most were simply waiting, their positions held open for the arriving examinees.
“Well, well, they’re finally here.
This year’s examinees aren’t exactly quick on their feet, are they?”
“A total of nine Great Sword Wielders and Magic Wielders.
It’s barely passable, I suppose.
I wonder about the caliber of examinees in the other four districts.”
“Just heard the news: apparently, the other districts have already produced three Low-tier Sword Masters and two Low-tier Mages.
Looks like we didn’t get a good draw this time, what a pity.”
“Great Sword Wielders are fine.
If we recruit them into a team and refine them, they can still become formidable.”
“Senior Kairi, please be merciful.
Last time, you snatched away all the promising talents.”
“Haha, it’s every person for themselves, isn’t it?
The new junior students would naturally prefer to join a more powerful team, wouldn’t they?”
“…”
Beneath the high wall at the inner part of the training ground, a long line of neatly arranged red-draped tables stretched out.
Similar discussions frequently arose among the youths in uniform seated behind these tables.
These were the official students of Gatarnia Academy.
“This is where you will undergo your third round of assessment.”
Leading everyone to the center of the training ground, Sifney halted and, after speaking, withdrew to the side.
“You new whelps, I, Dannich Tobirius, am your chief examiner for the third round of assessment, and also the final arbiter of whether any of you are deemed qualified.”
Such a declaration could not be ignored.
The examinees immediately looked towards the source of the voice, spotting a rather unassuming, gaunt old man seated not far away.
The elder appeared to be over sixty, yet the mountain-like aura subtly emanating from him was particularly terrifying.
‘Another powerful individual, at least at the High-tier Sword Sovereign or High-tier Archmage level…’
You’er mused inwardly, ‘truly, Gatarnia Academy was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided.’
“What a disgrace, what a disgrace! Out of tens of thousands, not a single Sword Master could be filtered out.
This time, we’re truly going to be left far behind by the other academies…”
Dannich’s gaze flitted, sweeping over each examinee present, a look of profound disappointment etched on his face.
The examinees fell silent.
This chief examiner, Dannich, seemed rather unfriendly towards them.
“Big Sister You’er, this old grandpa isn’t blind, is he?”
Timobi looked up at You’er, appearing somewhat perplexed.
“Shh~~ Don’t speak nonsense!”
You’er quickly covered his mouth, then touched the white vortex mask on his face, realizing, with a sudden insight, that this mask seemed to be something extraordinary.
“Alright, alright, let’s get this over with sooner rather than later.
Line up, and come forward one by one.”
Dannich wore an expression of utter disinterest, waving his hand impatiently.
He didn’t even bother to explain the assessment’s content to the crowd.
“The third round of assessment is an evaluation of each of your aptitudes and talents.”
At this crucial moment, it was the thoughtful Sifney who spoke, explaining the details to the despairing examinees.
“The assessment consists of two steps: The first step is bone age measurement.
The academy does not accept new students whose bone age exceeds the standard.
The second step is potential measurement.
The academy does not accept new students who lack any cultivation value.
Here, ‘bone age’ does not simply refer to chronological age, but rather…”
“You, come forward.”
It was evident that Dannich truly had no desire to waste more time.
Even before Sifney could finish speaking, he simply raised a finger, forcibly initiating the final assessment.
“Alas…”
Sifney sighed, casting a ‘fend for yourselves’ look at the examinees.
Meeting such an eccentric chief examiner, they were certainly out of luck.