Eighteen years old, Sword Apprentice, disqualified. Next.
The first candidate immediately stepped forward. Dannich Tobirius’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint as his two fingers lightly touched the candidate’s wrist, then he spoke indifferently. With those four simple, clipped phrases, he pronounced the candidate’s ‘death sentence’.
“Wh-why?! My Elemental Star Vortex is on the verge of forming; I’ll soon advance to Swordsman. Please… please don’t dismiss me!”
This was a young man who had traveled a thousand miles to reach the academy, enduring two successive, arduous trials to finally arrive. He had believed his admission was a certainty, yet now he was being dismissed with such a few simple words. How could he possibly accept this?
“Swordsman? Ha. Don’t even talk about not having advanced yet. Even if you were to break through to Swordsman right here, right now, I still wouldn’t accept you. Get out of my sight; don’t waste my time.” Dannich Tobirius waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away a fly.
“You… you’re nothing but an old scoundrel who ruins promising youths!”
As the young man’s words burst forth, everyone’s expressions shifted. While not unheard of, it was truly uncommon for someone to so brazenly insult a Gatarnia Academy instructor, especially a youth who hadn’t even reached the rank of Swordsman. He was utterly unqualified to do so.
“I… I’m sorry, I was just desperate…”
“Scram!”
The young man, realizing his blunder, immediately knelt to apologize. Before he could finish, however, Dannich Tobirius’s withered hand swept out, unleashing a powerful surge of elemental energy that flung the youth directly down the hundred-step staircase and beyond the ornate archway.
“Next!” Dannich Tobirius was swift and decisive, wasting no time. The withered skin of his face only seemed to grow colder and more severe.
“Seventeen years old, Novice Swordsman, disqualified. Next.”
“Why? I’ve clearly reached Swordsman rank, why am I disqualified?!”
“If I say you’re disqualified, then you’re disqualified. Or do you wish for me to send you out as well?”
“No, I wouldn’t dare…”
With the first candidate serving as a stark warning, the second person dared not speak further, despite their objections. After a fierce internal struggle, they ultimately turned and departed the training grounds, descending the steps and leaving behind the Gatarnia Academy they had so desperately yearned for.
“Next!” Dannich Tobirius continued to summon.
“Eighteen years old, High-tier Swordsman, barely qualified.”
“Th-thank you, Chief Examiner!”
“Why are you so eager? There’s still a second assessment.”
“…”
As he spoke, Dannich Tobirius produced a large, spherical grey orb, placing it on the tabletop, then instructed the third candidate, “Place your hand on it and inject your elemental energy.”
The candidate, daring not to delay, immediately pressed their hand against the grey orb. As they infused their magic into it, a faint glow soon blossomed, with several colors flickering in succession, though ultimately, only blue light emerged.
“Disqualified. You may leave.” Dannich Tobirius merely glanced at it, then indifferently shifted his gaze, ruthlessly stamping the candidate with the label of failure.
“Wh-why?!” Similarly, this candidate found the result unacceptable.
“You’re still asking me why? It’s bad enough your initial elemental energy value is low, but your dominant affinity is clearly fire, yet you chose to specialize in water. There’s no hope for you. Go home and farm.” Dannich Tobirius waved his hand dismissively.
“Understood…” Clearly, this candidate was aware of their own issues. Powerless to refute, and not daring to argue, they left the academy city with a crestfallen expression.
“Next!”
This time, no one dared to step forward for a long while. It was clear the candidates were intimidated by the unyielding Chief Examiner. Dannich Tobirius, too lazy to offer any encouraging words, simply pointed to someone and declared, “You. Are you coming or not? If not, I’ll just disqualify you directly.”
“N-no! I’m coming right now!” This candidate was a girl, quite delicate in appearance.
“Sixteen years old, High-tier Mage, not bad. Next is the second part: extend your hand to the magic testing device and inject your magic.”
“Understood…”
“Initial elemental energy value 65. Wind affinity is highest, followed by fire. And you’ve specialized in wind. Very good, very good, you’re qualified!”
“Ah, huh?!”
“What are you dallying for? I said you’re qualified, now come over here!”
“Chief Examiner, am I truly… truly qualified? Thank you… thank you, Chief Examiner! Th-”
The sudden surge of joy left the girl stunned for a long time. When she finally came to her senses, she was so overwhelmed with excitement that she fainted mid-sentence.
“Hmph, it seems this girl’s mental fortitude needs some serious tempering.” Dannich Tobirius pursed his lips, then with a wave of his hand, gently moved the unconscious girl aside. This treatment was far, far gentler than what the first candidate had received.
Meanwhile, witnessing this scene, the other candidates quietly exhaled in relief. Thank goodness, someone had finally qualified. They had genuinely harbored a fleeting delusion that the old man might send them all packing.
“Next!”
****
The assessment continued unabated. You’er, observing from the very back, quickly deduced the general requirements for this third stage.
Firstly, one’s age and strength had to be proportional. In the first part of the assessment, anyone over the age of eighteen who had not yet reached High-tier Swordsman or High-tier Mage would likely be disqualified by Dannich Tobirius.
Secondly, for the second part of the assessment, one’s initial elemental energy value needed to exceed 30 points. Furthermore, the chosen specialization had to be correct; failing to specialize in either the first or second most dominant elemental energy within one’s body would also result in disqualification.
The initial elemental energy value could be understood as an individual’s affinity for various elements. Naturally, the higher the elemental affinity, the simpler and easier it was to master those elements.
This was precisely the distinction between a Sword Wielder and a Magic Wielder. Most Sword Wielders possessed an initial elemental energy value below 50, whereas becoming a Magic Wielder required a value of 50 or higher. Without a significant fortuitous encounter, one was destined to remain an amateur for life.
As for higher values, they typically came in increments of 10 points; each additional 10 points significantly bolstered one’s elemental affinity. Values above 70 were rarely seen, considered one in ten thousand, while 80 or 90 points were practically unheard of. Any individual possessing such a high affinity would undoubtedly become a highly sought-after disciple, with powerful figures vying fiercely for their tutelage.
On the Arnorra Continent, there existed a congenital physique known as an Elemental Spirit Body. The prerequisite for an Elemental Spirit Body’s birth was an integrated initial elemental energy value of 100 points, and furthermore, one of the inherently awakened elemental energies within one’s body had to account for over 50%!
These were the two formidable conditions for the emergence of an Elemental Spirit Body. Each condition alone was as difficult as ascending to the heavens, and combined, they made such a phenomenon as rare as one in a billion.
You’er recalled Princess Yuina Rose Sesika, who possessed the rarest and arguably unparalleled Light Elemental Spirit Body among all Elemental Spirit Bodies.
He wondered if Princess Yuina Rose Sesika was safe and well now.
Dannich Tobirius’s assessment speed was incredibly swift. Before they knew it, the number of people ahead of You’er and Timobi dwindled. On average, about one in five candidates passed, making the qualification rate a mere one-fifth. When factoring in the number eliminated in the first and second rounds, the overall success rate was horrifyingly low, perhaps one in a hundred.
Of course, the nine candidates who had already reached Great Swordsman or Great Mage rank all passed the assessment without exception.
“Next! Hurry up!”
Finally, only You’er and Timobi remained in the entire arena. Dannich Tobirius fixed his gaze on them, urging them forward.
“Big Sister You’er, I’m going!” Timobi clenched his small fists.
“Relax, and believe in yourself.” You’er smiled, ruffling Timobi’s hair.
“Under ten years old, magic not yet awakened, but a very sturdy physique. It’s evident someone has frequently used a special elemental energy to nurture you, laying a solid foundation. If your awakened elemental energy value isn’t too low, your future achievements will undoubtedly be limitless.”
Dannich Tobirius instantly discerned Timobi’s condition. He squeezed the boy’s arm bone, a hint of surprise appearing on his face for the first time, and offering such extensive praise for the very first time. This sparked envy among the candidates who had already passed, making them wonder why this mere child, still wet behind the ears, possessed more talent than them.
‘It seems my judgment was indeed accurate.’ To one side, Sifney Asfurliden murmured with a smile.
“Little one, quickly extend your hand and place it on the magic testing device. It can help awaken your magic.” Rarely, Dannich Tobirius even showed a trace of eagerness.
“Mm.” Timobi obediently extended his small hand, touching the magic orb.
Dannich Tobirius chanted arcane words, yet for a very long time, the magic orb remained completely unresponsive.
Dannich Tobirius, refusing to believe it, chanted again. Still no reaction.
Dannich Tobirius continued once more…
Dannich Tobirius’s expression, which had initially brimmed with the excitement of a hunter spotting prey, gradually stiffened back to its usual rigidity, becoming even colder and more impassive than before. It was the look of someone whose fervent hopes had been instantly shattered, plummeting from heaven to hell, leaving behind only resentment and fury.
“A Magicless Body, heh heh. How ironic that the one who finally stirred my emotions after so long turns out to be a born cripple, heh heh.” Dannich Tobirius let out two laughs in one sentence, yet they were not of mirth, but of bitter derision.
“Magicless… Body? Born… cripple?” Timobi tilted his small head, not quite grasping the meaning of Dannich Tobirius’s words.
“Little one, you should leave. A Magicless Body inherently possesses no magic and cannot cultivate.” Dannich Tobirius shook his head, waved his hand, and sighed, appearing as though he had aged several years in an instant.
“Phew, you scared me! I truly thought he might be some peerless genius.”
“Hahaha, peerless genius my foot! ‘Peerless cripple’ is closer to the mark! A Magicless Body, how long has it been since one appeared on the continent? I can’t, let me laugh for a bit.”
“…”
Behind Dannich Tobirius, the candidates first froze, then burst into uproarious laughter. They had been nervously praying in their hearts, ‘Please, let his elemental energy value not be too high,’ only to realize it was all a false alarm.
“How is that possible?!” Two voices exclaimed in disbelief simultaneously: one was You’er’s, the other Sifney Asfurliden’s.
Sifney Asfurliden held Timobi in high regard, for in the second assessment, Timobi had thoroughly proven the depth of his unyielding will and inner strength. Yet, he was to be one of the ‘Magicless Ones’, a phenomenon almost extinct in this age of myriad magics?
‘Oh, great Water God, can humanity truly never be whole? You grant a child unyielding perseverance, yet cruelly strip away his talent for cultivation. How can you be so merciless?’
You’er, on the other hand, found it even more incomprehensible and unacceptable. How could Timobi, who possessed a mysterious bloodline comparable to that of an Ice Spirit King, be a cripple incapable of cultivation?!
This was nothing short of an outrageous joke!
“I… I can’t enroll?” Dannich Tobirius’s words were so blunt that even Timobi, as innocent as he was, could not fail to understand. He first froze, then tiny mists welled up in his eyes. He sniffled a few times, but ultimately, he bit back his tears, merely looking at You’er. Though he smiled, it was as if he was crying silently.
“I’m sorry, Big Sister You’er. Little Ti, I’ve let down your expectations…”