19. 1. The Promotion C Rank Test (part1)

Evaluation

The group included 2 girls and 3 guys all of them had basic leather armor gear. One of the girls stepped forward.

“My name is Linzet, class ranger… pleased to meet you all.” Her brunette hair is short but well maintained.

The other girl stepped forward, her hair burned with fiery red color. Her personality was full of confidence.

“My name is Scarlett, the weapon of choice: spear.”

A man with a gruff face, unshaven however his stance remained straightforward as he stepped forward. However, his eyes were bright and lively as if he was ready to seek an adventure.

“Name’s Wilmot, the weapon of choice Sword and shield.”

The last man, wearing a cowl around his shaven head. Slowly he stepped forward.

“My name… is Randall. I wield fire magic”

After a short while, everyone looked at Ben.

Having noticed their eyes, he quickly stepped forward.

“My name is Ben, class brawler.”

Having heard the keyword “brawler” everyone other than Bernard studied Ben’s stature.

“Lack of muscle, fists do not have calluses… your legs are not toned enough… your eyes seem inexperienced.” the girl named Scarlett listed.

“Now… although his body seems weak, however, I sense some magical presence about him as well,” Randall spoke out.

Scarlett simply pulled back and muttered to herself. “Is that so.”

Bernard simply smiled. “Alright, now that you all know your party composition and skills. I will now be distributing your mission after you have been tested for your combat efficiency. This portion will enlist your strengths and your combat capability, the party formation will be how well you cooperate with strangers and people you have just met. As you will be new adventurers who will have many opportunities to find many different individuals in your travels and quests until you manage to settle down with people you find agreeable.”

Bernard looked and pointed at Linzet.

“I only want you to spar with me using a dagger, while I use a long wooden sword. Although you are a ranger, should there ever be a time that an enemy comes at you from behind and forces you into close-quarter combat. You will be expected to hold off or even defeat the enemy using your dagger… unless you are an expert at the bow like the elves are.”

Linzet frowned a little bit, but after a small hesitation, she drew her dagger from her leather sheath and prepared a stance. Linzet took a fighting stance, she held her dagger, downward.

“Defensive art, knife downward and a fighting stance to lessen the body hit markers. Good for humanoid attacks and other variants. Ok, now I’ll come at you with this wooden sword. Don’t worry about causing any wounds to me, since I have sufficient protection from a priest.”

After Bernard finished talking, he put his sword forward as if he was fencing. Linzet put up her guard quickly, caution in her eyes showed. After a moment of silence, as if it was agreed beforehand, the both of them moved. Linzet moved backward, putting distance between her and Bernard, while Bernard started to close in on her.

Bernard suddenly lunged forward taking a stab towards Linzet, who backed up and held her dagger at standby. Seeing her avoidance, Bernard did a quick step and retracted his sword, and aimed downward. Linzet continued to stare at the sword that traveled downward. Bernard seeing that, quickly closed in with his body and tapped her head with his fist lightly.

“Stop!” Bernard shouted.

Linzet simply rubbed her head where Bernard knocked on.

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“First, your stance and posture were good. However, the fight onwards was poor and not defensive. It was mainly avoidance and basically an attempt to run from a practice fight. The first thing to consider is the amount of space that you will encounter most likely, for you it would be dungeon floors or the village walls if you’re lucky the castle walls. Each of which has limited spaces. Your avoidance and your gaze at the sword will lead to your downfall as skilled warriors will always check on the gaze of their opponents and take advantage of that. Work on defensive fighting and try to learn not to stare at your opponent’s sword. Of course, keep arm strength and body mass in check as the opponent may overpower you with sheer strength. Anyways, show me your archery skills.” Bernard claps his hand in the sky, and several targets in the distance stand up and start moving sideways.

“You can thank our magicians in the distance,” Bernard added, as he waved at a teenager in a cloak who waved back.

Linzet armed her bow, standing straight and true. Eventually firing arrows, she missed a couple shots on the moving targets while the standing targets she had 7/10 hits. Bernard chimed in at the end.

“Fair, decent, moving targets need practice. You will need to work on accuracy, especially in tight corridors as your allies will be in front of you engaging the enemies. However, if you were to take out the backline then you will do so nicely. PASS, Individual Combat Score Linzet.” Linzet wiped her head with her sleeves.

Afterward, Bernard tested with Scarlett.

Her confidence in her defensive technique kept Bernard at bay, always keeping spear length distance between her space and the opponent. However, after a short while changing from fencing to close combat fighting. Scarlett quickly swept the ground with her spear and quickly drew it back for a stab. However, Bernard’s reaction timing was fast. He quickly hopped over the swipe and gently placed his wooden sword on Scarlett’s neck before she could retract her spear.

“Defensive fighting technique is good, focus on some offensive as you will be expected to kill. Your defensive technique will prepare you against bandits in a one vs one fight. However, in a squad, you will fail if you do not subdue your enemies quickly. Overall, passed, Individual combat score Scarlett. May your experience as an adventurer improve your techniques as a spear master.” Scarlett thanked Bernard.

Wilmot’s technique with the shield and sword went splendidly having performed his capability to handle tough hits and showed his strength and potential in slaying his opponents.

“Hmm, defensive and offensive were great. You will perform well against humanoid creatures and will serve as a good frontline. Although, I was not able to get by your techniques with a simple sword. Do understand that magical abilities will come into play as you advance forward with your adventuring careers. I would suggest that you learn how to fend against magical capabilities soon to further cement your livelihood. Also, another word of advice is that you should always keep in mind about your backline allies, if they were to fall against the enemies there are chances that the defenses would fall. Anyways, Pass, Individual Combat sore Wilmot”.

Next came Randall’s turn. “As you are a mage with fire magic, I would have you test your magic on the targets. One is enough as I understand the limitation of a mage’s magical abilities. Also, you will be sparing with me, the same as Linzet had.”

Randall’s ability with flame magic was … there. Having missed the target by a couple feet and his ability to fight with the dagger was abysmal. As he weakly grasped his dagger and immediately was stabbed with Bernard’s wooden sword once he parried Randall’s attempt to defend himself.

“Failure, Individual combat ability is a failed attempt. Unfortunately, Randall, you will not be a Rank C adventurer today. Although your ability to conjure fireballs is suitable, however, you lack control and the capabilities to defend yourself. I understand as a mage, you will be physically lacking as compared with others, however, if you were to be captured you would be putting your entire party in danger. Therefore, I would suggest that you train in self-defense as well as improving your mana control.” Explained Bernard.

Randall simply gritted his teeth, his fist curled, veins appeared on his forehead. Eventually, as if he was a balloon. He gave a large sigh as his fist relaxed and his head stayed down. “ . . . Very well . . .” Randall walked away after giving a sad downtrodden reply.

After giving a moment of silence, Bernard looked at Ben.

“Alright, it’s your turn. Show me what you got.” Bernard smiled

(I suppose I should…)

Ben assumed a boxing pose, arms lifted up ready to guard against attacks.

Scarlett: No weapons? Just fist? What is your sword for?

She pointed at my sword dangling from my belt.

(Ahh…. I completely forgot I had a sword… I’ve been using so many pebbles as a weapon that I completely neglected my sword.)

“Well… even if you do use aura to help resist blades it’s still suggested that you get some arm guards.” Bernard listed

After twirling his sword and getting ready, Bernard immediately dashed towards me. His swings were going to hit hard, so I immediately backed up, bringing down my arms to have a better view of the situation.

As Bernard drew closer to me, I immediately unleashed my red aura. Flames lit my hands, as Bernard’s sword swung towards it, yet once the red aura hit his steady gaze faltered during his mid-swing. I immediately capitalized on that and started to quickly enter his circle of influence, yet his fazed face immediately recovered and strengthened his swing on me.

Blocking the sword blow, I tried to counterattack with my other fist to land a shot on his stomach. Bernard caught my fist in mid-air with his glove, his eyes winked.

“Aura burns only affect non-aura combat, don’t always rely on the intensity of your aura since there are many opportunities for you to face other aura fighters.”

Giving me a short lesson, Bernard drew back his sword, grinding on my bracers. Quick and clean, Bernard did a roundhouse kick as he drew back. Dodging the blow, I ignited my aura once more giving a burst of flare, and immediately sped up and pounced on him.

Bernard didn’t expect the pounce and shifted to protect his body. Both Ben and Bernard’s body collided against each other, only for Bernard to kick him off and flipped up back to standing. While Ben immediately recovered as well, gripping his fist and doing a readjustment to his fist by aggressively pulling back his arm and assuming a stance.

Bernard smiled and finally ignited his aura, it was the color of green.

“As I’ve said you will meet many other aura wielders.”

Ben felt danger coming from Bernard and shifted to a defensive stance, all the while staring at Bernard’s reaction. Bernard walked forward for one step and had seemed to disappear in front of Ben. Feeling lost, Ben started looking around him, Green auras floated around the practice field, consuming his red aura. The green auras seemingly amassed quickly behind him, yet Ben’s speed was too slow to react as he turned towards the back, only to receive a kick in the stomach and fall to the ground.

“Match Over,” Bernard said. He lifted up his hand and offered to help Ben up.

Taking the hand, Ben stood back up and saw Bernard’s smile.

Bernard: “Passed, Individual Combat Score, Ben. . . always expect there to be aura users. Due to the idea that most aura users will always try and conceal their aura unless they need to show their hands. In my case, I only needed to use a little bit of aura to possess the ability for faster travel. I contain the power of wind magic, allowing me to have greater speed without the consequences of releasing my aura color to the opponent. However, I’m surprised that you managed to figure out that I would come from behind.”

Bernard: Anyways, everyone who has passed the individual combat score will be going on a small adventure with me towards a goblin cave. We already scouted the cave and the structure of the cave is small. The number of goblins is only 1 dozen. Plan out your tactics and form your party composition. Since we do not have a mage or wizard we will not be resting. Unless… you guys need to?

Everyone shook their heads.

Bernard: “Alright, so be it.”

We were immediately led towards the goblin cave entrance.