1 hour later...
As the sun began to set, the world was painted in a breathtaking array of colors. The sky was a canvas of oranges and mauves, with the last rays of sunshine casting a warm, golden light over the landscape. Against this stunning backdrop, a flock of crows screeched their way southward, guiding the cadets back to the center field amidst the forest. One by one, the cadets assembled in the field, dragging their hunting monsters with ropes and chains, and presenting them to the Ravenguards in the Monster Holding Area. The monsters were a diverse lot, ranging from tiny goblins to towering trolls, and more imposing creatures like kobolds and direwolves. Each one had been caught, subdued, or even killed by the cadets. Excited chatter filled the air as the cadets shared stories of their experiences in the hunt. Some boasted about their impressive catches, while others admitted to struggling with the task. Regardless of their success, all the cadets felt a sense of pride in what they had accomplished. As more cadets arrived, so did the corpses of Baboons, Gnolls, Satyrs, and Harpies, among the smaller monsters. The larger ones remained in question until several strong cadets arrived, proudly revealing their grandiose catches.
“By the heroes of Ysgard! Get your arses out of my way!" bellowed a man from afar.
The cadets turned their attention to the man and allowed him to pass. Zain Wulmar, shirtless and with his head and hands wrapped in cloth due to injuries, had managed to defeat the Manticore with his flail. It's a fearsome mythical creature with the body of a lion, a pair of wings, and a tail that ends in a cluster of deadly spikes. Its face is somewhat human-like, with sharp teeth and a pair of menacing eyes.
The curves of Zain’s muscles glistened in the sunlight, adding to his already impressive display of strength and masculinity like a champion bodybuilder. There had been previous reports of the exciting one-on-one battle between Zain and the monstrous creature, but now the cadets witnessed it with their own eyes, causing them to be even more amazed and gain a newfound respect for the Viking. Defeating a tier-A monster was an arduous task to accomplish alone, and even senior assassins found it challenging.
Zain's pride flared up once again as he dragged a Manticore behind him, strutting in front of the other cadets like a passing Jarl. He shouted and patted his chest, declaring, "I AM THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN ALIVE! HO, SURPRISE! THERE'S A NEW KING IN THIS GENERATION! SEE YE AT THE TOP!!!" as if possessed by a Jinn after being drunk with Spiritus Nuka all night.
Far behind Zain, Sazank Karanzo was panting with sweat drops of struggle as he dragged his hunting monster - a Chimera corpse that was so large and terrifying. The cadets near him felt inferior at the thought of the small monsters they had compared to Karanzo’s Chimera. However, this was Karanzo's greatest regret, as a ninja cadet who wasn't accustomed to heavy lifting. Pulling this bus-sized monster was the first real test of his physical abilities. Although he longed to release his grip for a moment's respite, his pride kept him going to avoid being judged by his peers.
As sweat continued to pour down Karanzo's body, he couldn't help but wish for the Ravenguards to come and assist him with his hunt, as they did for the privileged female cadets. But as the academy's number one would-be assassin, expecting anyone to help was the same as a dependency, a mindset that he rejected the most. Despite being halfway through enduring the embarrassment, Karanzo reset his mind and focused on completing the task at hand.
Unlike the other struggling cadets, Karanzo fought the Chimera well without injury, but he executed it poorly. If only he had a time machine to go back, he would have turned this Chimera into a skeleton beforehand. Karanzo promised himself that this would be the last time he attempted to catch a creature this big, as it made his back feel like it was on the verge of breaking.
Meanwhile, another cadet was impressing the crowd by dragging a Griffin, a legendary creature with the head, talons, and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. The Griffin has a large and powerful body covered in feathers that range in color from white to brown to black. Thanistor Groh, the knight whose armor on his right arm had shattered, had managed to defeat a Tier A monster with his lance piercing through its body. Thani had proved to everyone that he wasn't just intelligent in his cultivation technique, but he was also built like a tank with exceptional physical strength, cementing his place as one of the top cadets of his generation.
Thani, who had initially thought the first test was a joke, felt disappointed that he had exerted all of his physical strength. He realized that many cadets may have exceeded him in terms of luck, but it was well-known that his cultivation level was the best among all the cadets. Ironically, he felt lucky since most of the cadets from the Yuelan Region, especially Han Luoyi and Xia Zan, had been eliminated in the previous test. Now, the knight eagerly awaited the spiritual exam, where his skills shone the most and where cultivation techniques played a significant role.
As Thani dragged his hunt, he glanced at Zain and Karanzo. He knew that they would be his toughest competition to secure the number one rank in the academy. They couldn't be judged lightly through this pure raw strength test that could hardly be measured. While observing their hunting monsters, they seemed to be still hiding something up their sleeves, something new that Thani himself had never seen. Thani's thoughts were interrupted by the screams of cadets not far from their location.
A cadet in the crowd pointed out at the western forest and exclaimed, "Everyone, watch out! There's something big in there! Move, move now!" causing everyone to glance at the source of the voice. The girls near the area began to panic and scream, adding to the chaos.
The stench of a giant carcass stung in all directions, and the cadets stood in disbelief at the sight before them. "How did he do it?! That man...!?"
Zain, Karanzo, and Thanistor turned back, sharing the same reaction as everyone else. They saw a massive shadow emerge from the western forest and watched in awe as someone dragged the largest monster on the island. The cadets were left speechless and overwhelmed, giving way to the man as he approached the Instructor and Ravenguards. They were unable to comprehend how he had killed the monster in such a gruesome manner.
A black silhouette of a man dragging the Cyclops across the field with an extraordinary technique captivated the attention of all the cadets. The man's figure was tall and skinny, yet he moved with measured steps—he leaped and pulled with all his might—his strong arms tightly clutching the chains and stretching them forward. The Cyclops had a battered head filled with lumps, its big red-veined eyeball dangling out, and its tongue protruding. Almost all of its front teeth were gone, and countless sword scratches crisscrossed its body as if it had been slashed by thousands of soldiers, peeling its skin and muscles, and revealing only blood and bones.
"By the seven heavens of Valhalla!" Zain shouted, his eyes bulging. It was no surprise that the competition to be number one would only get tougher as long as the mad cadet was still alive. Thanks to Fenrius, Zain had already thrown out the word "impossible" from his dictionary when he imagined a cadet capable of escaping the encirclement of hundreds of Bloodguards and burning Manseto Prison. Anyone who could do that would surely be able to defeat a giant monster with ease.
However, on the other hand, Zain felt challenged. He couldn't wait for the final result of the Instructor exam, where he and Fenrius would fight one on one. Zain hoped their battle would become a song about the most historic and legendary death battle in Malazen, that's all that was on his mind right now.
Karanzo was left dumbfounded as he realized he wasn't the only one who had defeated the biggest monster among them. What he saw in front of him was on a completely different level. Judging from the monster's wounds, the mad cadet was carrying a giant carcass that only had a few bones left on its body, having thrown away its heavy flesh for easy dragging. Fenrius had executed everything perfectly, just as Karanzo had imagined. Karanzo gave the man respect as if he had lost in both aspects - brain intelligence and the size of the hunting monster.
Thanistor felt his mouth go dry, so he cleared his throat. He thought to himself, ("That person... I almost forgot about his existence. That means there's still someone else as crazy as him vying for the number one spot!") He hissed through his teeth.
The cadets who had praised Hjalmar like a king immediately left him alone as they wanted to see what the biggest monster in the field looked like. Hjalmar felt ashamed and unable to accept the fact that he had lost to that mad cadet, even though he had sacrificed his prized Runic sword to get this Big Foot's corpse. However, he wasn't surprised anymore since this exam focused on physical abilities. He doubted whether the mad cadet would be able to make people gasp like that at the next spiritual exam.
Blood covered Fenrius's face and clothes, but they knew it was not his own blood. His face remained calm and showed no difficulty at all as he dragged the giant corpse, his aura reminding them that every head must bow and every tongue must confess. The female cadets whispered in blushes to their friends about the man secretly, and the male cadets gaped at what he had done. No one could deny it. Fenrius didn't care what they did as long as they didn't interfere with his path in the face of death. During his ten years at the academy, the man had never been arrogant or boastful about simple things like this. He was indifferent to people's ridicule and cheers—straight to his business: 'Go in, go out'.
Lucius emerged from behind the trees, dragging a burnt Cockatrice, another legendary creature with the body of a chicken, the head of a rooster, and a pair of leathery wings. Its feathers were a mix of vibrant colors, including shades of blue, green, and red. Its eyes were bright, glowing yellow, and it had a long, serpentine tail that ended in a sharp, pointed tip. The Cockatrice was known for its deadly gaze, which could turn its prey to stone with a single glance.
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Lucius surveyed the field. "Fenrius, did you really use up all your energy on this mere test of skill? You still behave like a child seeking attention!" he sneered, clearly not happy.
Meanwhile, Aleister lounged against a tree trunk, his snicker was sly and mischievous, like that of a fox plotting its next move. He blew smoke rings from his cigar as he surveyed the scene. A slain wild boar lay beneath him, its two tusks embedded in the tree, ensnared by Aleister's clever ruse. He was one of the cadets disappointed by Fenrius' results, not out of jealousy, but for having missed out on witnessing the brutal killing process. Rumors circulated that the mad cadet possessed inhuman powers, but the question remained: how did he do it? If only he could get Fenrius to talk, but that was an impossible feat.
Aleister wanted to follow Fenrius unnoticed, but the last time he tried, Fenrius had stood still for hours or run marathons for days. Aleister hated being so obvious and loved stalking like a professional assassin. If the situation was desperate or something went wrong, he might have to use disappearance magic. However, all of that would fail without a well-thought-out plan. Maybe next time, he'll keep his eyes on the mad cadet during the spiritual test later.
As the Ravenguards took care of the cadets' hunt, Instructor Hyoh watched from a distance, amazed. He couldn't help but think, ("This does look strange...the last time I saw Fenrius, he didn't use any weapons. There are many scratches on the Cyclops' body. Could it be that he left for the last hunt to use the weapons of the fallen cadets? There's no mistaking it, he must be the mad cadet from the wanted poster. If he slaughtered the Cyclops with perfect brute force, then that person's violence was far more savage than an A-level monster!")
***
As dusk approached, the cadets waited anxiously for the phase one exam to come to a close. All of them had turned in their monster hunts to the Ravenguards, who had collected various grades of monsters from C to A and placed them in the Monster Holding Area behind the Tartaros monument. The area was lined with ropes tied to stakes, serving as guardrails. Later on, the monsters would be taken to the lab via ship to be used for experiments involving serums or medicine. Hyoh, who had been managing the area, was surprised that this generation of cadets had managed to hunt down such a large number of monsters that filled half the field. Several A-class giant monsters, especially Cyclops, could be seen in the background. The cadets now lined up neatly before the instructor for the next briefing.
Instructor Hyoh posed the question, "The exams will be over soon... Are these the only cadets who managed to survive my first exam?"
The cadets remained silent, exhibiting no enthusiasm and sporting flat expressions and blank stares. While some had not made it through, they comprehended that death was an inevitable part of life on this continent. The monsters they had captured posed a genuine threat to the world beyond. Furthermore, what was the use of congratulating those who had passed the first test if they failed the next one? If this were the ultimate test that would take them to the outer continent, maybe they would radiate passion and glory and do away with their dismal countenances on Malazen.
Hyoh had received a report from the Ravenguards who had already checked the monsters. He was now ready to give his assessment along with the name of the cadet who had earned the right to pass the exam without taking the next one. Upon seeing the report in his hand, Hyoh chuckled slightly, but he admitted to himself that there was a loophole in giving his bonus conditions to a cadet. What if two cadets had caught the same highest-ranked monster? Hyoh still couldn't answer this question, and it had happened before. Nonetheless, some of the cadets' names caught his attention in the report. If there were any ties for the highest scores, perhaps he would prefer to split his bonuses for the sake of fairness. The nervous cadets were curious and couldn't read Hyoh's expression under his helmet as he kept fixating on the exam results. This was the moment of truth!
Amidst the silence, a female cadet arrived late to the center field, limping toward Instructor Hyoh. Her left arm was already bandaged, and her feet were still covered in blood. As she ran, drops of blood fell onto the ground, leaving a trail that caught everyone's attention.
"I'm sorry, Instructor. I could barely move after the fight," Yuria gasped for air.
Initially, Instructor Hyoh felt sympathetic toward Yuria when he noticed her weakened state. However, his gaze quickly turned sharp as he questioned her, "Did you run away from the monster, or did you manage to kill it without reporting back to me?"
Yuria then took a black rabbit out of the sack on her waist and handed it to Instructor Hyoh. "This is...the monster I hunted," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yuria's action of handing the small black rabbit to Hyoh shocked everyone, and they began to ridicule her for being injured and only capable of hunting a small herbivore. They questioned her status as a top cadet, failing to understand what was going through Yuria's mind as the rabbit still breathed.
"Is she joking? Even one goblin is worth more than that!" one of the cadets exclaimed.
"Perhaps she no longer wishes to be a Dawnstrike Assassin," another cadet jeered.
Yuria, a female cadet who had endured the rigorous Flask of Nightmare, found herself in an extremely disappointing situation. The male cadets laughed at her, but Fenrius remained stoic at the front of the line. When Yuria glanced at him, their eyes met briefly before she looked away in shame. People, including Fenrius, knew that Yuria rarely smiled and always wore an unhappy face, much like other troubled cadets trapped in the past. This wasn't the first time she had felt this way; she had smashed the mirror in her room several times over trivial matters. Now, her face was even gloomier than usual, her hands clenched tightly. The feeling of irritation toward herself had reached a point where she hated looking at herself. Yuria felt like a beautiful gem that had lost its luster and been thrown into the sand.
Hyoh, who held the black rabbit, asked, "Why not kill it?"
Yuria knew the rabbit had already been exposed to a lot of poison but responded simply, "I don't want to kill a dying animal."
"I see," replied Hyoh, placing the black rabbit into the Monster Holding Area. He then discussed the matter with the Ravenguards before returning to read the test results aloud to all the cadets. They were attentive, especially Zain, who arrogantly positioned his ear toward the instructor, knowing his name would be mentioned loudly.
"Everyone! Here are the results of your hunting rankings!" the instructor announced. "Zain with an A-rank Manticore, Karanzo with an A-rank Chimera, Hjalmar with an A-rank Big Foot, Thanistor with an A-rank Griffin, Fenrius with an A-rank Cyclops, Lucius with an A-rank Cockatrice, and the winner is... Yuria, with an S-rank Black Rabbit!"
The instructor's statement gave the cadets goosebumps and piqued their curiosity about the Black Rabbit's identity and true abilities. Many cadets were skeptical of the idea that a small rabbit could be more dangerous than their own prey, and egotistical cadets like Zain protested to their colleagues, questioning the logic of the test and insisting that he should have been the champion. Karanzo looked frantic, his face darting back and forth as if he did not understand if this was really a prank or not, while Fenrius maintained his calm demeanor, accepting his defeat in submission.
Aleister clapped his hands alone, attempting to end the pointless debate on a positive note. His applause was met with collective applause that silenced the protests of the still-heated cadets. Zain himself did not know why he was also applauding, but he ultimately gave up, even though he felt the outcome was unfair considering his efforts. His mind couldn't comprehend a rabbit being more dangerous than a damned Manticore! Zain and his Viking friends made a promise that if anyone ever brought up this result in the future, they would treat it as a 'rigged test'.
Thanks to Yuria's inspiring performance, all the female cadets were motivated to become even stronger, striving to surpass even the strongest male cadets in physical tests. However, Yuria herself remained surprised and puzzled by the fact that the black rabbit she defeated was worth more points than what strong men like Zain and Fenrius had accomplished, especially considering the huge size of the Cyclops that almost filled half of the Monster Holding Area. The sight of the Cyclops gave her goosebumps.
Hyoh then explained to everyone the true purpose of the physical exam: "This exam doesn't teach us that the bigger the monster, the rarer it is. Sometimes, smaller monsters can pose a much greater threat due to their intelligence, speed, and deadly attacks. While rank A monsters can be defeated with technique, strategy, or brute force, the Black Rabbit is on a completely different level and requires a different approach."
Thanistor raised his hand to object, "Wait, Instructor! In the monster book, I only remember the Moon Rabbit. Can you explain to me why there is no Black Rabbit? Where does this monster come from, and what are its strengths and weaknesses?"
"Cadet number two hundred and twenty-nine, it's not in the books. That's what I meant by a rank S monster," Hyoh replied. "This monster is so rare and unknown that few people have ever encountered it. Regarding its strength, you can ask your comrade during the dinner break," he pointed at Yuria.
As the sun began to set, Hyoh granted the cadets three hours of rest before the commencement of the second exam. Although it was called the Spiritual Exam, he kept reminding them that it would still integrate three aspects of holistic training: physical, mental, and spiritual, with a particular focus on the latter. He suggested that they utilize this time to meditate and cultivate together.
While listening to the instructor's explanation, the cadets realized that this exam was designed to ignite their determination, and they hoped that the next exam would follow rules of cooperation, similar to Manseto's rules in prison, to avoid conflicts that could potentially result in only one survivor or none at all. However, some cadets who saw this exam as a diversion still concealed their full potential for the next exam.
Apart from Thanistor, who had high spiritual abilities, there were still mysterious cadets who remained unseen by the others, waiting with anticipation beneath their cloaks. One pale-skinned hooded cadet was licking his sword while stifling laughter. Not far behind him was a dark-skinned monk holding his wand, and at the far left of the row was a hooded girl carrying a scythe. These individuals were keeping their strength and abilities hidden, unwilling to reveal their secrets yet.
After the break, Hyoh would provide further details on the spiritual exam, but for now, he concluded the session by saying, "I hope you don't get carried away just because of this physical exam. Remember, your physical body has limits in the mundane world, but in spirituality, you can go beyond those limits. If you have any other questions, you can ask the Ravenguards to meet me at the Monster Holding Area. For now, you can hunt for dinner together and chat with your comrades. Let's consider this your last night. Everyone, disband!" The instructor then walked toward the Monster Holding Area to check on the monsters one last time before the Ravenguards transport them to the academy.