It has already been ten minutes since we start following him. More than half of the mages were already left behind and half of what is left is on the verge of collapsing.

From the beginning, Cujo's sudden acceleration was surprising but it was not impossible to chase at. His speed remains constant for the first few minutes. Everyone was still able to keep up with him. Only when the first mage collapses did Cujo increase his speed. It was then followed by many more.

The first group of fire mages that collapses hasn't got any chance to use their magic for the test. Their downfall was because they were physically weak in the first place. Running for a few minutes was already a challenge for these kinds of mages.

When a fourth of the mages from the beginning has stopped chasing and Cujo speed was still increasing, the remaining fire mages have begun using magic.

Many of them used [Kindle Spirit] to increase their speed. It was a spell that boils the blood of the user to enhance his or her physical abilities for a certain amount of time base on the mana of the user. You will know when this is active because it would turn their skin into bright red. When it is done, the user is left with extreme muscle cramps depending on the intensity of the spell. The effectiveness will still depend on the mage's strength and the aftereffect maybe lessen or removed if they comprehend the spell well.

Unfortunately, since [Kindle Spirit] is an Apprentice rank spell, many weren't able to last long especially when Cujo doesn't have any plan of stopping anytime soon.

Now at the ten-minute mark, the people who are left either have a high mana capacity, good physical capabilities, or other magic for a situation like this.

An example of a mage using magic I never saw or heard of before was the person who is currently leading. Ever since the beginning, he was using the flames as boosters for his feet. Whenever he steps, a flaming footprint is left behind while he is propelled at a faster speed.

Meanwhile, the next person who was ahead was a woman who has [Kindle Spirit] activated the whole time. I recognized her emblem as one of the members of the Oda clan. Among everyone who was running, she was the least tired looking. Her mana seems to be better than most participants for this test.

Besides the two of them, there were a couple more people who were in front of me. I was one of the people at the back and farthest from Cujo. From my point of view, his silhouette was barely visible.

It's not like I was having a hard time keeping up. I'm just don't want to exert too much effort since I'm the only one left who was using raw stamina. It would be dangerous if I became too tired and there would be another test after this.

The same couldn't be said the person next to me. He looks like he was already at his limit and was barely keeping up with willpower alone. But somehow, he keeps talking with me.

"You're really amazing. I never knew someone would last this long without using magic."

His words were a compliment but it sounded like sarcasm because he was having a hard time talking.

Subaru introduces himself a while ago when the test was only at the beginning phase. Since then, he keeps on asking questions or sharing stories that I barely care about.

"This damn dog! How long will he keep running? We're already almost outside of the city. I even never knew that Mir has a place like this."

"..."

"Those people in the front are truly something. I can't believe Rika-sama from the Oda clan would participate this year. I heard she is already a prodigy at the age of 18 and her clan is in full support in developing her."

"..."

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"She is also one of the beauties in this test. Damn! If only can run faster, I could have a better view of her ass."

"?!?!"

That statement of his caught me off guard. I never expect this pervert would openly share his thoughts.

I slightly increase the speed of my running to get away from him. I don't want to be involved with him any further.

However, to my surprise, Subaru was still able to keep up with me even though it looks like he can't. I tried to run faster but the result was still the same.

Although I stopped increasing my speed any further because we're almost at the leading pack. I don't want to take over those in front because it would create more trouble than benefits.

Subaru was still sticking behind me even after all of that. For some reason, I am the one he keeps on bothering. I'm getting a bit annoyed so I ask him his purpose.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, you finally talked. I thought you were mute for a second."

"Why are you sticking with me?"

"Nothing in particular. I just found you the most interesting one."

"How about those people in front. I believe you have the ability to do so." I gestured to those people who were leading groups especially the woman he seems interested in.

"Nah, with their attitude, it would be difficult to talk to them. And if I attempt to get any closer to Rika-sama, I'm afraid I would be blasted by her magic."

"I couldn't agree more"

With his perverted nature, it wouldn't be surprising if he died doing so.

"I don't know your name yet so..."

"Silva"

"Silva-san, why did you choose this group?"

Before I was able to comprehend what he just said, Cujo has finally stopped on his tracks.

The place we have arrived was nothing like the populated places that we passed through. It was an empty desert that was unusual to be inside a city.

My first step on the sand, a wave of heat hit my whole body. I tried going back to see if I was tripping because of the sudden change. True to fact, a step backward has returned the temperature to how it should be normally. There was a clear difference between the other side of the spectrum.

The only explanation of why this was happening was magic. That was my best guess since Cujo doesn't care to explain this place at all.

We waited for the remaining mages who were able to keep up. From two hundred or so mages, the number of those who were left doesn't even reach twenty.

When it looks like everyone was finally here, Cujo who was back on his two feet examines the people who remain.

"More people than I expected woof~"

His face turned serious and he walked towards the two people who were the last ones to arrive.

"Both of you are out."

"Why?!?!" The mages who Cujo pointed at exclaimed.

"I said no magic beside fire for today. You think I won't notice your use of wind magic woof~"

Both mages were guilty when Cujo directly told them that they were cheating.

"Your test is unreasonable in the first place! How can we make this far with only fire magic! This doesn't evaluate us fire mages properly! I bet those people also use other elements to pass."

One of the guilty mages began protesting. He loses any type of courtesy when talking to the evaluator for this test. He even pointed us trying to shift some of the blame.

Cujo didn't have any of it and slapped the noisy mage using one of his paws. They flew quite far with that one slap. This dog has unbelievable strength within his furry body.

"That's why people like you aren't deserving of the position of Asmodai scholars. You can always buy your way in through our school but I doubt we will care about you woof~"

The babbling mage was unconscious after that hit. The other mage who was planning to complain turned silent and just went away. That taught everyone here that Cujo easy someone to mess around with.

I also learned the reason why there were a lot of mages attempting this test even when they could enroll in Asmodai using a huge amount of money.

I'm joining this test because there was no way I could afford the other way. Not knowing that this selection test is more than just enrolling in Asmodai. It seems being selected has more importance than I expected.

'Yukio or Bosu never told me that this test was quite special. Well, not like it would change anything.'

Cujo who was done with his business took one last glance over us before resuming on his way. This time rather than running, Cujo was walking at a slow pace.

We followed him automatically even without instructions. The next test will probably be done somewhere nearby.

...

Forget the nearby, we have been walking longer than we have been running in what I considered the first test.

The heat of the sun was being amplified by the scoring sand and wind that hit every single part of my body. If I wasn't a demon who is more capable of handling harsher environment condition than a normal Humas, I would probably be the same as Subaru here.

"Haaaaa~ Waaater~"

He looks like he will collapse any soon. Although, the same could be said earlier so I don't know if he's acting or not.

"Silva-san, help me. Carry me on your back even only for a few minutes."

"No."

"Please~"

"How about you save your energy by not talking"

"Heeeeelp~"

I'm afraid Subaru will become crazy granted that this will continue. It's not only Subaru but many of the remaining mages were having a hard time. The only people who were remaining calm beside me were Rika and the fire foot guy.

What seems to be a never-ending empty desert, a large pillar came within our vision.

Finally, Cujo decided to stop directly under the ominous pillar. There were letters engraved in parts of it but I don't recognize any of it. It doesn't look like it belongs to the written language that I know of in this world.

I tried asking Subaru if he can understand what was written and all he said that only the strongest mage could comprehend what was written.

Cujo who is the strongest within this group was capable of reading what was engraved since something happened when he finished whatever he was murmuring.

"This would be the final part of today. If you can leave here alive, then I will welcome you as a scholar of Asmodai woof~"

As soon as he said that, black flames spurt out the ground and surrounded us. The only portion that wasn't covered by the mysterious black flames was the place we're standing at.

This situation seems to be more out of the ordinary since the two mages who were calm the whole time were also in fear when they saw the black flames.

Cujo doesn't care about our reactions and continued the instruction.

"As fire mages, you might recognize these flames before you. The only fire that could never be extinguished in this world, the Nirvana Flame...

So for your final test, the person who could escape this hellfire would be considered success woof~"