In the bustling dining hall, conversations echoed among the students.

"Hey, have you mastered the rank 02 spells?"

"No, the rank 01 spells are already challenging enough. Mastering a rank 02 spell in just one week seems impossible."

"Sigh!"

"So, who do you think will pass this test?"

"Undoubtedly, it will be Darell and his group."

Such discussions were occurring in the entire dining hall.

Every student was nervous and scared since the much-anticipated test had finally arrived.

Also, every student was required to participate in the test.

Since the majority of the students found the test difficult, they turned to others for help.

Many students sought help from their immediate seniors - the second-year students.

They visited their dorms at night.

They wanted their help and maybe... gain a little favor.

When they requested their seniors, they were surprised.

Because the second-years agreed to help them quickly.

They had expected that it would be difficult to ask for their help but they were 'generous' enough to agree without demanding anything.

But, what they didn't know is that their 'generous' seniors didn't view them as normal students.

They were looking at them as lambs being brought to the slaughterhouse.

They were plotting sinister ways to trap the innocent first-years to work for them till their graduation, thus becoming their underling.

They were doing this since it was the perfect opportunity to increase their influence.

However, not all of them were similar.

Some of the wealthier first-year students with higher noble backgrounds used bullying.

They intimidated and threatened their lower nobility students or commoner students to provide them with their help.

But, not all of the first-year students were nervous or panicking.

And, these students were none other than Darell and his group, who were casually talking in the library.

A few minutes later, the librarian approached them and ordered, "The test is about to being. Go to the arena quickly!"

The group stood up from the chairs and made their way out of the library.

They walked to the arena.

A few minutes later, the grand structure of the arena appeared in front of them.

The arena was built like a coliseum.

There were numerous seats far and wide in the arena.

Beneath a majestic statue of a phoenix were the huge seats reserved for the royal family.

The arena was painted with a magnificent blend of red and dark brown.

The mix of colors exuded an aura of magnificence.

Countless prestigious tournaments had been held on the arena's grounds.

The students and the Instructors entered the arena.

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The Instructors guided the students to their designated seats.

Darell and his friends sat in their seats and looked around.

They found themselves somewhat isolated from the rest.

They didn't think much about it since the Instructors had assigned them their seats.

Soon, the Dean along with a few other Instructors entered the arena and every student straightened their posture in their seats.

When the Dean arrived on the platform, everybody rose from their seats as a sign of respect.

The Dean glanced at the students and thought, 'Very good!'

He gestured for them to sit back down and they eagerly did so.

He cleared his throat and spoke, "Good morning, everybody! I will make my speech short since I can see that all of you are eagerly waiting for the test to begin. It's nice that each one of you is ready for the test. But, I must remind you again, of the consequence in case you fail today's test. Now, don't be nervous. Take a deep breath and calm your nerves. Anyways, good luck with the test!"

The student clapped as the Dean finished his speech and walked to his seat.

He sat and gestured to the Instructors, signaling the commencement of the test.

Inside the arena,

Walter positioned a sturdy training dummy at the center, designed to endure spells up to rank 06.

Addressing the students, he explained the process, "Each student will be called upon, and they must demonstrate the required skills to pass the test."

Walter glanced at the list in his hand and shouted, "Alvin Burgess!"

Alvin rose from his seat and walked toward the center with trembling legs.

He rubbed his sweaty palms together as he thought, 'I am first? The first to be humiliated? Fuck! I am so fucked! Did I learn everything correctly? Ahhh! Why can't I remember anything?'

Walter noticed that Alvin was panicking.

So, he smiled at him and offered him a thumbs up as he silently mouthed, "You can do it! Believe in yourself!"

Walter saw Alvin take a deep breath and calm himself down somewhat and he thought, 'Nailed it again! Nice one, Walter! I am so proud of you! You are the best Instructor this academy has ever seen!'

He shook his head and saw Alvin readying himself.

Alvin assumed a stance and held out his hand.

A few seconds later, a small fireball materialized on the top of his hand.

Alvin hurled the fireball at the dummy.

* BOOM *

The fireball collided with the dummy and caused a small explosion.

Alvin smiled in satisfaction, thinking, 'I did it! I fucking created a rank 01 fireball! Yessssss!'

He glanced at Walter who nodded approvingly at him.

Alvin took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

A few seconds later, a fiery spear materialized in his hand.

He aimed it at the dummy and hurled it.

* BOOM *

The spear exploded when it collided with the dummy resulting in a small explosion.

Walter smiled and declared, "Alvin Burgess - Rank 01 Skill - Passed! Rank 02 Skill - Passed!"

The students and Instructors clapped for Alvin successfully passing the test.

Alvin jumped in joy and happily returned to his seat while thinking, 'Let'sss gooo! I did it! I fucking passed! I am not a failure, Mom! Tell that to my fucking uncle!'

The test continued as Walter called each student one by one.

Darell and his friends soon grew bored of the repetitive cycle of the test and tried to make themselves busy.

After a few hours, Walter shouted, "Lilith Rogers!"

The male students heard her name and immediately began cheering and applauding her.

Lilith ignored all of the cheerings and rose from her seat.

She made her way to the center of the arena where Walter stood and bowed respectfully.

Walter nodded at her and said, "Given your special condition, you have to undergo a special test different from the others."

The students looked on curiously when they heard Lilith taking a different test.

Walter said, "You have to demonstrate rank 01 and rank 02 skills for Ice, Wind, and Mist abilities."

The students immediately cheered excitedly for her and some talked among themselves.

"Wow, that's challenging."

"Do you think she can handle it?"

"Absolutely! Our Goddess Lilith will surely excel."

Lilith ignored some of the bold comments and nodded at Walter.

She turned to the dummy and raised her hand.

A luminous glow enveloped her palm.

This glow caused the surrounding wind to swirl around her hand at thrice the normal speed.

She swiped her hand down as she directed the gust of wind around it toward the dummy.

* BOOM *

The gust of wind collided with the dummy resulting in a small explosion.

Then, she activated her rank 02 Wind skill and conjured several Wind Bullets in her hand which she threw at the dummy.

She went on and demonstrated her Ice skills - Ice Shield and Ice Bullets.

Next, she demonstrated her Mist skill - Fog Of Dread and Ice Tornado.

She bowed toward Walter and walked to her seat as her male classmates cheered and applauded her in the background.

The next person to be called was Ariel, and as expected, a shower of praises and adoring compliments rained upon her.

However, Ariel sneered at the crowd, fully aware that their affection stemmed solely from her outward beauty.

She saw through their shallow intentions, as they treated her like an object to be coveted.

Stepping into the arena, Ariel respectfully bowed to Instructor Walter, who gestured for her to commence the test.

Taking a firm stance, she opened her mouth and unleashed a bone-chilling scream that sent shivers down the spines of the spectators.

The shockwaves from her skill struck the dummy, seemingly leaving it unaffected.

Then, Ariel twirled her fingers, and a small explosion erupted behind the dummy, showcasing her rank 02 skill - Sound Bullet.

Without waiting for Walter to announce the result, Ariel calmly walked out of the arena, disregarding the cheers and applause as if they were mere trash in her eyes.

She returned to her seat with an air of indifference.

Walter cleared his throat and proceeded to call Eric next.

However, this time, Eric's name was met with insults from the students, fueled by envy and jealousy, primarily due to his relationship with Ariel.

Blinded by their own desires, they failed to acknowledge the genuine bond that had developed between Ariel and Eric since their childhood.

Initially enraged by the constant hate from his peers, Eric recognized them as spineless cowards who gained newfound confidence in the presence of older students.

Nonetheless, he managed to quell his anger and entered the arena with an expressionless face.

Ordered to begin the test, Eric wasted no time and swiftly created a spike that stealthily shot toward the dummy from behind.

Following that, he erected a rock barrier before him.

Although the spike failed to pierce the dummy, it served its purpose in demonstrating Eric's passing of the test.

Respectfully bowing to Walter and the other instructors, he calmly exited the arena, undeterred by the disdainful glances and malicious whispers from his peers.

It was now Emma's turn, and the cheers and compliments for her resounded the loudest among the crowd.

Some daring students even tossed roses, flowers, and money into the arena, hoping to catch her attention.

Ariel clicked her tongue in annoyance, scoffing at the inflated egos of these individuals.

She remarked, "These fools think far too highly of themselves. Just because they are underlings of a second-year, they believe they stand a chance."

Lilith's expression twisted with disgust as she added, "Toads lusting after a swan! If any one of them dares to make a move, I'll personally ensure their death!."

Darell remained calm, fully aware that none of the students would dare to harm Emma.

He knew that her parents had stationed spies within the academy, disguised as students, to watch over her discreetly.

Closing his eyes, Darell reclined in his seat.

Stepping into the arena, Emma caught Walter's attention, and he promptly instructed her to begin her test.

With a flash of blinding light, she activated her skill, enveloping her body in its radiant glow.

Deactivating her initial skill, she seamlessly transitioned into another.

Opening her mouth, a powerful white beam shot forth, her eyes glowing, and her hair billowing in the air.

After deactivating her skill, she stood for a few moments, bowing respectfully to the instructors.

Walter glanced at the last name in the list.

He smiled and shouted, "Darell Rogers!"