CHAPTER 23: EXAM GROUNDS

Candidates stepped forward one by one showcasing their talent potentials. For each high ranking individual, murmurs of admiration filled the air as each noble born student impressed the crowd.

When it was my turn, I stepped forward, calm but resolute.

The stone didn’t glow for a few seconds, then it flashed a steady blue colour marking me as above average, but nowhere near the brilliance of the nobility.

Some spectators gave me a dismissive look, while others barely noticed me.

I wasn’t discouraged, unlike others, I have the impossible ability of evolving and getting stronger. a month ago if I were to take this exact same test, I would have materialized a black colour. I knew my worth wasn’t reflecting in the intensity of a glow but in my resilience and ability to evolve and adapt.

Next came the physical test, where each candidate’s current physical strength were tested by allowing them to punch an arcane infused target with everything they had. This target would measure just how much of a distructive power they possessed. Although some talents like Healers were exempted from this exercise, their were still a lot of individuals that exceeded expectation.

My perfomance was decent but were ultimately overshadowed by those of the noble born candidates, many of whom had been nurtured with resources that allowed them to train extensively.

"I’ll surely make up for it in the combat test." I thought, reassuring myself as I took a deep breath.

Combat strategy was always my strong suit, honed through my training with my arcane pets and missions with the Border Cleanup Group.

For the combat test, each candidate were assigned a shadow creature to fight, the difficulty was based on the colour we materialized during the first test.

I faced a low-level Cabbak Jaw, it was a hyena-type creature that was fast, vicious and agile.

However, my combat experience allowed me to anticipate its moves.

With precise strikes and careful maneuvers, I defeated it in record time. The crowd barely reacted, because my tactics weren’t flashy and destructive like the ones of higher talent potential candidates.

Fighting this Shadow creature got me to a milestone, the system popped up letting me know that I had now reached a whopping level 30.

~Congratulaions on reaching level 30~

~Bonus Reward~

~New Skill Unlocked: Space Manipulation~

~Stat Points: 10~

~You’re Arcane Reserves has been increased~

~500/2000~

A bigger Arcane reserve and a new skill, if only I could retake the first test to see how high my talent potential would be.

I was resting from my battle, relaxing in a corner as I watched a candidate go head to head with a mid-level boss that was assigned to him to battle. For some reason the creature seemed to be way more stronger than the candidate and for a moment, it looked like the candidate had the Shadow creature under control.

That was until the creature sent the boy flying into a distant wall and roared with killing intent radiating from its body. The Shadow creature seemed to have increased in difficulty which I found extremely confusing.

The sudden event threw the exam ground into chaos. Other candidates who were still struggling with their assigned Shadow creatures, stared in horror.

Fear rippled through the crowd as the beast roared, shaking the very ground beneath its feet.

The examiners began to evacuate the students to get out of harms way to avoid getting them hurt, some of the candidates were noble born and their parents wouldn’t to be too happy to learn that something happened to their beloved child.

But I stood firm, my gaze steely at the bear-type Shadow creature. I quickly assessed the boss’s strength and knew it would be impossible to take down without reinforcing my stats.

I open my stat window on the system, knowing that I had unallocated points to spare, I quickly made the necessary adjustments.

~Strength: 48~

~Agility: 41~

~Endurance:49~

~Intelligence: 53~

~Memory: 48~

~Arcane Reserve: 500/2000~

With my new enhanced stats, I knew this was a great chance to test out the new skill the system gave me.

I walked steadly out of the corner I was resting, then standing a few meters away from the creature thrashing and roaring with reckless abandon.

"Skill..."

"Space Manipulation..."

The air around me shimmered like it was broken glass as a rift opened right in the middle of space, I was initially puzzled but I knew this was something I would get used to.

Ding!

~Active skill: Space Manipulation~

I dipped a hand into the glass like rift and it sought of disappeared, I narrowed my eyes as I pulled out Cobra’s tongue with a smile tugging at my lips.

"...interesting."

Then, I stepped into the aperture, allowing myself to slip between space and evade the boss’s massive attack.

The rifts amplified my speed, enabling me to launch quick, precise strikes that caught the beast off guard.

The bear-like boss quickly got enraged by my evasiveness and swung its massive claws with fury, but I was always one step ahead, darting in and out of the spacial rifts.

As the fight progressed, I began analyzing the creature’s weak spots, with my Divine Thread skill, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

With a final, calculated move, I combined several elaborate moves to cut and slash specific areas of the bears body to compromise its stabilty. And when it fell to its knees, I swooped down with a perfect strike that beheaded the creature.

Shadowy mist erupted everywhere as the creature dissipated into nothingness, just as I landed I caught the Anti-arcane stone in my hand and stuffed it away before anyone could notice. I figured I would need to use it in the future to see if I could Reborn this boss as a new pet of mine.

I glanced at the stone, and the system as if reading my thoughts popped up instantly.

~Ding!

~Rebirth is not possible for this boss Shadow creature creature~

I raised both eyebrows in shock, I wasn’t able to reborn this creature as a pet? I was really looking forwad to having a bear-type pet and to see what powers it would grant that would ultimately make me even stronger.

"...Why is that? I was really looking forward to having this pet"

~Current level only always for three Arcane pets, you have to level up more to be able to Reborn more pets~

Ding!

~Reward for defeating the boss monster: 5000 Experience points~

~Skill Progression, Skill Space Manipulation has been leveled up!~

~New skill unlocked: Inventory!

~Description: This skill allows the user to store physical objects in a spacial rift dimension that is an extension of a permanent effect of the skill Space Manipulation~

~Caution: You cannot store anything that weighs more than you in this rift~

Even though I wasn’t able to get a new pet, the rewards I got from killing this creature was very much a good compensation.

It was after I finished with my system that I noticed that the crowd around me watched in stunned silence. The boy they had dismissed as unremarkable just defeated a boss before their very eyes without any help, and they haven’t even seen half of what I am capable of.

Even the S-Class candidates watched with a newfound respect. I had proven myself in a way none of them expected. I took in a deep breath, feeling the weight of the victory settle in.

My body ached and my mind was exhausted, but a sense of pride filled my heart and I could barely fell it. The Space Manipulation skill was upgraded to give me the ability to have an inventory that allowed me to store items in a pocket rift, giving me access to weapons and supplies anytime and anywhere.

I emptied my weapons into the inventory and the Anti-arcane stone too. With exhausted satisfaction I left the exam grounds as everyone looked at me with impressive inquisitivity.

"Hoh, Percy and Jackson would love this..." I muttered as I made my way to the horse stead to retrieve my horse.