Gaming Sword Magician

After waiting for approximately 3 hours, all the students have been tested. Those who passed were led to the third training ground. The student gathered at this place created a crowd. They definitely numbered around a hundred.

All the training equipment and obstacles were moved to the sides and three teachers stood in the center of the third training ground.

The head examiner was a white-haired slim man wearing a set of black leather armor, with a beast's lightsaber strapped to his back and a mask covering most of his face, revealing only his deadly pale eyes. For obvious reasons, everyone turned or lowered their heads once they looked in his eyes, but Whittaker felt no piercing pain.

"Silence!"

The students quietened down as soon as they heard the head examiner's words. Then, he continued by saying,

''Some of you might know me, but most of you don't. My name is Lazarus, and I am one of the Four Dean of our Royal Frost Fall Academy, who just returned from a faraway place. With that said, let me clarify the difficulty and rules of the third examination."

As Lazarus raised his hands, a holographic screen opened before the students. It showed a cave with a black hole-like entrance, out of which an endless swarm of magical beasts and armored skeletons could be seen rushing out.

"A day ago, there has been a dungeon outbreak in the Grizzly Mountain range near the trade route connecting York City and the Crystal City. This route is among the most important trade routes shared by the cities, and we can not let the monsters seeping out of the dungeon disturb it. It is a D-rank dungeon outbreak and the most powerful monster in the Grizzly mountain range will only be D-rank."

By this point, the students seemed to understand what their exam was going to be but they couldn't help but feel nervous.

"In order to pass the last exam, you must hunt the dungeon's creatures to earn points. Each time you hunt a monster, the point will be recorded on your student ID card. The amount of points you gain depends on the power level of the dungeon's creature you defeat. For example, you will get 1 point for slaying a dungeon creature with a power level of 1, and a creature with a 1.9 power level will give you 9 points. As for creatures with a power level between 2 to 4, they will give you 20-40 points. While defeating D-rank creatures will give you 100 points. It will be equally split if you are in a team."

"Besides, in the Grizzly Mountain range, you can not only fight magical beasts to earn points but also initiate a battle between your fellow students, and defeat them to steal their exam points! For those who are slightly worried, only the exam points can be robbed and there is no way to steal your royal credits. Your main aim in this exam is to obtain 100 points and reach the safe zones scattered throughout the Mountain regions within seven days."

"Do you have any questions?"

A boy around Whittaker's age raised his hand.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Can I pull out of this exam?"

Lazarus teasingly smiled. "Now why would you want to do that?"

"My grade is good enough to pass the yearly assessment examination with a C grade. Besides, I fear I will die there."

Lazarus internally smirked and allowed the student to go back to the dorm.

"This year's yearly assessment exam is far harder compared to the previous years. Therefore, there won't be any penalty nor a reduction in grade for refusing to partake. If there is anyone who doesn't want to participate in this examination, now is the time to leave."

Lazarus narrowed his eyes, as the students disgested what he said. A lot of students breathed a sigh of relief, and their feet turned around to make a run for it.

"I also don't want to this exam!"

"It's too risky. Sir, I want to pull out."

A lot of students decided that they were too young to die, and thus, they refused to partake in this examination

Now only some dozens of students were left on the ground. Among them, Shadow's party was itching for the test to start. With their strength, it would be a piece of cake to defeat D-rank dungeon creatures.

After the students left the third training ground, the examiners standing beside Lazarus chucked.

"Your tactics are amazing, Head Dean."

"If I was among the students, I am certain that even I would have been fooled by your words, refusing to partake in the examination and eventually losing a great opportunity."

"Now now, stop kissing my ass."

Lazarus's lips thinned into a wide smile as he stared at the rest of the students with a gaze of approval. They were truly exceptional but only those who proved them to be the "True Seed" will be nurtured by the academy and its resources.

The students felt weirded out by his smile.

"Ahem! Congratulations on passing the first test of the third examination. All of you have proved your determination to fight for a greater cause."

What test?

The students felt slightly confused but the more intelligent ones instantly understood what just happened.

The students who refused to partake in the third examination failed the first test and those who remained automatically passed.

"Without further adieu, let's proceed to the second step of this exam. Teacher Ligya, if you may please." Lazarus said to the examiner on his right.

Formation master Ligya clapped his hands causing a ray of light to burst in the sky and create a cluster of symbols. Then all of a sudden, beams of light shoot down from the skies and entered the bodies of the remaining students.

The beam of lights was too fast and even Whittaker was unable to evade one of them, and after it entered his body, he felt a warm current rotating inside him, which created a *Re* symbol on his hand. Then, he felt as a mysterious connection has been established with something below his feet.

'A formation?' With his knowledge about formation, he somewhat understood what was happening.