Last Test

"For the last test, follow me" Paul said as he gestured to the examinees to follow him.

Rick and the examinees followed Paul until they reached an open field. They just stood on the open field, waiting for Paul to start the last test but Paul didn't say anything.

Eventually, the examinees got bored and chatted among themselves. Shortly afterwards, the warrior aspirants arrived with Vin Gasol leading them in front. Most of them were soaked in sweat but only a few of them looked exhausted.

"Everyone, congratulations for passing the previous two tests. Only one last test is left and Hakono Academy will welcome you. The last test is actually quite easy. You just have to stand" Lean Looker said with a loud voice as he faced the examinees.

Vin Gasol's lips curled up to a wide grin as he looked at the examinees in amusement. Seeing Vin Gasol's grin, Rick's eyes lit up!

As someone who previously watched anime and read novels from earth, he already had a gist of what the last test is all about so he braced himself as he looked at the Examiners warily.

The examinees' faces showed a confused expression. Most of them didn't believe for a moment that the test was as easy as just standing.

Suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended upon the examinees as the surrounding area darkened. Lean Looker didn't even announce the beginning of the test, catching the examinees off-guard.

Even Rick, who braced himself, was caught off-guard and fell down. An invisible force seemed to be drawing his body downwards, stopping him from standing up, as if the weight of his body increased to a terrifying level.

Even the aspiring warriors, with stronger bodies were forced to lie down on the ground as they gnashed their teeth.

"It doesn't matter what method you use, be it magic or purely physical strength, anyone who can stand up under this pressure will pass the last test" Lean said as he looked at the examinees without a change in expression.

Rick, in particular, was struggling to stand up as his body still hadn't fully recovered. Nevertheless, he gnashed his teeth as his eyes flashed with determination.

He forced every inch of his body to move, starting with the legs, as he slowly got up.

The surrounding examinees, warriors and mages alike were struggling. Although the warriors physically had the advantage compared to the mages, the pressure they experienced seemed to be greater compared to the mages.

After all, although there are mages who are just as strong as the warriors when it comes to physical abilities, if not stronger, warriors still have the upper hand in this regard.

Otherwise, there would be a lesser number of mages compared to warriors within the Academy.

Rick wasn't the only one with a burning desire to pass. Everyone else was gritting their teeth as they used every inch of their body to stand up.

[Earth Wall]

Suddenly, a wall emerged from the ground under the hands of a burly mage, which helped him in standing up.

[Earth Wall]

Another wall emerged from the ground, surrounding the burly man's body, as if he was nailed to the ground. He used the first spell to stand up and used the second spell to stabilize his footing.

He then turned to look at Lean Looker as he gnashed his teeth.

"You pass. Come over here" Lean Looker said as he looked at the burly mage with an approving nod.

Suddenly, the pressure around the burly mage disappeared. The burly mage heaved a sigh of relief as the walls around him caved into the ground flawlessly, as if the ground was untouched. He then walked and approached Lean Looker.

The surrounding mages then looked at the burly mage as their eyes flashed with inspiration.

The warriors, on the other hand, knew that they couldn't replicate what the burly mage did as they solely use magic to reinforce their bodies. A wave of motivation suddenly surged on the top performing examinees on the warriors side.

They were warriors, who should have the advantage in this test, yet a mage overtook them. It was unacceptable for them. One by one, the warriors stood up with a shout.

About 6 warriors stood up at roughly the same time. Suddenly, the pressure on their bodies disappeared as a voice rang out, "You pass. Come over here"

The surrounding mages also cast spells, depending on their elements as they used their creativity to stand up.

One mage cast a wind spell with his hands to propel himself upwards, which allowed him to stand up.

Another earth mage replicated what the burly mage did earlier but it seemed that it wasn't enough.

The mage with mana capacity on par with Rick coated his body with lightning, increasing his physical strength, which enabled him to stand up.

The others used spells to assist themselves while the others could only curse knowing that their spell slots didn't have a spell that can help them in this test, or at least what their level of creativity allows them.

As for Rick, unlike the other mages, he didn't use spells to stand up. He did it the warrior way by using every energy in his body to stand up. He used this opportunity to train his body and get back to shape.

After all, he wasted two years being unconscious, which allowed his muscles to over relax.

Finally, he stood up with sweat covering his body. The gravity pressure then disappeared as he panted for breath.

Lean Looker looked at Rick's figure with an approving nod and said "You pass. Come over here"

Rick wasn't the only mage who did it the warrior way though. There are mages who didn't have the right spell to assist them so they compensated for it with willpower.

The gravity pressure continued to prevent the remaining warriors and mages from standing up for a while until the pressure suddenly disappeared.

"Alright. Time's up. Those who were able to stand up, welcome to Hakono Academy. For those who were still lying on the ground, you may go now" Lean Looker said as he looked at the examinees who passed with a welcoming gaze.

"No way! Just a little bit more time and I would have passed!"

"I don't accept this! I perfectly passed the previous tests but this time, I just didn't have the right spells to assist me!"

"It's so unfair!"

The examinees who failed voiced out their complaints one by one as they pressured Lean Looker and the others.

"Shut up! The purpose of this test is to test the willpower for warriors and creativity for mages! If you didn't pass, that only means that you were lacking in those two areas!" Lean Looker said as the gravity pressure descended on the failed examinees once again, forcing them to lie down.

Silence!

The failed examinees were silenced as they slowly stood up as the gravity pressure disappeared and left the place dejectedly.