Chapter 36: End of the Assessment
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Mysterious Realm, Dusk Valley.
On a solitary stone sat a young man, his body drenched in blood. He was tall, dark, and bulky, with an appearance that, while rugged, fell short of conventional handsomeness. Despite his exhaustion, his eyes still blazed with an indomitable fighting spirit.
This youth was Tigram, who, since meeting Gabriel, had dedicated himself to mastering his axe. His relentless practice had elevated his skill level twice, and he had maximized another skill using the skill points he had earned.
Throughout his journey, Tigram had amassed a significant collection of white-tier equipment. Among his loot, he had even discovered a higher-ranked green item, a rare find that would enhance his combat capabilities.
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[Name: Apprentice Heavy Boots]
[Item Type: Feet]
[Defense: 100]
[Grade: Green]
[Description: Everyone wishes they were as cool as the person wearing these boots.
Additional Attributes:
+55 STR
+10 VIT
+15% Defense
Special Effect: +100 HP regen per second
Durability: 200/200]
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Upon checking the status of the boots, Tigram wasted no time equipping them. Immediately, he felt the effect of the HP regeneration. The boots' special effect compensated for the side effect of his talent, which had previously been difficult to manage. With the boots equipped, Tigram's HP was regenerating at an astonishing rate of 100 points per second, effectively nullifying the -1% HP loss per second caused by his talent.
Emboldened by this newfound strength, Tigram unleashed his talent, now able to sustain it for longer periods. He tore through the valley in a frenzy, slaying every monster that crossed his path.
In addition to his victories, Tigram also looted a skill book that seemed perfectly suited to his combat style. He had obtained it by killing a 1★-Bronze Ogre, making it a valuable addition to his growing collection.
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[Name: Skill Book]
[Type: Tome of Skill]
[Grade: White]
[Skill (Battle Rage): While in an enraged state, your attacks are intensified by 20%, causing greater damage to enemies. Additionally, you bypass 10% of the enemy's defense, making them easier to defeat.
Duration: 60 seconds
Mana Cost: 100
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Class: Berserk Type]
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Having acquired this skill, Tigram's chances of defeating 1★-Bronze stage enemies increased significantly. He briefly considered pushing beyond the 1★-Bronze level but decided to hold off for the time being.
Tigram continued farming relentlessly throughout the remainder of the assessment, but despite his best efforts, he couldn't surpass Gabriel's points.
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[Second Place: Tigram Gray]
No. of Kills: 101 - Iron ★, 15 - Iron ★★, 5 - Iron ★★★, 3 - Iron ★★★★, 5 - Iron ★★★★★★★★★★, 1 - Bronze ★ (shared), 85 - Bronze ★
Points: 87,580
Class: Berserk - Type, Barbarian
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Seeing the gap in points, Tigram felt a pang of disappointment. He sat down on the stone and closed his eyes, his body still and his mind calm.
Moments later, a brilliant light engulfed him, signaling his exit from the Mysterious Realm.
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Mysterious Realm, Reef Tide.
SPLASH!
SHIIIIING!
SPPLAAASHH!
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[Prompt! You have killed Murloc! Gain exp 2,400!]
[Prompt! You obtained exp orb (15,000)!]
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A furious youth stood amidst the carnage, his face contorted with rage. "Why am I so slow?" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the silent forest. "The assessment is almost over, and I, Dave Blake, haven't even reached level 10 yet!"
Gasping for breath, he cursed under his breath, "Damn it all." His pride stung deeply. Dave had always been arrogant, disdaining the use of items like exp orbs, which he considered beneath him. Yet, he had recently acquired three of them, two of which he had just looted from fallen beasts.
Despite his disdain, Dave knew he could no longer afford to waste time. As the son of the richest man in the city, he was well aware of the rewards awaiting those who reached level 10 in the assessment—a piece of equipment of their choice from the empire's arsenal.
And he had his eyes set on a sword.
Frustrated and desperate, Dave pulled out one of the exp orbs, preparing to use it. "Damn it!" he swore, knowing full well he was betraying his principles. But he couldn't let this opportunity slip through his fingers.
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[Prompt! Do you want to use exp orb (10,000), N/Y?]
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He hesitated briefly, then clicked "Yes."
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[Congratulations! You have leveled up, +1 level]
[Prompt! You obtained 5 stat points]
[Prompt! You obtained 1 skill point]
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He opened his status window and distributed his points.
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[Name: Dave Blake]
[Class: Squire]
[Level: 10, Iron Late Level]
[Health Points: 2,000/2,000]
[Mana: 800/1,200]
[Experience: 101,527/100,000]
[Defense: 152 (+15)]
[Physical Attack: 135 (+100) – 145 (+150)]
[Attributes: STR: 43 (+9), AGI: 22 (+2), DEX: 6, INT: 3, VIT: 11 (+5)]
[Skills: Triple Slash Level 10, Parry Level 3]
[Tome Skill: Lightning Blade]
[Talent: Infinity Edge (O)]
[Equipment: Battle Sword, Breast Plate, Greaves, Steel Gauntlet]
[Equipment Effects: +300 HP, +30% increase in PATK per attack, +15 Defense]
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He closed his status window and prepared to open his Ranking points next.
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[Third Place: Dave Blake]
No. of Kills: 109 - Iron ★, 11 - Iron ★★, 5 - Iron ★★★, 5 - Iron ★★★★, 2 - Iron ★★★★★, 70 - Iron ★★★★★★★★★★, 50 - Bronze ★
Points: 87,560
Class: Warrior - Type, Swordsman
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Dave stared at his window screen in disbelief. Despite all his hard work and effort, he was still in third place. His heart sank, and his pride took another hit. His emotions spiraled into chaos.
As he stood there, paralyzed by his frustration, he suddenly felt a strange sensation. It was as if he was being enveloped by a bright light, transporting him to another realm. In an instant, he found himself standing outside the Mysterious Realm, utterly disoriented.
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School Grounds
As the entrance to the Realm glowed with an intense light, students began to emerge one by one.
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WOOOOSH!
WOOOOSH!
WOOOOSH!
WOOOOSH!
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As each student stepped out, the light faded, revealing their faces. It was clear that almost all had participated in the assessment. While not everyone succeeded, the number of failed students was minimal.
As they exited the dungeon, the students lined up according to their classes. Gabriel scanned his classmates and felt a swell of pride at their achievements. Out of the 17 students who entered the second round, all emerged with good results. Yet, their battered appearances spoke volumes about the hardships they had faced inside the dungeon.
A few minutes later, Mr. Hanz arrived, his expression a mix of pride and concern. He greeted his students with a smile, trying to lift their spirits. "I'm very proud of all of you! This time, everyone made it out of the assessment with your bodies intact!" he joked, though his tone soon grew serious.
"But remember, while the title of Orion brings the highest honor, it also comes with endless dangers!" Mr. Hanz cautioned. "I want you all to be more careful in the future. Your lives are more important than the fleeting fame of becoming an Orion. As your teacher for the past nine years, I know you all too well."
He paused, his gaze moving over each student's face. "Always remember, you have to survive to fight!" he reminded them before turning to face the stage, awaiting the principal's arrival.
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A few minutes later
The students eagerly waited in front of a grand stage. Soon, the principal appeared, standing tall and confident as he addressed the crowd. His speech began with congratulations, expressing his pride in the students for passing the assessment.
He spoke highly of their strong will, courage, and ability to turn the impossible into possible, time and again. He reminded them that they had proven themselves worthy of being Orions.
The principal then delivered an inspiring speech, one that left the students feeling motivated and empowered. He emphasized the importance of faith, describing it as belief in something unseen or
unproven, and how it could be a source of strength and courage to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
He also discussed the importance of truth, defining it as the reality of things as opposed to what we believe or imagine. He explained that truth is a shield that protects against deception and illusion, urging the students not to believe something until it's proven true. As he spoke, he raised his right hand, displaying two fingers to the students.
The principal went on to highlight the significance of knowledge, defining it as understanding gained through experience or study. He explained that knowledge serves as armor, helping us make wise decisions and defend ourselves against those who seek to harm us. He encouraged the students never to stop learning, reminding them that knowledge is power and the more they know, the more successful they will become.
He paused before continuing, stressing that there are no useless classes in this world—only people lacking sufficient knowledge. He urged them to continue seeking knowledge and striving to better themselves, for it was the key to unlocking their full potential.
The principal concluded his speech by reminding the students that it's okay to be imperfect and that they shouldn't fear failure. He encouraged them to be true to themselves, to live their lives fully, and to focus on being the best versions of themselves rather than trying to be someone they're not. He reminded them that failure is a part of life; everyone makes mistakes, but what matters is learning from them and moving forward.
He acknowledged the students' nine years at the academy, filled with laughter and tears, friendships and memories. He urged them to hold onto the lessons and memories they had gained, for they could be incredibly valuable when least expected. He encouraged them to cherish each experience and the knowledge gained from it, as they are a part of who they are and who they will become.
The principal ended his speech by congratulating the students once again on successfully passing the final examination required for graduation. He expressed his excitement and pride in their remarkable achievements, affirming that they had proven themselves deserving of their place in the world.