Combat Test

"This child has excellent fighting skills."

"I agree. Although she's young, she's very learned in the art of combat."

"Indeed a good seedling."

The professors standing around the Headmistress were full of praise. It was very rare for a student to be gifted in learning magic as well as fighting. The latter was usually only cultivated over time.

It had to be known that all the new students present were only fifteen years of age!

None of the other students could see what was happening within the illusion formation, but how could these professors, who were mighty Magi, not know? They could clearly see the progress of every student inside the formation.

Even the headmistress, Professor Godfrey, nodded her head in approval seeing the blonde girl's fighting abilities.

"Tell me this child's background again," stated the Headmistress.

A man standing beside her respectfully complied. "Yes, professor. This girl's name is Lisa De Clare. Aptitude – A-grade, comprehension – B-grade. She comes from the Faber Province."

Professor Godfrey muttered in realization, "Faber Province… so she's from the De Clare Magus Family."

"That is correct, professor." The man nodded.

The De Clare Family head was killed in a dispute with another Magus family, the Gracie Family, a few years back, Professor Godfrey thought inwardly as she saw Lisa battle a group of beasts inside the illusion formation.

On the brink of ruin, the De Clare family produced such a genius. If I'm not wrong, Lisa should be the late family head's daughter.

A few minutes later, the beasts inside the formation finally overwhelmed Lisa and she was ejected. She opened her eyes and calmly stepped off the mat.

"Whoa! She was able to stay inside for so long!"

"5 minutes! That should be some record, right?"

"She's definitely the best fighter among us."

The new students spoke in awe as they saw Lisa stand in a corner of the auditorium. Even the final-year students were impressed by her fighting skills.

After all, lasting five minutes against a group of wild beasts was an impressive feat. One had to know that such fights usually lasted a minute or so, especially when one was outnumbered.

"Tsk, so snobbish…" Edward muttered as he stared at the cold and aloof Lisa.

"Hmm." Adam nodded. The first batch of students that went inside the illusion already produced a solid fighter such as Lisa. He wondered how the students in the second batch would fare.

He saw Jeffrey amongst the second batch of students sitting on the mat, and his expression instantly turned cold.

Edward noticed this and asked curiously, "What is it, Adam? You look… mad."

"It's nothing," Adam said in an icy tone. "I just caught sight of a hateful scumbag."

Edward was surprised by Adam's sudden change in demeanor. He looked in the direction Adam was looking at and saw a blond youth smugly sitting on the mat. Edward figured the two might have some enmity, and couldn't help but be curious.

Adam changed the subject and asked something that had been on his mind since he entered the academy, "By the way, why don't I see any elves or dwarves or any other races at the academy?"

"Oh, that's because foundational mana training for each race is different because of our differing anatomies. The elves have their own schools and so do the dwarves and gnomes. Clover Academy is strictly for humans," Edward replied.

"I see..." Adam nodded in understanding.

Soon, the second batch of students entered the illusion formation, and within the first ten seconds, many were starting to get ejected.

Adam had his eyes on Jeffrey but was surprised to find that he was ejected only a few seconds after the 1-minute timer.

"Eh?" Adam was momentarily stunned but then burst into laughter. "What did I even expect from this rat? Hahaha!"

Even back when they were in the traveling party, Jeffrey had never displayed any noticeable fighting skills. Whenever he came to look for trouble with Adam, he would always gang up on him and was, in fact, very cowardly by nature.

"You must really dislike this guy, huh?" Edward asked as he saw Jeffrey step off the mat and walk away in embarrassment.

"Dislike?" Adam snorted. "I hate him! Anyway, I'll tell you about our history later. For now, let's get ready for the combat test. It'll be our turn next."

And soon, the second batch of students had also finished. The one who lasted the longest was a burly youth with short black hair. Although his figure was very imposing, his facial expression was kind and amiable.

The boy was able to persist for four and a half minutes and was currently in the second position. This spoke volumes about his fighting abilities. Adam took a mental note of him as well as the blonde girl, Lisa.

And finally, the last batch of new students sat on the hovering mats one by one. Adam and Edward sat beside each other.

Edward was slightly nervous, whereas Adam had a determined expression and encouraged himself to beat Lisa's record.

A final-year student approached them and began explaining, "When the illusion formation activates, you will find yourself inside a simulation where you will have to fight against wild beasts.

"The more beasts you kill and the longer you last inside, the greater your ranking will be. Furthermore, the beasts you'll be facing inside will all be normal wild beasts and not magical beasts.

"And last but not least, the moment before you are killed inside the simulation, you will be ejected. This will ensure that you do not suffer any severe psychological injuries. Any questions?"

Adam was quite surprised by the workings of the formation. He asked, "You mean to say, that no matter what I won't die inside?"

"Correct." The student nodded. "However, the pain you feel from any sustained injuries will be very much real."

"Understood!" Adam replied in excitement. If it was true that he would not die inside, then he could go all out.

After all the students had taken their seats on the mats, the formation inscribed on them lit up, and all the kids' consciousness was transported inside the simulation.

Adam opened his eyes and found himself standing on a vast plain. He looked around in amazement and exclaimed, "This… it feels so real!"

He checked himself out and found that his body was exactly like it was in the real world. "Is this really an illusion!?" He was completely stunned. But more than that, his fascination with Illusion Magic increased greatly.

"Please choose your weapon." Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in his surroundings. The next moment, dozens of weapons appeared out of nowhere and levitated in front of him.

Adam was taken aback at this sudden change. There were all sorts of weapons such as spears, glaives, staffs, swords, scimitars, shields, gauntlets, hammers, axes, etc.

Without hesitation, he chose the sword. Although he was not at all proficient with this weapon, it was still the weapon he was most familiar with.

As he grabbed the hilt of the long sword, all the other weapons disappeared. Following that, six hyenas appeared in the distance, growling at him menacingly. They were inching closer slowly, trying to surround him.

But!

Before the hyenas could make another move, Adam had already dashed in their direction. He recklessly charged amidst the pack of hyenas, all the while laughing savagely.

"Hahaha! Kill! Kill! Kill!"