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"He stabbed the second regular plain boar in the eye before jumping on its head and severing its spinal cord. His skills are close to advanced dagger arts. He's missing some true battle experience." 

One professor made this comment causing the others to murmur again. They had not heard the only weapons master in the academy compliment someone yet. 

"What about his magic! He doesn't have spells but he is clearly using mana manipulation to force the elemental manas to assist his skills. Genius I tell you! The guild said he had only read a handful of books nothing more." 

And older professor argued seemingly with himself over the magic skills Malik used. He had not had a gifted mage come through in some years. Just the few spoon fed noble children who learned magic from tutors at a young age. 

Before the last boar fell, the professors sent out another opponent. Malik didn't have a chance to rest but that was fine. He didn't need it. He was very glad he had the chance to gain some extra experience. 

The clanging metal that came from the dim side of the arena made Malik wonder what was appearing. The moment a silhouette appeared, the angelic eyes reacted. 

'Metal dummy- summoned golem

This is a metal set of armor with a golem core within. A summoner used their skill to create this body and summon a controlled spirit within. 

It has experienced swordplay and defensive skill. It is used to test and train the young. Since they can be created with various experiences with different fighting styles and weapons, they are ideal for training.

This was created by…'

The additional information wasn't as useful since it just said it was created by a low tier summoner. But regardless, this was a great opponent to sharpen his skills. 

It was durable. It had sword play at an experienced level. Even better, it would keep fighting him as long as he wanted. The exam could also see every bit of skill he had. Not that Malik cared about this now. He had a new toy to train with that could teach him about humanoid swordplay. 

In a Quick flick of its sword, the metal dummy slashed down allowing Malik to deflect the attack with his dagger. The sword struck the ground as the dummy punched with its other hand. 

This forced Malik to dodge using tiger steps. He could feel the pressure from this dummy since everything about it was at the experienced level of skill. That was well ahead of him who just had his monster skills and experienced dagger style. 

As Malik moved around more and more, the professors were stunned. "He can't beat this dummy? What happened to the power in his strokes? Is he already tired?" One professor saw this as a weakness. 

"No, the boy started training. He doesn't care about us anymore." All whispers went silent at the older man's voice. 

"Headmaster, you have not commented on anyone in the last few years." The vice headmaster spoke with clear excitement in his voice. 

"You are very correct. But this is one of the most unique students we have ever had before." The headmaster sounded very genuine. He had everyone much more impressed with what he had seen so far. 

"Not only is he ignoring us, he is training. That shows a drive to learn and study above that of what many of our genius students have shown before. He is also recommended by the adventurer's guild which has not always recommended the best candidates in the past. And finally, he is getting better before our very eyes. Don't you see that he is trying to make the water mana react with the dagger right now?" 

The headmaster made them all focus on the water mana being condensed along with the dagger strikes. It looked a little foolish to the magic professors. They ahd seen better skills that utilized water mana before. Yet, when they realized this was just the usage of water mana manipulation and nothing more, they were amazed too. 

The usage of water mana manipulation should not make the water mana actually condense this well. Malik ahd a bladed dagger covered in water that was mimicking a larger blade on the dagger handle. That kind of strength had to come from a powerful affinity to water. Not to mention meditation. Something that they were sure that Malik didn't have a proper skill for just by the way he used mana. 

"And there, he is forming a proper blade now while leaping back. He is trying to show the water as a mid distance attack. He must have seen someone do that or he isn't directly mimicking the movements of someone else while imagining another magical attack mixed it." The headmaster was still speaking. His voice waiting. Filled with curiosity. 

When Malik swung down. He was doing exactly what the headmaster had caught on to. His idea had come when he saw the movements of others in the training area of the guild. He had seen them use some magic blade skills where they could throw mana from their bladed weapons. Why couldn't he try that? 

Therefore, he had gathered water mana and condensed the water on the blade of his dagger. He then swiped out a few times while fighting. The strikes cutting the armor had been clear so he distanced himself to try and throw the mana and water. 

When he slashed downwards with the image in his mind of a crescent blade of water flying out, he was not surprised to see it happening. The blue water blade slashed forward with greater force than he intended. Malik had failed to control his strength. 

The water blade cut the metal dummy clean in half. He could only stand there in shock at what he had done. He had ruined his precious training partner!

"Young man, you have been able to do quite a bit. More of those training dummies, tougher ones, can be provided to you when you join the academy's elite class." The headmaster had directly spoken. To be fair, no one but for a few had any interjectoons. 

"Thank you! They are tougher right? I need to train more." Malik didn't hide his current excitement. But he also kept himself a little more calm. He knew well that he could strengthen himself much more. 

Before any answer was received, he felt himself being tossed away with another teleportation spell. He was unsure how, but he was not sitting in a large lecture hall. Over seventy students sitting in chairs waiting for someone to arrive and speak. 

These were all the current passing students. Every single one has passed their own version of tests with the professors watching every single thing. They all spoke and murmured here and there amongst themselves. Every once in a while a new student appearing to have succeeded in their tests. 

Malik's eyes saw the various groups already formed too. Nobles that were familiar with one another. Students of lower standing meeting for the first time, and even some crafters had been grouped up to speak with one another. Malik on the other hand felt that he was out of place. 

This academy would not be somewhere he could have ever gone in his life before. As a farmer's apprentice, he would be too weak. Not even worth sending here if the money was not an issue. But here he was. At an academy that would bring him closer to his personal goals.