Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Supplementary Exam (1)
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The supplementary exam venue was an open field a short distance away from the transfer ceremony hall.
The scouts, positioned in a circle around the open field, watched the participating aspirants with equally serious expressions.
"I wonder if there are any real gems out there."
"Hard to say. Honestly, all the important talents were already on display at the transfer ceremony."
"I always think this, but the supplementary round is way too much of a gamble. You waste time and end up with nothing nine times out of ten."
"Still, they say this round's exam was tougher overall, so we might see some solid prospects. Let's watch with high hopes."
"Right. With tricky tests like the Warrior class's 'Gate of Wailing' or the Sorcerer class's 'Familiar Summoning' popping up everywhere."
At that moment, one of the scouts who had been observing the aspirants gathering one by one stepped forward to the center of the field as the announcer.
『Ahem, nice to meet you all. As you know, this is the venue for the supplementary exam.』
『For those of you who failed the main exam, this is undoubtedly your last remaining chance.』
Pausing there, the announcer scanned the crowd of aspirants gathered around.
They held their breath, gazing at him with utmost seriousness, a faint desperation visible in their eyes.
They knew it too. This was their final shot.
After gazing at the aspirants for a moment, the announcer spoke again.
『In principle, anyone who failed the transfer ceremony can participate in the supplementary exam. However, please note that those who didn't pass the 'reporting ceremony' are ineligible.』
『Whether you seize this opportunity is entirely up to you. We will simply evaluate your skills, talents, and potential, then make recruitment offers based on our individual judgments.』
A stir rippled through the aspirants at that.
Probably those who had failed the reporting ceremony.
『Regrettably, those who failed the reporting ceremony aren't even worth our evaluation. All we can say to them is to go train more and come back stronger.』
With those words, the troublemakers were dragged out by the guards.
The guards also silently weeded out the early dropouts blended into the crowd.
Once those few were expelled, only the aspirants who had failed the transfer exam remained in the field.
『Now that we've sorted things out, let me explain the exam format.』
『Academy City is where all the continent's talents converge. Once you're here, even as aspirants, you must survive through endless competition.』
『Thus, our exam has just one rule.』
Survive until the end.
At the same time, a vast barrier enveloped the entire field.
As commotion broke out among the aspirants at the suddenly deployed barrier, the announcer said lightly,
『This is a barrier you'll see often if you enter Academy City. It's commonly used for training, so take this chance to experience it.』
『Inside it, even fatal wounds won't kill you. The barrier will block lethal damage and safely teleport you out, so no need to worry about injuries.』
With that, the announcer spread his arms wide.
『From now on, fight each other here until only 'one team' remains standing.』
Now, fight.
The announcer grinned broadly as a massive roar echoed across the field.
───
The exam field was sheer pandemonium.
Battle cries filled the air as aspirants clutched various weapons and attacked one another.
In the chaotic melee where every aspirant targeted everyone else, Noah drew her sword as well.
"Die!"
An aspirant charged with a bellow, thrusting his sword.
"You shouldn't yell when attacking!"
"Whoa!?"
Noah effortlessly parried the fully telegraphed strike, sending the aspirant stumbling off-balance in shock as he scrambled to recover.
'This is manageable!'
Noah wasn't particularly standout among all aspirants, but that was only compared to the entire pool.
Among these screened-and-rescreened survivors, she counted as quite skilled!
───!
"Gahk!"
Her sword traced elegant arcs, cutting down every student around her.
She blocked incoming arrows with her blade, twisted away from a follow-up sword thrust, rolled to dodge a spell flying from beyond the fallen aspirant—showing impressive prowess overall.
And far away, on the rooftop of the transfer ceremony hall, someone was watching her exploits...
"Ooh!"
'That's the charging move all past protagonists start with!'
"Ooooh!"
'No, that's the evasion from the previous protagonist! She really learned it!'
Yeon Je-seong, spying on Noah through binoculars and reliving past-game nostalgia, grew visibly excited at her unexpected strong showing.
"As expected, even protagonists shine among the rejects."
No matter how weak, a protagonist's starting stats were all 10s.
Nothing exceptional, but evenly solid across the board—no rough edges.
Not enough to shine in the high-cut transfer ceremony, but among its failures, even that seemed mighty powerful.
"But Noah isn't the only wildcard."
Muttering that, Yeon Je-seong shifted his gaze to a distant corner away from Noah.
Hahaha! ──!
A brawler hurling aspirants away literally with Aura-coated fists.
──!
An archer summoning wind spirits to swiftly topple aspirants at high speed.
Die! ──!
A sorcerer crushing aspirants with overwhelming mana output.
Those who picked the wrong combat class or got unfavorable matchups began standing out.
"Hmm."
Unlike those just unlucky, Noah had zero chance head-on against them.
To beat them and pass, she needed to realize something soon...
Yeon Je-seong kept the binoculars trained on her, tracking every move.
───
Meanwhile, outside the exam field, Camella watching Noah's fight realized the situation wasn't as favorable as hoped.
'She's above average there, but not dominant. Lacking compared to the other standouts... especially that sorcerer. She's seriously strong.'
Among the powerhouses emerging everywhere, the sorcerer displaying overwhelming dominance was a tough nut even for Camella, an expert summoner herself.
That was when it happened.
"Kahk!"
The brawler clashing with the sorcerer failed to dodge an attack and slammed into the wall.
"Ha! Pathetic. That all you got?"
The sorcerer sneered, dropping her staff amid the dust as the brawler burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! You pack a punch!"
With his blond, delinquent-like looks, the brawler shouted back, but the sorcerer instantly conjured a fireball and hurled it at him.
"Whoops!"
Ducking low mid-charge to evade, he closed in tight, clenching his fist.
"Dodge this!"
Blue Aura swirled around his fist, cracking the sorcerer's shield.
"Tch!"
The sorcerer threw up a mana barrier to block him.
"...!"
As she retreated and caught her breath, a sword and arrow suddenly flew at her from behind.
"Grr... you bastards!"
Her uniform shoulder tore, blood flowing as she whipped around, grinding her teeth.
The dust cleared to reveal the archer and Noah.
"An alliance!? There's only one winner anyway!"
The sorcerer, grasping the situation instantly, yelled in frustration, but the silent archer sniped back.
"Sorry, but solo didn't seem winnable."
"The scouts said one team wins, not one person."
"C-Cowardly...!"
Realizing she was cornered, the sorcerer levitated upward as the archer summoned spirits and nocked an arrow.
"Cowardly's you, bombing from the sky."
"Guhh!"
Meanwhile, the brawler on the opposite side eyed the allied duo, glanced up at the sorcerer, and grinned.
"Hahat! Nice! That's the spirit for an exam—go all out!"
He channeled Aura into his fists again, preparing to strike.
The archer infused her arrow with spirit energy, drawing the bow.
Noah strengthened her body with mana and Aura, sword at the ready.
As all three targeted her alone, the sorcerer gnashed her teeth in rage and began gathering vast mana.
"Fine! My victory was set anyway! Might as well take you all at once!"
Immediately after, as endless mana converged, the trio's expressions slowly shifted.
"Sheesh. Why'd a monster like her fail?"
"...Is that for real?"
"Whoa..."
Staring at the sorcerer amassing mana so dense it made their skin tingle, they murmured in awe—until she suddenly let out a pained groan.
"Grrrrr...!"
"...Huh?"
Noah and the archer, sensing the ominous mana, lowered their weapons.
"What the..."
"Th-That looks dangerous, right?"
Before the alarmed scouts could enter the barrier───
"Kaaaaah...!"
Mana exploded violently from the sorcerer's body.
"...!"
Yeon Je-seong's face hardened as he watched.
"Black... mana...?"
With Noah's doubtful voice as the finale,
the barrier holding only four dwindled into black.