The next morning.
A light snow had fallen last night. White snow had piled atop the metal dome, forming a thin layer of frost that melted into snowmelt whenever one was careless, slowly trickling down through the seams.
There was no sun on this winter morning. The sunlight was veiled by the hazy mist, and the Faint Light glimmering in the air was merely pure white snowmelt.
Alchemy and Mechanical Holy See, Sixth Church Hall.
The examination preparation area on the church's second floor was filled with candidates. They peered down through the glass windows, their expressions tense, occasionally checking whether the Magic Combination they had chosen contained any mistakes and whether they could pass the examination.
They had privately inquired about yesterday's examiner.
Ashley Xien was a genius spellcaster from the Xien family, a renowned magical family. Her research into Magic Slot arrangements ranked first among the younger generation.
With such a genius as their opponent, the magical arrangements they had developed would probably be seen through at a glance.
On the third floor sat the Holy See's priests. They gathered around a round table, recording scores and quietly commenting on and discussing each candidate's performance.
"Number 43, prepare."
The Alchemy Magic Device announced the next candidate's number. A brown-haired little girl hurriedly responded, scrambling to her feet and nervously making her way downstairs.
Priestess Ashley gave a slightly bored yawn.
She could not muster any interest. First, because the weather was cold today; second, because the candidates were truly dull.
The best candidate so far had only lasted six minutes and thirty seconds.
Rather than deal with these tedious, boring outsiders, she would rather curl up by the fireplace and sleep.
Boring. So boring.
"Let me see your Magic Slot choices. Hmm, Holy Light Technique, healing, damage transfer, Light Sword... Are you planning to take the route of trading injury for injury?"
Ashley said calmly, "How cliché. You are truly far too boring."
She was never tactful with her critiques.
"Ah..." The girl shrank back.
A letter of authorization woven from light appeared in her hand. At the same time, an identical authorization appeared in Ashley's hand.
This was precisely yesterday's examination agreement.
"Once you sign this authorization, the Saint-tier Alchemy Array, 'Authorization Conversion - Alchemical Biomimicry,' will activate."
Ashley said lazily, "We will reach completely fair conditions—I will fully become the state you were in when you signed the authorization. And the examination results will likewise be judged entirely by the Scales of Order."
To ensure absolute fairness, through the authorization Alchemy Array, the examiner would completely replicate every state the candidate possessed upon entering the examination hall, including appearance, equipment, physical condition, and the Magic Books in the four Magic Slots...
That was what the authorization stated.
Titles could not be replicated, of course. Nor could they be—after all, God-Bestowed Titles were personally granted by gods and possessed sacred uniqueness.
As the authorization was signed, the top-tier array slowly activated.
Ashley's hair changed. Her originally brilliant golden hair gradually turned brownish-yellow, and a few freckles appeared upon her delicate, proud face—she was slowly becoming the little girl before her.
Even Ashley's equipment changed, becoming exactly the same as the candidate's.
A little rustic. A little ordinary.
That was why Ashley hated serving as an examiner. She had to temporarily become these ugly people.
She especially disliked those from the border. She always felt they had a certain smell about them.
It smelled awful.
Looking at this rustic-looking "herself," Ashley said teasingly, "Then let us begin."
Number 59.
It was Arthur Sunny's turn to take the stage.
He was the first of the three border youths to take the examination. He would be the one to lead the charge.
Radiant Lion Cub.
Under everyone's gaze, he slowly rose to his feet, his eyes firm and confident.
Arthur looked toward Ansu, who slowly nodded at him.
The surrounding candidates were all full of expectations for him. Their morale was at rock bottom right now—Ashley had utterly crushed the candidates.
They needed a leading figure to raise their spirits.
And Arthur was that hope.
First, he had been the second person to hand in his paper yesterday. Second, because of his appearance.
Handsome and tall, with brilliant gold eyes like a lion's, golden hair hanging down, and a smile so confident it seemed capable of dispersing winter's gloom.
He wore an expensive High-tier Magic robe. Beneath it was a golden armored undershirt, paired with alchemical trousers made by a master, sun patterns embroidered along the legs. In his hand, he held a massive brilliant gold staff.
At this moment, Arthur looked like a holy knight—a sacred and great knight.
He walked slowly to the second floor and headed straight for the center of the hall.
"Sign the authorization." Ashley did not even look at Arthur, barely bothering with even the most basic honorific.
"What a weak and ostentatious man," Ashley said mockingly.
She swiftly signed her own copy of the authorization.
Ashley disliked people from the border, and she found the man before her especially flamboyant and boring. This would probably be another examination that ended quickly.
Her senior brother had warned her to be careful of these troublesome border people. They were merely small fry—what was there to be careful about?
"Before signing the authorization, I need to prepare something." Arthur looked at the authorization that had appeared out of thin air in his hand and answered brightly.
"—It is an examination that will end quickly anyway. What do you need to prepare?"
Arthur slowly exhaled. Boss Ansu's passionate words from last night surfaced beside his ears: "Courage is the source of strength."
"?" Ashley froze.
The next second, her pupils trembled!
The pupils of every candidate in the hall trembled as well.
They could not believe what was before their eyes.
They were fortunate enough to witness it with their own eyes today—
They beheld the descent of great holy light.
Arthur grabbed his noble robe and tore it off, ripping away his undershirt to reveal broad, mighty pectorals and sharply defined six-pack abs. He then swiftly removed his trousers. His entire body was as white as holy light itself, with his only adornment being a pair of golden briefs hanging around his crotch!
"Whoa." Some girls cried out in awe.
Though they were far away and could not hear a word Arthur and the examiner were saying, this scene looked incredibly intense!
"Sign the authorization!"
Before Ashley could react, Arthur signed his name with bold, sweeping strokes.
Confirm authorization The examiner will completely replicate all states you possess when signing the authorization, excluding Titles Including equipment.
Those golden briefs were Arthur's only equipment!
Ashley discovered in shock and horror that all her clothes had vanished as well.
She had a powerful body, sharply defined six-pack abs, broad and mighty pectorals, and those brilliant golden briefs around her crotch!
In the cold early-winter wind, she was completely naked.
And her heart was even colder than her body.
Bone-chillingly cold.
"You... you..." Ashley stared fixedly at Arthur, at the words Radiant Lion Cub above his head. Was this how the Radiant Lion Cub was radiant?!
These lowborn people from the border were truly so vile and shameless!
Ashley clenched her teeth. She had already decided that she would humiliate him mercilessly, in the cruelest and most degrading way possible.
First, she would see what magic he had chosen and swiftly decipher his Magic Combination from those spells.
Hmm?
Why was there not a single spell in the four Memory Slots?
Ashley was dumbfounded.
"The Exam Instructions say, 'You may freely choose which magic to equip in your Memory Slots.'"
Arthur smiled confidently and brightly. "Equipping none at all is also a free choice!"
"Boss Ansu said that with my earth-shattering intellect, no Magic Combination is the best combination."
Is there anyone who exploits loopholes like you do? Ashley gritted her teeth, forcing herself to calm down.
"Then why did you bring a staff?"
"Who said this is a staff?"
Arthur slowly raised the rod-like object in his hand. At this moment, in his own belief, he was like a holy knight standing upon a battlefield, like his countless Sun Family ancestors, about to draw his sword from its sheath—
"This is my holy sword."
Ashley's expression went completely numb.
How was that huge thing a holy sword?
This was a spellcaster examination, Big Brother.
"You once said that courage, perseverance, and wisdom were the three great principles for passing this examination."
Arthur set the massive club-like staff into a crisp sword stance. "And what I am about to show you is the courage of the Radiant Holy See!"
He had no armor, no clothes, no defenses to cover his body, and no magical items. All that remained was the courage to press forward without hesitation.
This was Arthur Sunny, the dream the Radiant Lion Cub had always held.
This was the glory of the Sun Family.
Your radiant courage is just being a fucking exhibitionist, isn't it?!
Ashley covered her bare pectorals. She only felt that the person before her was a complete pervert!
"The courage to face wind and snow, the courage to overcome hardship, the courage to be open and upright—"
Arthur drew his staff from its sheath and said reverently, "Just as Brother Ansu said, this is my [resolve] as a knight."
In the stands, Ansu showed a gratified smile.
Who was Brother Ansu?
Was he their leader?
Was this brat's idea from you?
Ashley suddenly recalled the name Ansu. Yesterday, that guy had seemed to be smiling at her too.
Lowly and vile commoner, Ashley gritted her teeth.
Bastard.
"Draw your sword, Knight Ashley," Arthur declared loudly.
"This is an examination for magical spellcasters, not holy knights," Ashley said with an ugly expression.
She was a Magic Genius, not some holy knight genius!
She was not Knight Ashley either!
She was an academic!
"I have had enough of all those tedious formalities—"
Arthur attacked directly, arriving right in front of Ashley. The massive club in his hand swung high before smashing down viciously!
"Strength is the very reason of a spellcaster!"
Bursts of clamor erupted from the stands, especially from some maidens, whose cries were particularly intense.
Although they did not know what was happening,
They could see two handsome, muscular naked men grappling together, fighting in nothing but golden briefs. What kind of feast for the eyes was that?!
Today was the Radiant Lion Cub's first battle, and from this day onward, an even louder title would Resound throughout the imperial capital—
One of the Three Heroes of the Border, Greasy Louse—Arthur Sunny!
Surely his father, far away at the border, would feel proud and honored by him.
Three thousand words this chapter!
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