Wind Blade Spell, Fourth Moon Assessment, Crisis

[Skill: Wind Blade Spell (Beginner 1/100)]

"The name really suits a skill a bird-type Magic Beast might use!"

Ian looked at the panel, his eyes lighting up.

"Hekamoise!"

As the incantation left his lips, a wind blade slowly condensed before him, then shot forward with a whoosh.

Bang!

A distinct mark appeared on the stone wall.

"It's this powerful?"

Ian was startled as well.

Whether it was the Mental Power Impact he had learned or other wizardry, none had been anywhere near as powerful when he had first learned them.

They might not even have had half this power.

"Excellent-grade wizardry practically crushes ordinary-grade wizardry. No wonder the Academy restricts purchases."

Ian pursed his lips.

Perhaps this was also one of the Academy's main methods for drawing in wizards.

"Not bad, not bad!"

Ian was very satisfied.

Lord Mickey was quite reliable after all. He really had given him a fine piece of wizardry.

Time passed bit by bit.

With the enormous changes to the curriculum, the Combat course and the Basic Potionology course undoubtedly saw the greatest changes.

In the former, the apprentices with combat ability gradually caught up one by one. Among them, the second-rank apprentice Levi was practically like a Magic Beast.

His powerful body rivaled that of a knight at his peak, while his abundant magic power made his wizardry tremendously powerful as well.

The other two second-rank apprentices were the same; their mental power was simply too strong.

On top of that, they had all learned excellent-grade wizardry, placing immense pressure on Ian.

Ian could feel that even if he could take first place this month, next month would be hard to say.

The Potions course was the same.

While his proficiency had improved greatly through practice, some people were truly throwing money at it, and their progress was astonishing.

Especially those second-generation wizards and family wizards—at this time, they thoroughly displayed their advantages.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

The situation at the Academy grew increasingly tense. Almost every day, wizards could be seen leaving the Academy at a brisk pace.

Clearly, both Horton Academy of Sorcery and Blackstone Academy had already made preparations to truly begin the war.

And at this time, the Academy announced another piece of news explosive enough to rock the place.

It had decided to increase the number of places in the Combat Department while reducing the numbers in the other two departments.

The Potions Department, which had previously admitted five people each year, would now admit only three.

"It's been reduced to three!"

Hearing this news, enough to leave him in a daze, Ian felt utterly dazed.

This was undoubtedly terrible news for him.

Not to mention that if Levi and Beck truly both intended to enter the Potions Department, then only one place would remain for him.

"So I have to secure Victor's assistant position."

Ian's gaze hardened.

He then summoned the members of the Mutual Aid Society.

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

Ian frankly told them about his situation, then said, "So I hope to borrow some Magic Stones from everyone. I'll repay you double in the future."

He knew this would be difficult.

But to his surprise, every one of them generously opened their purse.

"I only have this one left. I bought a potion yesterday," Logan said, somewhat embarrassed.

"I only have one too," Coro said.

"Two. I haven't spent a single one—I'm giving them all to you." Emily blinked, looking very mischievous.

Alfie had one as well. William, having gone to the market just yesterday, had nothing left.

"Thank you, everyone!"

Ian was deeply moved. Almost everyone had given him all the Magic Stones they had.

"Boss Ian, we know we might only ever amount to this much, but you're different. If you really get into the Potions Department, don't forget to lend us a hand."

Logan said with a smile.

"I want discounted potions," Emily said with a grin.

"Definitely."

Ian nodded. It was his promise.

Though there were only five Magic Stones, they meant an extraordinary amount to Ian.

Every practice session brought improvement, and Ian spent nearly all his Magic Stones on brewing potions.

Even so, it only gave him another four or five practice attempts.

Perhaps because he had only just begun learning, each session increased his proficiency by roughly five or six points.

By the time of the assessment, including his earlier expenses, he had spent nearly thirty Magic Stones before his proficiency barely reached Proficient.

"That should be enough, right?"

Ian let out a breath of relief.

With this level of proficiency, there was no way his results could be too poor.

Assessment.

Meditation course.

Lucy was still first, having condensed a full eight runes.

Ian came eighth, with five runes condensed.

Halman was ninth, still with four.

Halman was both furious and helpless over this.

Combat course.

Ten circles were drawn directly, representing first through tenth place, and they used a king-of-the-hill format.

Watching Levi casually defeat several apprentices within the circle for first place, Ian pursed his lips and stepped in.

"You're no match for me!"

Levi's expression was calm, and he looked down on Ian.

In terms of understanding spells, he truly was inferior to Ian, but in battle, magical power was what mattered.

Ian merely smiled.

The next instant—

The Light Body Technique, which had reached Master Level after a month, suddenly activated, and Ian's speed surged.

Already a knight, he now moved like a streak of white.

"What?"

Levi's eyes widened.

Before he could react, a fist appeared before his eyes.

No!

Levi's vision went black, and he crashed to the ground with an unwilling thud.

The people at the edge of the field watched this scene with twitching mouths, all shifting their gazes toward others.

Until they could catch up to Ian, it was best not to challenge him.

More importantly, losing looked truly miserable.

Halman, standing at the edge of the field, felt less upset as he watched this familiar scene.

The title of One-Punch Halman had earned him no small amount of ridicule lately.

But now Levi, with his Second-class Talent, had failed in exactly the same way.

So had he.

Didn't that mean he was equal to Levi?

Soon enough, no one would be talking about him anymore.

"Just wait and see in the Potions course."

Halman's gaze was calm.

He did not understand how his brother had so much money, but this month, he had practiced at least a dozen times every day.

This time, he would make a stunning name for himself.

Basic Potions Course Test.

Naturally, the competition was in potion brewing, with Victor judging the results.

Ian's brewing was steady and proper, completed smoothly—the effect of proficiency.

"First place, Ian."

"Second place, Roger."

"Third place, Beck."

"Fourth place, Halman."

"First?"

Even Ian was somewhat surprised.

This was the first time he had taken first place with such low proficiency.

It also showed, from another angle, that potion brewing really was difficult.

"Not bad, not bad."

Beside him, Victor was immensely satisfied.

Even he had not expected Ian to reach this level. It completely proved Ian's talent.

He was good enough to be his assistant.

"This has to be fake."

Halman's eyes widened beside them.

For the past month, he had practiced at least a dozen times every day, yet he had still lost to Ian?

"No, there are only three spots left. Don't tell me I really won't get in?"

Cold sweat suddenly poured down Halman's back.

He was no fool.

His brother had given him resources to enter the Potions Department; there had to be a purpose behind it.

If so many resources were spent and still produced no results, what price would he have to pay?

His brother had killed so many apprentices.

Would he kill him too?

Gulp!

In that instant, he suddenly realized the severity of the situation.

Night.

Halman saw his brother again.

"Why are you only fourth?"

Ross frowned as he questioned him.

By his estimation, with that level of effort, he should have ranked in the top three no matter what.

"Brother, one of the top three has Second-class Talent, and another is from the Giant Deer Family. They already have their own inheritance in potion brewing."

"What about the remaining one?" Ross continued to ask with a frown.

"Brother, it's Ian," Halman said carefully.

"Ian?"

Ross thought for a long while before finally recalling the person.

"Isn't he a commoner Wizard? His talent is about the same as yours—how is that possible?" Ross was even more puzzled.

"Brother, Wizard Victor thinks highly of him."

"Victor?"

Ross's brow furrowed as well, and he only felt that this was exceedingly troublesome.

"Brother, why don't we kill him?"

Thinking of his brother's ruthlessness, and the price he himself might have to bear, Halman could not help suggesting it.

Ross fell silent.

Several seconds later, he slowly spoke.

"Wait a month. I've been assigned to an outside mission this month. Wait until I return next month."

"Then we'll find an opportunity to kill him."