Combat Test

May, 9994th Year of the Yulan Calendar.

The final month of the fourth academic year.

Nearly a year had passed since the evolution of the Fallen Heart Flame, and my strength had steadily climbed from the early stage of the fourth rank to its peak, just one final step away from the fifth rank.

That morning, in the fourth-year fire element classroom, Alison announced a piece of news.

"Next week, the fourth-year students will undergo a practical combat test."

A stir rippled through the classroom.

"A practical combat test?" someone asked. "How will it be conducted?"

Alison glanced at the student and said indifferently, "You will be paired up, and opponents will be decided by drawing lots. There are no restrictions on magic or methods; the match ends when one side concedes or loses the ability to fight."

The classroom fell silent for a moment, then the murmurs grew even louder.

"No restrictions on methods? Doesn't that mean people will get hurt?"

"This has been a fourth-year tradition for years, intended to let students experience real combat."

"I heard someone had their ribs broken last year..."

Alison raised a hand, signaling for silence.

"I know what you are thinking," she said. "But real combat will not wait for you to be ready. This test is meant to let you experience in advance what it means to say that 'nothing matters except life and death'."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the classroom before finally landing on me.

"Of course, there will be teachers watching nearby, so there won't be any actual loss of life."

After class, a few classmates gathered around.

"Akes, you certainly don't have to worry about this."

"Exactly, you're the top student in our grade."

I shook my head. "Practical combat is different from daily drills; one cannot be careless."

They wanted to say more, but I had already walked out of the classroom.

In the afternoon, at the waterfall behind the mountain.

I sat cross-legged on a rock beside the waterfall, closing my eyes to meditate. The Fallen Heart Flame pulsed slowly within my body, the Five Spirit Wheel spun in tandem, and the surrounding fire elements surged into me incessantly.

After nearly a year of cultivation, my mastery of these two treasures had become increasingly refined. The automatic cultivation of the Fallen Heart Flame kept me in peak condition at all times, while the Five Spirit Wheel allowed me to absorb elements during meditation at a speed far exceeding that of an ordinary person.

"Third brother."

Linley's voice came from behind me.

I opened my eyes and looked back. Linley was walking toward me, with Bebe perched on his shoulder.

"Are you here to cultivate as well?" I asked.

"Yeah." Linley found a rock nearby and sat down. "I heard your fourth-year class has a practical combat test next week?"

"You're well-informed."

"Yale told me." Linley paused. "How are you preparing?"

I thought for a moment and said, "Strength is one thing, but actually fighting is another. I haven't faced a person in real combat yet."

Linley nodded and said nothing more.

We both returned to our meditation.

When the setting sun slanted low, I opened my eyes. Linley was already gone, but Bebe was still lying on the rock beside me, its dark, round eyes fixed on me.

"Where is your master?"

Bebe tilted its head but didn't answer.

I reached out to stroke its head, and the little guy squinted comfortably.

"Let's go, time to head back for dinner."

Picking up Bebe, I walked toward the dormitory.

A week later, the practical combat test was held as scheduled.

The testing ground was an open space on the east side of the academy, with several teachers standing around the perimeter, Alison among them. The fourth-year students gathered in small groups, some nervous, some excited.

The results of the draw were out, and my opponent was a boy named Kallen.

He was in the fourth-year fire element class, with above-average strength, usually not very conspicuous. But the way he looked at me was different—not with fear, but with a sense of eagerness.

"Akes." He walked over and extended his hand. "Please go easy on me."

I shook his hand. "Likewise."

The test began.

Kallen and I stood in the center of the field, ten meters apart. The surrounding students and teachers were all watching us.

"Begin!" Alison commanded.

Kallen immediately took a step back and began chanting a magic incantation. His choice was wise—facing an opponent with my reputation, creating distance was the top priority.

But I did not move.

I stood where I was, watching him quietly.

Kallen's incantation finished, and a fire snake darted from his palm, lunging toward me. A second-tier spell, Fire Snake. The temperature looked decent, likely around 900 degrees.

I raised my right hand.

The Fallen Heart Flame trembled slightly, and the fire snake stopped abruptly a meter away from me, then... reversed direction and lunged back at Kallen.

Kallen's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly erected a defensive barrier.

"Boom!"

The fire snake slammed into the barrier, exploding into a ball of flame. Kallen staggered back two steps, and several cracks appeared on his defensive shield.

"How is this possible..." He looked at me in disbelief, "What did you do?"

I didn't answer, merely raising my left hand.

Another fire snake condensed into shape, larger than the previous one, with the edges of the flames glowing a faint milky white.

Kallen's complexion shifted.

He gritted his teeth and suddenly began chanting a new incantation. This one was longer than the last, and the fire elements in the surroundings began to fluctuate violently.

A third-tier spell?

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

Kallen's incantation finished, and a massive fireball condensed above his head, reaching a full two meters in diameter. A third-tier fire spell—Greater Fireball.

"Go!"

The fireball smashed toward me.

The surrounding students let out a gasp. A third-tier spell was already a very strong attack for a fourth-year student; Kallen had clearly been hiding his true strength.

I stood where I was, still not moving.

The fireball drew closer: ten meters, five meters, three meters—

Just as everyone thought I was about to be hit, I raised my right hand.

I pushed the Fallen Heart Flame to its full capacity.

The fireball stopped two meters away from me.

"This... how is this possible?" Kallen's eyes widened.

I looked at him, a thought crossing my mind.

The fireball slowly turned, reversing its direction to aim at Kallen.

Kallen's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

"I concede!"

He practically shouted it.

I withdrew the Fallen Heart Flame, and the fireball slowly dissipated in mid-air.

The surroundings were deathly silent.

After a few seconds, Alison's voice rang out: "Aikesi Yan wins."

Scattered applause broke out, but most of the students were still too shocked to recover their senses.

After the test ended, Alison called me over.

"Come with me."

She led me to a secluded corner, turned around, and looked at me.

"Is that trick of yours, 'controlling others' flames,' innate?"

I thought for a moment and said, "You could say that."

Alison was silent for a moment before saying, "This kind of ability is extremely rare. In all my years, I've only heard of legendary fire-attribute Saint-level powerhouses being able to do it. And you are still so young..."

She paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully.

"I don't mean anything by it," she said, "I just want to remind you to avoid showing this ability in front of others as much as possible. Everyone present today was a fourth-year student, so it's fine. But in more public settings in the future, it might attract unnecessary attention."

I nodded: "Thank you, Teacher."

Alison glanced at me, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

At night, in the dormitory.

The five of us were chatting in the courtyard as usual. Yale was gesticulating wildly as he recounted what he'd heard today—even though he wasn't at the scene, he was incredibly well-informed.

"Third brother, you were too fierce! Controlling your opponent's magic! What do you call that move? Teach me!"

"You wouldn't be able to learn it even if he taught you," George said.

"Why wouldn't I? My talent isn't bad either!"

"You're a Wind-style mage, why are you trying to learn Fire-style magic?"

Yale choked on his words, then waved his hand dismissively, "Forget it, then."

Reynolds laughed until he was doubled over.

Linley sat to the side, remaining silent, though there was a hint of contemplation in his eyes. He must have realized that this trick of mine was not something achievable through ordinary Fire-style talent.

The night breeze blew past, carrying the warmth of early summer.

Looking at the four brothers before me, I suddenly felt that days like these were truly wonderful.

[Ding--Detected host experience: First time displaying the special ability of Fallen Heart Flame in actual combat.]

[Hidden condition triggered? Would you like to sign in?]

The system's voice rang out.

I recited silently in my heart: Sign in.

[Sign-in successful.]

[Reward obtained: Azeroth Arcane Intellect (Permanent)--Mental perception permanently increased, meditation efficiency increased by another 20%.]

A cool sensation surged into my mind, instantly spreading outward.

In that moment, I felt the entire world become crystal clear.

The chirping of insects in the distance, the rustling of leaves, the flow of the night breeze, and even the subtle sound of Bebe chewing on his meat—everything was so vivid.

This was the effect of increased mental perception.

"Third brother?" Yale's voice came through, "What are you spacing out for?"

"It's nothing," I snapped back to reality, "Just thinking about some things."

"What things?"

"Good things."

Yale rolled his eyes and stopped asking.