Dekan Drew Attention

On the day of the entrance exams and aptitude tests.

The four academies had over a thousand applicants combined who had passed the preliminary round.

The preliminary round consisted of simple attribute tests and written exams. Dekan's attribute test results had been somewhat disappointing, but he had still passed without issue.

This year, the Knight Academy had roughly five hundred applicants who passed the preliminary round, the largest number among the four academies.

Commoners were more likely to become warriors. After all, warriors were the profession least dependent on expensive Magic Cards.

However, based on experience from previous years, its pass rate would still be the lowest among the four academies.

Because the Knight Academy's test was actual combat!

Heavenlyte Magic Academy, Knight Academy main building.

Dekan arrived early at the examination hall on the Seventh Floor and waited in the candidates' section.

Several massive magical devices stood in the center of the venue.

The lights shone upon the magical devices, refracting hazy yet magnificent rays of light.

The interconnected magical devices stretched for dozens of meters. Made entirely of mithril and magic crystals, they looked exceptionally grand while radiating an icy aura.

It was one of Magic Engineering's greatest achievements in recent years—the Artificial Shadow World Initiator!

For this examination, the Artificial Shadow World would be activated to provide the candidates with a practical combat exercise!

Compared to most of the other candidates, who were either nervous or whispering among themselves, Dekan appeared remarkably calm.

He rested his chin on his hand, his brows slightly furrowed as he studied the magical devices in the distance.

"Hey, what are you looking at?"

Because Dekan was quite handsome, people came up to chat with him from time to time despite his ordinary clothes.

"I'm wondering how this thing was made."

"Haha, forget about it. Is that really something Knight Academy candidates need to worry about?"

Dekan nodded and stopped paying attention to the candidate beside him.

It really was not something a warrior needed to worry about.

But as a scholar, Dekan found it very interesting.

Thud. Thud.

As if deliberately timed, heavy footsteps echoed through the venue, instantly silencing the previously noisy examination hall.

The candidates' gazes gradually converged in one direction.

A figure dressed in a dark brown military ceremonial uniform emerged from the inner side of the venue. At that moment, the entire Seventh Floor seemed to contain nothing but his footsteps.

As the footsteps drew closer, the candidates finally saw that the newcomer was a stern middle-aged man with sword-like brows and hawkish eyes.

A frightening scar ran beside his right eye, yet rather than detracting from his appearance, it only made him seem more imposing.

He stopped in front of the waiting area.

"I am your chief examiner, Arnold Slet, as well as a professor and vice dean of the Knight Academy."

Arnold swept his gaze over the candidates as he spoke.

"The theme of this examination is 'survival ability.'"

"...In the vast majority of cases, if you follow the correct route to advance the main storyline in a Shadow World, you will not be forced to defeat enemies far beyond your rank."

"However, should an accident or error occur along the way, you may encounter an enemy powerful enough to kill you instantly."

"When that happens, escaping will become the key to salvaging the mission."

"At the very least, if you can hold out until the Shadow World's time limit ends, you can still survive and be teleported out of it."

Arnold suddenly paused, and his gaze sharpened.

"Just last year, Havenlit Academy suffered a regrettable accident. A Rank 4 Shadow World clear failed, and three students were lost."

"The root cause was that a Knight Academy student in the team had been overly confident while lacking sufficient actual ability."

"So this year, we will pay particular attention to whether candidates possess the aptitude of a 'warrior.'"

As he said this, Arnold seemed to pay special attention to several candidates in the waiting area.

Dekan had the feeling that he was one of them.

Did he see my preliminary exam results and single me out as an unusual candidate?

But there was nothing to fear. The Knight Academy's examinations had always been fair and impartial, treating every candidate equally.

Dekan rubbed the back of his head as he thought this.

"The examination will be conducted in batches. Each session will last half an hour, and candidates will enter according to their assigned batch."

"Each candidate's Shadow World will be independent. Your opponent will be a randomly assigned examiner or an examiner's projection."

"Of course, the examiners' attributes will be strictly restricted according to established standards."

"This Artificial Shadow World Initiator can support up to one hundred small Shadow Worlds at once. Therefore, candidates numbered 1 through 100 will take the first batch of examinations, and so on..."

After briefly explaining the examination process, Arnold embedded a crystal into the control console behind him.

Then, several seemingly illusory doors appeared before the massive magical devices!

These were the Void Gates that led into the Shadow Worlds.

Arnold did not linger and left the main hall, while the other examiners began guiding the candidates into the Shadow Worlds.

Dekan looked at his candidate number.

404. It seemed he would have to wait until the fifth batch.

Unfortunately, the examination hall did not allow candidates to watch the other candidates' battles. These two hours would be rather hard to endure.

The Knight Academy entrance examination could be watched from outside.

This was because footage from the Artificial Shadow World was transmitted to the Alchemy Academy's central control room.

And to make a profit and promote the school, the Alchemy Academy broadcast it publicly.

In the conference room, the Knight Academy professors watched the battles unfolding in the Shadow Worlds.

On the screens before them, nearly all the footage was focused on a Red-haired Girl.

Unlike the other candidates, who were desperately fleeing or hiding, she was actually confronting a Rank 4 examiner head-on!

And she was holding her own!

"Arnold, what do you think of this year's candidates?"

The dean seated at the head of the table suddenly asked.

"There are a few good ones, especially that red-haired girl, Cornelia..."

Arnold seemed to think of something and paused. "But there is also one who is rather excessive."

"How is he excessive?"

The dean blinked, shifting his gaze away from the screen as he looked at Arnold with interest.

Arnold sighed, sounding rather helpless. "I remember his name is Dekan. He got full marks on the written exam, but aside from having extremely high spirit, his strength, magic power, and stamina were all poor in the attribute test. He shows absolutely no aptitude for being a warrior. He barely even has the aptitude to become a summoner."

"But his total attributes still met the standard, didn't they?"

The dean stroked his stubble, seemingly amused.

This made Arnold's frown deepen.

"I said long ago that the Knight Academy should set a strength or stamina threshold for new students. You have always insisted on leaving some possibilities open for 'unconventional warriors.'"

Upon hearing Professor Arnold's words, the dean did not get angry. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Then let's make a bet on whether this boy can pass the examination. I want that bottle of wine Marquis Prin gave you last time."

"...If I win, future Knight Academy admissions must add the threshold I suggested. Is that acceptable?"

"Fine."

Upon hearing the dean agree, Arnold stood and walked straight out of the conference room.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to assess him personally."

"..." The dean fell silent for a moment. "There's something strange about this boy. Be careful."

Professor Arnold turned back in surprise.

"You're not worried about him, but about me?"

And what danger could there possibly be inside an Artificial Shadow World?

However, the dean said nothing more. He merely waved his hand, signaling for Professor Arnold to leave.

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