Assessment

After receiving Oak's guidance, Taylor arrived early the next morning before a three-story Wizard Tower covered in all manner of patterns, with two Construct Puppets standing guard at its entrance.

Other wizard apprentices had also come to take Krite's apprentice selection test, each proficient in puppet studies, Elemental Golem studies, and some aspects of Construct Puppet studies.

"Are you here to take Wizard Krite's assessment too?"

"Of course. Wizard Krite is a master of puppet studies."

"I wonder which lucky person among all these people will become Wizard Krite's apprentice."

Listening to the wizard apprentices around him as they waited for the assessment to begin, even the usually calm and steady Taylor could not help growing nervous.

"Don't be nervous. With our intelligence, no matter what questions that Wizard Krite asks, the two of us can help you think them through."

Kano's voice rang out in Taylor's mind. In his view, three consciousnesses thinking over a problem together would always be far more effective than one person racking his brains alone.

"Thinking about problems sounds so troublesome. How terrifying, Kano. Didn't you think I was already dead?~~~~"

Bobby's teasing voice echoed through his mind.

"The problem is that you're not dead yet. I think lazybones like you would be better off dead."

Kano snorted coldly and stopped paying attention to Bobby, who was acting so smugly beside him.

"We're three parts of one whole, after all. If that Wizard Krite raises any questions later, you two should think harder as well. I think the three of us can pass this test."

Taylor did not want to miss this opportunity, so he hurriedly reminded the two sub-personalities in his mind.

"Don't worry. I definitely won't hold you back."

"I think I'll need some time off afterward~~~~~~~~"

After hearing them, Taylor nodded and continued waiting in line. Before long, four puppets dressed as Butlers emerged from inside and led one apprentice after another into the Wizard Tower for their assessments.

Taylor noticed that the four butler-like puppets bore no traces of sorcery runes on their exteriors, nor did they have any energy patterns. They had likely used internal enchantments, and the technique was so sophisticated that the puppets leaked no magical fluctuations while operating.

If not for their puppet-like appearance, no one would have guessed that these four servants, whose movements flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, were actually puppets.

"Just this display from Wizard Krite is enough to show how profound his knowledge of puppet studies truly is. His understanding of sorcery runes probably leaves me far behind as well."

Through these butler puppets alone, Taylor caught a glimpse of Wizard Krite's unfathomable depth.

"He truly is remarkable, Taylor. You must seize an opportunity like this tightly. If you can have such a teacher during your apprenticeship, then even if he does not personally teach you anything, merely watching some of his experiments and research will benefit you immensely."

Kano's tone was filled with gravity. He had already realized that this was an incredible opportunity. If Taylor could ride this wizard's coattails, his future path as a wizard would undoubtedly become much smoother.

He had even begun considering that if Taylor was not selected, then for the sake of Taylor's future, the lucky person who was selected would have to die—and not by Taylor's hand. It would need careful planning.

Even if they could not kill that lucky person, they would have to seize his weakness and control his soul. Whatever he learned, he would have to come back and tell Taylor about it!

"Ho ho ho, every one of these puppets is as strong as a monster..."

Bobby still spoke with the same irreverence, but there was a touch more seriousness in his tone.

Before the Wizard Tower, apprentices went in and out. Some wore miserable expressions, while others beamed with pride. The line of apprentices slowly moved forward, and Taylor, who had been standing farther back, finally reached his turn to enter the Wizard Tower.

The moment Taylor stepped into the Wizard Tower, he suddenly appeared in an empty room. There was only a table, a chair, five sheets of paper giving off magical fluctuations, and two butler puppets standing nearby.

Was that a Spatial Wave? Wizard Krite was skilled in spatial arts too?

The method, resembling spatial teleportation or shifting forms and shadows, gave Taylor quite a fright. Even Kano and Bobby in his mind fell silent, quietly observing everything through Taylor's eyes.

One butler puppet guided Taylor to the table, while the other pulled out the chair and invited him to sit. After Taylor sat down, the two butler puppets spoke in unison:

"Respected apprentice, Wizard Krite has left five questions for you. According to the extent of your knowledge, you may answer one, two, three, or all five questions. Based on your answers, the great Wizard Krite will determine whether you are suited to become his apprentice."

After speaking, the two butler puppets stood before and behind Taylor. It seemed that besides guiding him, their other purpose was to proctor the examination.

An exam...

Taylor quickly scanned the five questions. Before long, he had formed his own ideas about them.

The first question: Write about your understanding of Elemental Golems and Construct Puppets, as well as the runes you use most often.

The second question: Based on your knowledge of energy patterns, write out energy pattern designs you have mastered that differ from those found in the library.

The third question: If one were to design a Fire Element Golem while preserving an Elemental Body composed of elements, what sorcery runes should be enchanted onto its core to ensure its attack power and strength while maintaining flexibility?

The fourth question: How could several assemblable resonant Elemental Golems be created? Draw the elemental connections and resonance between them.

The fifth question: Based on your current knowledge, answer as thoroughly as possible how Construct Puppets could be simplified to create Construct Puppets that were simpler, cheaper, and easier to manufacture.

It seemed that this Wizard Krite truly placed great importance on research into puppets and Constructs. His purpose in recruiting apprentices was also to assist with his puppet and Construct research.

Looking at the five sheets of paper emitting magical fluctuations, Taylor swiftly wrote down his name, then began answering from the first question.

"I remember that we could use the 'Flowing' rune, the 'Burst' rune..."

"So troublesome. I think we can use what we learned on the Zombie Plane. Let's bring out a small amount of Magic Mech knowledge and knowledge of magic power channels."

In his mind, Kano and Bobby continuously communicated with Taylor from different perspectives, attempting to write the most perfect answers.