Certification as a First-Class Apprentice

When the laboratory was more or less tidied up, Lynn saw that his mentor had not assigned him any tasks, so he said goodbye and left the lab.

He headed to the Apprentice Progression Hall to undergo formal certification as a First-Class Apprentice and replace his Nameplate.

The Apprentice Progression Hall was located on the ground floor of the Central Spire, a vast hall forever echoing with low footsteps and hushed whispers.

Several detection arrays emitting different glows stood side by side along the inner side of the hall.

A few stewards with numb expressions and mechanical movements were responsible for registration and issuing Nameplates.

Most of them were old apprentices unable to advance further and nearing the end of their lives, the light long gone from their eyes.

Lynn joined the back of a not-too-long line. The few apprentices ahead of him were nervously awaiting their tests.

"Mental Power: 9. Below standard. Certification failed! Next."

Amid the cold announcement, a teenage boy left the array with an ashen face. He had less than a month left.

The usual Apprentice Recruitment Ceremony only accepted apprentices with an initial Mental Power of 10 or higher. As long as they successfully condensed a Mental Core, they would directly become First-Class Apprentices.

But this intake had gradually admitted quite a few "defective products."

As a result, even if some apprentices luckily condensed a Mental Core and learned Wizardry, their Mental Power still failed to meet the standard for a First-Class Apprentice.

"Mental Power: 11. Standard met! Cast a level-zero cantrip to prove the stability of your Mental Core."

Another girl nervously chanted an incantation. A tiny cluster of negative-energy flame flickered at her fingertips, nearly extinguished.

"Passed. Promoted to First-Class Apprentice. Go over there to update your information."

When it was Lynn's turn, he calmly stepped into the designated detection array.

With my strength, there was no chance of failing...

The array lit up. An invisible force swept over his body before finally converging on his Mental Core.

The steward in charge of testing looked at the data displayed on the crystal before him, and at last, a ripple appeared in his numb eyes.

"Mental Power... 18? First-Class Apprentice, peak state."

The number caused a stir throughout the hall.

This kid had clearly only been enrolled for a short time, yet he had reached the peak of First-Class Apprentice at his first certification. That rate of progress was astonishing.

His initial Mental Power must have been extremely high!

"Cast a level-zero cantrip."

The steward spoke according to procedure.

With a thought from Lynn, without chanting an incantation or making a gesture, a close-fitting suit of armor formed from negative energy and phantom bones instantly covered his body—[Bone Armor]!

"Instant cast without an incantation?!"

This time, even several apprentices waiting nearby, who considered themselves somewhat talented, could not help crying out in surprise.

This kid... had some real skill!

Instantly casting a cantrip represented an exceptionally high level of understanding of the Witchcraft Model and control over Mental Power.

For a new student to fully understand a Witchcraft Model and cast it proficiently was simply unbelievable.

Naturally, Lynn had not truly reached the standard for instant casting. He had merely compressed the casting time to the absolute limit through repeated practice.

With the aid of one-hundred-percent Analysis, this was not difficult to achieve.

The steward gave Lynn a long look, then nodded. "Passed. Excellent rating! Go to Window Three to upgrade your Nameplate."

Lynn dismissed the armor and walked to Window Three.

The old steward behind the window accepted the crude Bone Nameplate Lynn handed over. He looked at it, then at the testing record that had just arrived.

"Lynn, Superior Soul Talent... just as famous as they say."

The old steward muttered, then took out a new Nameplate from beneath the counter.

This Nameplate was no longer made of crude bone. It was crafted from polished Black Ironwood, cool to the touch and marked with faint wood grain.

The Nameplate was dark gray overall. The Bone Spire emblem etched on its front was clearer and sharper, surrounded by an additional ring of thorn patterns symbolizing restraint and protection.

His name and identification number seemed to have been inlaid with silver thread, glimmering faintly.

"Inject a trace of your Mental Power to complete the binding."

The old steward instructed him.

Lynn did as told.

The moment his Mental Power touched the Nameplate, he immediately sensed a world of difference from before.

The previous Bone Nameplate had been like a cold dead object, while this Black Ironwood Nameplate felt like a living tool with a faint connection to him.

This Nameplate could indeed be used as a communication tool. If there were any messages within the Academy, students could be notified directly through it.

The Wizardry contained within the Nameplate was still an illumination spell, but [Glimmer Illumination] was more effective. Its range extended three feet around the wearer, and its brightness could be controlled.

Several unlockable "marks" had also been added to the Nameplate, representing permission to freely enter public laboratories and low-level training grounds, as well as borrow certain books from the first floor of the Bone Vault.

Furthermore, the Nameplate itself bore a permanent weak Calming Rune, which could help its wearer resist the unconscious erosion of negative energy to a certain extent.

"All right."

The old steward handed the newly bound Nameplate back to Lynn.

"Remember, your Nameplate represents your identity and privileges. Replacing it if lost or damaged requires Contribution Points."

"Work hard, kid. Once you reach Second-Class Apprentice, you can exchange it for a Dark-Silver Plaque. That's the real good stuff."

Lynn accepted the cool Black Ironwood Nameplate and casually hung it at his waist.

This thing was only temporary. With his talent, he would need to replace it again before long.

The crude Bone Nameplate that had been phased out was casually collected by the steward. It would presumably be melted down and remade for the next batch of "newcomers."

While eating at the "new student" public cafeteria, he happened to run into Carl, Lillian, and Eileen, the three acquaintances from Black Marsh City.

Several unfamiliar new students were gathered around them as well.

They seemed to have had a difficult time lately. Negative energy had left mottled traces across their bodies.

Even the normally aloof Eileen wore a worried expression, with unrelieved sorrow hidden between her brows.

Sharp-eyed Lillian spotted Lynn entering the cafeteria and cried out excitedly.

"Big Brother Lynn! Over here, over here!"

The others eating with their heads down could not help being drawn by the shout and glared angrily at Lillian.

In an environment saturated with negative energy, everyone's emotions were extremely unstable.

The burning sensation spreading through their bodies from the inside out, coupled with the anxiety in their hearts, had turned them into powder kegs ready to explode at the slightest touch.

A fat man whose body was covered in extensive "ulceration" bared his teeth as he gulped down a mouthful of rum.

The strong liquor continuously burned his ulcerated mouth and intestines, making him let out a string of uncontrollable, stifled cries of pain.

He had already been enrolled for over two months, yet he still had not condensed a Mental Core. His body was ulcerating more each day, and he likely would not last much longer.

His irresponsible mentor had already completely given up on him.

At this point, the fat man only wanted to live comfortably one day at a time through his final days.

After great difficulty swallowing down the pain, the fat man stretched out his completely ulcerated chubby hand and, enduring the pain, shakily raised the bottle.

Just then, a girl's delighted shout rang out behind him.

"Big Brother Lynn! Over here, over here!"

The fat man jumped at the sudden shout. The bottle, which he had already been unable to hold steadily, slipped from his hand with a smack, shattering across the floor.

That completely ignited the anger in his heart.

My Contribution Points, which I painstakingly saved up! They were gone just like that?!!