Kamar-Taj, third-year district.
Inside a small room bearing the sign "Ice and Fire Wool Team," several people wore somber expressions.
"My meteor magic is still under development..."
Pinochio spoke first. Usually cheerful and outgoing, she was utterly frustrated now. "Just give me another week... no, even five days, and I'll be able to develop it!"
"My frost magic formation is the same."
Even Krah, who was usually composed, had a frustrated look on her face. "At most four days, and I'll have it fully developed. But now..."
"My magic has already been developed."
Gandalf, with his messy nest of hair, scratched his head. "I can now apply twelve kinds of buffs. I'm absolutely qualified as both a tank and DPS."
The veiled gypsy girl Adina said, "My prophecy magic is mostly developed too. I can support the team."
"Offense, defense, support—our team is strong enough."
After calculating inwardly, Krah said, "As long as we don't run into more than two Zenos or Dark Lords above that level, those fodder creatures and Dark Hounds are no match for us."
"Everyone, go get ready."
Pinochio had always trusted her younger sister. If she said they could do it, then they could. Waving her hand, she said, "Gather at the Portal Hall at three this afternoon!"
"Alright!"
Three in the afternoon, Portal Hall.
Zhang Yang arrived right on time.
Looking around, several hundred people were taking part in the graduation assessment, each of them brimming with immense magical power.
Most of them were fourth-year Kamar-Taj students. After four years of study, they were finally about to undergo their practical assessment today.
A small number were gifted third-years confident in their own strength. They had applied to take the assessment early, and after gaining their instructors' approval, they too could participate in the graduation assessment.
The only exception was probably himself. He had only just joined Kamar-Taj, yet he was using the graduation assessment as a benchmark to enter the Special Class.
Just as he was about to step into the Portal, he seemed to hear someone calling his name.
When he turned around, he found that it was the Ice and Fire sisters and their companions.
After waving back at them, Zhang Yang passed through the Portal and arrived at the London Sanctum.
"Mage Daniel."
Following the crowd, Zhang Yang came before Daniel, the mage guarding the London Sanctum. "I'm here to take the assessment."
"You..."
Daniel looked at Zhang Yang, who seemed far too young to be a fourth-year student. After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly remembered who Zhang Yang was. "Zhang Yang, right? It's been so busy today that I nearly forgot."
"Your assessment area is C-12. Remember that!"
While everyone else had their Portals opened by ordinary mages, the one before Zhang Yang had been opened personally by Daniel. "There have been disturbances in the Dark Dimension wormholes recently. Although we've cleared them out several times, there's no guarantee that dark creatures above the level of Dark Hounds won't appear."
"For example, Chino. If you encounter one, don't try to show off."
Although Daniel was meeting Zhang Yang for the first time, he had received plenty of information about him from Mage Hamill. He said with great concern, "Everyone who enters the Sealed Space will be given a fixed-point teleportation spell. If you encounter danger, make sure to use it."
"Understood, Mage Daniel."
Zhang Yang nodded in thanks and walked into the Sealed Space under Daniel's concerned gaze.
The Sealed Space was a mirror dimension specially created by Kamar-Taj to seal dimensional wormholes.
Most of the wormholes sealed within led to the Dark Dimension, while a small number led to other dimensions, such as Heaven, Hell, Asgard, the Netherworld... and so on.
After Zhang Yang passed through the Portal, he appeared in another sanctum.
The London Sanctum.
However, this London Sanctum was already in ruins.
If not for the countless magic formations supporting it from all around, it would likely have collapsed long ago.
Through the gaps in the walls, Zhang Yang saw quite a few monsters wandering outside.
The wolf-like Dark Hounds were the lowest-ranking creatures in the Dark Dimension, and also the cannon fodder troops most favored by its ruler. They were extremely fast and their attacks were not weak, but they possessed one fatal weakness.
They feared light.
In illuminated places, their movement speed was reduced by fifty percent, making their actions sluggish.
Yet even in a lit environment, they remained dangerous to ordinary people and even some poorly trained Mage Apprentices.
Especially because they were numerous and coordinated like hungry wolves. Most Mage Apprentices failed their assessments because they encountered overwhelming numbers of Dark Hounds.
Around the Dark Hounds were massive monsters that resembled lizards in appearance. They were called Zenos, creatures one rank above Dark Hounds.
Monsters of this level could only barely be suppressed and killed if several Mage Apprentices worked together to hold them off, or if a full-fledged mage stepped in.
As for the even stronger Chinos, Zhang Yang looked around but found none.
When he pushed open the London Sanctum's wooden door, which was nearly falling off its hinges, the sound attracted the nearby monsters.
Hundreds of glowing green eyes turned toward him in unison, creating a scene straight out of a horror movie.
They surrounded him, but because of the London Sanctum's protective magic formation, they stopped some distance away.
They were waiting.
Waiting for Zhang Yang to leave the London Sanctum's protection, then swarm him and tear him apart!
"Phew..."
Zhang Yang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After exhaling the heaviness in his chest, he opened his eyes and stepped forward.
Even though he possessed endless magical power, mentally he was still an ordinary person. Faced with a pack of wolves watching him from all sides, he struggled to overcome the fear in his heart.
One step, then two.
Zhang Yang's pace grew faster and faster until he reached the edge of the London Sanctum's protective formation.
"In this world... I'll have to face this sooner or later."
Zhang Yang murmured softly, then stepped beyond the formation's protection.
Awooo!!!
That step seemed to trigger some kind of switch. Every Dark Hound sprang into action.
They launched themselves into the air in a completely unscientific manner, their target—Zhang Yang!
Beneath their gaping maws were sharp teeth, jagged and interlocking like saw blades. One bite would tear off at least a large chunk of flesh.
"Rise!"
With a shake of both hands, Zhang Yang formed the massive Seraphim's Shield into a sphere that protected his entire body.
"Shape!"
Once he had ensured that he would not be attacked, the magical energy in Zhang Yang's hands compressed continuously, condensing into a... QBZ95 Assault Rifle?!
"It actually worked?"
Looking at the QBZ95 Assault Rifle in his hand, which looked real... no, it truly existed, Zhang Yang's face lit up with delight.
He raised the QBZ95 Assault Rifle and locked onto his targets with his spiritual power... it felt just like using an aimbot.
Once he was fully prepared, Zhang Yang opened fire.
"Rat-a-tat-tat..."
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