The Martial Artist and Mage sections, dressed in the same training attire, were gathered near a portal as Luxia began to speak.
"You will be randomly teleported into the forest north of the academy. This will be a battle royale. If you are eliminated, you will automatically be brought back here. If you do not fight for more than ten minutes, or if you are unconscious or unable to fight, you can surrender by saying, 'I surrender.' Murder is forbidden, but for amputations, high-quality potions are available, and provisions are made for much more severe injuries.
Eliminating a student from your own section earns you 40 MP, while defeating a student from the other section gives you 80 MP. Additionally, magical beasts ranging from level E to level C are scattered throughout the area. Killing a level E beast earns 10 MP, while a level C beast is worth 80 MP.
Many teachers will monitor your performance on screens, and your combat skills will determine your rank. Oh, and your seniors might also be watching you.
Well, I think I've been clear enough. Do your best."
After Luxia's explanation, the students passed through the portal one by one. Sahara was reading an anonymous memo a second-year student had given her a few minutes earlier. Her serious expression was a stark contrast to her usual smiling face.
[Don't do what you intended to do. Black Elf]
For an elf, being labeled as a "Black Elf" was very serious, as it meant she was a witch affiliated with the Hyls sisters. Sahara smiled as if nothing was wrong, then adjusted her monocle. She was new and didn't know that the person who had given her the memo was actually the bodyguard of the young master Indivar.
...
As the first-year students were teleported for their evaluation, in the Martial Artist section's auditorium, except for the deans, most of the teachers were gathered to evaluate the students by observing twenty screens operated by a professor. For the other years, there were no more classes. Students from other years could follow the evaluation via the academy's platform.
It was of utmost importance for faction leaders to observe the performances of their potential future subordinates.
Liam Dawnflare's faction, the heir of the Elfim Kingdom, a third-year, was present. Beside him was his right-hand man and fiancée, Helena Andor.
Leonard Von Arcadia's faction, heir of Arcadia, also a third-year, was there with his second-in-command, Leo Von Arcadia, his cousin.
The River and MoonShade factions,
Kara and Daemon's faction from the second year,
and the Setsuna faction of the Wolf Clan, of which Eden would become the right-hand man in the future.
Only Arthur's faction was absent, and in reality, he didn't need to be present. He had no intention of recruiting anyone; rather, it was the others who wanted to become paladins who would sign up.
"I did a little research on this Elf; she's from a declining noble family," Kara commented.
Daemon shot her a glance before turning his attention back to the holograms.
"If that's all you found, your research isn't very impressive," he mocked.
"Tss."
...
The students had been through the portal for about two hours, and the forest was in complete chaos. Battles were breaking out everywhere, some involving magical beasts, others between students. Amidst all this chaos, Sahara was engaged in a conflict with Hedia Walt, a noble from the Kingdom of Elfim who had reached the second star as a mage. Facing a calm Sahara, who hadn't even drawn her cane-sword, stood an exhausted Hedia, whose spells had so far been ineffective, and who had constantly dodged the floating daggers controlled by Sahara's telekinetic ability.
"Water Magic: Hydra Plures!" she shouted, using one of her most powerful spells.
Several serpent-shaped projectiles rushed toward Sahara. The projectiles, displaying the power of a level two mage, were effortlessly annihilated by Sahara's invisible barrier, a barrier made of waves.
"Damn!" Hedia muttered, realizing her mana was depleted.
"Surrender," Sahara calmly requested, somewhat pensive, not taking the duel seriously.
The five daggers floating fiercely pierced Hedia's arms and left leg, causing her to stumble painfully under the impact.
Seeing herself unable to retaliate, she said with a bitter expression, "I surrender," and instantly disappeared from the forest.
Sahara looked at the spot where she had been with indifference. Thanks to the Nerd bracelet given earlier, every ten minutes, one could check the location of a person. Sahara had thus searched for Elizabeth's location with the intention of fighting her and forgetting her problem for a while.
...
Eden stood with his hands in his pockets, the corpses of a pack of wolves lying nearby.
"Eight level D magical beasts, I only need 80 more MP to reach my goal. I didn't even need to use my sword aura with these small fries."
As he observed the corpses, a young man with a slender build, brown hair, and a smiling face nobly approached him.
"I don't know you, you must be a commoner. Yet, you're talented."
...
*Eden's Point of View*
"I don't know you, you must be a commoner. Yet, you're talented," declared the young man who had just appeared.
"You're arriving at the right time, man. I only needed 80 more MP."
"Oh, you shouldn't underestimate me, commoner. I am the son of Count William Brown: Kelvin..."
"I'll stop you right there, let's settle this quickly. I don't care about your name or your background." I replied, cutting him off.
"I'll take the lead," I said, casting a spell.
*Ice Magic: Plures Sagitta*
Staying in place, I launched a dozen ice arrows.
"Ice magic? That's quite rare, you hide your skills well, commoner," he said with a smile, gracefully dodging the projectiles while preparing his own spell.
*Ice Magic: Glacies Superficies*
"I'm in the Martial Artist section," I replied nonchalantly.
The surface around the area began to freeze, quickly spreading in a circle. He stepped back three meters.
"I think you made a mistake in choosing your section. Are you a swordsman or a mage? I see you using spells instead of sword techniques."
"I do both. Even if my spells are less powerful than my sword techniques, I think it's enough."