Chapter 78

The Full Moon Academy's Sage Academy is responsible for new magic development and candidate assessments.

At this moment, in a spacious and bright meeting room on the top floor, a holographic projection device resembling a planet was playing the footage of the second round of exams.

And surrounding that projection device were circles of curved long tables.

If the candidates saw who these people sitting at the long tables were, they would surely rush over excitedly to ask for autographs.

Those Legendaries from the Tianming Continent who had come from afar did not leave the academy, but instead gathered together, paying attention to the competition's progress.

However, compared to those teachers and professors who were serious to the point of being meticulous, these Legendaries looked more like they were holding a tea party.

"Hmm, compared to the first round exam, the second round exam is rather boring." The Source High Priest yawned: "Don't know which genius thought up this test method. Throwing a group of mages who fiddle with magic into a magic-ban forest to brawl hand-to-hand, tsk tsk tsk."

On the holographic projection, almost every candidate's progress was very struggling.

The Forbidden Magic Forest was fraught with danger; there were not only the coveting gazes of competitors, but also magic beasts that popped out from time to time.

Mages unable to use magic appeared powerless in the face of this sudden wilderness survival.

The assessment had only just begun, and several candidates had already broken their legs and used the teleporters on their identity cards.

This action was undoubtedly equivalent to giving up their exam qualifications.

There was also one who, because they mistakenly entered a Deep Gloom Man-Eating Flower's territory, fell into a coma before they could even call for rescue.

"I believe the academy's approach is correct." The Shadow High Priest shrugged: "All along, we have placed a mage's talent for learning and mastering magic as the top priority, yet never considered the mindset and wisdom most important in actual combat."

"The Abyss stops at nothing; if the students we cultivate are merely infants in swaddling clothes, then even if they possess a one-in-a-billion talent, it would be of no use whatsoever."

"You're right; pragmatism is the Full Moon Academy's future teaching philosophy."

Just then, the meeting room's grand doors were pushed open, and a majestic voice resounded.

Simultaneously resounding with it was the "creak" of chairs sliding on the floor.

Whether Legendaries or teachers, all stood up and saluted toward the meeting room's grand doors.

No one spoke, but doubt showed in everyone's gaze — what wind blew the Dean here? In past years she never cared about these things. And under their attentive gazes, the Full Moon Queen lightly nodded, casually found an empty table and sat down: "Alright, no need for excessive courtesy, continue watching."

Her purpose for coming this time was of course only one — Big Boss.

Perhaps because of being rejected once, or perhaps because of that familiar feeling, the Full Moon Queen's usually calm heart trembled slightly.

She wanted to figure out whether that feeling was her own illusion, or... a minuscule possibility.

And after the Full Moon Dean's arrival, the atmosphere in the meeting room became considerably more serious than just now.

The candidates in the holographic projection finally had new progress as well.

"Oh, this is... have they already formed a team? Hehe, indeed, teaming up is indeed the best choice in this situation." The Order High Priest stroked his beard.

In the footage, under the lead of a noble student, 8 civilian candidates formed the first small group.

They utilized their numerical advantage to continuously attack surrounding candidates, seizing their identity information; in a short while, every single person's score had reached 6 points.

"Heh, correct choice? I say it's a coward's choice." War God Bas coldly snorted: "Haven't you noticed? This squad is consciously avoiding nobles and strong ones; their targets are only isolated civilians."

"There's no helping it, is there?" Another teacher defended: "After all, this squad's strongest is only 2nd Rank; compared to those geniuses the power gap is too large."

"It's not like that." Bas sighed: "The weak band together, yet only to raise their butcher knives against the even weaker; such people can never become strong ones."

The meeting room fell into a brief silence because of this simple sentence.

Fortunately this awkwardness didn't last a moment before being broken by the Full Moon Queen's question.

"Lord Bas, who do you think will be the top scorer of this second round exam?"

"Hehe, that would of course be my son, Mu." Under everyone's 'as expected' gazes, Bas gave the familiar answer.

But this time, no one refuted him; even the Furnace and Order duo who always made sarcastic remarks at him fell uncharacteristically silent.

No matter how poor Mu's body coordination is, the blood of the War God Clan flows in him.

In the magic-ban assessment environment, his martial prowess advantage is simply too great.

Moreover, he also possesses the Divine Favor Title 【Glory of the Rebellious】.

It must be said, Mu becoming this round's top scorer is by no means arrogant talk from someone overestimating their abilities.

Seeing no one refute him, Bas's face again revealed a complacent smile.

He felt he was on a roll again.

"Hehe, not to brag, but this round of exams, my son will definitely be first!"

Everyone again showed helpless expressions; Lord Bas is fine in every way, just this habit of showing off in front of people leaves one powerless to retort.

"Then, what about Big Boss?" The Furnace Archbishop suddenly asked.

"Heh, that little group has found another target to bully." Just then, a teacher spoke up, shifting the topic.

In the footage, a pink-haired girl was being forced into a corner by this squad; the girl's cheeks were pale, a look of panic-stricken terror.

And the leading noble in that little group had already revealed a smile of assured victory.

"Hmm, Karenina, a noble from Storm Royal Capital." The Order High Priest flipped through the candidate register: "No family, no background, no outstanding talent either... hmm, facing this kind of assault, she presumably has no way out at all."

"Sigh, losing 9 points at once, this poor girl's run ends here." The Furnace High Priest also sighed.

"Yeah, truly pitiful!"

"Right, clearly she's already tried hard enough."

"What a lovable girl, really such a shame."

"..."

For a moment, sighs of regret rose and fell continuously.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, Liuli, who had been sitting in the corner looking uninterested, spoke softly: "Something's off, look!"

The next second, the girl in the footage suddenly revealed a warm, sunny smile.

Immediately after, those enemies surrounding her fell for it.

Some were hung spread-eagled from trees, while others had the ground cave in beneath their feet and fell into caves.

In just an instant, the nine enemies surrounding her were all dealt with.

"Is this magic?"

"No, this is the simplest trap, used for catching wild beasts." Liuli smiled. "Among the citizens of Storm Royal Capital, there aren't many who don't know these things."

"Karenina... she was intentionally showing weakness, she was fishing."

While speaking, Liuli frowned.

She always felt that Karenina's smile was quite familiar.

Very similar to her Cheng's smile.

Immediately after, Miss Karenina in the screen also began her next actions.

She took the equipment off those who attacked her in a few quick moves; no, not just equipment, even their outer clothes and the gold coins and badge stones they carried were not let go.

The staves and other things that couldn't be taken away were destroyed on the spot by her.

This clean-swept appearance was simply more bandit-like than bandits.

Now, this group of people who attacked her also lost the qualifications to continue the assessment.

"..."

"..."

For a moment, the Legendaries who had just been continuously sighing in regret all tugged at the corners of their mouths in unison, and the meeting room became even more awkward.

Where is this some naive and cute girl...

This is clearly a wolf in sheep's clothing! After a moment, War God Bas spoke first: "Hmm, pragmatism."

"Right, pragmatism, hmm, this Karenina is indeed a talent who thoroughly practices pragmatism!"

"Correct, the future Abyss strategy team will certainly have a seat for her."

"Hmm, besides, her talent was poor to begin with, being able to do this is also out of necessity."

"Yeah, geniuses wouldn't do this kind of thing."

The Legendaries nodded one after another, saying as much.

Half a minute later.

Another cry of alarm rang out.

This time, the person shouting was not a Legendary, but a professor from Full Moon Academy.

"Wait, isn't that this exam's Chief Examiner?"

"What is he doing entering the assessment?"

(Chapter Complete)