[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-adventures-of-hulim":3,"chapter-the-adventures-of-hulim-the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-311":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Adventures of Hulim",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1882454,2498,"Chapter 311: The Gauntlet Run","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-311",311,"\u003Cp>The day after the Ranking Battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation remained much the same as yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, the story from yesterday had spread far and wide, transforming into increasingly exaggerated rumors that convinced anyone who had considered challenging her to abandon the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, Hulim found herself repeatedly going through the motions of stepping onto the field and off again—with the actual match portion completely absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This continued until no one dared to face her at all...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday she had at least gotten to use her magic once—today she didn't even get that chance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she knew it, she had already secured first place in the Ranking Battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was probably the most bizarre first-place finish in Manacos history—a student who hadn't cast a single spell after advancing to the top hundred, yet still emerged victorious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this also reflected that she might be the strongest first-place winner in Manacos history...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, the Ranking Battle is finally over!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko stretched lazily in the dessert shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations, Miko—you got second place in the Ranking Battle,\" Hulim congratulated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko gave Hulim a deadpan look and retorted:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......Hulim, hearing you say that is just... awkward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was belated, Miko had been Hulim's opponent in the final match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the other competitors who surrendered out of fear of exaggerated rumors, Miko simply recognized the gap in their abilities and surrendered straightforwardly, just like everyone else before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, really—Miko, you're amazing! If you take me out of the picture, you would've been first place!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in other years, Miko would likely have been first...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean 'take me out of the picture'...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, there are no 'what ifs' in this world. Actually, I achieved second place precisely because I've been using you as my goal all this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Miko is right—we've been able to grow this much thanks to Hulim's guidance these past three years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Y-You two...\" Hulim stammered. \"Fine—let's call it the result of our collective efforts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Agreed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let's celebrate our collective efforts!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three ordered an extra dessert...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This book was originally published on NovelBin. Check it out there for the real experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, the Gauntlet Run is in two days,\" Alicia changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know the specifics for this year, but I've heard this exam can be dangerous. Every year, many students end up getting injured...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry—for us, nothing like that will happen,\" Hulim reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, Alicia, instead of worrying about that, why not think about whether we can break the record from previous years!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The record from previous years... That might be difficult, but—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia glanced at Hulim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With Hulim here, I think breaking the record won't be a problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, right! Hulim definitely can do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......You two have way too much faith in me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, it's not about faith—it's just the plain truth. And for some reason, I have a feeling Hulim won't just break the record—she'll do something even more impressive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was that supposed to mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time quickly arrived for the Gauntlet Run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exam venue was set in the mountainous area outside Langard, where Manacos mages had jointly created a specially designed course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All methods are permitted. Each participant must pass through every checkpoint on the path. The earlier you reach the finish line, the higher your score will be!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I now declare—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The exam begins!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the teacher's signal,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>students who had been ready at the starting line immediately surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as they began running, they felt something blur past them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did... did something just fly by?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, you must be imagining things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, stop chatting and hurry up! You want to come in last?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, right away...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>students who had been crowded at the starting line gradually spread out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strongest students raced to the front, with fewer and fewer figures following behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They navigated through canyons, crossed large crevices, climbed cliffs, and forded rivers...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much effort, they finally reached the first checkpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mountain valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But within the valley, barriers were set up—each stronger than the last. They had to break through all of them to pass through the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, according to Gauntlet Run rules, everyone must pass through this exact point; bypassing it would invalidate their results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each student carried a special magic item that recorded specific magical wavelengths—only at the checkpoints' designated passage areas were there magic circles emitting these wavelengths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, any attempt to cheat was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interestingly, the rules didn't prohibit cooperation. If students worked together, everyone's results would likely improve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately, the nature of this competition was inherently competitive. Besides completion time, ranking was also part of the evaluation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, everyone was an opponent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cooperation was nearly impossible—except for those who couldn't overcome the checkpoints alone and had no choice but to work together...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom! Boom! Boom...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance to the first valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of students were fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were trying to eliminate their opponents to pass through the checkpoint faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some ignored the chaos and directly attacked the barriers to break through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the moment a barrier shattered, everyone who had been fighting nearby would simultaneously rush forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And while the barrier-breaker was recovering, they would sprint past them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You—you guys!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barrier-breaker's face turned crimson with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They'd been used!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worst of all, mocking laughter drifted from ahead:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, thanks for saving us the trouble~!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastards! Stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similar scenes repeated throughout the Gauntlet Run course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the attack-testing checkpoint came the defense-testing checkpoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also a mountain valley, but much longer than the first one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the ground and sky were covered with dense attack magic circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames, wind blades, ice shards, lightning—all manner of elemental magic attacks illuminated the entire valley in a dazzling display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for the students who reached this point, this spectacle was anything but enjoyable—their hearts were filled with trepidation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their defense failed, they could end up severely injured or worse!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you afraid of? If none of you will go, I will!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the crowd, confident students cast protective spells and charged into the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had the skill to make it through unscathed, but others...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams echoed from within the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teachers monitoring nearby immediately rushed in to rescue someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, more and more students were carried out...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>",1068,"2026-06-10T06:36:37.917Z",1,"novelbin.me","89a284f8c74cff5146e0904c3335e470a15412efcd8c511deee0acb11afc01d1","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-312","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-364",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-adventures-of-hulim-cover.jpg"]