The magic cards I made are absolutely flawless!

From goblin bandit to goblin sheriff, Dekan, the creator, gave her a very eerie feeling.

It seems that he cannot be judged by ordinary common sense.

Perhaps the Knights Academy exams...

Who knows, he might actually deliver a performance that will leave everyone stunned?

005 Dekan gained attention

The day of the entrance exam and the test of ability.

The total number of people who passed the preliminary examination across the four branch campuses was over a thousand.

The initial test consisted of a simple attribute test and a written exam. Dekan's attribute test results were somewhat unsatisfactory, but he still passed smoothly.

The Knights Academy has approximately 500 students who passed the preliminary examination this year, the largest number among the four academies.

Commoners are more likely to become warriors, since warriors are the class that relies least on expensive magic cards.

However, based on past experience, the pass rate will still be the lowest among the four hospitals.

Because the Knights Academy's exam questions are practical!

......

Hevenlitt Magic Academy, Knights' Building.

Dekan arrived at the examination room on the seventh floor early and waited in the candidates' seats.

Several giant magical artifacts were placed in the center of the venue.

The light shone on the magical artifacts, refracting into mesmerizing and magnificent rays of light.

These giant magical machines, linked together, stretch for tens of meters. They are made entirely of mithril and magic crystals, and look exceptionally spectacular, yet they exude a cold aura.

It is one of the greatest masterpieces of magical engineering in recent years: the Artificial Shadow World Activator!

This exam will utilize the "Artificial Shadow World" to provide candidates with a practical training opportunity!

Compared to most of the other candidates who were anxious or whispering among themselves, Dekan appeared very calm.

He rested his chin on his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, as he examined the magical artifacts in the distance.

"Hey, what are you looking at?"

Because Dekan is very good-looking, even though he is dressed plainly, people will often come up to him and talk to him.

"I'm wondering how this thing was made."

"Haha, don't even think about it. Is this something we Knight Academy candidates should worry about?"

Dekan nodded and ignored the other examinee.

This is definitely not something a martial artist should worry about.

But as a scholar, Dekan was very interested in it.

"Boom, boom."

As if it were intentional, heavy footsteps echoed in the venue, instantly silencing the previously noisy examination room.

The candidates' gazes gradually converged in one direction.

A figure in a dark brown military uniform walked out from the inside of the venue, and at that moment, the entire seventh floor seemed to be filled only with the sound of his footsteps.

As the footsteps drew closer, the examinees finally saw that the newcomer was a middle-aged man with sharp eyebrows, piercing eyes, and a serious expression.

He has a horrifying scar near his right eye, but it doesn't detract from his image; it only makes him look more dignified.

He stopped and stood in front of the waiting area.

“I am your examiner, Arno Sylret, and also a professor and vice-principal of the Knights Academy.”

Arno glanced at the group of examinees and said.

"The theme of this exam is 'survival skills'."

"...In most cases, in the Shadow World, following the correct path to advance the main storyline will prevent you from being defeated by enemies whose class is far superior to your own."

"However, if an accident or mistake occurs along the way, you may encounter an enemy strong enough to kill you instantly."

"At this point, escape will become the key to the rescue mission."

"At worst, if we can hold out until the time limit in the Shadow World expires, we can still be teleported out of the Shadow World alive."

Arno suddenly paused, his eyes becoming somewhat sharp.

"Just last year, a tragic accident occurred at Hervenlitt Academy: a failed attempt to clear a Level 4 Shadow World resulted in the loss of three students."

"The root cause is that one of the Knights Academy students in the team was too arrogant and lacked actual ability."

"Therefore, this year, we will pay special attention to the candidates' qualifications as 'martial artists'."

At this point, Arno seemed to be paying particular attention to a few candidates in the waiting area.

Dekan felt that he was part of it.

Could it be that they saw my preliminary test scores and started paying special attention to me, this unusual candidate?

But there's nothing to be afraid of. The Knights Academy's exams have always been fair and just, treating all candidates equally.

Dekan scratched his head and thought to himself.

"The exams will be conducted in batches, with each session lasting half an hour. Students will enter the exam in batches."

"Each candidate's shadow world is independent; your enemy will be a random examiner or a projection of an examiner."

"Of course, the examiners' qualifications will be subject to strict standards."

"This 'Artificial Shadow World Activation Device' can hold up to 100 small shadow worlds at the same time, so candidates numbered 1 to 100 will be the first to complete the exam, and so on..."

After briefly explaining the exam process, Arnold embedded a crystal into the control panel behind him.

Then, several seemingly illusory doors appeared in front of the enormous magical artifact!

This is the void gate that leads into the world of shadows.

Arnold didn't linger and left the venue lobby, while the other examiners began guiding the candidates into the world of film.

Dekan looked at his exam number.

404, looks like we'll have to wait until the fifth batch.

Unfortunately, it was impossible to observe other candidates' performances while in the exam room, making those two hours rather difficult.

The entrance exams for the Knights Academy can be watched by outsiders.

Because the images from the "artificial world" are transmitted to the Alchemy Institute's control room.

The Alchemy Institute would broadcast it for profit and to promote the school.

......

In the conference room, a group of professors from the Knights Academy watched the battle unfold in the shadow world.

In the footage they saw, the camera focused almost entirely on a red-haired girl.

Unlike the other candidates who were desperately trying to escape or hide, she was actually confronting the fourth-level examiners head-on!

And the fight was evenly matched!

"Arno, what do you think of this year's test takers?"

The dean, sitting in the chief seat, suddenly asked a question.

"There are a few good ones, especially this red-haired girl, Cornelia..."

Arno, who was standing to the side, seemed to have thought of something and paused for a moment, "But there is also one that is really outrageous."

"How is that going too far?"

The dean blinked, shifted his gaze from the light screen, and looked at Arno with great interest as he asked.

Arno sighed, somewhat helplessly: "I remember his name was Dekan. He got full marks on the written test, but his attribute test results showed that apart from his extremely high spirit, his strength, magic power, and stamina were all very poor. There was absolutely no indication that he had the aptitude to be a martial artist, or even to become a summoner."

"But his overall attributes still meet the requirements, don't they?"

The dean stroked his stubble, seemingly finding it amusing.

This made Arnold frown even more.

“I’ve said it before: our Knight Academy should add a strength or physical fitness threshold for freshmen. It is you who have insisted on leaving some possibilities for ‘alternative warriors’.”

Hearing Professor Arno's words, the dean was not angry at all. Instead, he had a faint smile on his face and asked, "Then let's bet on whether this kid can pass the exam. I want that bottle of wine that Marquis Prin gave you last time."

"...If I win, the Knight Academy will have to add the requirements I mentioned to its admissions criteria in the future, is that alright?"

"can."

Upon hearing the dean's agreement, Arno stood up and walked straight out of the meeting room.

"Where are you going?"

“I will personally assess him.”

"..." The dean was silent for a moment, "This kid is a bit strange, be careful."

This surprised Professor Arnold, who turned around.

"You're not worried about him, but about me?"

And what dangers could there be in the world of artificial shadows?

However, the dean didn't say much, he just waved his hand and told Professor Arno to leave.

006 Dekan begins to bare his fangs.

By the time Dekan was almost asleep, he was already asleep.

He was finally reminded by the examiner that it was time to enter the world of film.

Dekan unbuttoned the top button of his shirt collar, twisted his neck, relaxed his shoulders, and followed the examiner to the Gate of the Void.

Stepping into this void gate, one is immediately plunged into a pitch-black space, where nothing can be seen.