It wasn't just the participants or the common folk who were watching the entrance exam closely.
So of the Academy's staff were watching as well, they're just in a different area. They're also accompanied by a few important figures like City Lords and people from the Royal Lineage as well.
"Ah, so this is the lass that got your attention, City Lordess! I must admit, she's quite formidable!" One of the City Lords remarked upon witnessing Isabella's performance.
City Lordess Anastasia, Isabella's guarantor, smiled while shaking her head: "It's a pity that I discovered her too late. If I had more ti with her, I believe she'd display a more impressive performance."
"It is already impressive that she grew to this extent this fast. Besides, the instructors here would be better suited to look after her studies." Another City Lord stated.
"I can't even be mad at that since that's the truth." Anastasia chuckled. "Anyways, I'm also looking forward to Young Garrick's performance. I believe City Lord Silva raised him quite well, even going as far as adopting him."
Saying that, the attention was now passed to City Lord Silva who laughed uproariously at her words:
"Well, he was an adorable kid after all." He said with a hearty smile, "Besides, I would've never thought he would grow this much. I adopted him before he awakened so I was surprised too!"
"He reminds of your youthful days, City Lord Silva. He talks and acts just like you that I'm this close to thinking that he might be your illegitimate son or sothing." Another City Lord teased.
"You and I both, actually." Silva laughed, "The resemblance gives a whiplash sotis...but I've tested it before, and the results were negative. Either way doesn't make a difference. That's my kid and I love him to pieces."
The City Lords grinned at his admission. They continued watching the exams until it was Garrick's turn.
Sufficed to say, everybody was struck dumb when Garrick made his move. Shattering 200 layers of barriers was a result that's currently unmatched in this batch of participants.
"HAHAHAHAHA! That's my kid alright!!" Silva's uproarious laughter sounded amongst the crowd once more. His face was beaming with pride and joy at the results of his adopted son.
He received plenty of congratulations from his folks which greatly stroked his ego. But beyond that, even if Garrick were to have a less impressive result than this, Silva's opinion of him wouldn't change. He's still proud of him nonetheless.
On the corner of the room, the City Lord of Black Thread City - Reiner Braveheart, was also present. But unlike other City Lords, he didn't join in the festivities. He opted to just watch on the sidelines, waiting for Cedric's turn.
Unlike other City Lords here who cultivated a close relationship with their chosen representatives, Reiner and Cedric were civil to each other at most. The fact that Cedric even showed up despite the risks was already stretching the limits of their relationship...at least that's what the City Lord thinks, which shows that he really didn't know Cedric at all.
Because of this, Reiner didn't dare to get his hopes up. At the very least, he'd be more than happy if Cedric could pass the test and beco a student of the Academy. That alone will already bring in a lot of benefits to him and the city.
"Next, Cedric Stormrider."
Reiner visibly perked up upon hearing Orion call out the na of his representative. He then saw the kid walking towards the stage. He doesn't look nervous unlike the others, which might be a good sign.
'His chance to shine will be at the third stage of the Practical Exam. It's already okay if he passes the minimum result for the first two tests.' Reiner mused inwardly.
"Begin!" He heard Orion declare.
He then watched as Cedric summoned a rather ordinary-looking sword causing him and other City Lords to frown. However, before they could utter any comnts about that, they were silenced by a sudden sharpness prickling their senses.
Weng!
Everyone's eyes widened. The fluctuation coming out of Cedric's body felt so sharp and aggressive. It's like a sword was pointed at their throats, freezing them in place and making them think twice before making any sudden movents.
"Sword Intent! This child has Sword Intent! How is this possible? Who is he?"
"By its sharpness, I reckon that his Sword Intent is incomparably pure and matured! But how? He's so young!"
The City Lords as well as a number of the Academy's staff were floored by the sudden reveal of Cedric's fangs.
Hell, even Reiner himself was dumbstruck at this revelation. How co this kid never told him about this!?
This was Sword Intent! It is a miraculous state of union with Sword Arts that every Swordsman pursued in their entire lives! They would kill at the chance of comprehending it, yet this young man has it in spades! How can they not be shocked!?
Hell, even the Instructors on the stage briefly showed reactions.
Nevertheless, if they were surprised, the participants and the audience outside are even more so! The impact of Cedric's Sword Intent was even more intense towards the followers of the Sword Path.
Then, they saw Cedric assuming a stance. His uncovered golden eyes glead with unprecedented braveness and sharpness. He gripped his sword and prepared for a thrust.
He glared at the lotus as if it were his mortal enemy, and in one single stroke of brilliance, he perford his sword thrust.
That was followed by a brilliant flash of steel, montarily blinding a handful of people. Before anybody could even react, Orion already announced Cedric's results:
"170 Layers! Pass! Next!"
That caused an explosion to those who heard it. The crowd burst into a heated discussion as they watched Cedric calmly march down the stage like he had nothing to do with this.
"Incredible! But it didn't cross as many barriers as I initially thought."
"While that might be true, the speed of his attack compensates for it. No ordinary Tier 5 Superhuman will be able to react to that attack just now."
"That's right. Besides, according to what I saw, the child just reached Tier 3 Lv.1, and he still has a lot of growing to do. Additionally, he used a rather lousy weapon just now."
"Hey Reiner, you ass! This kid cos from your city, why do you look shocked!?" One of the City Lord's remarks caught the attention of the rest.
"Don't look at ! I didn't teach him that! In fact, I didn't even know that kid has Sword Intent!" Reiner groaned as he got woken up from his stupor.
Cedric's results truly floored him. He wasn't expecting much to begin with so his surprise this ti was truly refreshing. That said, he also felt guilty.
"The fuck, man!? Seriously, what are you doing? At least give the kid a proper sword! What's a guy like him waving trash like that? It's a waste, really!"
"Don't bla , asshole! The kid never asked for anything! Even I didn't know he could do sothing like that!" Reiner huffed in anger.
"Are you not close with your representative, City Lord Reiner?"
"Didn't have much ti to do so." Reiner snorted in reply, but deep down he was feeling guilty about this. "I only knew of him during the Cult's Incident. I have been busy since. We also just recently experienced a Black Sky and I'm swamped with paperwork. Everything he does is all him."
His statent brought a myriad of reactions from the listeners.
On one hand, they sympathize with Reiner about the paperwork. As fellow City Lords, they all knew how dreadful those papers were. Even with the advancent of technology, humans just can't escape that horrible thing.
On the other hand, Reiner's final words were nothing short of incredible and unbelievable. The fact that his representative was able to achieve that much on his own, trusting nothing but his instincts, skills, and hard work, was nothing short of a miracle.
Reiner himself was still shocked. He still thinks that Cedric will truly shine once the 3rd Test begins. If his results were already this impressive at this stage, who knows what kind of surprises he will bring once he gets on that stage?
Just what kind of talent did Reiner unknowingly co across?
With this feat, Cedric certainly made his way towards the upper list of the geniuses of this batch. Everybody, even the academy's staff, looks at him differently now.
In their eyes, his figure beca more refreshing. Half of his face might be covered with a mask but that didn't matter to delusional fools who are left to make up the rest with their imagination.
Of course, there are also people who are now eyeing him warily. The majority of these gazes co from Swordsn who were greatly rattled by his display of Sword Intent.
Nevertheless, neither Cedric nor the Instructors up the stage were bothered by this shift. The exam continued until the last participant qualified.
And with that done, they move on to the 2nd Test of the Practical Exams.
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