As I arrived at the examination site, I saw Dakota already present, standing with an air of authority. Around her were nurous trainees, all focused and serious. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation.
Dakota stood at the front, her posture rigid and professional. She acted as though she didn't know , maintaining a completely professional deanor. This was, after all, an official examination.
She stepped forward and addressed the assembled trainees. "Good morning, everyone. Today, we have a newcor who will be tested. Please give him your attention. This is Astron Natusalune."
The trainees turned their gazes toward , their eyes assessing and calculating. It was rare for them to have a new candidate at this point in the training, and they were clearly curious about my abilities.
Dakota continued, "Astron cos to us from the Arcadia Hunter Academy. He has been recomnded by Miss Reina herself."
A murmur went through the crowd at this announcent. I could feel their scrutiny intensify, their interest piqued by the ntion of Reina's endorsent.
One of the trainees stepped forward, a tall and lean young man with sharp eyes. "Miss Dakota, is it true that Miss Reina recomnded him?"
Dakota nodded. "Yes, that is true. Astron is here on Miss Reina's recomndation."
The trainee nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on . "I see. That's quite the endorsent. But, I wonder how capable he is to be recomnded by such a figure."
His words were just as I had expected and was told. After all, it was said that Reina was basically a role model for many people here, though I was not that much aware of her achievent.
And considering that I was nominated here by their idol, it was not that incomprehensible for them to want to see my skills.
After all, there were many such phenona on Earth, too. People checked their idols' private lives, constantly tested their partners, etc., to see if they deserved 'them.' However, that doesn't an what they are doing is right. After all, they are just outsiders.
But that is one of the things that most humans possess. Thinking that they are entitled to interfere with another person's life.
As I contemplated this, I sensed a familiar presence entering the area. The weight of the steps and the commanding aura were unmistakable. I turned my head to the side and saw Reina standing there, her gaze fixed on the scene before her.
Dakota also sensed Reina's presence and shifted her attention to her. Following Dakota's lead, the other cadets turned as well, eventually noticing her. The murmur of conversations ceased, and an air of respect and anticipation filled the room.
Reina walked forward with an air of quiet authority, her eyes briefly eting mine before scanning the crowd. "Good morning," she greeted, her voice calm yet commanding. "I see you're all here to witness the examination."
The trainees straightened, their expressions a mix of awe and respect. "Miss Reina," they chorused, acknowledging her presence.
Reina nodded in acknowledgnt before focusing on Dakota. "I thought I'd observe the examination myself."
"…." Dakota will throw a quick look at Reina, seizing her. But, the look in her eyes was not filled with reverence like others, and there was a faint glint there.
Still, she gave a small, respectful nod to her. "Of course, Sentinel Reina. We're about to begin the physical capability tests."
'Sentinel Reina ….. This is my first ti hearing about his.' I thought inwardly. It seed there was more to this organization and ranks than I had learned, but well, that was to be expected as this was just my first day in this place.
Reina's gaze returned to , a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I have high expectations. Show them why you're here." Yet, in this smile, there was a sense of coldness there.
It seed that the results that I had shown in the academy were still not enough, and they wanted to see sothing more.
'If that is what you want, you are going to see sothing good.'
Since I decided not to hold back, at least in terms of my physical and mana capabilities here, I should show a good sight, no?
Dakota stepped back, giving space to prepare. "We'll start with a test of your combat capability." While she was saying that, there was a faint smile on her lips.
It seed the small test that she did with this morning and keeping it to herself sohow made her feel different.
'In Reina's presence.'
I sensed a small rivalry between her and Reina, though it may have been a one-directional rivalry as well.
Dakota's voice carried clearly across the room. "Astron Natusalune's main weapons are daggers and bows. Since that is the case, the first test will be a dagger test." She turned to , her eyes sharp and focused. "Take your position, trainee."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Understood." I moved to the designated area, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze on .
Dakota continued, "This test will push you to your limits. It may be a bit overwhelming, but it is necessary to gauge your true capabilities."
"I understand," I replied, steadying my breathing and focusing my mind. I readied my daggers, feeling the familiar weight in my hands.
SWOOSH! Dakota nodded,
"Start."
and with a quick command, the test began.
The training dummies activated, moving with surprising speed and precision. They were programd to mimic real combat scenarios, making them formidable opponents. Even now, their faces have turned from a robot to a completely real human.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the daggers in my hands.
SWOOSH! The first dummy lunged at , its blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.
–CLANK! I sidestepped, bringing my dagger up to parry the strike. The clash of tal echoed in the room.
–SWOOSH! Yet, of course, there was not only one of them.
Before I could counterattack, another dummy closed in from the side, aiming a swift stab at my midsection.
–SLASH! I twisted my body, narrowly avoiding the blow. Yet, because he was using a spear, the spear's length was not close enough for to attack.
At least, that was what it was supposed to be.
'Co here.' –GRAB! Since the mont I had evaded the strike, I had already clasped the spear right under my feet, making it stab to the ground.
–SWOOSH! Then threw the dagger right through the neck of the dummy.
–THUD! It was so realistic that the body had its neck oozing blood, and blood spurted from his mouth, staggering.
The dummy staggered back, clutching its neck as simulated blood spurted from the wound. The sight was unnervingly realistic, a testant to the advanced technology behind these training simulations.
–SWOOSH!
At that mont, another dummy charged at , this one wielding a large axe. Its movents were powerful and deliberate, each swing aiming to cleave in two.
I ducked and rolled to the side, feeling the rush of air as the axe blade whistled past my head.
CLENCH!
As I rose from where I was, I pulled the dagger back. The small threads that I had connected to it shone bright, and at that second, the neck of the guy between and the dagger was cut down.
Yet the dummy was not dead. He was shining in red.
'A berserker.'
They had a special skill that, even if they had a deadly blow, they would be able to prolong the certain death.
And the closer they were to death, the stronger they beca, just like how the dummy before was. The strength that I could sense from him was so advanced that, with one hit, it would be my end.
CRACK! The dummy's knees buckled, but it recovered swiftly, swinging the axe in a wide arc. Just as I had expected, his speed was much higher than his previous ones.
But, in my eyes, they were still slow.
SWOOSH! I leaped backward, avoiding the deadly blade by a hair's breadth.
–FLICK! THUD! With a quick flick of my wrist, I threw my remaining dagger at its head. The blade embedded itself deep into its forehead, and the dummy collapsed to the ground, twitching as its systems shut down.
Yet suddenly, I sensed a presence.
SHIVER! My body shivered as my ears picked up a special sound of the air getting compressed. Soone was behind at that split second. Even his heartbeat was erased as if this dummy was taking the shape of a real assassin.
'Indeed, even from the start, there was one more hiding.' This one had activated [Blind Spot], a skill allowing it to teleport short distances, making its movents unpredictable. It disappeared from view, only to reappear behind , its sword poised to strike.
I spun around, instinctively bringing up my arm to block. The sword grazed my arm, but I managed to deflect most of the blow. Using the montum, I delivered a powerful kick to the dummy's chest, sending it staggering back.
Without hesitation, I retrieved my fallen dagger, spinning it in my hand before driving it into the dummy's heart.
As the dummy flickered and fell, I felt a sudden gust of wind. Another opponent had activated [Wind Blade], sending a crescent-shaped projectile hurtling toward .
I dodged to the side, feeling the razor-sharp wind slice through my clothing. The dummy followed up with a flurry of strikes; its blade imbued with wind energy.
I parried and dodged, each movent precise and calculated. The enhanced speed of the wind attacks made it difficult to find an opening, but I remained focused.
Timing my move perfectly, I sidestepped a horizontal slash and closed the distance, plunging my dagger into the dummy's side. The wind energy dissipated, and the dummy fell, deactivating with a flicker.
"Stop."
Just as I rose from my feet, I heard soone calling . It was Dakota, looking at with weird eyes. "The test is over."
Maybe I might have overdone it.
But I could see one thing.
The eyes of the guys that were watching were all widened.
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