The Golem Mage

725: 1st Test 2.

725: 1st Test 2.

“All you have to do is step up to the obelisk and give it your best shot,” Instructor Duran began, his voice echoing across the venue.

“You’ll have three chances to strike the stone pillar, and your highest score will be the one that counts.” He paused briefly before continuing,

“For regular students, reaching the peak of the third bar is enough to be put up for auction, Instructors will then compete to take you in as their direct disciple.

If more than one instructor is interested in you, you’ll have the privilege of choosing the one you feel is most compatible for you.”

Alec listened to Duran’s words, noting the subtle undertones, he knew what wasn’t being said outright: choosing between instructors often came with consequences.

Rejecting an instructor, especially one less powerful than your chosen mentor, almost always led to animosity, the only time an instructor would swallow their pride was if the student chose someone like a Great instructor or someone undeniably superior in rank or reputation.

The second-year students in the crowd were visibly uneasy as Duran laid out the expectations.

Many frowned, realizing the bar was set much higher than what had been required during their own first year assessments.

“As for the direct disciples,” Duran continued, his tone growing sharper,

“if you fail to achieve a score at least at the peak of the third bar, you’ll be demoted to an ordinary disciple position, regardless of who your current instructor is.”

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder until Duran tapped his walking cane sharply against the ground, silencing them.

The weight of his words settled heavily over the second-year students, they now understood why they’d felt uneasy, the benchmarks being set for the first years were stricter than what had been applied to them back then.

In fact, these standards were closer to what they had anticipated for their second-year assessments, the realization left many sweating nervously, wondering just how much harsher their own evaluations would be if the first year was already like this.

Frustration and resentment bubbled among them, and some second year students couldn’t hide their hostility, their glares turned toward Alec and his team, their gazes sharp with blame.

The second-year students were convinced that Alec and his team’s outstanding performance at the inter academy competition had raised the bar for everyone, and being unable to voice their grievances to the instructors or Great Instructors, their frustration manifested as hostility toward Alec and his group.

Alec, who had been quietly observing the situation, noticed their stares and the subtle attempts by a few to probe his true realm despite his efforts to suppress his aura, displeased by their audacity, Alec snorted and unleashed a Spirit Break using his mental ability.

The backlash hit the probing second-years like a hammer in the back of their minds, causing several to cough up blood on the spot.

“Idiots,” Alec muttered, his voice carrying disdain.

It had always been clear that Alec loathed anyone attempting to intrude on his mental boundaries, even some Tier 6 mages had difficulty discerning his true realm, so it was laughable that these second-years, whose mentality stats didn’t even reach double digits would dare to try.

The Dean, watching from a distance with his Spirit Eyes, smiled faintly at the spectacle.

“This boy just keeps getting stronger and more interesting, his mental prowess has already reached the realm of a Tier 6 Mage.

No matter what, Alec must not be abandoned.

He’s going to play a significant role in shaping the future of the War God Mage Academy,” the Dean mused.

He continued to observe Alec discreetly, careful not to reveal himself, with the Dean’s mentality far surpassing Alec’s, it was easy for him to use Spirit Eyes undetected.

After all, it wasn’t a direct probe but a subtle observation that wouldn’t trigger Alec’s defences.

Instructor Duran resumed speaking, breaking the tension in the arena.

“For the direct disciples, if you can reach the fourth bar during this test, you’ll be one step closer to advancing into the second year when you return from your one-month holiday.

Even if I think it might be a challenge for you ordinary students, I don’t want to count you all out.

If any of you manage to achieve the same record, consider yourselves on the path to promotion too.”

The crowd fell silent, hanging onto every word Duran spoke, their focus now fully on the unfolding assessment.

Seeing that the students had taken in his words, Instructor Duran decided to move things forward.

“You may begin!” he declared, his voice cutting through the tense air.

At once, the crowd of students shuffled back, leaving those standing at the forefront as the only immediate candidates, none of them wanted to go first, preferring instead to observe how others performed the strength test, many hoped to discern a trick or strategy that could give them an edge.

“Don’t waste time.

You there, step forward.

Let’s get rolling,” Duran said, pointing to a nervous young mage at the front.

Those who had managed to stay further back sighed with relief, grateful not to be the first under scrutiny.

The selected mage, clearly a direct disciple of one of the instructors, stepped forward with visible anxiety, as the first to be tested, he was desperate not to make a mistake, taking a deep breath, he pulled his hand back, gathering mana as he prepared to strike the stone.

Mana swirled around his fist, glowing faintly as he channelled his energy, however, as his punch neared the stone, the accumulated mana dissipated into the air, and the force behind his attack diminished significantly.

A small, unimpressive thud echoed as his fist connected with the stone.

For a moment, there was silence, broken only by the appearance of a white light climbing slowly from the base of the stone.

It travelled upward, past the first bar, but halted at the peak of the second bar, unable to go any further.

The crowd erupted into laughter, mocking the mage’s lackluster performance.

However, not everyone joined in, those who recognized their own limitations began to frown, and this is because they realized they were no stronger than this mage, which made them feel the test might be far more challenging than they had anticipated.

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention,” Duran said with a mischievous smile,

“you can’t use your mana when you punch, or your momentum will be drastically reduced, now, your first attempt indicates Second Bar Peak.

You still have two chances, so don’t waste them.”

The mage froze for a moment, processing the sudden revelation, when he looked at Duran’s face, he didn’t see the image of a supportive instructor anymore.

Instead, he saw a cunning man, seemingly enjoying the confusion and frustration of the students.

It was clear to him Duran should have explained all the rules upfront.

A wave of frustration washed over the student, as he felt cheated, as if he had been set up to fail.

Losing one of his three chances due to the instructor’s deliberate omission felt unfair, but as he glanced at the other instructors, none of them spoke up to correct Duran.

They all understood what Duran was doing, adding an element of pressure and unpredictability to the test.

But as long as he didn’t push things too far, they were willing to let him have his fun, for the mage standing before the pillar, however, this was no laughing matter.