Chapter 43: Tests IV

Ben kept track of the paths he had taken, though he knew the maze could change at any moment.

After nearly twenty minutes, he reached a wide chamber with four doors.

A large stone statue stood in the center.

The statue’s eyes glowed as Ben approached.

"Four doors. One exit. Three paths lead to failure. You may ask one question."

Ben looked at the doors.

Each had a different symbol carved above it. A sword, a shield, a key, and an eye.

He considered the statue’s words.

If he could ask one question, he needed to make it count.

Ben looked at the statue.

"Which door would the guardian of the exit tell me to choose?"

The statue remained silent for a moment.

Then, one of the doors glowed.

Ben examined it.

The answer was not necessarily the correct door. The statue’s response depended on the meaning of the question, and the maze might be testing whether he understood how to deal with misleading information.

Ben thought carefully.

If the guardian always told the truth, it would point toward the correct door. If it always lied, the answer would be the opposite. But the question had been phrased to account for either possibility.

The glowing door was the one marked with an eye.

Ben walked toward it.

The door opened, revealing a long passage.

He entered and continued forward.

The path eventually led him to a large circular chamber. A glowing formation covered the floor, and a stone tablet stood at its center.

Ben approached the tablet.

[Final Challenge]

[Three statements are given. Only one is true.]

[Statement One: The exit is behind the first door.]

[Statement Two: The exit is not behind the second door.]

[Statement Three: The exit is behind the first door.]

[Choose the correct door.]

Ben looked at the three doors surrounding the chamber.

The puzzle seemed straightforward, but the statements were arranged in a way that made the answer uncertain.

He studied them carefully.

The first and third statements were identical. Since only one statement was true, those two statements could not both be true. Therefore, the exit could not be behind the first door.

That meant the first and third statements were false.

The second statement had to be true.

The exit was not behind the second door.

Since the first door was also incorrect, the exit had to be behind the third door.

Ben approached the third door.

It opened as soon as he touched it.

Beyond it was a short passage leading to a bright doorway.

A notification appeared before him.

[Wisdom Trial Completed]

[Time Used: 31 Minutes]

[Evaluation: Passed]

Ben stepped through the doorway.

The maze disappeared, and he returned to the examination chamber.

Several participants had already returned. Some looked relieved, while others were frustrated. A few were still missing, likely continuing to search for the exit.

Ben glanced at the large screen.

His name appeared among the successful candidates.

He had completed the second test.

The instructor approached the returning participants.

"Those who have completed the Wisdom Trial may rest. The next examination will begin once the remaining candidates have finished or the time limit has expired."

Ben moved toward the waiting area.

Amanda and Maya were waiting nearby.

Maya looked at him. "You finished already?"

"Yeah. The maze had several puzzles, but they weren’t too difficult."

Amanda nodded. "The second test is designed to evaluate how you think. It seems you handled it well."

Ben looked toward the screen.

The first test had evaluated combat power and endurance. The second had tested his wisdom and problem-solving ability.

The next three tests would likely examine other aspects of a cultivator’s abilities.

He sat down and waited for the next announcement.

After some time, the instructors gathered the successful candidates again.

"The second part of the examination has concluded," one instructor announced. "Those who passed will proceed to the third test."

The screen changed.

[Third Examination: Ability Assessment]

Ben looked up.

The instructor continued.

"Combat power alone is not enough to become a student of Jupiter Academy. A cultivator must understand their innate abilities and use them effectively. The third test will evaluate your control, adaptability, and practical application of your abilities."

Ben’s expression remained calm.

This test could be more troublesome.

He had to be careful not to reveal too much about White Ruination.

The instructor explained the rules.

"Each participant will be placed in a separate testing area. You will be given a series of challenges that require the use of your abilities. The challenges will vary depending on your innate ability, so no two participants will necessarily face the same tasks."

A series of images appeared on the screen.

One showed a cultivator controlling several floating stones. Another showed someone creating a barrier around a group of targets. A third showed a participant using a movement ability to cross a series of platforms.

"You will be evaluated on control, efficiency, adaptability, and the ability to use your power in different situations. You are not required to reveal every aspect of your innate ability. However, you must demonstrate enough ability to meet the required score."

Ben listened carefully.

That was good.

He could demonstrate his physical abilities and use a limited amount of energy without exposing the true nature of White Ruination.

The instructor raised his hand.

"Participants will be called individually. Please wait until your name is announced."

The examination began.

The first few candidates were taken into separate testing areas. Each faced a different set of challenges based on their innate abilities.

A cultivator with a fire ability had to control the size and temperature of several flames without damaging the surrounding targets.

Another participant with a defensive ability was required to protect a group of objects from repeated attacks.

A candidate with a movement ability had to cross a series of platforms while avoiding energy beams.

The instructors recorded their results.

Ben watched the tests as they progressed.

The third examination was not about raw power. It measured how well a participant understood their own abilities and how effectively they could use them.

After several candidates had completed the test, the instructor called Ben’s name.

"Participant thirty-eight, Ben Parker."

Ben stood up.

Amanda looked at him seriously. "Be careful. This test may reveal more about your ability than the previous ones."

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Maya smiled. "Good luck."

Ben walked toward the testing area.

An instructor led him into a separate chamber. The walls were covered with energy-resistant materials, and several devices were arranged throughout the room.

A screen appeared before him.

[Ability Assessment: Begin]

[Challenge One: Control]

[Challenge Two: Precision]

[Challenge Three: Adaptability]

[Challenge Four: Efficiency]

Ben examined the information.

The first challenge would test his control. He would need to demonstrate his ability without allowing it to affect anything beyond the intended target.

That was something he could manage.

A small metal sphere rose from the floor.

A voice sounded through the chamber.

"Use your innate ability to move the sphere into the designated area."

Ben looked at the sphere.

He did not want to use White Ruination directly. Instead, he gathered a small amount of energy and used it to move the sphere.

The sphere rose into the air and floated toward the marked area.

It landed precisely in the center.

[Challenge One: Passed]

Ben continued.

The second challenge involved several small targets moving around the room. He needed to hit each target without damaging the surrounding structures.

Ben used controlled energy strikes. He adjusted their strength and direction, hitting the targets one after another.

[Challenge Two: Passed]

The third challenge was more complicated.

Several obstacles appeared across the room, and the targets began moving through them. Ben had to adapt to their changing positions and strike them in the correct order.

He studied their movements for a moment before acting.

Rather than wasting energy on rapid attacks, he waited for the right openings and used precise strikes.

The targets were hit one by one.

[Challenge Three: Passed]

The final challenge required him to complete the previous tasks while using as little energy as possible.

Ben took a breath.

This was the most important part.

He relied on his control and physical movements, using only the necessary amount of energy to complete each task. He avoided unnecessary attacks and adjusted his technique whenever the situation changed.

After several minutes, the final target was struck.

[Challenge Four: Passed]

[Ability Assessment Completed]

[Evaluation: Passed]

Ben let out a quiet breath.

He had completed the third test without revealing the true nature of White Ruination.

The chamber’s door opened.

An instructor stood outside.

"Participant thirty-eight, your assessment is complete. You may return to the waiting area."

Ben walked out.

Amanda and Maya were waiting nearby.

"How did it go?" Maya asked.

"I passed."

Amanda studied him for a moment. "Did you reveal anything you shouldn’t have?"

"No. I kept my ability under control."

Amanda nodded in approval.

Ben looked toward the large screen.

He had now passed three parts of the entrance examination.

Only two remained.

The instructors soon gathered the successful candidates and announced the fourth test.

[Fourth Examination: Survival Trial]

The instructor’s voice echoed across the examination area.

"The fourth test will evaluate your survival instincts, adaptability, and ability to make decisions under pressure. You will be placed in a controlled environment filled with obstacles and threats. Your task will be to survive until the trial ends."

Ben looked at the screen.

The details of the fourth examination began to appear.

He had already passed tests of combat power, wisdom, and ability control.

Now he would have to prove that he could survive in a dangerous environment.

Ben stood up and prepared to follow the instructors.

The examination was far from over.