Chapter 67 - 68: Gareth Quinn’s Strength!

Chapter 67: Chapter 68: Gareth Quinn’s Strength!

Nathaniel looked at him.

Gareth lowered his voice. For once, his tone carried a hint of seriousness.

"This ability comes from a former top powerhouse of the Aurelian Alliance."

"His profession was called Illusion Weaver."

"It was an extremely special profession."

"He could weave false worlds and even recreate parts of a Professional’s status."

"During his lifetime, he created a unique piece of equipment."

"That equipment could reproduce and project Professionals into a special space."

"Later, that Senior died in battle, but his equipment survived."

"Future generations used it as the foundation for the Void Network. The metal pods you see here are part of that system."

"Combat inside the network simulates pain, fatigue, and Spirit Energy consumption."

"But you won’t actually die."

"That’s why it’s so suitable for the combat test."

Nathaniel looked toward the light screen.

The battle had already begun.

Facing ten opponents of the same level, Adrian Frost immediately raised his hand and released a barrier of starlight, blocking the enemy Assassin’s approach.

A star chart appeared beneath his feet.

Countless orbs of starlight magic condensed around him.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The magic orbs exploded one after another.

The virtual battlefield was engulfed in a vast field of starlight.

However, those ten opponents weren’t stationary targets.

The Shield Warrior held the front line.

The Assassin launched attacks from the flank.

The Archer continuously suppressed Adrian’s movements.

The Mage exchanged ranged attacks with him.

Meanwhile, the Healer restored the team’s health from the rear.

At first, Adrian maintained control of the battle.

But as time passed, he was forced to spend more and more Spirit Energy to keep his distance.

In the end, after defeating seven opponents, the Assassin finally caught up with him.

A dagger swept across his throat.

The virtual battlefield froze.

[Combat Test: 12.4 points]

The light screen began compiling the total score.

Instructor Garrick Dain examined the data and recorded each result.

[Adrian Frost]

[Strength Test: 7.3 points]

[Agility Test: 7.8 points]

[Spirit Test: 12.0 points]

[Constitution Test: 6.8 points]

[Potential Test: 13.4 points]

[Combat Test: 12.4 points]

[Total Score: 59.7 points]

After seeing the results, several students from Meridian Academy nodded.

The performance wasn’t breathtaking, but it was certainly impressive.

Instructor Garrick Dain also nodded slightly.

"Next."

The tests continued.

One newcomer after another stepped forward.

The overall standard of the students from the Five Top Academies was indeed impressive.

Most scored between 55 and 65 points.

Occasionally, someone displayed exceptional strength in a particular category.

For example, a melee Professional from Westbridge Academy scored 12.7 points in the Strength Test.

A support Professional from St. Orlan Academy had ordinary Constitution and Combat Test scores but achieved 14 points in the Potential Test.

Overall, however, the score gap between the newcomers hadn’t widened much.

Nathaniel stood at the back of the crowd, quietly observing each test.

Gareth, on the other hand, kept making comments.

"That Strength score isn’t bad, but the technique is too crude."

"That Agility score has some substance. The footwork has clearly been trained."

"Tsk. That’s all the mental pressure he could endure? Meridian Academy would be embarrassed to see that."

"That Constitution score is decent. He’s suited for taking hits on the front line."

"Twelve points in Potential. Neither high nor low. A standard genius."

He made each comment without hesitation, paying no attention to the increasingly unpleasant expressions of the people around him.

Meanwhile, Instructor Garrick Dain continued recording the results while speaking quietly with Instructor Malcolm Rook.

"The overall quality of this batch is good."

"Their average score is among the higher ones in the history of our newcomer assessments."

Malcolm Rook watched the tests with a calm expression.

"That’s normal."

"The fighting on the front lines has become too brutal in recent years."

"The casualty rate keeps rising."

"Many powerful Professionals who retire because of their injuries end up teaching at various academies."

"That has raised the overall standard of education."

Hearing this, Garrick’s smile faded.

He remained silent for a moment before sighing.

"That’s true."

"It’s a good thing that the students keep getting stronger."

"But relying on such a terrible price to improve the quality of education..."

He shook his head.

Garrick continued overseeing the test. He glanced at the roster and read the next name.

"Gareth Quinn."

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the testing hall changed.

The students from the Five Top Academies, who had been whispering among themselves, fell silent almost at once.

One gaze after another landed on Gareth.

Some were defiant.

Some were cold.

Others carried a hint of apprehension.

Gareth stretched his neck and grinned.

"Finally, my turn."

As he spoke, he didn’t forget to look at Nathaniel.

"Brother."

"Watch closely."

"I’ll show you how to make the students from the Five Top Academies change their expressions."

Nathaniel was speechless.

The expressions of the surrounding students immediately darkened.

"Gareth Quinn."

"You’d better have the strength to back up those words."

Gareth strode toward the giant drum used for the Strength Test, his broad-bladed saber still strapped to his back.

"Don’t rush."

He removed the long saber and casually planted it in the ground beside him.

Boom!

The blade sank into the floor.

The entire testing hall seemed to tremble.

Several people twitched their eyelids.

That saber was incredibly heavy!

Standing before the giant drum, Gareth finally restrained his playful smile.

His body sank slightly.

His feet pressed against the ground.

His spine bent like a drawn bow, and his right fist slowly pulled back.

At that moment, Nathaniel clearly sensed a change in Gareth’s aura.

The talkative young man who had spent the entire journey provoking people seemed to have disappeared.

In his place stood a fierce blade waiting to be drawn.

The next instant,

Gareth threw his punch.

Dong!!!

The giant drum released an extremely deep roar.

Its surface collapsed inward.

The dent was deeper than any produced by the previous participants.

Immediately afterward, violent ripples exploded outward in every direction.

They weren’t the smooth, controlled ripples produced by Adrian Frost.

These were rough and turbulent, carrying the force of a violent impact.

The data on the testing platform began changing rapidly.

A moment later, the result appeared on the light screen.

[Gareth Quinn]

[Strength Test: 13.5 points]

Boom!

The entire testing hall erupted.

"13.5?"

"Strength Test: 13.5 points?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"That’s almost a perfect score!"

"Wasn’t the melee Professional from Westbridge Academy only at 12.7?"

"Didn’t Gareth come from an ordinary academy? How can his Strength be this high?"

The expressions of the students from the Five Top Academies changed completely.

The melee students from Westbridge Academy looked especially uncomfortable.

Westbridge Academy had always been famous for close combat and physical development.

Yet Gareth, a student from an ordinary academy, had just surpassed every one of their students in the Strength Test.

This was no longer just about a score.

It felt like a direct slap in their faces.

Gareth slowly withdrew his fist and turned toward the crowd.

"Why is everyone so quiet?"

"Aren’t the students from the Five Top Academies usually full of comments?"

No one answered.

But many people had already clenched their fists.

Gareth’s smile grew wider.

"Nathaniel, did you see that?"

"That’s what I call making people change their expressions."

With that, Gareth turned and walked toward the next testing station.