The venue for the combat assessments was the same arena where Alex had dueled Marcus.
Today, nearly all the seats were filled with first-year Knight Faculty students from three classes: the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
The Elite class had a separate set of assessments, managed differently due to their status as the cream of the crop.
Most faculty members from these three classes were present to manage the crowd. Once everyone settled down, a teacher stepped forward to begin the combat assessment.
The teacher outlined the rules and format of the assessment. The basic rules remained unchanged: no potions, artifacts, or other aids.
Then came the format, "Students are grouped by strength, with matches arranged accordingly. You have two chances to lose before elimination. After the first loss, you can re-enter the queue, but upon a second loss, you're out. You lose if you forfeit, get thrown out the stage, or are unable to continue fighting."
"You'll be scored based on your overall performance, not just wins or losses. Judges will rank you accordingly. Any questions?"
Murmurs spread as students discussed among themselves. A girl from the Advanced class raised her hand.
"Yes?" "Miss Amy, can you elaborate on the judging criteria?" she asked.
"Good question. You'll be evaluated on various factors, including strength, skill level, and how you handle stronger opponents. We'll also assess your strategic abilities and efficiency in subduing opponents."
It was an expected inquiry; the teacher had anticipated it.
While others fretted over scoring and assessments, Alex's attention was elsewhere, related yet distinct from the rest.
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[Main Quest]
[Quest: Attain Top Ranking]
[Description: The Host must secure an impressive ranking in the combat assessment, showcasing the fruits of his hard work and dedication. Aim for a top hundred ranking as a minimum benchmark.]
[Reward: Determined by Ranking]
[Penalty: Magic usage suspended for one year]
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'Why is this quest so personally descriptive this time? Even if the system wasn't going to issue a quest, I was planning to improve my ranking. But the problem here is...'
Alex's thoughts wandered as he gazed ahead at the Advanced class students. The area was filled with hundreds of students.
The Advanced class alone housed around a hundred students, further divided into two sections. The Intermediate class, on the other hand, boasted over 200 students, split into four sections.
The Beginner class was the exception, accommodating only the leftover bunch whom the academy took pity on, offering them a chance. Consequently, it had fewer students and only a single section.
'Making it to the top hundred means I'll have to compete and win against Advanced class students. Not that I was planning on losing to anyone, but now the stakes have increased.'
Alex lacked practical experience against real-life opponents, and he wasn't sure how his strength would fare against someone from the Advanced class.
Comparing himself to Marcus, Alex felt confident he could emerge victorious. However, Marcus remained in the Intermediate class for a reason, yet to be transferred to the Advanced class.
The academy's classification had a purpose, as students were referred to by their class names, not just their sections.
The glint in Alex's eyes became fiery as he prepared to compete. It didn't matter whether he faced someone from the Intermediate class or the Advanced class; his aim was always to defeat them.
The system provided him with extra motivation and a competitive edge, fueling his zeal and enthusiasm for the fight.
Aurora, who couldn't see the system, now, after spending time with him, could tell that he was looking at the system panel.
'Did that system thingy tell him something? Maybe that's why he's glaring so much at the front rows.'
"What's wrong, Alex? Don't worry; you'll do great after all your training. You can even defeat those Advanced class students; I have full confidence in you." Aurora reassured him.
Coming out of his thoughts, Alex smiled wryly, unable to explain his earlier demeanor to Aurora.
On the arena, a huge screen lit up, displaying the lineup of matches. The first round primarily pitted students against others from the same class.
The students were called forward as their matches were announced, and soon, the first fight of the day began.
The arena was spacious enough to be divided into four separate stages, allowing for four individual matches to be held simultaneously.
In the Beginner class match, Alex's number was fifth. It proved to be an uneventful match, ending in just a few moments.
The students from the Beginner class were no match for Alex, and the outcome was as expected.
Though Alex could have ended it in an instant, he allowed his opponent to showcase some moves to gain at least some evaluation.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
In one of the stages, a tall, bulky, muscular kid wielding a warhammer faced off against a petite girl armed with a rapier.
The girl seemed dwarfed by her opponent, who swung his humongous weapon with extreme speed and force, leaving marks on the stage with each strike.
Surprisingly, the little girl effortlessly dodged his attacks with graceful movements that resembled a dance more than a fight. Despite her precise and flawless strikes with the rapier, they barely scratched her opponent.
Closing the distance between them, the girl launched rapid strikes, only to be met by the swinging warhammer, forcing her to retreat and create distance.
Despite trying different strategies, the guy couldn't land a hit on the agile girl, who evaded each of his swings.
On the sidelines, Alex observed the match between two Advanced class students. Having won his first-round match, he awaited his next call.
He could sense the formidable strength and skill of the Advanced class students. Compared to the matches he'd seen among Intermediate class students, this was on another level entirely.
They truly lived up to their name, displaying unparalleled speed and power that left Alex in awe.
'The force behind each swing of that warhammer could flatten an E-rank monster easily. If it hit me, I'd likely end up with a serious fracture. But he's swinging it like a brute, leaving openings that could be exploited' Alex mused.
Shifting his attention to the girl, Alex noted her remarkable speed but perceived a lack of agility and piercing power. 'Or perhaps that guy is just too strong?' he pondered.
From Alex's perspective, the guy possessed superior strength and power, albeit with a slower pace, while the girl showcased impressive speed but lacked significant firepower.
Confident in his assessment, Alex estimated his chances of victory against each opponent. With his sword alone, he was 50% sure of success, but with the addition of his magic spells, he was certain of a 100% win.
After nearly half an hour of relentless fight, the match was deemed a tie. The contestants had exhausted themselves without either gaining the upper hand.
The teachers, frustrated by the prolonged stalemate, concluded that it was a waste of time.
Unsatisfied participants had the opportunity for a rematch on the third day, once all the scheduled rounds were completed.
This rematch also allowed challengers to vie for rank positions in the assessment by challenging specific individuals.