This exam was a form of potent magic. Using Vis to counter the enchantments here would nullify the test itself.
Helmut accepted the magic cast upon him, feeling its power invade his senses, temporarily altering his entire body's perception.
'The real challenge begins now.'
Though termed illusion magic, it was unlike any simple hallucination. In this specially crafted space, filled with the essence of various magics, it created vivid, lifelike illusions. Striking these illusions, one could even feel their texture and the toughness of their skin.
However, while the illusions couldn't actually harm the test taker, the test assessed how effectively these phantoms could simulate an attack. A direct hit to a vital point meant immediate disqualification from the test, though minor scrapes were permissible.
The key was to avoid critical hits, as the system gauged the participant's physical condition for accuracy.
Advancing quickly through stages increased one's score, but each level had a time limit—fifteen minutes. To pass, one must defeat the stage's monster. Simply enduring without engagement would end the test.
If a test ended on the same stage for multiple participants, endurance played a role in scoring. Naturally, those who endured scored higher than those who didn't. While it might not always be a matter of being proactive, enduring against an unbeatable foe could be the right strategy.
Conversely, overly cautious tactics that prevented advancing to the next level could be detrimental.
'Monsters don't matter to me.'
Monster hunting was Helmut's forte. His heart, hardened by life in the Ferhe Forest, wouldn't falter, no matter the horror faced. Ending such creatures was a swift affair.
The setting was dim, neither fully day nor night, creating an eerie atmosphere. In this empty room, Helmut awaited his first opponent.
'That's simple.'
The first to appear resembled the rabbit-like creature Helmut had first hunted—a nostalgic form, though this was a giant rat. Upon its appearance, Helmut's sword sliced through the air, ending the first stage in under ten seconds. He waited nonchalantly for the second stage.
The second stage presented a more formidable foe—a fox. Its agility and sharp fangs made it a slightly tougher challenge.
Yet, Helmut's sword was quicker, decapitating the fox in moments. He spent less than five minutes on the first two stages combined, speculating on the next challenge.
'From a rat to a fox, what's next, a wolf? A leopard?'
Thinking of a leopard made him frown. He'd rather face another type of beast.
Helmut felt no guilt when killing, aware only of the darkness within him, not when hunting animals or demonic beasts, except for feline creatures.
Something about it felt uncomfortably like harming one's own kind, whether it was a cat, leopard, or tiger.
But then, an unexpected beast appeared.
"A frog?"
Helmut was puzzled.
The third stage was a frog, and a giant one at that. From animals to reptiles, the logic was unclear. Though generally frogs were considered lesser than rats, such common sense didn't apply to demonic beasts.
Its tongue acted like a whip. The carriage-sized frog attacked swiftly with its long, flexible tongue. A hit from the frog's attack was set to send one flying to the wall with significant force.
The sight of its sticky, saliva-dripping tongue flying towards him was enough to turn one's stomach. The sleek body oozed a slimy liquid, repulsive to touch even though it wouldn't actually smear.
'This is a truly well-crafted illusion.'
It was surprising to visually perceive a foul smell. They had recreated the disgust impeccably.
Helmut, usually not squeamish, decided it was best to quickly move past this stage. Dodging the incoming tongue, he leapt into the air. The tongue curled flexibly around him, trying to constrict him like a snake.
Helmut skillfully dodged and escaped. Though the tongue was fast, its body was slow in movement. With a single strike of his Vis-laden sword, Helmut split the creature's head.
With a realistic noise, the frog collapsed, its brain matter oozing out. The sight of its white brain spilling out would have made most vomit.
Indeed, the imagination of mages is extraordinary. Even to Helmut, who grew up seeing demonic beasts in the Phaeth Forest, this felt unusually intense.
'If the third stage is this intense, what about the next ones?'
Helmut took a moment to catch his breath, a hint of nervousness creeping in. It took him 10 minutes to get through three stages, a decent pace, though he was slightly slowing down.
The fourth stage presented a more manageable creature—a snake with gleaming yellow eyes. Its dark, glossy body increased the revulsion it inspired, resembling a fish.
'It looks small and thin.'
It seemed unimpressive. Not a two-headed serpent. But regardless of Helmut's low opinion, it was large enough to swallow a grown man whole.
Compared to Nahor, it was almost cute.
The snake attacked Helmut as soon as it appeared, employing a combat style similar to Nahor's. It swiftly encircled its prey, narrowing the space to constrict and crush bones or attempt to swallow with its mouth. Another method of attack was headbutting.
It was a well-recreated demonic beast. Its teeth were likely venomous. Although it was an illusion and the venom wasn't real, being bitten would be considered death, ending the test.
'I'm immune to poison.'
It would be unfair if the test ended with a bite. But such specifics were likely not accounted for.
The snake's scales rasped against the floor as it coiled swiftly around Helmut. Ashen Vis rose from Helmut's sword.
'Let's test its strength.'
Helmut struck down at the snake's body. But the high-density body repelled the sword, and the frictionless scales caused the blade to slide off, throwing off his balance.
A shadow loomed over Helmut, but as the snake's head struck down, Helmut vanished.
'It really does resemble Nahor. Even this situation.'
He leaped diagonally to the side. Normally, one would stop after a single leap, but Helmut kicked off the snake's body, escaping its coil with multiple jumps.
A baby Nahor, perhaps? Helmut remembered how he had dealt a fatal blow to Nahor. The illusion didn't let its guard down. But compared to Nahor, this creature was significantly weaker. There was no need to wait for an opening. Attack its eyes directly!
With precision and agility, Helmut navigated the encounter. The snake, though formidable, was no match for Helmut's refined skills and quick thinking. In a display of prowess, Helmut managed to subdue the creature, demonstrating his mastery over the situation without resorting to excessive force.
"Still no challenge," Helmut mused, already anticipating the next test. The test's escalating difficulty intrigued him, but he remained undaunted, prepared for whatever might come next.
"Let's see what the next challenge brings."
"Now, onto the sixth stage."
Helmut fixed his gaze ahead. He was halfway through. It was time to concentrate a little more and break through to the tenth stage. Helmut soon muttered to himself.
"What is this?"
Insects. Helmut had never encountered insect demons before.
Flying insect demons. A giant mosquito the size of a frog from before. The buzzing sound and its thick, protruding proboscis sent shivers down his spine.
'I see why it requires mental strength.'
Just seeing it felt like it was gnawing away at his mental fortitude. A surge of repulsion washed over him.
"Insect demons, of all things."
And it had to be a mosquito. The buzzing sound was piercingly loud, filling the entire space with its vibration.
"If that proboscis pierces me, it would suck all the blood and flesh from my body in an instant." The terrifying image was vivid enough to feel the threat.
"Better finish it off quickly."
As if being airborne made any difference. The space was limited anyway. Even if it flew to the ceiling, it couldn't escape his sword.
Helmut sliced through the mosquito's proboscis, cutting the creature to pieces. Watching the insect parts twitch on the floor like chopped fish was a nauseating sight. It was a battle he couldn't enjoy.
After the stage ended, the overly graphic visual effects of the remaining corpse made him wonder if there was a pervert among the magic department professors.
"Surely not another insect?"
At this point, it felt more like they were tormenting the test subjects rather than testing their mental strength.
Truly large insect-type demons were rare. Compared to animals, insects are simpler beings and less likely to develop demonic essence. Just because there's magic doesn't mean they'll awaken to demonic essence.
If they can't develop demonic essence, they can't grow so large. It's like a fool with great talent but unable to reach the heights of swordsmanship.
Thus, Helmut thought the exam was somewhat unrealistic. It was a thought typical of someone who had grown up in a forest teeming with demons.
"Real demons are different."
Demons were ferocious predators, their bodies evolved to maximize their power, making unusual ones rare.
But the unreality made it somewhat fun. It was an exam hall where the creativity of the magic department professors was fully expressed. He wondered if they enjoyed tormenting the students like this.
"What's next?"
Helmut was half anxious, half excited.
Stage 7 featured a giant praying mantis. Its legs, spiked like saw blades, slashed through the air like scythes.
Its exoskeleton was tough, hard to break even with a sword wrapped in Vis. It was all an illusion, but the magic made his brain perceive it as real.
"The weak point is... the belly?"
Its back was covered in a tough, green shell like armor, but the abdomen seemed soft. The real problem was those massive front legs.
After several exchanges, Helmut managed to avoid the creature's giant legs and thrust his sword into its belly. Green fluid soaked the ground. This creature was at least mentally easier to deal with.
"My appetite's gone."
Helmut muttered. However, Stage 8 was even more intense.
"So this is the creature Asuka ran from."
Stage 8 was a giant centipede, its legs densely packed along its body.
With a hissing sound, it slid towards him at an astonishing speed. Its legs, bristling with spike-like hairs, undulated in a wave-like motion.
The sight was genuinely horrifying.
It wasn't the fear that comes from being scared. A shiver ran down his spine, overwhelming as a boulder crashing down on him. A suffocating disgust, crushing and intense.
Sometimes, disgust transcends fear. Asuka couldn't bear the sensation and had fled.
But Helmut had shattered rocks before. He aimed his sword calmly.
"If this is Stage 8, what on earth are Stages 9 and 10?"
He was close to developing an aversion to insects.