Xia Xue's performance earned unanimous approval from the examiners. Wang Zihao, wielding a double-handed broadsword, decapitated a Wolfman warrior in front of him. His face bore a bloodthirsty grin, mixed with an air of arrogance. True to the Berserker name, his combat style was devoid of reason and wildly ferocious. Even before entering a frenzied state, which could potentially cause him to lose all sense of rationale, his approach was already extreme. "Going all out from the start might significantly reduce his efficiency later on," one examiner noted. "He doesn't understand how to manage his stamina, which is something he needs to work on," another added. Compared to Xia Xue, Wang Zihao was found lacking.
The examiners valued not just the number of enemies slain but also adaptability in combat. They observed how well a participant could sustain a fight for the full thirty minutes and the variance in combat effectiveness from the beginning to the end. A real battle often lasts for a while, and charging in with all your might initially could quickly lead to depletion.
Upon comparing Wang Zihao with Xia Xue, it was clear in the examiners' minds who had the upper hand—Xia Xue was notably superior.
Zuo Mei, who chose the same hell difficulty as Wang Zihao, demonstrated the agility of the Rogue class to its fullest. She moved fluidly, dodging and weaving around the Wolfman as if she were a ghost, making each of her actions precise and efficient without wasting any energy. Her dagger strikes were fast, fierce, and accurate, inflicting considerable damage on her enemies and skillfully controlling the battlefield to interrupt their attacks. Zuo Mei's high-level skill utilization was also recognized by the examiners.
After reviewing the performances of various candidates, the examiners had a good grasp of the situation and set their evaluation criteria.
However, returning to Lin's situation left the examiners speechless. "This kid...is he going too far?" one muttered, with others agreeing that Lin might indeed be overdoing it. They were baffled to see Lin had brought food into the exam, munching on sweet potatoes leisurely as if he were not in the middle of an important test. "Eating during the grand examination is a first in history," remarked one examiner, suggesting that Lin's casual demeanor should be recorded for posterity. Despite their frustration with how easily Lin seemed to be handling the exam, leading the scores significantly, they concluded that fairness was paramount, and no additional difficulties should be introduced.
Throughout the thirty minutes, as people dropped out due to injury or surrender, the relentless combat tested every participant's endurance severely. Unlike in dungeons, where one might rest when tired, Lin appeared unaffected, as if he could afford to take a nap.
Eventually, as the time came to an end and all monsters vanished, a collective sigh of relief could be heard. "Finally, it's over," many exclaimed, worn out from the non-stop action, with Xia Xue among those looking noticeably drained. The exam had pushed them to their limits, underscoring the harsh reality of prolonged combat without the aid of items from their storage spaces.
Wang Zihao, completely exhausted, managed to kill about fifty monsters, deeming the hell difficulty to be truly challenging. Among all, Lin was the only one who remained in an optimal state, breezing through the exam as if it were merely a spectacle.
"If it didn't end soon, I was going to collapse," someone else panted heavily, reflecting the sentiment of many as they sat or lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for air. The mere thirty minutes of continuous combat had drained nearly all their physical stamina.
Xia Xue's face was a shade paler than usual. She had spent the half-hour meticulously managing her spells, conserving energy wherever possible. Her psychic energy was nearly depleted. With the storage space sealed during the exam, they couldn't use any extra potions for recovery, making the challenge significantly tougher.
"Finally, it's over," she sighed in relief. "I must have killed over two hundred of them, which should be more than two hundred points."
Wang Zihao was completely collapsed on the ground. His efficiency had dropped significantly towards the end. The heavy consumption of his physical strength and the cooldown of his skills had led to a sharp decrease in his combat power. "I killed about fifty or so; this hell difficulty level is truly no easy feat."
Among everyone, Lin was in the best condition. It was as if he had been merely watching a show for the past thirty minutes. "This round of the exam is over."
The stark contrast in Lin's condition compared to the rest highlighted not only his unique strategy and strengths but also the relentless nature of the test that pushed everyone to their limits.