"Are you talking about the monthly exam?"
"Yes. An excellent student like you is more than qualified to take the grade-skip test."
I had been thinking about the part about the monthly salary to some extent.
In Reina's previous life, she skipped a grade and graduated early from the six-year academy in four years.
Howard looked at Zeke and stroked his handsome Kaiser beard.
"You don't have to think too hard about it. You can do it… … ."
"I will do it."
Zeke answered before Howard could finish speaking.
His eyes were burning fiercely.
'Any opportunity to graduate from the academy early is more than welcome.'
Howard smiled with satisfaction at Zeke's answer.
"Excellent. Okay, then let's prepare for the grade-skip test. Let's show great results."
Zeke nodded and left the president's office.
Howard, left alone, opened a drawer and took something out of a secretly hidden safe.
It was a communications device connected to a secure line.
He turned the dial and called someone.
Support support support support
A noise rang out from the crystal ball, which only had a black screen.
Then a light came on indicating that communication was connected.
Howard spoke into the receiver in a quiet voice.
"Both pureblood Awakeners have decided to take the test."
On the other end of the line, someone gave Howard instructions.
He listened to the instructions quietly and nodded.
"Okay, I will do that."
As Howard finished speaking, the lights in the crystal ball went out.
Howard put the communication crystal back in the safe.
He stood up from his seat, stroked his Kaiser beard, and looked at his face reflected in the window.
"Things are going interestingly."
* * *
Three days after the interview with the president, Zeke received notice of the grade-skip test.
And I had to go to the upperclassmen's training room to be evaluated without even knowing what the test subjects were.
When I went inside, Reyna Draker was already there.
She showed a burning will to fight towards Zeke.
After the Auror evaluation test, Reina's rivalry with Zeke grew even stronger.
Zeke tried hard to avoid Reina's gaze.
'I'm tired.'
Originally, Reina had the talent to be recorded as one of the Academy's greatest geniuses of all time.
But his skills felt like they were wasted, as he was placed on the same level as Zig, who was considered to be out of the norm.
However, rather than caring about that, Reina, the person involved, seemed to be burning with fighting spirit, thinking of Zeke as a rival.
As the strange war of nerves between Reina and Zeke continued, someone entered the training ground.
thud!
It was the instructor in charge and a knight in Draker's uniform.
Zeke was momentarily surprised when he saw the knight behind the instructor.
'A wooden sword?'
Wood Sword Owl Draker.
He was a Draker who had a rare connection with Zeke before his return.
A huge, sturdy-looking body, with a large scar running across his face.
Just by looking at the aura emanating from his body, you could tell that he wasn't at a level that would allow him to be selected for the Academy's monthly evaluation.
The instructor in charge came forward and gave an explanation.
"Zeke Draker, Reina Draker. Today's grade-skip test evaluation for both of you will be conducted by Owl Draker, a senior knight of the main house."
Reina and Zeke bowed their heads toward Owl and greeted him.
Aul just looked at the two people silently without saying anything.
The instructor in charge continued his explanation.
"The test will consist of sparring. Give it your all for 10 minutes. Understood?"
Reina answered loudly, and Zeke just nodded.
The instructor in charge looked at Aul and asked.
"Would you like to start right away?"
Aul nodded at the instructor's words.
He pointed to Reina first.
Reina drew her sword and stood in front of Aul.
"Phew… … ."
The basic requirement for a high-ranking knight of the Draker family is a blue knight or higher.
The Blue Knight rank was only the minimum standard; each and every one of them was a true veteran with over ten years of experience in actual combat missions.
They could be said to be the pillars that practically supported the Draker family.
As Reina took up her stance, Aul also pulled out the sword she was holding.
However, Aul's black arming sword was not a normal one, but had a unique shape.
Zeke looked at Owl's sword and became lost in thought.
'Even at this time, the Eastern Empire's ring sword was used.'
A strangely shaped weapon with the blade attached to only one side.
It was also longer than a normal sword.
The fact that Aul, who was tall and built big, was holding a large sword was quite intimidating.
However, Reina, who was called the best of Drake's articles, quickly shook off the intimidation and found her own pace.
She quickly struck at Owl first.
Whoosh!
A clean stab flew in, aiming for Owl's thigh.
Then, Aul saw Reina's sword flying towards him quickly and took a step back.
Hmph!
Reina's sword stabbed the air in vain.
She immediately changed her posture and attacked Owl with the Dragon Slash technique.
But Aul didn't swing his sword, he just shook his body and stepped back to avoid Reina's sword.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Reina showed amazing moves that were hard to believe for a first-year Academy cadet.
But its limitations were still clear.
Aul dodged Reina's attack and turned around, diving into her blind spot and putting his foot between her legs.
Bam!
"Ugh!"
That alone caused Reina to lose her balance and fall down.
She quickly got back up and grabbed her sword.
"Haa… … Haa… … ."
As I attempted to attack while shaking off the aura of oppression, my stamina quickly depleted and I was already out of breath.
And then, Aul heard the Tao for the first time.
thud!
Aul took a step forward and swung his sword.
Reina quickly raised her sword to block Aul's attack.
Crunch!
Reina, who was hit by the sword, literally floated up and flew all the way to the wall of the training ground, where she crashed into it.
Kwakwakwang!
The impact was so great that the walls of the training ground cracked slightly.
"Ugh… … ."
Reina tried to get up somehow, but her whole body seemed to not listen to her and she just kept trembling.
After a while, she finally lost consciousness.
The waiting therapists quickly placed Reina on a stretcher and transported her to the treatment room.
'It's brutal.'
A man as merciless as a stone.
It was exactly the image of the wooden sword Owl Draker that Zeke remembered.
Aul returned to his original position and pointed at Zeke.
Zeke took out Bahamut and spoke to Owl.
"Is there a separate evaluation standard?"
Aul didn't answer Zeke's question either.
'I told you, he's really a difficult person to deal with.'
In the case of Duke, it is actually easier to look inside.
But Owl felt like he was dealing with a tree literally encased in armor.
The Aul I encountered during the Third Continental War in my previous life was also like this.
A true knight whose heart cannot be seen, but whose uprightness is unparalleled.
In his previous life, Zeke had liked Aul, who was not like Draker, even though he was his enemy.
'He was a man too precious to die in such a trivial war.'
Zeke held Bahamut.
Shaking off his various emotions, he aimed his sword at Aul.
At the same time, his new form disappeared.
WHEEK!
Ziggy unleashed the whirlwind of welcome lights, leaving afterimages around Aul and surrounding him.
Shush!
Zeke's sword dug into Owl's opening.
Just like Reina, Aul twisted his body to avoid Zeke's sword.
Swish! Swish!
Zig increased the speed of his Welcome Technique.
The number of afterimages increased from three to five.
At the same time, five swords aimed for Aul's vital points.
Phew!
In that moment, Aul raised his sword and blocked Zig's sword aimed at his back.
thud!
Aul turned around and thrust his sword straight at Zeke. Zeke then dropped Aul's sword and dodged to the side.
If the timing had been just a little bit later, he would have been blown backwards like Reina.
In Aul's Tao, even the simplest of movements were imbued with great power.
'I can't let my guard down.'
Since it was a situation where he couldn't show off all his strength, Zeke had to move while controlling his strength as much as possible.
However, if you show too poor a performance, you won't pass the grade-advancement evaluation, so it was important to strike a balance.
Zeke stepped back and caught his breath.
Unlike Reina, Aul took up the sword and took the ceremonial position.
Soon he took another step forward.
Kookookookook!
Even though I only took one step, the pressure was immense.
Zeke smiled without realizing it as he watched the strong man cross swords for the first time in a long time.
The confrontation with the strong was like a passage that opened up a new path.
Woohoo!
The sword's name rang out from Zeke's sword.
He stepped on the welcome mat and performed the dragon killing technique.
Dragon's method
Chapter 3, Section 1
Half Moon Begi
The crescent moon with an aura flew towards Aul.
thud!
Aul tilted his sword to the side to block Zig's crescent slash.
Zig used the rebound force from Owl's path to spin around.
Dragon's method
Chapter 4, Section 1
Full moon begi
Immediately, Zeke's sword drew a large full moon shape and fell with centrifugal force towards the crown of Aul's head.
Aul fixed his lower body and raised the sword from below to above.
Boom!
A huge impact sound rang out as Zigg's full moon slash and Owl's uppercut collided.
Zig was pushed back without being able to fully absorb the shock of the blow.
'Whew... ... It's definitely tough when you control the aura.'
That was when.
Aul opened his mouth to speak to Zig.
"Zeke Draker."
He took up the sword and aimed it at Zig.
"Give it your all."
It was noticed that Zeke had not shown all his skills.
At the same time, Aul's body moved.
WHEEK!
He swung his sword in a more active manner than before.
Phew!
Swords flew towards Zeke from all directions.
bang!
Zig raised his sword and blocked the attack.
But the attacks continued without end.
The sword twisted at strange angles and swung in from completely unexpected directions, taking advantage of the gap.
Zeke clenched his teeth as he blocked Owl's path.
'So this strange Eastern swordsmanship was used at that time too.'
I remember having a hard time because of this sword technique when I fought Aul on the battlefield before returning.
If it seems like it's coming down from above, it changes its orbit and comes from the side, then from below and then from above again.
It was difficult to defend against the ever-changing swordsmanship. Seeing Aul using his sword skills, Zig thought he needed to use a little more skill to advance.
Woohoo!
A strong vibration occurred in Zig's body, not in the sword.
Application of the dragon killing method
Whirlwind
The law of no return
For a moment, Zig's body accelerated so fast that it was no longer visible.
Woohoo!
It was one of the applications of the wind technique, which was a technique that wrapped an aura around the entire body and strengthened the muscles and joints to increase elasticity.
The accelerated Zig avoids Owl's path and digs straight into his body.
Whee!
Zeke's sword quickly shot up, aiming for Owl's vital spot.
That was when.
Boom!
In an instant, Aul quickly took a half step back, then created an opening and fired his sword at Zig.
Kwakwakwang!
Zigg, who blocked the powerful sword with his sword, was pushed back by the recoil and flew to the wall of the training ground just like Reina.
Gurrrrrr!
The force was so strong that Zeke went right through the wall.
This has left therapists busy once again.
Only then did Aul look intently at Zigg, who was being carried to the treatment room after getting off the road.
That was when.
"You punk. You're really destroying someone else's disciple."
Duke appeared from somewhere and landed in front of Owl. Owl immediately bowed his head towards Duke.
"Meet Duke Draker."
"Owl, you're still stiff."
"I'm glad you look healthy."
"Since you're someone who spends all day playing, you should at least stay healthy. More importantly."
Duke chuckled and put his arm around Owl's shoulder.
"What about you, my disciple?"
Aul bit his lip tightly and then spoke slowly.
"You are disqualified."
The Duke was startled by those words.
"What? Are you saying that guy is disqualified?"
Then Aul shook his head.
"No. I am disqualified as an evaluator."