The Entrance Examination of Immanuel Academy.
The Examination is split into two sections. Written Examination and Combat Placement.
To admit to Immanuel Academy, you could either excel in either one, or excel in both. Since Immanuel Academy is not solely focused on producing Ascendants, they also aim to nurture exceptional scholars that might help in the Industry such as Magic Engineers.
Those who excel in academics but lacking in combat prowess may be admitted through the Academic Class while those who only excel in Combat will admitted to the Combat Class. However, those who excel in both are to be admitted to the Special Class.
When you submit your admission application. You have to choose what class you are trying for. Thus you will be tested on your respected class. The main characters, are all admitted to Special Class including Isaac.
There are significantly less people who apply for Special Class as if you lacked in either one you will be rejected. So more people focus on either one.
The scorings for each test is out of 1600. The passing mark is 1400. For Special Class, it is 3200. But the passing mark is still mandatory for each test. So say you got 2800, you aced the Written Test but you got 1200 for the Combat Test. You fail.
For me, acing the written test is dog walk. But combat test however, I am not that confident in 'acing' it.
Right now, I'm sitting for the Written Test. Like expected, most of it is well within what I learned with Gwen.It included Mathematics, Sciences and Language. There's a tweak here and there but it's still a joke for me.
What do you expect from a student from a top University majoring in STEM. Hah.
******
2 hours passed
"Aah…what the fuck was that question. Did you solve question number 2?"
"Yeah that question! I don't even know where to start."
Sighs from students are heard here and there outisde the Hall. I noticed the reactions of Seraphine and Isaac. They don't look bothered at all. Especially Isaac, I expect him to easily ace the written test. That's really the bottom standard I have for him.
Next, I had to go for the Combat Test. After asking Roxanne about the Combat Test. Here's what she replied:
"Shut the fuck up before I flip you upside down."
I don't know what grudges she hold against me but it's a waste. And so I asked Gwen.
"Hmm..The test was quite simple.It was a Virtual Reality. There was 32 levels and we were given 1 hour. Each level we were supposed to fight devils in order to clear it. The devils get stronger with each level. Some levels there are multiple devil. Clearing each level gives you 50 points. So the requirement is to at least clear level 28. The problem is the difficulty starting from level 26 rises exponentially so by level 29 I lost already. Ah your sister got to level 30 before losing."
If the test today is similar. That information is highly useful.
And so I gathered around the other test takers. When we entered the Test Hall. Countless Virtual Pod were arranged in the vast space. Then the Instructor spoke in the microphone:
"Attention. Students who are here to take the Combat Test. Please listen. The Test is an individual test. You are supposed to use the Virtual Pod and you will be placed into the programmed space. The Test will be as followed: You are supposed to execute devils in each level. There are a total of 32 levels. Each level you clear rewards 50 points. The time limit is 1 hour. Your abilities will be exactly applied into the Virtual Reality. Your weapon of choice can be chosen before starting. I wish you all the best."
I took a Pod of my choice. Not that there's any difference from the other. And rested my body inside it.
To use it, you have to click on the power button and look straight into the screen above you. Then your consiousness will be placed inside a space.
[Weapon Choice]
-Shortsword
-Longsword
-Katana
-Rapier
-Bow
-Wand
-Longspear
-Axe
(Choose 1)
It is an easy pick for me. You don't learn how to play basketball just to tryout a football team.
I picked the Katana. The swordsmanship I've learned is heavily based on Japanese culture. I don't know why but it gives me some creep feeling. Something like someone whispering 'Weeb' into my ears.
Anyway after picking my weapon, a countdown appeared I assumed to prepare me for the test.
After the countdown end, the space around me changed into somewhat like a dungeon.
My body moves exactly the same. Every stimulation is real. That's good. The Text 'Level 1' appeared above me and a timer is also placed beside it.
The first Devil appeared. 'Devils' somewhat similar to human body but with different proportions and skin. Also a few additions here and there.
I don't have first hand experience facing devils but nothing is too surprising now. I challenged myself for a speedrun.
I brought out my katana and did a horizontal slash. My blade tip is nowhere near the devil's body.
'Level 2' [59:16]
Two similar devils appeared. Instantly I did the same action but two times.
'Level 3' [59.00]
******
The swordsmanship I learn, 'Kahse' is a swordsmanship originating from the East continent of this world. Sounds familiar?
The fundamental of this swordsmanship is the fusion of swordsmanship and magic. Specifically, Wind Magic.
When you do motions, air around the body naturally experience change of velocity and direction albeit depending on your direction of movement and force. You are somewhat manipulating the air.
Try doing a slash with a sword. You feel like cutting through a bodyless object. That's air resistance. That's why you will feel some heaviness in your motion if you cut it with heavy force.
Kahse Swordsmanship originated from this idea. With the help of magic, you are able to manipulate elements. In this case, wind. Your motion creates air movement thus wind. The wind is then amplified with Magic taking the shape of air you created.
You will be able to shoot wind like a projectile. Although shooting a projectile of wind is the fundamental in Magic. Using a sword to connect it to Magic is a different story.
Basically, in Magic you shoot wind projectile out of the air that are gathered with your mana with their own velocity. Under normal circumstances, air does not really have high velocity thus your wind projectile does not create that much velocity either even with amplification of Mana.
However during sword swings, air that experience motion due to your actions already experience velocity amplification, combine it with magic. There, that's the explanation.
The horizontal swings I've been using are the first form of Kahse Swordsmanship. A simple swing that slashes even from a distance.
I've trained this form during this 1 year. It's to the pount where I'd say I've mastered it.
'Level 21' [43:39]
This time 3 devils appeared. Their forms are vastly different from the one I faced in Level 1. Greater builds and physiques.
Bam
One leapt towards me blcoking my vision.
Swish.
After the body of the demon split half vertically my vision cleared. The other two demon left were already on my right and left. I chose the one on the right and dashed to him.
When I arrived before him, I slash diagonally to the right before turning back towards the other demon who was nearing its distance and performed another diagonal slash to the left.
X
3rd form.
I continued without much problem.
'Level 27' [31:07]
2 Devil.
Both are the same from the one I just faced before.
They didn't move as they appeared. I performed the 1st Form directed at one of them.
It deflected my wind slash with no effort. It smirked after that.
??
It smirked? That wasn't even a slash with much effort. What was it so proud about?
I closed our distance in less than a second. It reacted instantly and jumped back.
But to no avail, its neck seperated from its body already.
The other devil spawned behind my back. Its shard claw pointing towards my head. It stopped in its motion.
My blade already penetrated its neck. I dragged the katana downwards. The only thing keeping the body intact were its head not yet slashed.
Its body disintegrated.
Starting from Level 26, they had intelligence to an extent. It's already starting to demand more effort from me.
Truly, the difficulty has risen alot compared to Level 25.
'Level 28' [30:29]