Chapter 236: The Imperial Swordmaster Examination (Part 2)

Chapter 236: The Imperial Swordmaster Examination (Part 2)



Before them stood an ancient, square building with a temple-like design, but without the Doric columns. At the spacious entrance, eight guards stood, each holding a sword and shield.

Ren squinted and glanced at the golden characters adorning the gate, which read, 'Imperial Swordmaster Minster Branch'.

As the two approached the entrance, a guard stepped forward and asked, "Are you here for the examination, sirs? Please present your invitation letters."

After completing the necessary procedures, Ren and Veronica were led to their assigned rooms.

The rooms were adjacent to each other on the second floor, and faint voices could be heard from nearby, indicating that most of the rooms were occupied by other examinees.

With the examination day approaching, Ren and Veronica chose not to explore the provincial capital of Minster, deciding instead to wait until after the test.

Time flew, and soon it was the morning of the examination.

A thunderous boom echoed, like an explosion!

At that moment, a dark-skinned man wielding a pig-headed hammer struck the obsidian golem's chest, which was equally dark and shiny. Ren felt a sense of exhilaration as he executed the move.

There were also several young people in various robes, most likely from wizarding academies like Veronica.

A shadow flashed, and a stone shot out like a cannonball toward the sword-and-shield youth.

"Even a Peak Grand Knight might not be able to deal such damage!"

Evelyn quickly intervened, "Ren, do you know what the content of this year's Swordmaster Examination is?"

"Then we'll have to trouble Master Mathias."

"Whoosh!"

The only slightly weaker Senior Knight among them had an aura of spiritual power that set him apart from ordinary people, indicating he was also a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.

After some pleasantries, Ren learned that they were participants from the previous year's ennoblement examination, and their overall strength was slightly higher than Ren's group.

At the same time, Ren spotted the young examinees he had met at Calm Lake.

For a moment, everyone couldn't help but look at the unfortunate young man with sympathy. After everyone had drawn their lots, the middle-aged Grand Knight continued, "The draw is now complete."

"Hey, Evelyn, what do you think Ren will do?" asked a young man who had come with Evelyn, his face wearing a mischievous smile.

"First of all, welcome, Imperial elites, to Minster, for the Swordmaster Examination."

The Grand Nobles, or Upper Nobles, specifically referred to Dukes and Marquises, as Jennifer had explained to him before.

"Hmm? Who's this?" Evelyn's expression turned serious as she noticed the dual-pigtail maiden beside Ren.

"Begin!" the middle-aged Grand Knight shouted.

"And the year before that, they were led by examiners to eradicate an ogre camp, with scores based on combat performance."

"Next, we'll start with the first task—the draw! Then, I'll explain the rules of this examination."

"After all, against an obsidian golem with its steel-like body, the two-handed mace becomes more of a burden than an advantage." Another person analyzed with a serious tone.

Ren reached in, randomly picked a lot, and took a glance at it.

As soon as the obsidian golem regained its freedom, it immediately spotted the 'little one' Ren in front of it.

One wrong step, and they might be drowned by the unpredictable river.

The floor was spotless, and the hall had rows of long chairs with backrests.

Even the tough obsidian golem couldn't withstand such an injury. It took several steps back, its eyes showing confusion, and then it collapsed with a loud crash.

"This attack is incredible! Stronger than you, Head! This must be an Advanced Rikudo! Could you be the heir of an Imperial Duke?"

The best strategy was to attack the golem's less agile body parts, like the ankles or knees, gradually slowing it down. These attacks could be magical or physical.

Examiner number three was evaluating technique, and Ren's use of Advanced Rikudo earned him high marks.

"Oh my! It's an obsidian golem!"

The obsidian golem extended its rocky hands, attempting to grab the quick 'little one'.

"Hmm?" Ren looked up and recognized Evelyn, the red-haired beauty from Rosby County, daughter of Norman Marquis.

But what surprised everyone even more was that the black statue in the center of the arena shattered.

Around 8:30 AM, Ren and Veronica arrived at a spacious and bright hall.

The sword-and-shield youth's face paled. He rolled to the side, barely avoiding the golem's attack, but the flying stone fragments still hit him, leaving him covered in dust and debris.

"And. Full. Power?"

This immediately quieted the onlookers.

The examination intentionally chose obsidian golems for their formidable defense and attack, aiming for the examinees to observe and exploit the golem's lack of agility.

"This is insane! It's too powerful!"

The surrounding wind howled as black stone fragments flew in all directions! A massive crater-like wound appeared on the obsidian golem's chest, almost piercing through its entire body.

The examiners, responsible for evaluating the examinees, were now completely stunned.

Soon, it was Ren's turn.

Ren walked towards the center of the arena, unslung his pig-headed hammer, took a deep breath, and calmly stared at the obsidian golem ahead.

The audience could barely hear the sound.

"Crack!"

"Madness!" a young man exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The middle-aged Grand Knight stepped forward and bowed slightly to an elderly man among the dozen or so people, who wore a yellowish-brown wizard's robe with wide sleeves, and had his arms crossed.

This was a normal decision-making process.

The towering and incredibly sturdy obsidian golem before them was an ideal target.

"Hey, where did this guy come from?" a youthful soldier-like figure asked the burly man beside him.

"Bang!"

"It's a huge disadvantage for Greatsword Knights or Mace Knights."

After repeating this, a young knight with a sword and shield approached with a mournful expression.

The elderly man opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in them. He suddenly extended his arms from his sleeves, revealing a dark, short staff in his right hand. He pointed at the statue in the center of the field and began to chant a spell.

His body stretched to its limits, like a taut bowstring. Ren felt his power surge from his feet, through his hips and back, and finally concentrated in his muscular arms.

Fiona's companion, a young man, noticed Ren's calm demeanor and said, "It seems Sir Ren is quite confident."

"Veronica, this is Evelyn from Rosby City. We became friends during the Noble Ennoblement Examination."

For a moment, the fourth examiner didn't know how to fight, but he looked at the other examiners and saw that they had all given perfect scores, so he thought about it and gave a perfect score as well.

"Hmm, I met her by the Calm Lake. Hey, weren't there three beauties at that time? Why is there only one left now?" Fiona, clearly not one to be trifled with, asked.

It was hard to say who was stronger between the Senior Knight and the Level 2 Wizard Apprentice. A test would be needed to determine the outcome.

Ren showed no fear facing the obsidian golem, which stood at a height of six meters and weighed several dozen tons. Instead, he felt a hint of excitement.

The earth wizard quickly dispelled the magic clay cage, freeing the obsidian golem from its constraints.

Strangely, Evelyn seemed to be recognized by someone in the group.

After passing through a long corridor, the group arrived at a spacious domed hall. In the center stood a tall, black statue surrounded by iron railings, resembling an indoor colosseum.

The group couldn't help but look at him with a mix of pity and admiration. Soon, whispers filled the air:

Ren nodded.

The middle-aged Grand Knight pointed to the various representatives from the Imperial Administrative Departments, all dressed in different uniforms, and continued, "Other Imperial departments and special units are here as well. They will observe your performance during the examination. I believe most of you will find a suitable stage to showcase your talents."

"Give it your all. Even if you don't pass, your performance will be recorded," the middle-aged Grand Knight said to Ren, as was customary.

When the obsidian golem reacted, it saw the small figure in front of it transformed into an afterimage and charged directly under its feet.

The second examiner, responsible for recording speed performance, had an easy time scoring, and his performance was undoubtedly excellent.

"This guy has terrible luck. He got number two. Haha, I thought I was unlucky with number two."

The five middle-aged men in black hunting outfits held quills and quickly started recording something.

Ren was speechless.

Evelyn shook her head and said, "I inquired, and it seems the Imperial Swordmaster Examination content changes every year."

Even the onlookers, dozens of meters away, instinctively took a few steps back, shocked by the spectacle before them.

"Now, let's begin the first task. Please come forward and draw lots in an orderly manner."

"Miss Evelyn, you're quite beautiful too."

As Evelyn approached, she smiled and asked, "When did you arrive, Ren?"

Everyone's hearts were screaming, "This... this kind of power!"

Ren unleashed the Intermediate Rikudo - Shockwave!

The crowd of young examinees erupted in surprise. Fiona and her companions were wide-eyed with astonishment.

"The examination personnel are all present."

At that moment, they realized that the giant statue in the center of the field was not an inanimate object but a living creature.

He had intended to give up, but seeing the other Imperial department heads, he decided to take a chance. Even if he couldn't join the Swordbearers, he might be accepted into other special units.

"Evelyn, do you know?"

"Fiona, have you met Sir Ren before?"

Ren's mind recalled the middle-aged Grand Knight's words, and he felt eager to test his abilities.

"This doesn't seem like normal human strength. Won't the examiners investigate him?" a young man asked, his face flushed, pointing at Ren.

There were also young men and women in tailored noble hunting outfits, their refined auras setting them apart as likely offspring of the great noble families of the provincial capital, Myester.

The obsidian golem looked at him, raised its hands high, and to his surprise, a circular stone appeared in its upraised hands.

"Do we have to defeat an obsidian golem for the Imperial Swordmaster Examination?"

Moreover, several groups in the field had significantly different attire and appearances. One group wore full sets of Knight Plate Armor, exuding an intimidating aura as they walked, leaving no room for hesitation. Their style suggested they might be Imperial soldiers.

Normal combat felt like a child's play, lacking any strategic depth. But the fifth examiner asked himself, what was the purpose of combat strategy? Wasn't it to achieve victory in battle?

He had activated 'Limit Break' and 'Intermediate Gigapower' simultaneously, unleashing almost all his strength with that single blow!

The red-haired beauty's appearance and strength seemed far superior to Agatha's.

A group of over ten people stood nearby, seemingly staff members. The five at the front wore black uniforms resembling noble hunting attire, and they held paper and pens in their hands, appearing to be examiners.

After all, seeing the Obsidian Golem and daring to engage it directly, his battle instincts should be sharp enough, right? Swish, excellent!

Previously, when they heard Rayn express confidence in passing the examination, they thought he was boasting. Although they didn't say anything to his face, they had secretly doubted him for a while.

Without a reference, if he held back and failed the test, it would be embarrassing.

"It's number two!"

"Of course, if you're a scroll maker or an alchemist, you're allowed to use them, but after the examination, a separate review will be necessary."

After all, since he had advanced his Shockwave Power to the Intermediate Rikudo, he had never fully unleashed it.

Because no one knew what the Imperial Swordsmen examination would entail, the first few examinees were essentially paving the way for the rest.

"Yes, number two, that's the unluckiest one after number one!"

Only Veronica was surprised, but she didn't think Rayn would have any issues. Rayn didn't mind the whispers around him.

"Confidence? I believe passing the initial test shouldn't be a problem." Rayn said seriously.

The two women glanced at each other, and Evelyn smiled, saying, "Veronica, you're so pretty!"

After sitting for a few minutes, four or five young people arrived, including a red-haired woman. As she entered the hall, she spotted Rayn in the corner and called out, "Rayn~"

Evelyn realized and quickly introduced them, "Sorry, I forgot to introduce you. These are some of the young people who received excellent evaluations in the recent ennoblement examination. This is Bridget Sanchez from Valant County, and Stamp from Wales County."

"Even if you can't endure, every examiner must give it their all. Your performance will be recorded by the examiners."

Giving it his all meant unleashing the Limit Break and his innate Gigapower, then using the Intermediate Rikudo Shockwave Power. So far, Rayn hadn't found a suitable opponent or place to use this move.

"Last year, it was said that official members of the Imperial Swordsmen came to examine us. We just had to endure for three minutes to pass."

"Hey, is that you?" The young woman in leather armor recognized Rayn immediately. She was the one who had been at the Stopping Lake with three beauties.

Rayn nodded and exchanged glances with Veronica. They moved to a less crowded corner and sat down.

Rayn nodded politely to each of them. With his Grand Knight strength and high spiritual perception, he only needed a brief observation to realize that these individuals possessed the strength of Peak Knights.

Just as everyone was exclaiming, Rayn blinked and found himself at the feet of the Obsidian Golem. With a swish, he leaped high into the air.

Fiona's words, though not harsh, were heard by Evelyn and the others.

The five examiners swiftly recorded something.

However, he wouldn't argue with a girl about this. After all, she might have wanted to protect Evelyn from a scoundrel.

"Slap!"

"This is too exaggerated! Even these Senior Grand Knights couldn't do this!"

He was the only one cautiously circling the golem from a distance.

So, he decided to go all out!

"The requirement for today's Imperial Swordsmen examination is to endure under the golem for one minute to pass."

At that moment, a slightly pitiful voice suddenly sounded!

The injured Sword and Shield Youth was immediately taken aside for treatment by a professional physician.

As the examination time approached, more young people arrived in the hall.

Ideally, about ten participants were the best number. The examiners wouldn't be too tired, and if someone demonstrated unique abilities, it could impress them.

As the Middle-Aged Grand Knight finished speaking, a young knight by his side stepped forward, holding a black box in both hands, and invited everyone to draw lots."

A middle-aged man in bright silver full-body knight armor strode in. He walked with a robust stride and a steady aura, clearly a Grand Knight-level expert.

"Number one!" the Middle-Aged Grand Knight shouted.

He happily waved at Rayn.

"I wonder who will draw number one!"

Just as Evelyn said, these were the top individuals from their ennoblement examination.

"The pass rate is about three to four out of ten. But even if you don't pass, most will be invited to join other Imperial Administrative Departments."

The key question was, how old was Rayn?

Rayn wasn't encountering an extraordinary creature for the first time. Before becoming a Grand Knight, he had slain large, aggressive beasts like coastal sea serpents and scaly iron-backed turtles.

"Attention!"

"Now, everyone, follow me."

This was troublesome; there was no fixed routine. The clock struck nine in the distance.

In an instant, he rushed forward like a phantom, as if the heavy knight armor and the heavy hammer were weightless.

"Evelyn, this is my good friend, Veronica, a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice from Ubreck Academy." Rayn introduced.

The crowd began to murmur.

Hearing such a beauty greet Rayn, the hall's occupants turned to look at him, curious about the young man who had caught the beauty's attention.

Rayn's words momentarily silenced the room.

Rayn's aura suddenly burst forth, his body expanding. With a stomp, the hard stone floor cracked, forming a small crater.

Ren and Evelyn weren't in that kind of relationship, but there was an inexplicable feeling of a 'harem' situation. So, he coughed and changed the topic, "Evelyn, who are these people?"

Even with decent talent, they could only barely obtain an invitation to the Swordmaster Qualification Test, but their future prospects were limited.

The person in charge was a female officer. Hearing Ren and Veronica entering, she said in a crisp voice, "Feel free to sit anywhere. The order of seating has no bearing on the exam sequence."

The next second, Ren's reaction startled everyone. Fiona, the young woman named, glanced at him and then whispered in surprise.

Finally, the Sword and Shield Youth couldn't dodge in time and had to block with his shield. He was immediately knocked flying! "Eighteen seconds, disqualified!" shouted one of the staff members.

That guy just now, was he just being reckless?

"Indeed, facing an Obsidian Golem, the most advantageous would be a Wizard Apprentice with slowing spells, followed by agile Marksmen in leather armor, and then Sword and Shield or Hammer and Shield Knights."

About half an hour later, as the time approached the designated 9 a.m. for the exam, the number of people in the hall had swelled from the original thirty-plus to eighty or ninety.

"Evelyn, it's been a while!"

Of course, there were exceptions. For instance, if the first two were exceptionally strong, the examiners would intentionally score them lower to maintain a balanced evaluation.

The crowd murmured in response.

"Each year, the number of participants in the Swordmaster Qualification Test is around a hundred."

"Next, number two!" The Middle-Aged Grand Knight looked at the group and shouted solemnly.

The other young people were also surprised to recognize Ren, seemingly not expecting him to be Evelyn's friend.

Veronica, standing beside Ren, looked at him and then at the red-haired beauty. She thought to herself, 'My competition is strong. First, there was Agatha, and now a red-haired beauty.'

Who would be as direct as Ren, smashing the golem with a hammer, and actually defeating it!

"Those two went to handle some business matters."

This guy was a monster!

E

The five examiners, who had been calm, now had wide eyes and couldn't maintain their composure.

By now, only twenty to thirty young people were left in the hall.

Examiner Four was stunned. How should he score this combat reaction?

Ren looked at the old man in surprise. Despite the distance of several dozen meters, he could still sense a concentrated and powerful mental wave.

The key was, this was just the beginning. The Obsidian Golem's hands seemed to produce an endless supply of round stones, throwing them one after another at the Sword and Shield Youth!

Ren shook his head, knowing this much. Jennifer, the beautiful woman in Maister, had limited information about the Swordmaster Qualification Test, and the exam content was vague.

"Whether you agree or not, luck is also a part of strength!" the Middle-Aged Grand Knight declared.

"Is he going on the offensive?"

However, the group didn't approach Ren for conversation, as he hadn't left a good impression on them.

"There's only one rule: no use of one-time scroll spells, extraordinary potions, or special weapons."

They looked up at Ren's number, and it was indeed number two.

"That's right. A two-handed mace is even more cumbersome than a great sword, affecting mobility and dodge speed."

"Number one! Who is number one, step forward immediately!"

It wasn't a problem for a noble heir to be a bit flirtatious, but during the Swordmaster Qualification Test, an important event, bringing three beauties along seemed like indulging in pleasure to them.

But the next second, the little one disappeared.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end