Death... and me

The elders then looked at Saya with surprise in their eyes. 

"Guild Head, this..."

"Should you be really saying that? If we look through it from the perspective of the others, he only held a single strike. His formation obviously doesn't have the power to hold any other attack back anymore."

"I don't think the others will like this either."

However, there were a few elders that disagreed with them.

"The main purpose of this test was to see which one of them had the best defense, so he isn't wrong."

"I agree. Since his formation destroyed the source of the attacks, it obviously doesn't have to defend anymore."

"In a certain way, you could say that his Defensive Lightning Formation held the attacks forever."

Saya then intervened in the examinators' discussion.

"Can't you see what he has done? Do you think it's that easy to destroy the attacking formation? The power necessary, the runes, the position, the resistance, the limit of power that the runes could hold. He calculated all of that almost perfectly. Although his formation runes are barely standing, the fact still stands that the majority didn't break. That's some superb control of one's ability!"

Saya then pointed at the other formations.

"Do you really think he wouldn't be able to hold at least four strikes with his proficiency in Lightning-type Formations? I might as well say that he would do even better than that. Perhaps, nine or even ten strikes would be possible."

"Nevertheless, he chose the best method to protect his creation. By the end of this test, his formation will be the only one standing in this field. We have never said that the others couldn't do the same, but he was the only one to think of such an idea. It doesn't matter what you say. The truth is there for all of you to see."

The examinators who were against this dropped their heads. They couldn't come up with a reason to say that Rean failed to defend his position.

Eventually, Turin looked at everyone and announced.

"Rean Larks has passed due to his perfect defense, next!"

Unsurprisingly, a lot of voices were raised in the testing field. However, Rean couldn't care less. If he had failed, then so be it. He was being true to himself. He didn't want to make a formation that he knew that would be destroyed. He wanted something that could last. Isn't that one of the main principles of Formations to start with?

Qia's eyes shone as she hugged him tightly, much to Rean's helplessness. That girl was really taking advantage of the situation. Well, she was just happy that the man she chose was that amazing. Qia was even more confident that her mother was right. She was filled with determination to conquer this guy sooner or later.

"You are mine and no one else's!"

Havek, on the other hand, kept patting Rean's shoulder while laughing out loud.

"Hahaha! You really didn't disappoint me. As expected of the man I took as my rival. To think you would come up with the same strategy as me. Truly fantastic."

Rean was taken aback as he pushed Qia away, asking.

"Rival? What rival? Wait, did you say you thought about the same solution?"

Havek nodded.

"I understood that conventional meanings would be of no use against you. It was because of that that I lost so terribly in the first phase. However, I changed my mind and decided to put my all on it. I'll be honest, I've never thought about failing this exam to start with. I'm way too good to be kept in a small place like this."

As always, Havek couldn't help but inflate his own ego. However, his master, who was watching from the outside, was quite surprised by that.

'That idiot has never recognized anyone of the same age before. To think he would think like that about someone. Well, his talents for formations are indeed far above everyone else, so he has the right to be arrogant.'

Rean shrugged his shoulders after hearing Havek.

"Oh well... I've never had a rival before, so I guess it's not a bad thing."

However, Sister Orb's voice immediately echoed in his mind.

[What are you talking about? Don't you have your brother?]

'Shut up! That's just an anomaly I would rather forget!'

Havek then nodded at Rean as his eyes shone.

"Great! Since we have recognized each other as rivals, I might also give you a few pieces of advice. First, you should throw this woman away. She isn't on par with your ability. Forget about love and focus on formations."

Qia almost vomited blood when she heard that. Isn't he trying to spoil all of her efforts so far?

"Do you want to die?!"

Havek completely ignored her existence, though, as he continued.

"Second, I could see that some of your runes were quite rudimentary. It's not a surprise since you came from outside the capital. If you have to leave again after this, be sure to take as much information as possible with you. Just apply for the Jade Slips with the guild after we join it."

Havek totally talked as if entering the guild was already a given. That, of course, only pulled quite a few grim expressions in his direction. Everyone was putting so much effort into it, and they still don't have much of a chance. Just who does he think he is?

"Last but not least, be sure to thank the heavens that I, Havek, am your rival. If you use me as your driving force to improve, you will definitely shine in the future!"

Rean's face became weird.

'This has already surpassed the realm of narcissism...'

"Ahem... I will... hold the pieces of advice in mind."

Havek nodded with a satisfied expression before looking back at Qia.

"You're still here?"

*Kick!*

*Ouch!*

"Woman, what do you have to my legs?!"

"Hmph! First come, first serve! I found Rean before you, so he's mine, not yours. You better control your mouth in the future."

Rean scratched the back of his head while thinking.

'I feel like I became some kind of object...'