Chapter 191: The Evaluation

The announcement changed the atmosphere around Valhalla almost immediately.

By the following morning, students were already discussing the upcoming freshman squad evaluations.

Some were excited.

Others were nervous.

A few seemed convinced they were going to dominate.

Noah wasn’t particularly concerned.

He had fought monsters, survived Hildgard, and walked through Hrafnvier.

A school evaluation didn’t exactly sound terrifying.

Still, Professor Astrid Veyr had made one thing clear.

The evaluation wasn’t designed to determine who was strongest.

It was designed to determine how well each squad worked together.

That made things slightly more interesting.

"Everyone’s here?"

Eric looked around the training field.

Noah nodded.

Sophia was tightening the straps around her gloves.

Luna stretched her arms while Damien inspected his equipment.

Laura stood a short distance away, calmly observing the other squads.

"Squad Seven," Damien said. "We’re supposed to report to the eastern field."

Eric pointed.

"Already going."

The group walked across the academy grounds.

The eastern field was larger than the regular training area.

Several circular arenas had been constructed across the grass, each surrounded by protective barriers.

Dozens of students were already gathered.

Noah recognized some faces from the previous day.

Maria Billu was standing with her squad.

Zelen Kane appeared to be arguing with someone again.

Zane Nomid was quietly checking his equipment.

Torino stood beside them with his arms folded.

Other freshman squads were spread across the field.

Noah looked around.

"So these are the evaluations."

Laura nodded.

"Looks like it."

A bell rang.

The conversations stopped.

Professor Astrid stepped onto a raised platform overlooking the field.

"Freshman squads."

Her voice carried across the entire training ground.

"Today, you will be evaluated in three areas."

A large magical display appeared behind her.

COMBAT

COORDINATION

ADAPTABILITY

Astrid continued.

"Individual strength will matter, but it will not determine your score."

Some students immediately looked disappointed.

"Your squad must function as a unit. If one member fails, the others must adapt."

Noah glanced toward his teammates.

Eric cracked his knuckles.

Sophia adjusted her stance.

Luna smiled.

Damien looked focused.

Laura remained calm.

Noah felt something familiar.

Not the pressure of Ragnarok.

Not the fear of the forest.

Something simpler.

Trust.

They had fought together before.

They had survived together.

This should be easy.

At least, that was what Noah thought.

A horn sounded.

The first evaluation began.

Squad One entered the arena.

Maria moved immediately.

"Zane, left."

Zane reacted without hesitation.

"Got it."

Zelen moved forward while Torino covered their rear.

Their movements weren’t perfect.

But they understood one another.

Noah watched carefully.

"They’re pretty coordinated."

Eric nodded.

"Better than I expected."

Laura smiled faintly.

"They’ve probably been training together for months."

The evaluation continued.

One squad after another entered the arena.

Some performed exceptionally well.

Others fell apart almost immediately.

One squad became so focused on defeating the training constructs that they completely ignored their formation.

Another squad argued over commands until the evaluation ended.

Noah found himself quietly studying every team.

Not because he was worried.

Because he wanted to learn.

Finally, Professor Astrid looked toward the remaining squads.

"Squad Seven."

Eric grinned.

"That’s us."

Noah stepped forward.

The protective barrier around their arena activated.

A series of training constructs emerged from the ground.

Six.

Then twelve.

Then twenty.

Luna’s eyes widened.

"That’s more than the other squads had."

Professor Astrid watched from above.

"Adapt."

The constructs charged.

Noah drew his weapon.

Eric moved beside him.

Sophia and Damien shifted into position.

Laura raised her hand.

For one brief moment, Squad Seven stood completely still.

No commands.

No hesitation.

They already knew where everyone needed to be.

Noah smiled.

"Let’s show them."

The constructs rushed forward.

And Squad Seven moved as one.

The training constructs charged forward.

Their metallic bodies moved with surprising speed, wooden weapons raised as they surrounded Squad Seven.

Noah stepped backward.

"Laura."

"I see them."

A burst of light formed around Laura’s hand.

"Three coming from the right."

Eric immediately moved.

His sword struck the first construct across the chest.

CLANG!

The construct staggered.

Eric followed with another strike, knocking it into the barrier.

Sophia slipped past him.

Her movement was quick and precise.

She struck the second construct at its joints, forcing its legs to buckle.

Damien intercepted another before it could reach Luna.

"Stay behind me."

Luna frowned.

"I can fight."

"I know."

"Then stop protecting me."

Damien smiled.

"Fine."

He stepped aside.

A construct immediately rushed toward Luna.

She raised both hands.

A burst of energy slammed into its chest.

The construct flew backward.

Damien stared.

"Point taken."

Luna smiled.

"Thank you."

Noah couldn’t help laughing.

Another construct attacked him.

He raised his sword.

The impact traveled through his arms.

He slid backward several meters.

His feet dug into the ground.

The construct swung again.

Noah ducked.

He rotated beneath the attack and struck the construct’s side.

The wooden blade cracked against its armor.

The construct stumbled.

Noah followed with a second strike.

The machine collapsed.

One down.

More remained.

He looked around.

Squad Seven wasn’t fighting as five individuals.

They were covering one another.

Eric handled the aggressive attackers.

Sophia moved between openings.

Damien protected the formation whenever something broke through.

Luna controlled the battlefield from behind.

Laura provided support whenever someone needed it.

And Noah filled the gaps.

It wasn’t perfect.

But it worked.

Another wave emerged.

This time, there were more than twenty.

The students watching from outside the arena began murmuring.

"Why are there so many?"

"Is that part of the test?"

"Other squads didn’t get that many."

Noah heard them.

He looked toward Professor Astrid.

She didn’t react.

So this was intentional.

Noah smiled.

"Everyone, change formation."

Eric looked at him.

"What’s the plan?"

"We stop chasing them."

Noah pointed toward the center.

"Let them come to us."

Laura immediately understood.

"Defensive formation."

Everyone moved.

The constructs rushed forward.

This time, Squad Seven didn’t scatter.

They waited.

The first construct entered their range.

Eric struck.

Sophia followed.

Damien blocked another.

Luna attacked from behind them.

Laura maintained support.

Noah moved wherever the formation weakened.

One by one, the constructs fell.

The pressure increased.

Noah’s breathing became heavier.

His body still wasn’t fully recovered.

A sharp pain moved through his chest.

He ignored it.

Another construct appeared directly behind him.

Noah turned.

Too late.

Before it could strike, Laura’s attack slammed into it.

The construct crashed into the ground.

Noah looked at her.

"Thanks."

Laura nodded.

"You’re welcome."

The final wave arrived.

Thirty constructs.

The arena became chaos.

Wood struck metal.

Mana filled the air.

Students outside the barrier watched in silence.

Squad Seven fought until only one construct remained.

It charged toward them.

Noah and Eric moved at the same time.

Their swords struck from opposite sides.

CRACK!

The construct collapsed.

Silence.

Then the barrier disappeared.

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Noah lowered his sword.

Eric looked around.

"Did we pass?"

Professor Astrid looked down at them.

"Yes."

Eric grinned.

Luna raised both arms.

"We passed!"

Sophia laughed quietly.

Damien exhaled.

Laura simply smiled.

Noah looked at his teammates.

For the first time since Hildgard, he felt something he hadn’t realized he’d been missing.

Pride.

Not in himself.

In them.

Professor Astrid addressed the remaining squads.

"Remember this evaluation. Strength will make you dangerous."

Her eyes moved toward Squad Seven.

"But trust will make you difficult to defeat."

Noah looked across the training field.

The academy suddenly felt much larger than it had yesterday.

There were dozens of squads.

Hundreds of students.

And countless people stronger than them.

He tightened his grip around his sword.

This wasn’t the end of their journey.

It was the beginning of their life at Valhalla.