Chapter 52: The Combat Assessment

The next morning, Class 1-B gathered in the academy’s eastern training field.

The field had been repaired overnight.

Mostly.

One wall was still missing, three practice towers leaned dangerously to the left, and a large sign had been placed beside the entrance:

**PLEASE DO NOT DESTROY THE ARENA.**

Beneath it, someone had added:

**THIS MEANS YOU, ETHAN.**

Ethan Vale stood in front of the sign.

Noah Blake walked past him, carrying a bag of snacks.

"You should feel honored."

"I feel accused."

"You have earned both."

Elena Frost arrived beside them, carrying a notebook and three pencils.

Noah looked at the pencils.

"Why do you need three?"

"One for writing."

"And the others?"

"In case you lose one."

"You are preparing for combat or an examination?"

"Both."

Adrian Cross walked behind them, wearing his training uniform and a serious expression.

His golden sword was secured at his waist.

He looked at the sign.

"This is disrespectful."

Noah nodded.

"Finally, we agree."

"I meant the handwriting."

The sign suddenly changed.

**ADRIAN CROSS: ARRIVED TWO MINUTES EARLY. STILL COMPLAINING.**

Adrian stared at it.

The blackboard system had followed them into the training field.

Noah pointed at the sign.

"It likes you."

"It is mocking me."

"That is how the academy expresses affection."

Rowan stood near the entrance, holding a training sword.

He had been wearing the same uniform for nearly fifteen minutes.

It was already buttoned incorrectly.

One sleeve was folded.

The other was not.

Ethan looked at him.

"Your uniform is damaged."

Rowan examined it.

"I thought it was designed that way."

"No."

"Why does it have so many buttons?"

"Because it is a uniform."

"Then why are there more buttons than necessary?"

Noah stepped in.

"Never question the academy’s fashion choices. It takes criticism personally."

The sign changed.

**NOAH BLAKE: UNQUALIFIED FASHION ADVISOR.**

Noah placed a hand over his heart.

"I am being attacked everywhere."

Professor Aurelia Voss entered the training field.

The talking sign immediately became blank.

The students stood straighter.

Professor Voss looked at the sign.

"It is not supposed to be active outside the classroom."

The sign slowly displayed:

**I HAVE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.**

Professor Voss stared at it.

"Who gave you permission?"

**THE ACADEMY.**

"You are a piece of enchanted wood."

**A PIECE OF ENCHANTED WOOD WITH A VOICE.**

Professor Voss closed her eyes.

Ethan looked at Noah.

"Do you see why she is always tired?"

"Yes."

The sign changed.

**SHE IS TIRED BECAUSE OF ETHAN.**

Ethan pointed at it.

"Stop blaming me for everything."

**NO.**

Professor Voss struck the ground with her staff.

The sign went silent.

"Today’s combat assessment will determine your training groups for the next month."

The students immediately began whispering.

Professor Voss continued:

"You will be placed into pairs. Each pair will enter the arena, complete three tasks, and earn points based on control, teamwork, and judgment."

Noah raised his hand.

"What about raw power?"

"Last."

Noah lowered his hand.

"That seems personally designed to hurt Ethan."

"It is designed to prevent him from destroying another arena."

Ethan looked at the training field.

"I have only destroyed three."

The sign reappeared.

**THREE TOO MANY.**

Professor Voss continued as if it had not spoken.

"The three tasks are simple."

She pointed toward the arena.

"First: defeat the training constructs."

A row of stone creatures rose from the ground.

They had wooden swords, blunt claws, and glowing blue eyes.

"Second: retrieve the silver flag from the center tower."

A tall tower appeared in the middle of the arena.

"Third: protect a crystal for five minutes."

A glass crystal formed on a stone platform.

Noah looked at the crystal.

"What happens if it breaks?"

"You lose points."

"What happens if the arena breaks?"

Professor Voss looked toward Ethan.

"Ethan loses points."

Ethan frowned.

"That is unfair."

"You have been responsible for most of the damage."

"Not all of it."

The sign appeared again.

**ONLY MOST.**

Professor Voss lifted a stack of cards.

"The pairs will be selected randomly."

Noah clasped his hands together.

"Please do not pair me with Ethan."

Ethan glanced at him.

"You were worried about being paired with me yesterday."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you treat training exercises like military campaigns."

"I do not."

"You once gave a three-minute speech before opening a practice door."

"The door was enchanted."

"It was labeled ’push.’"

"It could have been deceptive."

The first card floated into the air.

"Pair One: Elena Frost and Adrian Cross."

Elena nodded calmly.

Adrian immediately stepped beside her.

"We will establish a formation."

Elena looked at him.

"It is a training exercise."

"Formation first. Discussion later."

Noah whispered:

"They are going to create a military government inside the arena."

The sign displayed:

**PROBABLE.**

Professor Voss pulled another card.

"Pair Two: Noah Blake and Rowan."

Noah froze.

Rowan looked at him.

"Is that good?"

Noah stared at the arena.

"I do not know."

The sign appeared:

**NOAH BLAKE: WORRIED.**

"I am not worried."

**NOAH BLAKE: VERY WORRIED.**

Noah turned to Rowan.

"Listen carefully. I am not a frontline fighter."

"What are you?"

"A tactical support specialist."

"What does that mean?"

"I make decisions from a safe distance."

"Will you be behind me?"

"Preferably."

Professor Voss lifted the final card.

"Pair Three: Ethan Vale and..."

She looked at the card.

Her expression became tired.

"...the arena."

Ethan stared at her.

"What?"

Professor Voss turned the card around.

There was no second name.

The academy had apparently refused to assign him a partner.

The sign appeared:

**ETHAN VALE: SOLO ASSESSMENT.**

Noah looked delighted.

"You have been abandoned by the educational system."

"It is not a problem."

"Of course not."

"You are laughing."

"I am celebrating academic justice."

Rowan looked at Ethan.

"Why do you not have a partner?"

"The academy may have made a mistake."

The sign changed.

**THE ACADEMY DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES.**

Professor Voss looked at Ethan.

"You will complete the assessment alone."

"That is not a fair evaluation."

"It is a specialized evaluation."

"Why?"

"Because your mana output is difficult to measure beside other students."

"So I am being punished for being powerful?"

"You are being evaluated for control."

Noah called from his assigned area:

"He is being punished for exploding three crystals!"

The sign added:

**AND FOR TALKING TO BEDS.**

Ethan looked at Professor Voss.

"I was asleep."

"Focus."

The arena gates opened.

A bell rang.

Professor Voss raised her staff.

"Begin!"

## Elena and Adrian

The stone constructs charged.

Adrian drew his golden sword.

"Left formation."

Elena raised her hand.

Ice spread across the arena floor.

The first three constructs slipped.

Adrian moved through them with precise strikes, knocking their weapons away.

"Efficient," Elena said.

"Thank you."

"I was not complimenting you."

"I accept it anyway."

More constructs emerged from the ground.

Adrian stepped forward.

"I will draw their attention."

Elena looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because I am stronger defensively."

"I have higher area control."

"That does not mean—"

Elena froze six constructs at once.

Adrian stared at them.

Elena looked at him.

"Continue."

Adrian cleared his throat.

"I will protect the left side."

"That is reasonable."

They moved together.

Elena froze the battlefield while Adrian broke the constructs’ weapons.

Their teamwork was not perfect.

Adrian gave too many orders.

Elena ignored most of them.

But somehow, the two of them worked well.

The sign above the arena displayed:

**ELENA AND ADRIAN: ACCEPTABLE TEAMWORK.**

Adrian looked offended.

"We are doing better than acceptable."

The sign changed.

**ADRIAN CROSS: ACCEPTABLE TEAMWORK.**

Elena laughed.

Adrian turned toward her.

"You are enjoying this."

"Very much."

A construct attacked Adrian from behind.

Elena froze it before it struck.

Adrian looked at the frozen weapon.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome."

The sign displayed:

**PROGRESS DETECTED.**

Adrian turned red.

"Do not announce that."

## Noah and Rowan

Noah and Rowan entered the second arena.

The stone constructs immediately charged.

Noah took one look at them and raised his hand.

"I surrender."

Rowan stared at him.

"The assessment has just begun."

"Yes. I want to establish a strong defensive position."

"You are standing outside the arena."

"That is the strongest defensive position."

A construct crossed the boundary.

Noah threw a small metal disc.

The disc released a flash of light.

The construct stopped.

Rowan looked at him.

"You had that prepared?"

"I prepare for danger."

"You said you were not a frontline fighter."

"I am not. I am an equipment fighter."

The construct resumed moving.

Noah threw another disc.

Nothing happened.

He shook it.

"Wait."

The construct raised its wooden sword.

Rowan stepped in front of Noah and blocked the strike with his training sword.

The impact pushed him backward.

Noah looked at him.

"Excellent. Continue doing that."

"You are asking me to protect you."

"Yes."

"Should we not fight together?"

"We are fighting together. You are fighting. I am managing resources."

"You have thrown two discs."

"I am managing them poorly."

Rowan pushed the construct away.

His violet energy flickered around the training sword.

The construct froze.

Noah stared.

"You used magic."

"Only a little."

The construct’s sword fell apart.

The sign displayed:

**ROWAN: CONTROL ACCEPTABLE.**

Noah pointed toward it.

"See? You are doing great."

Rowan looked at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Encouraging you."

"You are using me as a shield."

"Encouragement comes in many forms."

Three more constructs rushed toward them.

Noah looked around.

"New plan."

"What is the new plan?"

"Run."

Rowan stared at him.

"That is not a combat strategy."

"It is if you run tactically."

They ran.

The constructs followed.

Noah pulled a rope from his bag and threw it between two trees.

The first construct tripped.

The second stepped over it.

The third walked around the rope.

Noah stared.

"I expected more from that."

Rowan raised his hand.

A violet wall formed beneath the constructs.

The ground tilted.

All three stone creatures slid into a pit.

Noah looked at him.

"That was clever."

"Was it?"

"Yes."

"Then why did you not do it?"

"Because I was busy running."

The sign displayed:

**NOAH AND ROWAN: UNEXPECTEDLY EFFECTIVE.**

Noah bowed toward the sign.

"Finally, recognition."

The sign added:

**MOSTLY BECAUSE OF ROWAN.**

Noah stopped bowing.

"I withdraw my gratitude."

## Ethan’s Assessment

Ethan entered the third arena alone.

The gates closed behind him.

Professor Voss stood outside.

"Remember: control, judgment, and teamwork."

"I have no team."

"Then demonstrate teamwork with the academy."

"That is ridiculous."

The sign appeared above the arena.

**THE ACADEMY IS READY.**

Ethan looked at it.

"No."

The first stone construct charged.

Ethan stepped aside and struck its knee.

The construct fell.

A second attacked.

Ethan blocked and redirected it into the first.

Two more approached.

He moved between them, using their momentum against one another.

The students watching from outside became quiet.

Ethan was not using magic.

He was fighting with simple movements.

No unnecessary force.

No wasted motion.

No destruction.

The sign displayed:

**ETHAN VALE: CONTROL ACCEPTABLE.**

Noah shouted from the second arena:

"Do not celebrate yet! He still has two tasks!"

Ethan ignored him.

The last construct lunged.

Ethan ducked, grabbed its arm, and threw it over his shoulder.

The construct landed in the dirt.

The bell rang.

The first task was complete.

A silver flag appeared at the top of the central tower.

Ethan looked at it.

The tower was twenty meters high.

The students waited.

Ethan jumped.

He reached the top in one movement.

The sign immediately displayed:

**UNAUTHORIZED MAGIC.**

Ethan landed on the tower.

"I did not use magic."

**YOU USED ABNORMAL PHYSICAL STRENGTH.**

"That is not magic."

**IT IS SUSPICIOUS.**

Ethan grabbed the flag.

The tower vanished.

He landed safely on the ground.

The sign displayed:

**TASK TWO COMPLETE.**

Beneath it:

**STYLE: OBNOXIOUS.**

Noah applauded.

"Finally, an honest evaluation!"

Ethan walked toward the crystal platform.

The third task began.

Stone constructs emerged from every corner of the arena.

Their eyes glowed red.

The crystal behind Ethan began pulsing.

He took a defensive stance.

The constructs attacked.

Ethan blocked the first.

The second struck his shoulder.

The third moved toward the crystal.

Ethan turned to stop it.

The first construct attacked again.

Ethan blocked.

The second reached the crystal.

The arena’s alarm rang.

Ethan grabbed the construct and threw it away from the platform.

The remaining constructs surrounded him.

He could defeat them easily.

But the task was not to defeat the constructs.

It was to protect the crystal.

Ethan changed his approach.

He stepped onto the platform.

The crystal was behind him.

Every attack would have to pass through him first.

The constructs charged.

Ethan blocked one strike.

Then another.

A third hit his arm.

The fourth struck his side.

He did not move.

The students watched in silence.

The crystal remained intact.

Five minutes passed.

The bell rang.

The constructs froze.

The blackboard displayed the result:

**ETHAN VALE: TASK THREE COMPLETE.**

Ethan lowered his arms.

The sign continued:

**TEAMWORK: POOR.**

Ethan stared at it.

"I completed the test alone."

**EXACTLY.**

Noah shouted:

"He has a point!"

The sign replied:

**NOAH BLAKE: DETENTION.**

Noah stopped shouting.

Professor Voss entered the arena.

"You passed."

Ethan looked toward the sign.

"Despite the score?"

"You passed the practical portion."

"What about the teamwork score?"

"You refused to use the academy’s assistance."

"The arena attacked me."

"It was testing you."

"It did not introduce itself."

Professor Voss looked at the sign.

"Did you offer him assistance?"

The sign displayed:

**NO.**

"Why?"

**HE DID NOT ASK.**

Ethan stared at it.

"That is not a reasonable evaluation."

Professor Voss looked at him.

"Did you ask for help?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I did not need it."

"There is your teamwork score."

Ethan frowned.

Professor Voss continued:

"Strength is not only the ability to handle danger alone. Sometimes it is recognizing when another person can help."

Ethan looked toward the other arenas.

Rowan had just stopped a construct with a violet barrier.

Noah was hiding behind him while throwing small discs.

Elena and Adrian were arguing over which direction their formation should face.

Despite everything, they were working together.

Ethan looked back at the sign.

The sign displayed:

**ETHAN VALE: INCOMPLETE.**

Noah approached him.

"That is a terrible grade."

"It is not a grade."

"It is absolutely a grade."

Rowan came over.

"What did you get?"

"Incomplete."

Rowan tilted his head.

"What does it mean?"

"That I have more to learn."

Noah looked impressed.

"Look at that. Character development before lunch."

Adrian joined them.

"Your combat performance was excellent."

"Thank you."

"Your teamwork was unacceptable."

"Thank you."

"That was not a compliment."

"I know."

Elena approached with her notebook.

"The official results will be posted later."

Noah looked at her.

"Do you think we passed?"

"You froze half the arena."

"That was tactical."

"You accidentally froze Adrian’s foot."

Adrian looked down.

His boot was still trapped in ice.

"I was not accidentally frozen."

Elena blinked.

"You stepped into the spell."

"I was following your formation."

"You were not following anything."

Noah looked between them.

"Are you two going to argue all day?"

"Yes," they answered together.

The sign displayed:

**ELENA AND ADRIAN: ACCEPTABLE COMPATIBILITY.**

Adrian raised his sword.

The sign immediately added:

**DO NOT ATTACK THE SIGN.**

Adrian lowered the weapon.

"I was not going to."

**FALSE.**

Professor Voss gathered the class.

"Tomorrow, the training groups will be announced."

Noah raised his hand.

"Will we be assigned partners based on today’s scores?"

"Yes."

"Can we appeal?"

"No."

"Can we trade?"

"No."

"Can we run away?"

"No."

"Can we—"

"No."

Noah lowered his hand.

"She knows me too well."

Professor Voss looked toward Ethan.

"You will receive a separate evaluation."

Ethan nodded.

"What kind?"

"Written."

The color left his face.

Noah’s expression brightened.

"Written?"

Professor Voss nodded.

"Basic Academy Regulations."

Ethan stared at her.

"I have fought the First Thought."

"And yet you failed to complete the student registration form."

"That form had seventeen pages."

"It had three."

"The third page contained unnecessary questions."

"It asked for your dormitory preference."

"I do not have one."

"You selected ’battlefield.’"

"It was the closest option."

Noah started laughing.

Rowan looked at Ethan.

"What is a written evaluation?"

"A test on rules."

"Are the rules difficult?"

Ethan looked toward the academy buildings.

The blackboards watched from every corridor.

The doors whispered.

The sign near the arena displayed:

**ETHAN WILL FAIL.**

Ethan raised his sword slightly.

The sign added:

**DO NOT DESTROY THE SIGN.**

He lowered it.

"I do not know."

The students began leaving the training field.

Noah walked beside Rowan.

"Do not worry. I will help you study."

"Are you good at rules?"

"No."

"Then why will you help me?"

"Because I have experience breaking them."

"That does not seem useful."

"It is extremely useful."

Behind them, Ethan noticed the Observer crystal inside Rowan’s bag glowing faintly.

The golden eye opened.

A message appeared across its surface:

**COMBAT ASSESSMENT OBSERVED.**

Ethan stopped.

The message changed.

**RESULTS FOR ETHAN VALE: INCOMPLETE.**

Then a third line appeared.

**EXTERNAL EVALUATOR: SATISFIED.**

Ethan’s expression hardened.

Someone outside the academy had watched the assessment.

Not the Royal Council.

Not the First Thought.

Not the Observer.

The message disappeared before he could examine it further.

Noah looked back.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

The crystal pulsed again.

A final line appeared:

**NEXT EVALUATION: MIDNIGHT.**

Ethan closed his hand around it.

Rowan noticed.

"Is there a problem?"

Ethan looked toward the academy towers.

"For once, I hope it is only homework."

The bell rang.

A voice came from the nearest blackboard.

**ETHAN VALE: REPORT TO THE HEADMASTER’S OFFICE AFTER DINNER.**

Noah groaned.

"What did you do?"

"Nothing."

The board answered:

**THAT IS UNDER REVIEW.**

Ethan sighed.

His first day of academy life had included a failed mana test, a damaged training crystal, an incomplete teamwork score, and a written examination waiting for him tomorrow.

It was, by every reasonable standard, a disaster.

For the first time in centuries, Ethan Vale found himself facing an enemy he could not defeat with a sword.

School regulations.

And somewhere beyond the academy walls, an unknown observer was preparing his next evaluation.