Chapter 206: Apprentice Exam

As consciousness stirred within him, Thorian's first act was to begin his daily meditation. Two hours of intense cultivation later, he paused to assess his progress before heading to the bath.

[Cultivation Realm: Qi Gathering Eight Stage (11.6%)]

A wry smile touched his lips. As expected, the progress has slowed considerably. But considering these are merely bonus sessions courtesy of the narrative floors, I can hardly complain.

With each rise in cultivation stage, the Qi required for advancement increased exponentially. This stark reality underscored the critical importance of access to the highest quality Cultivation Halls in Thorian's past life. The royal family, with their exclusive use of the kingdom's premier halls, had effortlessly produced several Celestial Spirit experts. Only the Ravenwoods, leveraging their access to Raven's Nest and its Ether Line Nexus, managed to offer any semblance of competition. The other regions were left floundering in their wake.

This time, Thorian vowed silently, things will be different. I'll command the finest Territory Attributes and cultivation halls. My destiny will be my own to forge.

As memories of the royal family's iron-fisted rule and overwhelming power surfaced, Thorian's fists clenched involuntarily. The weight of past subjugation pressed upon him, fueling his resolve. Never again would he be at the mercy of another's whims.

Exhaling deeply, Thorian sank into the bathtub, willing his mind to calm. More pressing matters demanded his focus.

The exam is today, he reminded himself. Given the rarity of secondary element spells, I should refrain from using them to avoid drawing undue attention. The basic elements should suffice.

Yet, even as Thorian resolved to conceal the full extent of his power, he recognized the benefits of being perceived as exceptionally talented. A delicate balance would need to be struck.

My strongest attack should be the combination of Fire Arrow and Galeforce Spear... Thorian mused, before a realization struck him. No, that's not entirely true. I also possess the skills from Tza'har's legacy, which I've yet to test.

Rising from the bath, droplets cascading off his form, Thorian made a decision. I'll familiarize myself with those spells before the exam, if time permits.

This thought led to a jarring realization: he was unaware of the exam's time and location. Hastily donning his brown suit, Thorian made his way downstairs, intent on seeking information from the administration.

As he approached the gate, a familiar figure caught his eye. David, noticing Thorian's approach, greeted him warmly. "Oh, Alan, good morning!" Gesturing towards a more secluded spot, David continued, "How was your meeting with uncle yesterday? I hope he didn't give you too hard a time."

"It went as well as could be expected," Thorian replied, his voice carefully neutral. "I delivered the letter and recounted the events. He seemed to accept my account, which is more than I dared hope for."

David let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, that's typically his way. Now, I assume your main focus is the upcoming exam?"

Thorian nodded, seizing the opportunity to inquire, "About that, do you know when and where it's being held? I haven't been informed."

David's eyebrow arched in surprise. "Ah, they didn't bring you an official invitation? Well, I suppose that's to be expected. Who would think a newcomer of just a week would be participating?" He sighed before continuing, "It's scheduled for nones in the Combat Hall. If you visit the administration and request an invitation, they'll provide you with the exact time and location."

"Thank you," Thorian smiled, his mind already racing ahead. "If I may ask, what does the exam typically entail? It would be helpful to know what to prepare for."

"It varies each year," David replied, scratching his head thoughtfully. "But they usually assess your ability to cast spells quickly, conjure different shapes, and gauge the power of your spells."

After expressing his gratitude once more, Thorian made his way to the administration to secure his invitation. With the formalities addressed, he set off for the Combat Hall to practice.

As he reached the den of the giant ants, Thorian raised his staff high and began his incantation.

Gigantic Fireball.

The sphere of flames swelled to an unprecedented size, nearly brushing the cavern's ceiling. With a mighty heave, Thorian unleashed the gargantuan mass of destruction upon the giant ants. Their frenzied screeches filled the air as they scrambled to escape, but there was nowhere to run. A sea of flames engulfed Thorian's vision, seeping into every crevice and alcove of the abyss.

Gazing upon the scene of carnage, Thorian found himself awestruck. The power he had just wielded surpassed what second-advancement skills should be capable of, falling only slightly short of third-advancement abilities. For a fleeting moment, he couldn't help but envision the cataclysmic destruction that would result from combining this spell with a wind incantation of equal caliber.

No, he hastily admonished himself. Such an experiment is far too dangerous in these crowded confines. Even with my resistances, I'd likely suffer grievous wounds from the conflagration.

Even with his racial skills, Thorian felt the searing heat assault his senses. His skin grew parched, the risk of burns imminent. Unwilling to fall victim to his own conjured inferno, he raised his staff once more, summoning another spell from Tza'har's legacy.

“Raging Waves”, he intoned, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames.

Water erupted from all directions, a torrential deluge that quenched the roaring fires and filled every crevice in sight. The charred, mangled corpses of giant ants rose with the tide, carried on murky currents. A damp, ashen stench permeated the air, mingled with the nauseating odor of decay.

I can't test the rest of my spells here, Thorian realized, his eyes scanning the sodden, devastated landscape. I need to venture into a deeper zone.

  *

Time slipped away like sand through an hourglass, and soon the exam loomed before him. The Arena, a specialized section of the Combat Hall, would serve as the battleground. Tiered seating flanked the sides, providing ample space for judges and senior apprentices to observe. A shimmering magical barrier encircled the area, designed to contain errant spells and protect onlookers.

Thorian found himself in a corridor leading to the Arena, one among fifty brown-suited mages waiting their turn. As the line inched forward, his mind drifted back to the day's intense training.

Thankfully I managed to master that combination spell before time ran out, he mused. Though I doubt I'll need to reveal it just to pass this exam.

Lost in contemplation, Thorian barely noticed as he reached the front of the queue. The mage ahead of him exited, shoulders slumped in defeat. A guard's gruff voice snapped Thorian back to reality: "Next."

With measured steps that belied his inner tension, Thorian entered the Arena. His gaze swept across the judges seated in the front rows. Some regarded him with curiosity, while others seemed to stifle yawns of boredom. Behind them, senior apprentices had gathered to witness the trials. Among them, David caught Thorian's eye and offered an encouraging wink.

"Junior apprentice Alan Smith," one judge called out, his voice unnaturally clear despite the distance. "Make your way to the center of the stage."

Sound magic, perhaps? Or some sort of arcane amplification device? Thorian wondered briefly, even as he complied with the instruction.

"While it is tradition for a mage of this court to choose a tower and specialize in its element, one should not be lacking in others," the judge continued. "Demonstrate to us a spell of the advanced realm or above for each of the four basic elements."

Thorian was poised to begin when a thought gave him pause. "Pardon me, but is it acceptable if the arena sustains damage in the process?" he inquired, a note of concern in his voice.

The judge's response was tinged with amusement. "Do not concern yourself with such trivialities. We are more than capable of restoring any damaged areas before the next contestant arrives."

Reassured, Thorian shed his hesitation. He slammed his staff against the ground, channeling his power as he invoked, Seismic Slam.

The floor before him split with a deafening roar. Massive boulders erupted from the depths, launched like colossal missiles to crash against the shimmering barrier. As the tremors subsided, Thorian surveyed the devastation. The once-smooth arena floor now resembled a spider's web of fissures, dust hanging thick in the air.

Cheers of surprise and excitement burst from the senior mages, but Thorian remained focused. Without missing a beat, he raised his staff skyward. Flame Fury

A barrage of massive fireballs rained down, setting the arena ablaze. The conflagration had barely taken hold when Thorian called forth his next spell: Raging Tempest.

A howling storm swept across the arena, contained only by the magical barrier. Fueled by the gale-force winds, the flames grew in intensity, devouring everything in their path. Only when the tempest finally abated did the inferno begin to calm, though Thorian now stood surrounded by a sea of fire.

An eerie silence fell over the arena, the earlier cheers extinguished as swiftly as a candle in a storm. Whether due to concern for his precarious situation or some other cause, Thorian neither knew nor had time to ponder.

With unwavering resolve, he raised his staff to the heavens and silently invoked his final spell: Deluge Cascade.

Thorian anticipated storm clouds gathering overhead, unleashing a torrential downpour. Yet the sky remained stubbornly clear, the spell seemingly ineffective.

The barrier, Thorian realized with a start. It must possess some form of mana nullification. No matter—I have other tricks up my sleeve.

Without allowing a hint of anxiety to betray him, Thorian smoothly transitioned to an alternative. Raging Waves!

As before in the giant ant hills, water surged forth from all directions. A massive wave engulfed the arena, extinguishing the raging fires and submerging everything in its path. As the deluge settled, Thorian found himself knee-deep in water, the once-fiery arena now a placid pool.

"Most impressive," the judge's resonant voice cut through the silence, echoing across the arena. His tone carried a mix of admiration and intrigue. "I now understand your concern for the arena's state. Rest assured, such matters are easily remedied." With a subtle nod to the staff surrounding the barrier, he set the restoration in motion.

In perfect synchronization, the four staff members began a rapid incantation. Their voices wove together in a complex tapestry of arcane syllables, the very air seeming to vibrate with latent power. As their chant reached its crescendo, the standing water drained away as if the earth itself had become porous. The cracked and charred floor knitted itself back together, scars of battle fading until the arena stood pristine once more.

The judge turned back to Thorian, approval evident in his gaze. "You've demonstrated an extraordinary performance, conjuring spells of the saint-realm from all four basic elements. You've undoubtedly passed this stage of the exam. Congratulations." A murmur of impressed voices rippled through the audience.

"Now," the judge continued, his tone shifting to one of challenge, "your next task will test both speed and precision. One hundred target dummies will be placed around you. Half will bear an 'O' sign, the other half an 'X'. Your objective is to strike all the 'O' marked dummies."

His eyes narrowed slightly as he added the caveat, "Be warned: you have but five minutes from the task's commencement. Strike three 'X' marked dummies, and you fail. The clock starts ticking the moment the last dummy appears."

As the judge's words faded, the staff began another intricate incantation. Target dummies materialized around Thorian one by one, a forest of wooden adversaries sprouting from the arena floor.

While the preparations unfolded, Thorian's mind raced, analyzing the challenge before him. Wide-area attacks like Gigantic Fireball are out, he mused. The 'O' and 'X' dummies will be too intermingled. Even multi-cast spells like Flame Fury lack the necessary precision.

Yet, despite the nullification of his usual strategies, Thorian felt no hint of stress or worry. On the contrary, a wide grin spread across his face, his eyes glinting with excitement. This should be fun.