Chapter 288: 288
Chapter 288: The Test: Part 1
Two students were sparring in the ring . One was using a short jab and the other, kick . The clash of the jab and the kick was producing bursts of dark energy in the form of green light and loud thuds in the air .
On the fringe of the sparring ring of the fortress, Auldmandiller was sitting on a chair and his students on both sides of around the ring . The students were having different expressions on their faces as they watched the ongoing sparring in the center of the ring .
“Both Xiao Ling and Ternes are close-quarters combat fighters . That’s why they covered themselves with dark energy on the body to increase the explosiveness of their strength and lethality . This is what you all should emulate . Especially the rapid motions, during which they can still perfectly keep the dark energy in place . This requires some level of prowess to do it,” Auldmandiller explained .
Melissa was sitting on the right, her eyes drifting involuntarily toward Lin Sheng . Not just her, but nearly all the students had their eyes on Lin Sheng, who sat on the right next to Auldmandiller . Dressed in slim casual white clothes, Lin Sheng had dark hair, golden eyes, fair skin, and an always-on smile on his face . This created a composed and gentle aura around him .
One sparer dropped to the floor, spitting out a mouthful of blood and never getting up again . The winner ripped the red scarf off his arm and tied it around his head . With a determined look on his face, he bowed at Auldmandiller and then waited for his next opponent .
“Next challenger: Melissa . ” A soft-spoken female voice sounded in the air inside the fortress . It was the synthesized voice of the testing device . The Soul Fortress was not some fusty dark-energy institution but a high-tech, high precision dark-energy workshop . Hearing her name called, Melissa rose to her feet and strode into the ring to face her opponent . And they both bowed to each other .
“Among all the new students, Xiao Ling is the strongest in terms of physique and strength . But in terms of dark energy, Melissa has the upper hand . The earlier test shows that Melissa’s dark energy is 51, which is considerably higher than Xiao Ling’s 30 . But these figures mean nothing in combat,” Auldmandiller explained .
“This test will determine the position you hold in the workshop and your self-positioning during the mission in the future . ” Auldmandiller brushed his beard with his hand and continued . “The school has an Overall Strength ranking of the students . These are official ratings . If you all are confident enough, you can take part in the program . The school will give out rewards based on the rankings . There is another strength ranking run by the students . No prizes given, but a better ranking on the list will definitely help in your future development . ”
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“Two ranking systems? Teacher, why would anyone want to take part in the student-run ranking?” one student asked curiously .
“It’s because many students are not qualified to take part in the official ranking . Such as those who have broken the law,” explained Auldmandiller . He was usually gentle and soft-spoken when it did not concern about the business of pharmaceutical manufacturing of the workshop .
Everyone nodded in response .
The sparring had begun . It was a battle between Melissa and Xiao Ling . But this time, it was different from the earlier close-range combat . Melissa started by firing green flosses from her hands . They pierced through the air with a distinctive whoosh sound .
Xiao Ling dodged, and his performance was particularly gawky from the start . A slight delay in his response had got himself cut on his left shoulder . Gritting his teeth in pain, he flipped back and retreated a dozen meters .
“Come on!”
Coming back on his feet, Xiao Ling lunged forward in an ‘S’ evasive maneuver . He successfully dodged the dark-energy flosses that Mylissa shot at him . With a bright-green halo appearing around his arm, he flung his fist at his opponent in a Bullet Fist, which gained speed mid-air and created a loud airburst sound in the air before coming within inches of Mylissa .
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In that critical juncture, a shield in the form of green floss mesh popped up an inch in front of Mylissa, just in time to stop Xiao Ling’s Bullet Fist . At that same moment, the floss mesh spun and popped more than a ton of green hideous spikes on the surface, ready to deploy its payload .
“I surrender!” Xiao Ling suddenly cried out .
The surprised Auldmandiller glanced at Melissa . He needed to do a double-take on the kid . This kid had talent as she had put up an impressive performance .
“Next!” announced Auldmandiller . He had already assigned a score for Xiao Ling in his mind . There was a momentary silence as all eyes fell on two persons on the spectator seats . One was Lin Sheng, who sat next to Auldmandiller, and the other was Margaret, the golden-haired, gentle lady sitting on the other side of Lin Sheng . A foreign student from Olro and as Auldmandiller’s most doted on and cherished student, Margaret was the one closest to becoming a disciple .
“Anyone else?” Auldmandiller then looked at Margaret . “Would you like to show your skills to us?”
“Aye, Teacher . ” Margaret rose to her feet and tidied her dress before ambling out into the sparring ring . She wore a white safari skirt, a silver body armor, and leg armor of the same color as the body pieces on her exposed, perfect long legs . Hanging from her waist was a slender cross sword . There was also a diamond on her hair as an accessory .
“Melissa . Here we go!” Margaret greeted her with a smile .
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Melissa glanced at Lin Sheng involuntarily . But she quickly pulled her sight back and nodded at Margaret . “Here we go!” She responded .
Melissa opened her hand wide, intending to prove herself to her teacher . So she summoned all her strength right from the start by shooting dark-energy flosses that pierced through the air in an arc at Margaret .
“Death Spiral!” With the wave of her arm, Mylissa had the dark-energy flosses split into a dozen more missiles, attacking the opponent from different angles .
The students were on the edge of their seats watching the terrific battle . These students had an average dark-energy value of 30, but the abilities displayed before their eyes were so refined in control that it was way above what they were currently learning .
“This is not possible without the dark energy getting above fifty,” said Anna, Melissa’s close friend who sometimes helped her run errands . Seeing Melissa putting up an impressive performance made her happy .
“But Margaret isn’t any average student! No doubt Melissa is impressive, but she is a little too reckless, don’t you think?” A male student sitting on the other side shook his head . Indeed, before Anna could rebut, the battle took a sudden turn .
With just a subtle leaping maneuver, Margaret dodged every single one of the dark-energy flosses . She then lunged forward and unsheathed her cross sword . In a flash of silver light, all dark-energy flosses began to break down and turned into light dots before they vanished altogether . Without giving Mylissa the time to think, Margaret had come dangerously close at her . Wielding the sword with one hand, Margaret thrust her sword forward and stopped an inch away from Melissa’s forehead .
That was it . Margaret was the clear winner . There was a moment of silence as if everyone was shocked . Only then the students broke out in applause and cheers .
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