223th Chapter
The characteristics of Sword Aura varied greatly from person to person.
Even if individuals practiced the same mana cultivation method, purification technique, and swordsmanship, slight differences would arise between them. If their foundations were different, the variance grew even more significant.
Thus, each faction’s sword techniques had strengths and weaknesses. Among the countless sword arts in the world, some specialized in emitting Sword Aura, while others did not.
For example, the Empire’s Arang Sword Technique was a style specialized in emitting Sword Aura. Once sufficiently mastered, it allowed one to intercept moving targets at a distance using guided Sword Aura.
On the other hand, the Prizzran Clan’s secret sword art had an inwardly concentrated force with a strong entangling nature, making it unsuitable for emitting Sword Aura.
Of course, this drawback came with the advantage that the Prizzran Clan’s sword art could generate extremely powerful Sword Energy.
However, setting aside these variations among sword arts…
For a martial artist who had reached Expert Level, emitting Sword Aura was a basic skill.
It meant they were naturally expected to be able to wield it.
No matter how unusual the sword art someone practiced might be…
It was far easier to shoot out Sword Aura and strike a target 30 meters away than to merely extend the aura 30 meters outward.
To begin with, is it even possible for an Expert Level practitioner to extend their Sword Aura 30 meters?
While the actual lethal radius of the Sword Aura Ray emitted was only a few meters, he had nonetheless succeeded in visually manifesting a 30-meter-long aura.
This level of mastery was absolutely impossible to achieve with just an Expert Level’s control over mana.
Thus…
Everyone watching Ray couldn’t help but think he was ‘completely insane.’
Despite possessing extraordinary skills, Ray deliberately mimicked a fool, dragging out time and drawing everyone’s attention.
Only after gathering everyone’s focus did he finally reveal his ability to produce a 30-meter-long Sword Aura, barely passing the first test by the skin of his teeth.
It was nothing short of pure deception.
Ray gleefully raised both hands high, celebrating his success as if he’d done something remarkable, though to those observing, it hardly seemed like it.
Regardless, Ray had indeed pushed himself to the limit and barely passed the first trial.
Relieved to have narrowly avoided failure, Ray let out a cry of triumph as he threw punches into the air.
After further irritating everyone around him, Ray turned to look at the examiner standing beside him.
With a cheerful face, Ray asked, “What’s the task for the second trial?”
It wasn’t supposed to be revealed beforehand.
But the examiner, caught off guard by the chaos, inadvertently answered Ray’s question.
“You’ll have to face a Spirit.”
“Shit…”
“…”
The examiner reaffirmed that Ray was indeed a lunatic.
*
The candidates who’d been tricked by Ray’s deceitful tactics naturally felt disgruntled.
Ray had intentionally dragged time on the platform, mocking the other candidates, and only revealed his true abilities at the last moment, deceiving them all.
He had deeply humiliated them.
As everyone trembled with anger, Ray, having barely avoided failing, descended from the platform.
While descending and pondering the second trial, Ray made eye contact with Jusephin.
Though feeling uneasy, Ray decided he should at least greet her.
However, before Ray could say anything, Jusephin turned her back on him with a stern expression.
Thinking she was ignoring him because he was a commoner, Ray quickly lost interest and began worrying about the second trial instead.
“Damn it.”
How exactly was he supposed to deal with a Spirit?
Ray realized at this point that there was no way he could remain an ‘unremarkable student’ anymore.
Still, Ray refused to give up hope entirely.
‘The remaining two tests, I just need to perform slightly above average.’
In the first test, Ray scored the lowest due to his recorded 30-meter achievement.
To qualify for Izhise, he needed to score above average in the remaining two trials.
While calculating this in his head, Delun quietly approached Ray from behind.
“Master… Did you really have to do that…?”
Delun’s voice carried a hint of reproach.
Delun didn’t know that Ray was incapable of producing normal Sword Aura because he was a “one-trick pony with Spatial Blade.”
Even for someone as flexible-minded as Delun, such an idea was hard to imagine.
Thus, Delun subtly reprimanded Ray.
But Ray, unaware of Delun’s perspective, retorted, “What? What did I really have to do?”
“…”
For the first time in a long while, Delun silently cursed Ray with his eyes.
Unfazed by Delun’s disapproving gaze or lack thereof, Ray lightly patted Delun on the back in encouragement.
“Don’t stress too much for the second trial; you’ll do well.”
“…Yes, understood.”
Delun nodded with mixed feelings.
*
The second trial took place indoors.
A barrier covered the second trial venue, making it difficult for outsiders to see what happened inside.
This measure ensured that there was no advantage or disadvantage based on the order of taking the test.
Candidates entered two at a time according to their turn, so Ray had to wait for his final turn alongside Jusephin.
Feeling awkward, Ray still attempted to start a conversation with Jusephin.
“Uh, hey…”
“…”
Jusephin ignored him completely.
Ray felt he was being discriminated against due to his lower social status.
Eventually, Ray gave up on talking to “classist Jusephin” and fell silent.
Finally, it was Jusephin and Ray’s turn as the last pair.
The examiner gestured.
“Go in.”
Following the examiner’s guidance, Ray entered the indoor venue.
Inside, candidates who had already completed the second trial waited, nursing minor injuries.
The examiner began explaining the second trial.
“In the second trial, you will face a Spirit. The Spirit will remain stationary and neither directly attack nor defend itself. Your task is to cut off the white armband worn on the Spirit’s arm using your sword.”
The examiner showed a white armband from his pocket and continued.
“It’s an ordinary armband, so avoid using Sword Aura when cutting it. Try to penetrate or incapacitate the Spirit as quickly as possible and complete your objective. The shorter the time taken to finish, the higher your score will be.”
Ray understood the purpose of the second trial.
Proper Spirit handlers were rare to encounter.
Therefore, even noble-born or gentry-level candidates taking the Izhise entrance exam likely had limited experience battling Spirits.
This trial aimed to assess the candidates’ fundamental skills and innate senses in unfamiliar combat situations.
Once the examiner finished explaining, two Spirits appeared 200 meters away, each assigned to face either Jusephin or Ray.
“…”
Ray pinched the bridge of his nose.
He understood and appreciated the intent behind the test.
Without unnecessary complications, it was straightforward and clear—there was no room for confusion.
The Spirits would materialize, and the candidates needed to quickly incapacitate them, create an opening, and sever the Spirit handler’s armband.
There was no need to deliver a blow strong enough to recall the Spirit.
Simply weakening it enough to temporarily hinder its abilities would suffice to threaten the handler.
The challenge lay in the time taken, not in the difficulty of the task itself.
However, Ray faced one major issue.
When struck by Ray’s blade, the Spirits perished outright.
‘Shit…’
Clutching his head in frustration, Ray thought hard but…
Before he could fully organize his thoughts, the examiner signaled the start.
“We’re beginning.”
Under the watchful eyes of all previous candidates, the final second trial commenced.
The Spirit handler opposing Ray summoned two low-tier and one mid-tier Fire Spirits.
As the Spirits advanced toward Ray, they simultaneously spewed flames and wind.
Whoosh!!!
When the small flames mixed with the wind, their power intensified.
Hesitating momentarily, Ray ultimately generated Sword Aura on his blade and charged forward.
As the flames enveloped him, Ray swung his sword downward in a vertical slash.
Ziiip!!
The flames parted, revealing a gap.
Ray slipped through the fissure and accelerated toward the Spirit handler.
Suddenly, a bull-like mid-tier Flame Spirit blocked his path.
The Flame Spirit rushed forward, spewing flames at Ray.
However, the intensity of the flames and the speed of the charge weren’t particularly formidable for a mid-tier Spirit.
This was intentional, done under the Spirit handler’s command to maintain an appropriate difficulty level for the test.
“!”
Ray first slashed through the flames obstructing his vision.
The sound of the sword slicing through the air split the flames apart, and through the gap, the mid-tier Flame Spirit leaped toward Ray.
This Spirit was scheduled to allow Ray to land a hit, temporarily incapacitating it.
Since Spirits don’t die, get wounded, or feel pain when slashed by swords, the Flame Spirit approached Ray without any fear.
Contrary to the Spirit’s expectations…
Ray panicked upon seeing the Spirit charging through the flames.
“Hell no, stop!!”
Ray hastily retracted his intended forward swing.
Rolling across the ground, Ray kicked the approaching mid-tier Flame Spirit to the side.
Of course, kicking the massive Spirit only caused Ray to be pushed back.
Sliding along the ground, Ray quickly recovered and resumed advancing toward the Spirit handler.
[…?]
Confused, the mid-tier Flame Spirit looked around with its eyes darting.
Upon hearing the Spirit handler’s call, it belatedly regained its senses and chased after Ray.
Ray continuously slashed through the encroaching flames and winds pressing down from all sides.
Ziiip!!
“Ugh…!”
Ray had no way to safely attack the Spirits.
Thus, Ray alternated between blocking their attacks and retreating whenever they got too close.
He repeated this dozens of times.
[Grumble…!]
Frustrated by Ray’s evasive tactics, the Spirits unleashed even stronger flames and winds.
Their momentum was fierce enough that even an Expert Level candidate without armor would struggle to handle it.
Nevertheless, Ray deflected the Spirits’ attacks with ghostly swordplay and steadily progressed forward.
Although he couldn’t confront the Spirits head-on and had to circle around them, Ray continued to reduce the distance between himself and the Spirit handler.
“…”
Watching Ray’s antics…
Ignis, the Royal Court Mage and the Spirits’ contractor, observed with a rigid expression.
Earlier, Ignis had watched Ray pass the first trial but hadn’t been particularly impressed since he didn’t fully grasp how absurd it was for someone to emit Sword Aura 30 meters long, as he wasn’t a Knight.
However, witnessing Ray firsthand now…
Ignis clearly understood just how ridiculous Ray’s performance had been in the first trial.
“This… this bastard…!”
During the test, Ray had once again penalized himself unnecessarily, playing tricks and mocking both the other candidates and the examiners—not once, but twice.
Unable to endure Ray’s mockery any longer, Ignis’ sanity snapped.
That temperamental Ignis, known throughout the palace for his prickly personality, finally exploded.
“Does this bastard dare try to deceive and mock me too?!!!”
Unable to contain his rage, Ignis summoned a High-tier Spirit.
Whether he’d face punishment later or not, he resolved to teach this bastard a lesson.
Seeing this, Ray shot back with a curse.
“What the hell is this guy doing?”
