Chapter 243: Dekan’s Ultimate Magic
Dekan couldn’t help but pause as he saw the information displayed within the barrier.
It was better than he expected.
He had originally thought Altice would choose a sure-win subject like “Imperial Geography.”
Therefore, Dekan didn’t really expect to take down Altice in this round.
Unexpectedly, Altice had picked “Imperial Trade.”
There was no doubt, Morion was the one for this task.
Although Dekan himself could also participate, commerce wasn’t just about mathematics; it required specialized knowledge as well.
Dekan’s expertise in this area was significantly less than Morion’s.
This was Morion’s forte.
He could even call himself an expert.
However, Dekan felt that Altice might have randomly selected an objective examination.
Alternatively, she could have intentionally chosen “Imperial Trade.”
Because in the last question, she learned of Morion’s expertise in commerce.
It seemed like Altice aimed to avenge her earlier loss, deliberately picking what Morion was good at to completely crush him.
But…
This time, Altice gave a major opportunity.
If one viewed Morion merely as an average human youth, they would be gravely mistaken!
He was an absolute genius, a prodigy.
“It’s your turn.”
Dekan lightly nudged Morion’s arm with his hand, urging him to step forward.
“No problem.”
Morion nodded affirmatively.
He didn’t intend to decline.
As long as he could decisively win this round, they could proceed to the next level.
Morion had now come to the realization that if it was fate, there was no avoiding it.
Let’s just honestly pass through.
We’ll deal with subsequent matters later.
Furthermore, Morion hadn’t given up hope of escaping the combined reckoning of the Three Beautiful Minds.
Based on his intelligence, he inferred that there might still be a slim possibility in the lower level, holding a character that even Dekan hadn’t anticipated…
If Morion’s guess was correct.
That unpredictable master would surely bring about some unforeseen changes.
…
Morion took his place and completed the candidate registration.
Meanwhile, Morion also noticed the appearance of the examination paper.
Currently, it was in the demonstration phase before the exam, explaining the system process.
The exam wasn’t a physical paper.
Rather, it was like the previous light screen where one could directly make selections, and input numbers or brief texts onto the light screen.
And no matter from which angle, it seemed impossible to see other candidates’ papers.
“Alright, can you step aside before the exam begins?”
Altice looked at Dekan and asked.
After all, this exam could be directly judged by the examination system itself, without the need for an examiner.
Dekan’s presence would only interfere with the exam.
“Then I’ll leave.”
Dekan didn’t say much and left the barrier, this room.
“Dekan, are you planning to stir up trouble?”
A faint voice from the shadows came from Teacher Cat.
“Not necessary.”
Although theoretically, Dekan could indeed cause some minor disruptions outside the barrier.
However, Altice’s magical prowess was undoubtedly high.
Dekan wasn’t afraid of magicians skilled in combat, but he was wary of those dedicated to the study of magic.
If detected by Altice, it was entirely possible she would retaliate.
After all, in this level, Wardens had almost no restrictions.
Altice adhering to the rules and confronting them based on the rules was already more than fair.
She had abided by the rules sufficiently, so Dekan didn’t need to unnecessarily upend things when holding an advantage.
Besides, Morion taking this subject shouldn’t have any problems.
…
An hour later.
When the barrier’s glow covering the room edges dissipated.
It indicated that both Morion and Altice had finished the exam.
“You can come in now.”
A cold voice sounded from inside the room.
Dekan quickly returned to the study.
Morion’s expression appeared somewhat intricate.
While Altice, dragging a teacup, sipped her tea quite calmly.
From their appearances, it was clear who had won.
“Did you lose?”
Dekan approached Morion, his expression questioning Morion, “Are you pretending?”
“I’ve done my best, but I simply can’t outperform this millennia-old problem-solving expert.”
Morion shook his head, admitting defeat.
“You’re indeed very talented, more gifted than any human I’ve ever met.”
Altice said,
“You are still far from humanity’s limit, let alone comparable to the eternal beings.”
Her tone was filled with a sense of “I alone am supreme.”
During the previous examination, both she and Morion achieved perfect scores.
However, it took her only 16 minutes and 3 seconds.
While Morion took nearly an hour to finish.
The accumulation over a thousand years was not only like an ocean of knowledge in a library.
But also the level of proficiency that a human couldn’t attain, regardless of lifelong training.
Generally, no Demon could be so dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge.
However, Altice, this anomaly, clearly seemed to have learned for a thousand years without going mad, and her thirst for knowledge seemed to grow boundlessly.
This was a mastery surpassing the limits of human intelligence.
A gap that Morion’s talent couldn’t bridge, given he was still a youth under twenty.
“Alright, it’s now the third round. It’s your turn to choose.”
Altice put down her teacup and said calmly.
Now that “Humanities and Ethics” was excluded.
The remaining subjective exams would not allow them to dominate as before.
And for objective exams, no matter which one was selected, Altice would surely crush them with absolute power.
“Can I talk to him for a moment?”
Dekan pointed at Morion, asking Altice.
“As you wish.”
Altice was indifferent.
In her eyes, regardless of how Dekan chose or what tricks he might play, it would be impossible for her to lose in the upcoming challenges.
This was an insurmountable disparity in strength.
Then, Dekan pulled Morion outside the study and asked:
“Morion, do you remember the content of that test? Can you roughly explain the questions to me?”
Morion nodded and quickly repeated the contents to Dekan.
“Finishing these questions within fifteen minutes while getting them all correct has already reached a level of scholarship that no human could possibly attain… At this speed, if I choose a subject I am skilled at, she’ll likely finish within ten minutes or so. Thus, I have to both be completely correct and also faster than her…”
Dekan rubbed his chin as if estimating something.
“You must not choose any objective tests; there’s no way to win.”
Morion realized Dekan’s thought but helplessly shook his head while speaking.
According to the difficulty of the Imperial Exam, there was no subject that Dekan could hope to finish in ten minutes and get all the answers right.
Morion continued,
“But considering this test is not completely unsolvable and we lost the second round almost inevitably, the third round must not be a certain loss. There must be some winning subjects in the subjective exams, we need to figure them out.”
Following Shadow World’s system, their approach was correct.
This shouldn’t be an unsolvable dead end.
Thus, in the remaining subjects, excluding objective tests, there must be ones they can win.
Despite Altice appearing very composed, there should be at least one she is not good at.
She is hiding her weakness!
Now, it’s only a matter of finding out which one.
If you cannot determine,
Then it would only be a matter of luck from choosing the subjective exams.
Like painting, music, and so on.
No one knows whether Altice is a master in these areas.
However, even if she’s good at them, we still stand a reasonable chance.
Unlike objective exams, where defeat seems inescapable.
“If you can’t find her weakness, I suggest picking painting.”
Morion said.
Because Dekan, as a card maker, has a decent drawing foundation.
If Morion remains the judge, with prior communication, Dekan would have some advantages.
Unless Altice could paint a world-famous masterpiece.
Which is quite uncertain.
If she were at that level,
Then we would be in trouble.
“No problem, I already know what to choose.”
Dekan walked past Morion and patted his shoulder.
He had no intention of blaming Morion.
He would have lost in the second round if he had taken the test.
But Morion had provided him with sufficient intelligence, which was enough for the following strategy.
“Teacher Cat, stay in Morion’s shadow, although Altice might not have mentioned it, she definitely noticed you.”
Dekan said to his shadow.
“Dekan?”
Morion was very surprised by Dekan’s words.
From the tone, it seemed Dekan intended to enter the room alone?
That is to say.
Dekan was going to choose an objective test?!
“Calm down, you’re right. Altice wouldn’t mind me bringing a cat for subjective exams, but it would be inappropriate for objective ones. Also, Teacher Cat, please exchange that card with me.”
Dekan said confidently.
After finishing its task as a backpack, Teacher Cat couldn’t wait to jump into Morion’s shadow.
They hadn’t spoken for a long time.
Now was the perfect opportunity to have an open conversation.
…
Dekan walked into the room alone.
He roughly figured out just how astonishing Altice’s proficiency was.
It was a level impossible to overcome with human brainpower alone.
Even adding Dekan’s knowledge from his previous life wouldn’t be enough.
Because even a mathematics professor would be overwhelmed by Altice.
However, Dekan still had a card he originally intended to humiliate Morion with, but now it could be used here.
Dekan approached the table.
He picked up the box for “Imperial Arithmetic.”
“I want to take this test.”
“Are you sure?”
Altice smirked disdainfully.
Morion’s defeat moments ago should have alerted Dekan that choosing objective tests would surely lead to failure.
Even if they managed to get full scores, finishing the test faster than Altice was impossible.
Dekan: “I choose this one, I can win you.”
Altice: “Laughable.”
This time, there was no further argument.
They prepared for the decisive round.
The testing rules were similar to the earlier “Imperial Trade,” only the question volume had changed.
[Exam Begins]
Dekan looked at the light screen in front of him and began to carefully select answers.
Altice slightly raised her eyebrows and glanced at Dekan.
She couldn’t figure out what Dekan was thinking.
However,
She wouldn’t lose.
This test, Altice completed within just 12 minutes.
As expected, without any error, she scored perfectly.
She had won.
Nevertheless, when Altice, still with a lingering smile, looked up towards Dekan,
Her pupils immediately contracted.
Their eyes met!
She saw,
Dekan had already submitted his answers, leisurely leaning back in his chair waiting for her!
“Oh? You’re finally finished.”
Dekan’s lazy voice entered Altice’s ears.
“Did you pick randomly?”
Altice frowned.
Despite a growing sense of unease,
She quickly concluded that Dekan finishing this fast must involve some degree of guesswork.
Dekan didn’t respond, just shrugged and pointed to the light screen.
There, Dekan’s score was displayed:
[100 points, time used 6 minutes and 50 seconds]
“???”
Altice was completely stunned.
Her hands hovered mid-air, unable to close her mouth for a long time.
“Did you know the answers beforehand?”
That was the only explanation Altice could come up with.
“No, I did not know the answers. Everything was calculated on the spot.”
Dekan shook his head.
“Impossible! Even if you had an even longer lifespan than me, you shouldn’t have been able to reach this speed!!”
Altice gripped the table and stood up, unable to fathom what Dekan had done.
Dekan: “Indeed, but there wasn’t a rule saying I couldn’t use magic to boost myself for this exam, was there?”
Altice: “…Is there some status-enhancing or passive magic that could elevate your brainpower to this extent?”
“Of course, it’s the crystallization of human wisdom.”
Dekan’s gaze suddenly became serious.
His expression seemed to be telling Altice, “You underestimate mankind too much.”
“What is it?”
Altice’s expression was very complex.
But compared to processing her mixed feelings,
She now only wanted to know why she lost!
“I’ll tell you if you beg me.”
Dekan leaned back in his chair, smirked teasingly.
“Please, tell me!”
Altice’s voice was full of reluctance.
But without hesitation, she followed Dekan’s request,
Because she felt if she didn’t figure this out, she would die without peace.
“Not sincere enough.”
“Please, please tell me…”
Altice gritted her teeth.
“Alright, I see no quick way to teach you how to beg properly, but you must agree, when you fulfill your promise later, you make it satisfying to me. Then I’ll tell you.”
Dekan sighed and said.
“I… agree.”
Upon hearing Altice’s answer,
Dekan stood up and faced Altice directly.
His gaze was no longer casual as before but instead was solemn and serious.
Dekan: “Remember, this is the ultimate computing magic, representing the crystallization of human wisdom, even named with the ‘EX’ title.”
Hearing Dekan’s amazing description of this magic, Altice felt a bit tense.
Altice: “What is it?”
Dekan took a deep breath and answered Altice’s question seriously while looking at her directly:
“Listen well -”
“Its name is -”
“[Excel]!”
