Chapter 88: Alone [3]
After two minutes,
Asher stood with a calm expression on his face. His mana blades were stained with blood, droplets falling onto the ground. However, as soon as he dissolved the blades, all the blood fell away and splattered onto the earth.
In front of him lay the bodies of the two remaining elf students. Their limbs had been severed, but the bleeding had already been stopped by Asher. Moments later, both of them were teleported away and eliminated from the test.
Asher glanced at the spot where the bodies had been lying and thought,
"I really am a good person. Healing even my opponents. Where else would you find someone as kind as me, treating even those who stand against him?"
He then looked at his bracelet and muttered,
"Only thirteen minutes left until my next location reveal. I should stay here and focus on recovering my mana."
Without moving from his position, Asher sat down and concentrated on restoring his mana reserves.
Before Asher eliminated the first opponent,
In the Supervising Room,
The professors and staff members monitored the examination closely, ensuring that everything proceeded without issue.
Aelar and Elisa stood together, their attention fixed on the screen displaying Asher’s movements.
Aelar glanced at Elisa and said in a warm tone,
"You worry too much. Nothing is going to happen to him. Stop focusing on him so much."
Elisa, who had been watching Asher on the screen, turned toward Aelar and gave him a strange look.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Who said I’m worried about him? I’m worried about the students who decide to target him."
Aelar’s expression shifted to confusion. He was about to respond, but Elisa had already turned back to the screen.
Deciding not to pursue the matter, Aelar also returned his attention to the display.
On the screen, Asher stood facing five elf students. One of them was just about to introduce himself when Asher suddenly attacked and knocked him unconscious.
Aelar sighed and spoke in a disappointed tone.
"Students these days really don’t take examinations seriously. Poor kid got eliminated before he even had the chance to fight. Still, it’s his own fault for not treating the test seriously."
After a brief pause, he looked at Asher and added with mild surprise,
"Though I suppose he takes the practical examination seriously, even if he doesn’t take theory seriously."
He paused once more before asking,
"But I wonder how he’ll handle the remaining four. What do you think, Elisa?"
Receiving no response, Aelar turned toward her.
Elisa was speaking through a communication device.
"Inform the medical team to remain on standby. Some students are likely to arrive with serious injuries shortly."
Aelar stared at her in confusion.
"Stop acting as though this is a battlefield. It’s only a test between first-year students. Nothing that serious is going to happen."
Elisa merely glanced at him, said nothing, and returned her focus to the screen.
Aelar became even more confused but chose not to comment further.
At present,
Aelar watched Asher with a complicated expression.
"What is wrong with that kid? And what was that spell he used? That technique is far too dangerous for a student."
Elisa calmly replied,
"I don’t know what’s wrong with him. If you ever figure it out, make sure to tell me as well."
"As for that spell, it’s far too complex and difficult for a student to master. He must have trained relentlessly to reach that level."
At that moment, another voice spoke.
"Yeah, he did. Though I’d say the spell still isn’t complete."
Both Aelar and Elisa turned toward the source of the voice.
It was Walter.
Aelar immediately straightened his posture.
"When did you arrive, sir?"
Elisa, however, focused on Walter’s earlier statement.
"What do you mean by saying the spell isn’t complete?"
Walter took a seat and replied calmly,
"I arrived as soon as that crazy kid started fighting those students. There was no way I was going to miss the battle I’d been waiting for."
He leaned back slightly before continuing.
"That kid started training that spell when he was eight years old. He spent countless hours trying to master it and failed more times than anyone could count. During practice, he even severed his own arms on several occasions. That’s why healers were always present whenever he trained."
Then he continued, "I don’t call that kid crazy for no reason. That kid didn’t even show any pain when he severed his own arm."
Aelar was about to say something, but Walter continued.
"And one time, I asked him, ’Doesn’t it hurt?’ Then he answered that it does. I asked further, ’So why don’t you stop?’"
"That kid said, ’It doesn’t matter if it hurts. If it doesn’t result in permanent injury, then there’s nothing to worry about.’"
Walter then continued, "That kid kept training, never listening to others, no matter who it was. He’s quite a stubborn kid. That kid doesn’t even feel many of the emotions other kids do."
Walter paused for a moment.
"He feels neither guilt nor fear."
Elisa then asked, "That explains his cruelty, but why doesn’t he feel it? Didn’t you teach him what is right and what is wrong, and what he should fear and what he shouldn’t?"
Walter just sighed and said, "That kid always liked observing things. He doesn’t take what he’s taught as the absolute truth. He questions it, tries to understand it, and then comes up with his own explanation."
Walter shook his head.
"As for guilt, he said, ’So guilt exists to stop people from taking wrong actions—people who act on their desires and emotions and then regret it later. But I’m not stupid enough to act on my emotions and make decisions that I’ll regret afterward, so why would I need guilt?’"
Elisa sighed and said, "That way of thinking is wrong..."
Then she continued, "But it also seems right for someone like him. That kid hardly has any desires. He only cares about food, sleep, and peace."
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"As for acting on emotions, in the last month I’ve observed him, he has never acted on emotions such as pride or anger, assuming he even has them."
