Chapter 81: Three-Way Tester I
Once the class was over, just as Matilda had suggested, the group headed toward the Three-Way Tester Center.
Like most buildings inside the academy, this one was also constructed from the same white granite-like stone, giving it an elegant yet imposing appearance.
After entering the building, they saw a large signboard standing near the huge hallway, indicating the directions for the three tests: strength, speed, and defense.
"Let’s start with strength," Daniel suggested. No one objected to the suggestion and followed him to the strength test.
Frankly speaking, everyone was curious about where they stood compared to the others, especially among the seven of them who were considered the top recruits of this year’s intake.
Even if nobody showed it openly, the competitive spirit was still burning in everyone’s chest.
The seven of them followed the signboard and soon arrived at a massive hall filled with dozens of punching machines, each placed inside separate reinforced glass chambers.
Near the entrance to the hall, a student stood directing and instructing the other students who had come for the strength test.
Seeing the group approach, he immediately walked over to them. "I assume you are the new first-year students?"
"Yes, we’re all from the same class," Shobin answered.
"That’s perfect. My name is Mitchell."
"Are you also a new student here?" Marty asked.
Mitchell gave a small smile and showed the white ribbon tied around his right wrist. "See this? I’m a second-year student."
"Wait," Marty said. "They give ribbons to separate second-years from freshers?"
"Yes, but it’s not as simple as it looks." Mitchell held up the ribbon. "These ribbons are made from monster materials. They may look simple at first glance, but the academy’s logo is actually imprinted into them, and the logo itself is handcrafted using minute runes, making them impossible to duplicate."
"Okay, then what about the third and fourth years?" Kelly asked.
"The third years wear grey ribbons, and the final years wear black ones."
"Great. You’re actually the first second-year student, or honestly anyone besides first-years, we’ve met since arriving at the academy," Kelly said.
Mitchell gave a small smile. "That’s because the academy’s students are usually somewhere out in the world completing missions for the academy."
"And even the ones staying on campus are usually in their rooms training, practicing skills, or improving their mana control."
"That’s why it’s pretty rare to see them around. Unless there’s some major event happening, it’s practically impossible to run into third-years. As for the fourth-years, they’re even rarer."
"What about you then?" Marty asked.
"I’m one of the supervisors of the Three-Way Tester Center. I’m currently overseeing the strength testing section."
"Is that some kind of job?" Marty asked.
Mitchell quickly shook his head.
"No, no, not exactly. I’m mostly doing it to earn merit points. Think of it as a side gig. Since most teachers don’t like handling small tasks like this, students take them up to earn merits."
"It’s easy, risk-free, and pays pretty well."
"So you’re basically getting paid to stand around and watch people punch things?" Marty rubbed his chin. "Honestly, not a bad deal."
Mitchell chuckled before leading them toward an empty testing chamber. "Alright, you seven can use this machine. One at a time, tap your student ID card on the sensor before entering. Then punch the machine using as much physical strength as possible."
He raised a finger. "And before anyone asks, no skills, mana, abilities, weapons, or gear are allowed. This test measures pure physical strength."
Daniel looked at the machine. "I don’t see any screen. So how does it show the result?"
Mitchell nodded.
"Good question. Normal measuring equipment can’t accurately measure, or even withstand, the power of Variants. That’s why these punching machines were specifically designed for Variants."
He pointed upward. "See those twelve stars above the machine?"
"Once you punch it, the machine calculates the force behind your attack, and the stars light up one by one according to your strength."
"And the number of stars determines your rating. It’s pretty simple."
Marty immediately became excited. "Then I’ll go first." But before he could take a step forward, Adrian moved and blocked his path.
"No. I should go first. It is the duty of a leader to show his followers how things are done." Without waiting for anyone’s response, Adrian entered the chamber.
He removed his gloves, rolled his shoulders, adjusted his stance, and cuffed his sleeves before settling into position.
After gathering all the strength in his body, he threw a punch at the machine.
A moment later, the stars began to light up.
One.
Two.
Then finally, half of the third star lit up.
Seeing the result of two and a half stars, Adrian walked out of the chamber with a disappointed expression. "The machine is defective."
That was the first thing he said. "How could someone of my caliber score only two and a half stars? It’s clearly malfunctioning, or someone must’ve rigged it to embarrass me."
He suddenly stopped complaining and thought for a moment. "Actually, now that I think about it...the machine must’ve been overwhelmed by my strength."
"I think the internal components were damaged by the force behind my punch. That’s why the stars didn’t light up properly."
"Hmm. That explains everything."
Everyone stared at him, unsure of what they were supposed to say.
Mitchell simply laughed and shook his head. "No, the machine is working perfectly. You see, two stars are generally considered the limit of an E-rank variant."
"Four stars for D-rank, six stars for C-rank, and it continues like that as the ranks increase all the way to S-rank."
He then looked at Adrian.
"So two and a half stars for a D-rank is completely normal."
Adrian frowned. "Impossible. I refuse to believe my magnificent physique falls within the range of normality."
Mitchell completely ignored that part. "Are you a physical-type variant?"
"No. I’m not some brute. I’m a light elemental user who shines upon this world like a radiant sun."
Mitchell nodded. "That explains it. Variants who specialize in elemental abilities generally fall under the mage category, and they usually don’t possess exceptional physical strength."
"Of course, your affinity with light may give you an edge in speed and agility, since light is one of the fastest elements."
"But when it comes to strength and defense, not so much."
Adrian crossed his arms. "Fine. But I still believe I deserve at least four or five stars."
Mitchell smiled politely. "Who’s next?"
"I’ll go." Kelly stepped forward and entered the chamber without waiting for anyone else.
A few moments later, the result appeared. Two and a half stars. She walked out looking quite pleased with herself.
Meanwhile, Adrian looked personally offended. "How does she have the same score as me?"
Kelly grinned. "Maybe you should work on building some muscles."
"Never. Building muscles would make me look like a savage. I prefer elegance."
One after another, the others stepped inside.
Marty scored three stars. Since he was a defensive fighter, nobody found it surprising.
Daniel followed and received three and a half stars. As a spearman who relied heavily on physical combat, the result seemed perfectly reasonable.
Then came Shobin. Only one star lit up for him. Seeing everyone’s expressions, Shobin simply shrugged. "My class is a little special. It doesn’t really provide much physical enhancement."
Since classes and abilities were considered personal matters among Variants, nobody asked any further questions.
Then it was Sabrina’s turn.
Most people expected her result to be similar to Adrian’s. After all, she was also an elemental user. But to everyone’s surprise, three stars lit up.
Exactly the same as Marty, who was a physical-type Awakened. Even Mitchell looked slightly surprised. "A mage with three stars is very rare."
The others exchanged glances. Perhaps there really was a reason people called her the genius of this generation.
Sabrina herself looked completely unsurprised as she waited for the final person to finish. Zac stepped into the chamber, and the system inside his mind immediately spoke.
[Don’t use your full strength. Since you want to stay under the radar, try to hold back as much as possible.]
"I can’t. They’ve already felt my aura twice and saw me fight in the Justice Arena. And besides, the man who gave me the riddles said that people who knew my father might be watching me from the shadows."
"I don’t need their approval, and I have nothing to prove to them. But I refuse to disgrace my father’s name."
[Fine. It’s your choice. You’re an adult and I’m not going to babysit you.]
Zac tapped his student ID card against the sensor and stood before the machine, taking a deep breath.
Then he punched. Immediately, the stars began lighting up one after another.
One...Two...Three...Four...
Then finally... The fifth star lit up.
Seeing the score, the entire hall fell silent. Even Mitchell stared at the machine for a few seconds before looking back at Zac.
"Five stars..." His expression became extremely strange. "You are a physical-type warrior, right?"
"Not exactly. I’m a swordsman and an elemental user with lightning affinity."
Mitchell blinked in surprise once again. "What? A D-rank elemental swordsman with five stars of physical strength? That’s incredibly rare."
Mitchell looked at Zac as if he had suddenly grown a second head. "Then... what’s your potential rank?"
Before Zac could answer, Marty immediately stepped forward. "Alright, strength test completed. Let’s go to the speed test."
Saying that, he grabbed Zac by the shoulder and started dragging him away, while the others quickly followed.
Mitchell stood there watching them leave with a strange expression. After a few seconds, he scratched his head.
"Did I ask something wrong?"
Comments