Chapter 58: Qualifying Battle (3)
Unedited*
The tool activated without a hitch. The star shone, and the professor began to cast his various spells.
He cast them on himself to verify that it was working properly.
The Force tip activated and descended upon his body. His strength increased. Although the increase was slight, its effect was evident. That tip worked well, though there was a significant mana discrepancy.
The Physical Resistance tip activated... and once again descended upon his body. He did exactly the same with the Magic Resistance tip, the Poison Resistance tip, and, finally, the Speed tip.
All the tips worked without a hitch. There was some excess mana loss, and it was also a bit slow, but they functioned correctly.
’These kids have improved remarkably,’ thought the referee instructor as he looked at Lucius and his group.
"This tool has been verified and passed the first round of evaluation," he confirmed.
Lucius nodded and let him review the one they had made.
This tool was a little different. Although it retained, to a certain extent, the points of the star, it didn’t have just five points.
In fact, of the five points of the star, one had disappeared. In place of that point and covering half of the tool below it, there was something that looked like a plate. It had points, but they were more rounded than the sharp ones of the star.
It was like a plate holding a star that had just been bitten into. However, where the "bite" was, there was a gear-like interlocking mechanism.
’What a curious shape,’ thought the referee. He wondered if it would work, since the shape was charming, despite being rudimentary.
"Why do you say the previous form had errors?" asked the referee as he carefully reviewed the form, trying to get used to it and learn how to use it.
"It must be a test for the judges. The tool worked perfectly in its original form—you can see that in the example provided by Class E. However, that drastic mana discrepancy isn’t a result of it having been reconstructed, but rather a flaw in its construction and design," Lucius replied.
The referee frowned.
"This is because the mana had to travel through too many mana veins before being processed. It’s a waste of space, resources, mana, and time. That’s why I redesigned it and eliminated those flaws." Lucius spoke with such confidence that even the referee began to doubt his own abilities.
However, seeing that the judges weren’t questioning him, he decided to remain silent.
"All right, then I’ll begin," replied the referee.
Lucius nodded, but before he did, he reminded him of something: "I added extra buffs. You can use them all on every part of the tool."
"It doesn’t just have Strength, the three types of Resistance, and Speed—now there’s also Agility and Dexterity. Perception and Detection, and finally, Intelligence." Lucius pointed out the different "spots" where he could activate them.
’New buffs?’ The referee swallowed hard and looked at Lucius, then at Jake, and finally at the judges.
Everyone was stunned, but they nodded at him to go ahead and check it out.
It didn’t take him long to activate his mana to make use of the tool and its spells.
Strength, three different types of Resistance, Agility, and Dexterity... Everything activated.
But the most surprising thing about it was that there was no magical inefficiency, so 100% of the mana was being utilized.
Not a single gram wasted!
For the first time in a long while, the referee felt he had seen a clear winner. But he turned around and walked toward the judges without saying a word.
He handed them the tools and let them use them...
The one made by Class E was fine. Even they were surprised that he could repair it in such a short time.
It only took two and a half hours!
For a low-ranking Class, it was quite an achievement. Although the fact that there were 30 of them was what gave them that advantage, it was still impressive.
However, the one made by Class F...
"It’s like new," one of them exclaimed softly.
Another nodded. "It has more features, too."
"In addition, it has optimized the number of mana veins. Before, most of the mana moved slowly through many veins until it reached the processing site; now the process is much shorter and faster."
The fact that the judges had begun to praise the Class F tool as something so impressive left the referee stunned as he listened.
Class E hadn’t heard any of this, and after the referee returned with the judges’ verdict and the two tools, they approached.
"Is it possible to get a bonus?" asked the Class E leader. Although, given what he’d seen earlier... probably not.
But was it possible that his understanding was correct? How could those guys do something so amazing?
The referee-professor smiled and shrugged.
Class E had finished first, but given the tool prepared by Class F, it was absurd to think they could get a bonus.
In fact, not giving Class F a bonus under these circumstances seemed like cheating, but...
"Neither of you gets a bonus. Class E finished first, but Class F’s tool is better than Class E’s. For now, you both get 100 out of 100 points and move on to the next round," the referee replied, handing the tools back to their respective owners.
Class E nodded heavily. For the first time, they looked at Class F with a different expression.
They could only nod slowly, as if finally acknowledging them, and turned to return to their seats.
Meanwhile, Lucius let out a groan. His tool clearly met the criteria for a bonus, but he didn’t receive it because it was Class F.
"Well, whatever. I’ll get it in the next tests anyway." He smiled and returned to his seat.
The first phase was over.
The results were announced for everyone to hear, causing the spectators to look at one another in shock.
"Did Class F really just pass one of the phases? It’s the easiest one, but..."
"Wow, this is surely the first time in the last 20 years they’ve managed to pass the first phase. The last time was..."
"During Class F’s ’Golden Triangle’ era, right? Twenty-four years ago, those kids went on to advance to Class B on their own and later established themselves as Rank B geniuses."
"Yeah, yeah, that very time. They managed to advance from Class F, and even though they didn’t make it all the way to Class E, they still commanded respect among the lower-ranked classes."
"I wonder if they’ll manage to move up a class this time? Last time, they fell just short..."
"Hah, impossible." One of the spectators snorted. "Class F will never be able to move up a class. Don’t you get it? Their talents are F-level!"
The same guy shook his head after a few snickers of mockery. "They’re so low-level that even with the best teacher on the island, they couldn’t learn enough to become good toolmakers."
His words silenced the onlookers. The one who had spoken was a young student from Class C in another department; his rank was D.
"He’s ranked 2,533rd," one of them whispered.
Others nodded in agreement. As someone in such a high position, his word carried weight.
However, when he looked at Lucius, his jealousy and anger were evident.
Lucius was a thousand ranks above him, even though the system classified him as Rank F... That was an insult. That was why he felt so angry.
Other, more neutral people didn’t entirely agree with him.
"That tool he created—which changed so much in just a few minutes—coupled with his extensive knowledge demonstrated during the wager against Lord Kael..." They looked at one another. "If this were an individual assessment, this boy would move up a class immediately."
"I think he’s above the level of Class D or even Class C," said another.
They spoke in whispers, their faces concealed by black hoods. This was because they weren’t from the lower classes; they were from Class B.
They were here purely out of curiosity, since Kael had too much respect for this little Rank F.
"Could he reach our class?" asked the youngest of them.
They bit their lips. "It’s difficult to reach Class B; I couldn’t give a definite answer."
Classes B, A, and S are special courses for truly exceptional individuals. They must possess outstanding talent, an impressive intellect, and astonishing magic.
You must not only be an excellent mage but also an excellent creator of magical tools, as the two go hand in hand.
So it was unknown whether a talented tool creator could reach Class B or higher, no matter how skilled they might be.
Amid the murmurs of the crowd, the second phase began.
The roulette wheel was brought back to the center once more.
The professor spun it vigorously once more...
-Create an offensive weapon capable of being wielded by a three-meter-tall Iron Golem.
-The weapon’s minimum dimensions must be: 1.5 meters long by 30 centimeters wide.
-It must have an opening to insert a mana mark.
-The mark to be inserted must be that of an eagle.
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