Practical exam.
Although it sounds the same as the practical exam of the entrance exam, it's totally different.
While in the entrance exam, you have to show your skill against the mana puppet - which is programmed with stats.
After you fight against that mana puppet with your full power, AI will make a detailed report from the data it collected during the fight.
On the other hand, in the practical exam of the mid-terms, you will be given a mission.
That mission is very simple.
The academy will provide you with a target monster. You have to kill it and come back safely.
You would be ranked on how quickly and safely you completed the mission.
Isn't it easy?
It would have been quite easy if the dungeon regarding the exam was explored.
However, Roaring Cave was only partially explored. Many of the passageways of that cave were unknown. No one knew what kind of monsters were waiting for them.
Currently, all of the students were well-equipped and prepared.
As they entered the cave, the team leader's smartwatch rang.
[Ding!]
All of them checked their smartwatches.
Amy projected a hologram from her smartwatch into the air as soon as the notification came.
[Kobold King - D rank]
The monster's name was displayed. Amy spoke briefly.
"Let's go. We can talk while we're moving."
***
The Roaring Cave was an expansive dungeon, large enough to accommodate up to twenty groups of students, with each group consisting of up to five people.
As the students approached the entrance of the cave, they could see that it was wide enough to allow several groups to enter at once.
All of them wished good luck to each other and entered the dungeon.
Once inside, they could see that the cave's chambers and passageways were spacious enough to allow multiple groups to explore the dungeon without getting in each other's way.
In fact, the caverns and tunnels were so vast that it was easy for groups to lose track of each other, even while exploring the same general area.
Currently, in one of those passageways, a group of five students was fighting dozens of kobolds.
It was Amy's group.
"Why do these stupid monsters don't stop coming?" Amy said in an annoyed tone as she slashed at a nearby kobold.
The kobold's scaly hide proved easy to penetrate with her blade, and Amy had to strike it a few times before it finally fell to the ground.
It was expected as Amy was a low C Ranked individual while these kobolds were only E rank. It's just there were too many of them.
As she scanned the area for more enemies, she noticed that her group was starting to overwhelm the kobolds. One of her classmates started firing spells consecutively and made Kobolds experience hell.
While beside her, a man with a robust body was protecting her from sneak attacks from the kobolds.
On the other hand, Daphne was sniping kobolds from the blind spot.
Amy knew that they had to act fast if they want to rank higher. She quickly assessed the situation and formulated a plan. "Everyone, attack faster!" she shouted. "We need to start attacking and keep the formation."
Her classmates nodded in agreement and began to attack kobolds, keeping their weapons at the ready to fend off any incoming attacks.
Amy took up the vanguard and destroyed everything in her way. She was swinging her heavy longsword easily, sweeping kobolds.
Still, kobolds didn't seem to end.
As they reached a safer distance, Amy signaled for her group to stop. "Alright, we need to think this through," she said. "These kobolds seem to be coming from somewhere. We need to find their nest and take them out at the source."
Her classmates nodded, impressed with Amy's quick thinking. They set off in search of the kobold nest, determined to put an end to the relentless attacks once and for all.
As they moved through the rugged terrain, Amy led the group with a steady hand, constantly scanning the area for any signs of danger.
"Sis Amy, I detected the kobold nest." Daphne returned. As she was archer, she was able to detect the area easily.
Amy turned to Daphne, who had been scouting ahead of the group. "You did?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
Daphne nodded eagerly, her bow and quiver of arrows at the ready. "Yes, I did. I noticed a group of kobolds moving in that direction, and I followed them to their nest. It's hidden in a cave not too far from here."
"I thought you wouldn't able to do anything because of Noah's absence," Amy commented.
"Eh? Why do you think so?" Daphne asked with a puzzled look.
"You were staring at him while he was flirting with other girls. Even while scouting you looked absent-minded sometimes." Amy said with a smirk.
"This isn't right. Hey, you three! Say something." Saying this, Daphne turned her face toward the other three members.
The mage and Swordsman were conversing with each other. They looked like a couple. While another sharpshooter who was handling the rearguard didn't notice anything. He just silently kept monitoring for potential danger.
"Amelia! Robert! Stop being lovey-dovey, we are in the dungeon." Amy sternly warned the new couple. A few months ago Robert proposed to Amelia near the main building and now they were a couple.
Hearing the warning, both of the blushed like some newlyweds.
'That's why these couples are annoying.' Amy clicked her tongue.
"Grey, how is the rear?" Amy felt wasting any time on warning this stupid couple was waste of time.
"Clear," Grey said in low voice. He had a long crossbow in his hand. His lean build suited his sharpshooter class.
"Great let's go," Amy commanded.
The group quickly made their way to the cave, with Daphne leading the way. As they approached, she pointed out the entrance, hidden behind a large boulder.
"Alright, let's be careful," Amy warned, as they approached the entrance. "We don't know what kind of traps or defenses they have set up."
With Daphne in the lead, the group cautiously entered the cave, weapons at the ready. As they moved deeper into the darkness, the sound of skittering claws and hissing grew louder and louder.
But thanks to Daphne's keen senses, they were able to avoid any traps or ambushes set by the kobolds. And soon, they found themselves face to face with the heart of the kobold nest, ready to put an end to the threat once and for all.
"Great job, Daphne!" Grey said, giving her a thumbs up. He was always quiet, but his actions spoke louder than words.
"Let's go take them out," Amelia said, a determined look on her face. "I'll use my magic to weaken them, and Robert can finish them off with his sword."
Robert smiled at Amelia. "You got it, my love," he said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
Amy nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's move out. Stay alert and stay in formation."
As they approached the cave, they could hear the sounds of the kobolds chattering and snarling. Amy signaled for the group to stop, and they quietly formed a plan.
"Amelia, you weaken them with your magic," Amy said, pointing to the cave entrance. "Then, Robert and I will charge in and take them out. Daphne and Grey, provide cover fire from outside."
Everyone nodded, and Amelia began to chant her spell. As the kobolds began to stumble out of the cave, Robert and Amy charged in, their weapons flashing in the dim light. Daphne and Grey peppered the kobolds with arrows, taking out the stragglers.
As the group made their way deeper into the kobold nest, they stumbled upon a massive chamber where the kobold king sat atop a pile of bones, surrounded by his loyal subjects. It looked quite scary in the darkness.
Amy and her group stood at the entrance, eyeing the kobold king warily.
"We have to take out the kobold king if we want to end their attacks for good," Amy said, gripping her heavy longsword tightly.
She stepped forward, cracking her knuckles. "Leave it to me. I'll take him down with my sword skills."
"Musclehead, Dumbo," Grey said in low voice. However, as an Awakened Amy could clearly hear that.
But just as he was about to charge forward, Daphne held her back. "Wait, I have an idea," she said, pulling out a handful of glittering confetti from her pocket. "What if we distract the kobold king with this?"
The group exchanged skeptical looks, but Daphne was already tossing the confetti into the air, creating a sparkling rain of color.
The kobold king stopped in his tracks, staring up in wonder at the falling confetti. His eyes widened, and he let out a high-pitched laugh. "Ooh, shiny! Pretty!"
The group exchanged a look of disbelief before Amy charged forward, sword in hand. But the kobold king was too distracted, trying to catch the falling confetti in his tiny hands.
"Shiny~ Shiny~ Pretty~ Pretty~" He sang a song as he collected confetti from the air.
Amy was too irritated with this song.
Amelia used the opportunity to cast spells, weakening the kobold king's defenses.
Suddenly, the kobold king let out a loud sneeze, sending a cloud of confetti flying in all directions.
Amy was caught off guard and ended up covered in confetti. Robert, however, managed to dodge the confetti cloud and land a solid blow on the kobold king, sending him toppling off his pile of treasure.
"You!" Amy's face became crimson as rage filled in her mind.
"YOU COVERED MY PRECIOUS EQUIPMENT WITH THIS!!" Amy swung her heavy sword like a butter knife at Kobold King.
'Dragon's fury sword art'
As she swung her sword a dragon momentarily materialized around her sword.
In the blink of an eye, Kobold King's head was severed.
In the meantime, other group members took care of other kobolds.
The group let out a cheer as the kobold king lay defeated on the ground.
"Stop! There is something weird, there is no way, we can complete this mission so easily," Daphne warned.
Soon, everyone's smartwatch started ranging.
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
[Ding!]
As they opened notifications, they saw countless messages asking for help.
"What the hell happened?" Robert stared at a series of notifications in disbelief.
[ROAAAR!!]
At that moment, they heard a roar. It was so terrifying that all of them were momentarily paralyzed.
"Oh, looks like Dragon is out," Rain said while eating fresh blueberries.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶