"So you are the next one," observed Lucas, widening his smile even more.
After watching him fight with the other candidates, Alexander realized two important things: The first was that it is impossible to defeat him, at least at the moment, and the second was that he seemed to match the aggressiveness and power the candidate emitted.
"A test rule?" Alexander asked himself. "Perhaps..."
"But, given that smile of his, it's more likely he just doesn't want to end too quickly. Because that way he can keep playing with the candidate," Alexander assumed. "Regardless of the reason, one thing is certain: I shouldn't try to face him head-on."
As soon as he started moving, Alexander used 80% of his speed, which was already greater than that of most silver-rank adventurers. But even so, the evaluator remained relaxed and watching him indifferently.
Just when he was about to start attacking, Lucas raised his lips in a mocking smile, as if despising him for thinking he didn't need to give his all, and began to launch several |Fireballs|.
These fireballs were faster than the previous ones, so much so that Alexander could barely avoid them. Not to mention that the frequency and heat also slowly increased each time one was launched.
"Damn sadist. He isn't giving me any chance to retaliate," thought Alexander, who was twisting himself to be able to dodge. "But if this is how he wants to play, let's play his game."
He then used his maximum speed to dodge while using his spell |Water Jet| with maximum pressure to retaliate.
With a big smile of someone who wants to see the whole world in chaos, which barely seemed to fit on his face, Lucas matched Alexander's speed and the two initiated a small pandemonium that made the other candidates move away, afraid of getting caught in the conflict.
Taking advantage of the situation to place himself in the blind spot of the other candidates, as he didn't want them to see what he would do next, he launched a |Water Jet| with the maximum volume against one of Lucas's |Fireballs|.
What was surprising was that although water had a natural advantage over fire, the spells simply canceled each other out and turned into a large cloud of steam.
Alexander was ready to continue attacking when he saw the outline of the evaluator's face change for a moment through the smoke.
"It seems my plan worked," said Alexander. "Am I approved?"
"Yes. You passed," confirmed Lucas, with a broad smile. "But take your things away," he added as he returned a small object to Alexander.
That sudden approval left everyone a bit confused, as they didn't see the final part, which Alexander had taken care to hide.
The most ironic thing is that the theory behind his attack was quite simple. He just threw a poisoned and energized combat needle as soon as the spells collided, because he knew the sound and steam cloud from the collision covered the needle's tracks.
When the evaluator noticed it, it was already too late. No silver-rank adventurer should be able to dodge, much less allow themselves to be hit by something that can penetrate a 2nd evolution creature's body without getting hurt, especially when it's poisoned.
"Thank you," said Alexander as he took back one of his new combat needles, which was coated in paralyzing poison.
After receiving his approval and recovering his needle, he returned to his place and waited for the simulations to end, with everyone looking at him...
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With the simulations finished, Lucas asked which combat style those few he hadn't crushed would join. And upon learning that Alexander would join the hybrid combat class, he nodded.
After receiving some sky-blue uniforms with small purplish tones, which represented the Twin Combats Academy, Alexander turned to leave. But as soon as he took a few steps, the young woman he helped with his |Invigorate| spell stopped him. "Thank you for your help earlier."
"There's no need to thank me for that," he interjected. "Anyway, it was the evaluator's request."
"But I insist... By the way, my name is Stella Azurre," the young woman introduced herself, as if expecting a reaction from him, which obviously didn't come.
"My name is Alexander... Alexander Ocean," introduced Alexander, clearly disregarding the "favor" Stella was offering him.
"Alexander... I'll remember your name," said Stella, who seemed to want to say something else but was interrupted by Lucas's return.
"I almost forgot. You must present yourselves at the academy on the first day of the next year in the morning," Lucas explained.
"Alright," agreed Alexander, who took the opportunity to end the conversation with Stella and return to his room at the Guild.
"I need to prepare for this combat academy. My current self might leave a bit to be desired, as I don't have much technique," he pondered, already inside his room. "This exam made it very clear that I can't take this academy lightly. I need to get stronger as fast as possible."
Feeling the need to increase his power very quickly, Alexander reached a single conclusion: to clear the 7 {Intermediate Dungeons (Normal)} that were near the city in a cyclical and frantic manner, as this would guarantee him more growth points and free attribute points, as well as a lot of XP.
The big problem was the risk involved in this endeavor, as fighting 2nd evolution creatures would provide him with many things, and the possibility of dying was one of them...
After thinking a bit about the pros and cons, he decided it was worth the risk, because, based on his last experience, if something went wrong, he just needed to not insist on the mistake and he wouldn't die.
With a goal set and a rough plan formed, Alexander took Ocean, accepted all missions related to the dungeons he would go to, bought camping supplies, and threw himself into the dungeons on the same day, to make the most of the time he still had.
By maintaining a frantic pace until the night of two day before entering the academy, he ended up in such a deplorable state that, upon arriving at the Guild's reception to complete his missions, his legs were trembling.
His arrival in that state brought astonishment to everyone present, as although he wasn't bleeding, it was possible to perceive he had been seriously injured.
Mary, worried about his condition, gave priority to finishing his missions and told him to rest, saying she wouldn't let him do other missions until he recovered.
With no energy at all to argue with her, Alexander simply took the reward for the missions and rented a room.
Upon entering the room with Ocean and locking the door, he didn't lie down immediately, as he needed to transform into his goblin form, which had a greater recovery capacity than his human form.
With the form change done, Alexander covered himself with some cloths, in case someone forced entry into the room, and collapsed onto the bed in a deep sleep...
The next afternoon, when he woke up, his body was still stiff and uncomfortable, but nothing that prevented him from seeing the fruits of his efforts.
Ding!
[Your familiar (Ocean) leveled up.]
Ding!
[|Ambush (Intermediate)| leveled up to |Ambush (Advanced)|]
Ding!
[Your familiar (Ocean) leveled up.]
Ding!
[You leveled up. But due to the interference of the special skill |Attribute Control|, all your attribute increases upon leveling up were denied and converted into free attribute points.]
*[+30 free attribute points]*
*[+1 growth point]*
Ding!
[|Energy Control (Intermediate)| leveled up to |Energy Control (Advanced)|]
Ding!
[Your familiar (Ocean) leveled up.]
Ding!
[You leveled up...]
Ding!
[|Run (Advanced)| leveled up to |Run (Peak)|]
Seeing the fruits of his efforts, Alexander felt everything he went through in the last few days was really worth it, mainly because he could evolve again using the (Level-Up Card) he had saved.
"The power I will gain with the 2nd evolution should ensure I don't have many problems in the 1st year of the combat academy and can focus on learning new things to refine myself," he conjectured as he used his (Level-Up Card) to finally reach level 25.
Ding!
[You leveled up...]
Ding!
[You have reached the maximum level of your current race. Choose one of the selectable evolutions within three days or you will evolve compulsorily and randomly.]
