Chapter 66 Paired Evaluation (1)

Words : 2079 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

The Paired Evaluation was finally here, and with it came a buzz of nervous energy that hummed through the entire first-year class. All one hundred of us were escorted to a colossal hall that looked like a fusion of a high-tech arena and a scientific testing facility. The walls shimmered faintly with mana-reactive barriers, and overhead, a lattice of holographic displays showcased live updates of the evaluations as they unfolded. The air smelled faintly of ozone, the telltale sign of concentrated mana hanging in the atmosphere. Rows of seats lined the observation decks above, where professors and assistants lounged with data tablets in hand, ready to analyze and assign grades. Below, the floor gleamed like polished obsidian, lined with faint grooves where containment fields would activate for each test. We were shuffled into our pairs and sorted by class. The weaker sections were taken to one side of the hall, where they would be facing more manageable challenges—though I could tell from the nervous whispers that the prospect of even a four-star beast was enough to make some of them sweat bullets. "All right, everyone," Professor Nero's voice echoed through the hall, amplified by the speaker systems. His tone was brisk but not unkind. "Listen carefully. Each pair will face a beast suited to your current skill levels. Your task is not necessarily to defeat it—though if you can, excellent—but to demonstrate teamwork and synergy. Your grade will depend entirely on how well you work together. This is not a solo contest." He let the words sink in, his sharp gaze sweeping over us. "We will start with the lowest-ranked students. Once you are called, step into the containment zone and await the arrival of your assigned beast." The first pair was called—a nervous-looking boy and girl from Class 1-D. They shuffled forward, their expressions a mix of dread and resignation. As they stepped into the shimmering containment field, the grooves in the floor lit up, and a four-star beast materialized at the far end. It was a Shadow Fang Wolf, a sleek, dark-furred predator that moved with predatory grace. The pair hesitated, exchanging panicked glances, before launching into an uncoordinated assault. It was almost painful to watch—the boy's fire spell missed entirely, scorching the floor instead, while the girl's shield flickered under the wolf's relentless assault. They managed to survive, barely, but the lack of coordination was glaring. The holographic display above them flashed a grade: C-. Nero sighed audibly. "Next." The evaluations continued in a similar fashion, with pairs stepping up, fumbling through their fights, and receiving their grades. A few managed to work together well enough to earn respectable marks—a B here, a B+ there—but most struggled. The four-star beasts proved a decent challenge, especially for students who had clearly spent more time honing their individual skills than learning to cooperate. As the beasts shifted to five-star levels, the tension in the room thickened. The containment field hummed louder, and the beasts that emerged were visibly more dangerous. Thunderclaw Griffins, Razorback Boars, and Tideborn Serpents all made appearances, each testing the limits of the students who faced them. Then, Rose's name was called. I turned my head instinctively, spotting her standing a few rows away. She looked determined, though there was a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. Her partner, a wiry boy with a confident smirk, seemed more eager than concerned. "Good luck," I called out, raising a hand to wave at her. She glanced my way, her lips twitching into a brief smile before she turned and strode toward the containment field. Their assigned beast was a Tideborn Stalker, its sleek, amphibious form shimmering as it slithered into the arena. The creature's long, sinuous body moved with unnerving speed, and its tail flicked dangerously as it eyed the two students with predatory focus. Rose didn't waste time. She cast a defensive barrier almost immediately, her mana weaving into a dome of translucent energy that shimmered faintly with her natural affinity for water magic. Her partner moved in tandem, launching a series of well-aimed fire spells to keep the beast at bay. It was a marked improvement over most of the earlier pairs. They didn't trip over each other's moves, and Rose's protective instincts paired well with her partner's aggressive style. Still, the Tideborn Stalker was relentless, and there were a few close calls where its whip-like tail nearly broke through the barrier. When the fight ended, the containment field deactivated, and the display above their heads lit up with a B+. Not perfect, but far better than most had managed so far. Rose returned to the sidelines, her face flushed but triumphant. I gave her a small thumbs-up, and she rolled her eyes but didn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. Finally, it was our turn. "Arthur Nightingale and Seraphina Zenith," Nero announced. I glanced at Seraphina. She looked as calm as ever, her expression unreadable, but there was a subtle tension in the way she gripped the hilt of her sword. Together, we stepped into the containment field, the air buzzing faintly as the barrier activated around us. At the far end of the arena, the grooves in the floor lit up once more, and the beast materialized. A six-star Abyssal Tide Serpent. The same beast I had barely survived on the Isle of Azure Breeze, though this one looked even larger and more vicious. Seraphina drew her blade, her stance fluid and poised. I tightened my grip on my own weapon, feeling the surge of Lucent Harmony humming through me, ready to adapt to whatever we faced. "Let's show them what teamwork looks like," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Seraphina nodded, a faint smile playing at her lips. "Let's." The six-star beast before us wasn't some Abyssal Tide Serpent; it was far worse. A Dreadclaw Ravager. A monstrous hybrid of bird and reptile, standing at least fifteen feet tall, its claws gleamed like tempered steel, and its wings bore jagged feathers brimming with razor-sharp edges. It screeched, the sound reverberating like a shockwave through the containment hall. Sparks of lightning rippled along its talons, and its breath radiated with searing heat. This was no ordinary beast—it was destruction incarnate. Seraphina stood beside me, her gaze locked on the beast, her grip firm on her sword. Her posture was calm, her breathing even, but I could sense the tension in her movements. She was a swordsman through and through—a practitioner of Mount Hua's Seven Blossoms Blade Art, elegant yet devastating. But compared to me, her spellcasting was rudimentary. This fight would rely on both of us using our strengths to complement the other's weaknesses. "I'll handle the beast's movements," she said without looking at me, her voice steady. "You'll strike when it's open." "Got it," I replied, drawing my sword and letting silver mana seep through my body. Lucent Harmony surged within me, its power wrapping around my senses like a second skin. The ambient mana in the containment field hummed, ready to be shaped. The Dreadclaw Ravager didn't wait for us to make the first move. With a thunderous screech, it launched itself forward, claws slashing down with terrifying speed. The air crackled as lightning arced from its talons. "Move!" I shouted, dodging to the left as Seraphina darted right. The ground where we had stood exploded into shards of stone and sparks. Seraphina was already on the offensive. She dashed forward, her blade glowing faintly with violet mana—the first movement of her Violet Mist Divine Art, Violet Sunset Genesis. Her strike was precise, targeting the joint in the beast's wing. The Ravager twisted unnaturally fast, raising its wing to block. Seraphina's blade met resistance, scraping against the beast's hardened feathers, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she pivoted, landing a follow-up strike that forced the Ravager back a step. "Not bad," I muttered, impressed by her control. The beast screeched again, spreading its wings wide. A powerful gust of wind erupted from its feathers, threatening to throw us off balance. Seraphina braced herself, her blade anchoring her, while I called upon the ambient mana around me, weaving wind and fire elements into a quick counterspell. The gust collided with a fiery burst, dissipating in mid-air. "Keep it busy!" I shouted, already drawing in more mana. Lucent Harmony allowed me to pull from multiple elements with ease, and I began weaving a complex spell—a mix of lightning and light elements. The spell formed a radiant blade of energy that hovered above my hand, its edges crackling with power. Sёarch* The Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seraphina didn't hesitate. She charged forward, her footwork impeccable as she unleashed a flurry of strikes with her Seven Blossoms Blade Art. Each swing was calculated, forcing the beast to focus entirely on her. She wasn't trying to land a killing blow—she was creating openings for me. The Ravager countered with a swipe of its claws, aiming to catch her off guard. Seraphina ducked low, her movements fluid as water, and retaliated with an upward slash that clipped one of the beast's talons. The Dreadclaw let out an enraged shriek, its focus momentarily faltering. Now. I surged forward, the radiant blade of energy in hand, and struck. The blade sliced through the air, colliding with the beast's exposed flank in an explosion of light and sound. The Ravager stumbled, its screech turning into a pained roar. Dark ichor oozed from the wound, sizzling where it touched the ground. But the beast wasn't done. Its tail lashed out like a whip, and I barely had time to react. I jumped back, the tail grazing my armor and sending a jolt of pain through my side. "Arthur!" Seraphina called, concern flickering in her voice. "I'm fine," I gritted out, steadying myself. The beast's eyes glowed with renewed fury, and lightning began to gather around its claws. "It's charging for something big!" I warned. "We need to stop it now!" Seraphina nodded, her expression hardening. She raised her blade, the violet glow intensifying. She was preparing another movement of her Violet Mist Divine Art, her mana coiling tightly around her sword. Meanwhile, I prepared my strongest move. God Flash. The technique required precision, perfect timing, and immense mana output. With Lucent Harmony, I could amplify its power further, but it would drain me significantly. "Seraphina," I said, my voice firm. "I'll strike from above. Force it into position." "Understood," she replied, stepping forward without hesitation. The Ravager screeched, releasing a torrent of lightning that split the ground between us. Seraphina dashed to the side, avoiding the blast, and closed the distance with a series of rapid steps. Her blade moved in a blur, each strike forcing the beast to retreat toward the center of the containment field. The ambient mana around me surged as I gathered it, focusing entirely on the God Flash. Lightning coiled around my sword, merging seamlessly with light mana to create a blade of radiant energy that pulsed with barely contained power. I leapt into the air, positioning myself above the beast. "Now!" I shouted. Seraphina unleashed her strike, her blade erupting with violet light as she delivered a devastating slash across the Ravager's chest. The beast reared back, its head exposed. I didn't waste the opening. With a burst of speed, I descended, the energy around my blade crackling violently. God Flash. The impact was cataclysmic. The containment field shuddered as the energy from the strike exploded outward, enveloping the Ravager in a blinding flash of light. The beast let out one final, deafening screech before collapsing to the ground, its massive body motionless. The room was silent except for the sound of our labored breathing. "Well done," Nero's voice echoed, breaking the silence. "That's the level of teamwork I wanted to see." Seraphina sheathed her blade, her expression as calm as ever, though I caught the faintest hint of satisfaction in her eyes. I lowered my sword, the glow of Lucent Harmony fading as exhaustion set in. We hadn't defeated the beast outright, but we had done more than enough to prove our worth. Together.

Chapter 66 Paired Evaluation (1)

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