The Golem Mage

727: 1st Test 4.

727: 1st Test 4.

With so many mages rushing to the stage to get tested before, Alec had instructed his team to hold back, preferring to let others show off first, he didn’t want his team stepping up too soon.

And after nearly an hour of testing and eliminations, the number of mages waiting to be tested had dwindled to a few hundred, at that moment, Alec decided it was time for his team to finally make their move.

Among the remaining mages, there were three Tier 4 mages from high tier clans which had decided to stay behind at the academy and had seized this opportunity to showcase their prowess.

They became the first to light up the fourth bar, drawing gasps of awe from the crowd.

While Alec might seem like a straightforward person, those who truly knew him like Arthur and Brandon understood that beneath his composed exterior lay a cunning, often shameless strategist.

Alec always sought control over any situation despite never admitting to it, and his penchant for dramatic flair had clearly rubbed off on his teammates like Arthur and Brandon.

Now, Alec planned to steal the spotlight from the current show-offs with an even grander display, one that no first-year mage could hope to rival.

The twins strode confidently toward the stage, the crowd sensing the Gordons are finally making their moves parted instinctively to make way for them.

The sheer aura emanating from the two mages caused murmurs of anticipation, while Instructor Duran watched with a faint smile.

“Begin!” Duran commanded as Ethan Gordon stepped forward.

Clenching his fist tightly, Ethan delivered a punch with such force that the resounding bang echoed across the venue, reverberating through the air, the power behind his strike was palpable, forcing those standing several meters away to brace themselves.

All eyes snapped to the monolith, tracking the rising white light.

It shot past the first two bars with lightning speed, making those who had previously attempted the monolith striking seem pitiful in comparison.

As it entered the third bar, the light slowed slightly, but its momentum did not falter, with unrelenting force, it surged past the Peak Third Bar and broke into the fourth bar, leaving the crowd stunned.

The light finally stopped moving after climbing a short distance into the fourth bar.

“Low Fourth Bar.

Pass.

You have become a little closer to entering the second year.

Do you want to stop here or use your remaining two chances?” Duran asked.

“Yes!” Ethan replied immediately, his voice firm and unwavering.

Duran’s brows furrowed slightly in surprise.

Ethan had not only passed but had done so with flying colours, achieving one of the qualifications for second-year promotion.

Yet, despite his success, Ethan appeared dissatisfied with his result and was determined to try again.

The sight of a low Tier 4 mage attempting to bridge the gap between the low and mid-levels of the fourth bar brought a subtle smile to Duran’s face, as he relished moments like this when young mages challenged their limits, only to fail and confront the harsh reality of their boundaries the most.

Duran was confident Ethan would fail, and for good reason, the gap between low and mid-ranks wasn’t just a matter of effort, it was a chasm of power.

While small breakthroughs of a mage within the low realm might still be contested by another Mage in the same realm, the mid-level represented a different rank altogether, as every small breakthrough means a big difference in powers.

And the fourth bar, which signified the start of the Mid Rank, was not something one could surpass without extraordinary strength or preparation.

Ethan, however, seemed unfazed by Duran’s unspoken thoughts and gaze, even if he knew what the instructor was thinking, he wouldn’t care, his focus was solely on following Alec’s instructions.

Although Ethan had already passed and had no personal desire to continue, Alec had specifically asked him to take another turn, this time using Qi to coat his hand.

Alec had a clear purpose in mind, while it was common knowledge that the monolith did not recognize mana-infused strikes, Alec wanted to test whether Qi, a distinct energy source which is completely different from mana would be considered a purely physical power by the monolith.

Because he had learnt that those with high Qi control could enhance the lethality of their mana-based attacks, elevating their potency by several levels by blending the Qi into their attacks.

Alec’s experiment aimed to uncover whether Qi alone would register as a physical force,

During his last visit to the capital, Alec had learned much, including the advanced application of Qi to refine the body until the mage in question could wield the sub powers of Qi(Ki) freely.

“Hmph!” Ethan exhaled sharply as a transparent bluish energy coated his hand, without hesitation, he launched his fist toward the monolith, his strike moved faster than before, the sheer speed causing his hand to blur in the air.

Boom!

The sound reverberated through the area, not overwhelmingly loud but carrying a weight that left the crowd in awe.

The onlookers gasped as the white light on the monolith shot past the first two bars with astonishing speed again, leaving many students to wonder why others struggled so much when Ethan made it look effortless.

But what truly stunned the audience was what happened next, this time, even after the white light entered the fourth bar, it didn’t stop, it continued rising until it reached the midpoint of the bar.

A hush fell over the entire area as all eyes turned to Duran, standing beside the monolith, the instructor’s expression was momentarily frozen, his usual composure shaken by what he had just witnessed, his earlier predictions had been proven entirely wrong, leaving him momentarily speechless.

However, being a seasoned professional, Duran quickly collected himself and announced the result.

“Mid Fourth Bar.

Pass once again.

Do you wish to continue with your final attempt?”

This time, there was no teasing smile on Duran’s face.

Ethan’s performance had earned his genuine respect.

Ethan, however, simply shook his head and began making his way down, on his way, he exchanged a high-five with his twin sister, Emma.

“Crush it!” Ethan said with a grin.

“Trust me!” Emma replied, giggling as the nearby mages watched the siblings with unease.

“Next!” Duran called out, shifting his gaze to Emma as she stepped forward, his curiosity piqued, as he wondered if she too would manage to surprise him.