The Mage of Primordial Chaos

Chapter 580 – Strength Test

With Qing Yue and Lan Xiao Su's help, all the girls were able to turn in a successful dish by the time the test was over. After placing their complete dishes in the designated area on the table, it sank down into the interior of the desk, and was transported somewhere using Space Magic. Not long after, Tian Lin's voice was transmitted via the PA once more.

"The first test is now complete. Now, it is time for the second. In a moment, the table before you will open up once more, revealing a hand-shaped hologram. Place your hand on it, and channel all your mana into it—every last bit. It will return to you once the process is over, so worry not. However, be sure not to break contact with the hologram. If that occurs, your mana will fail to return to you, and you will also be regarded as not being able to follow simple instructions. That is all—begin."

Immediately, the tables opened up just like earlier, though in a smaller area this time. A rectangular hologram was displayed, and on it was the shape of a hand. 

Every examinee did just like the instructions stated, placing their hands exactly on the shape described and pouring their mana into it. Gradually, people began to feel tired, as everyone's mana levels differed, but the seven girls sitting in the back didn't feel a thing.

After all, their mana capacity was far, far larger than the average person's. By being by Xuan Kai's side for so long, with Mei Gui as an added bonus, all of them had traces of the power of Chaos within them. This greatly amplified their mana pool and also made their spells somewhat stronger, so they were able to keep pouring mana for entire minutes while others had already gotten their mana back and the mechanism on their table had shut once more.

Finally, the girls began to feel weary, and when they could not empty any more mana from their bodies, the mechanism transmitted their mana back to them, having logged the amount, and then promptly closed after they removed their hands. Soon, there were only two people left in the chamber who still had their hands on the device: Mei Gui and Bai He…

… Wait. Make that three.

In the very corner of the room, there was another girl who still was not done emptying her mana yet. She had long, light purple hair, almost white, and a deadly cold look in her eyes that practically screamed 'don't come near me, or I'll kill you'.

Of course, there might've been other people in the other chambers who still weren't done yet, but judging from the announcements already being played in those chambers, calling for the test's end… that was unlikely. 

Still, Mei Gui and Bai He didn't even seem to notice the other girl, given how focused the two were at competing with one another, staring daggers, but the other girl sure noticed them. She must've been surprised to see not one, but two others capable of having the same mana pool she had, if not more.

And sure enough, after a while, the girl was forced to retreat and have her mana returned to her. It was already very impressive to last this long, and some of the other examinees in the room had even begun to bet on who was going to win of the three. Mei Gui and Bai He were still at it, both having neutral expressions on their faces, but the look in their eyes was as venomous as ever.

Finally, after god knows how long, both finally were forced to remove their hands at the exact same time, their mana returning to them. It would seem they were about the same in strength level right now, though neither of them were satisfied with that conclusion.

*****

– Inside the Virtual Space –

Part 3: Strength. Now this was going to be troublesome.

"In a moment, an obelisk will appear in front of you," the female announcer said. "Do your best to shatter it. If successful, another, more difficult one will appear, and the process continues until you are unable to break past one. No magic is allowed in this test. Please state when you are ready, and the test will initiate. There is no time limit, so take your time to prepare."

Okay… no magic allowed. That was better, I suppose. My unnatural vampiric strength will come to show, but that's not that bad. There were real vampires among us here, after all. This was an international school, open to elites from all races. 

"… I'm ready," I said, rearing my fist back.

"Very well. The test will now begin."

Immediately, a black obelisk rose in front of me, seemingly made out of stone. Of course, I knew that was not the case. Because this was a virtual environment, they could make it to be whatever they wanted. Sure, it looked like stone, but the actual hardness differed.

Clenching my fist tightly, I punched forward, and was almost surprised at how easily my hand went through. It felt like… hardened clay? Not very difficult, that was for sure.

The crumbs on the white floor then rose back up into the air and reformed back into their original shape, and above the reconstructed obelisk, I could see a 'score' number. It read '2', meaning I was on the second stage.

Repeating the process, I punched forward again. Once more, it felt pretty easy—though definitely harder than the last one.

In this manner, I punched the obelisks again and again, until I ended with a final score of 24. I could've went a lot higher if I really tried, but this was a decent score, in my own opinion. Just enough for average, while not high enough to attract attention.

Tian Lin had said they had a possible range of scores for everyone, but for me, it was probably lower than my actual capabilities.. After all, even the IMF did not know all my secrets.