Chapter 381: Combat class assessment.
The first stage of body enhancement was actively circulating mana around one’s body to temporarily strengthen it, while the goal of the 2nd stage was to permanently strengthen it.
Mastering 2nd stage of body enhancement would make the human body tougher from the outer layer of the skin, down to the muscles, internal organs, and finally the bone.
After 2 weeks of starting the exercise, Blake was currently ahead of the class. This was not only because he performed the exercises outside class, but because he had 3 elements.
More elements meant more powerful star pathways, thus more mana would be produced and circulated, resulting in greater progress. 𝑏𝘥𝑜𝘷𝑙.𝘰𝑟𝑔
As for his current progress, Blake’s skin texture hadn’t changed at all, but he felt his body could take more damage than before.
“Today’s class would be assessing your progress over the last 2 weeks.” Instructor Zirrack said as he walked into the training ground through a warp gate.
‘The worst part of Zirrack’s class is assessment.’ Blake thought.
…..
Although it didn’t help, Blake nonetheless began preparing his mind for the worst things that could happen.
“In today’s assessment, you all would be facing magic beasts without armor, weapons, artifacts, magic, and Arcane spells.” Instructor Zirrack’s announcement made everyone including the demoted 2nd-year students scream in their minds.
After multiple encounters and reformations with Zirrack, the 2nd year students had taken the steps of the 1st year students to only protest in their minds.
‘What the hell! Is he trying to get us killed?!’
‘How could they let a mentally unstable person be our combat instructor?!’ A lot of curses were being thrown at Zirrack in the mind space.
It was already common knowledge that beasts were stronger than humans physically, that was why nature had balanced things out by giving humans magic from a young age. So taking away everything was putting them at a disadvantage.
‘I see what is going on here. The purpose of body enhancement is to improve our bodies to match that of the beast to not be completely useless when facing them.’ Blake thought.
Just like Blake, a few students looked at the assessment from a different angle, making them realize the aim of the class.
“Your goal is to survive for 5 minutes. What determines your score is how long you survive and if you are to kill the beast you get extra points.” Instructor Zirrack announced as he flew above the training ground and began manipulating the ground.
Using the earth element, Zirrack divided the training ground into 40 spaces. Instructor Zirrack made the top rank 40 students enter 1st. This was to make sure all their actions were from their initiative, not that of someone else.
‘I wonder what beast I would be facing?’
As Blake walked into his assigned area which had its 3 sides blocked off by 20 meters tall walls. Once he was in, a 15 meters wall rose from the ground and block off the entrance.
At that moment, a sklade was warped into the confined walls, but its limbs were all held down by very strong quicksand.
Hiss!
On seeing the human, the sklade hissed as it tried to pounce on him, but it was unable to move despite all its efforts to free itself.
‘A sklade, not bad. Let’s see what we have here.’ Blake began assessing his environment as he tried to figure out how to use it to his advantage.
‘The area is around 10 meters wide, meaning I have some room to maneuver, but because it is a plain box I have little to no environmental advantage.’
‘I have no sharp objects to pierce its internal organs, so I should go for its eyes, ears, and neck.’
‘Its limbs are too strong to be broken, leaving its gonads (balls) as its last weakness, but I can’t stoop so low.’
Blake was having an internal conflict. If the opportunity presented itself, should he give a low blow?
After giving them enough time to prepare to fight the sklades, Instructor Zirrack gave them the signal and released the sklades.
“Begin!”
Immediately its bounds were removed, the sklade didn’t waste time pouncing on Blake.
‘Pouncing at an enemy just leaves you open. I wish I had a sword to punish this idiot.’ Blake thought as he rolled out of the way and immediately got back on his feet.
Although the sklade was just a magic beast, the reptile was still bulky and packed a lot of strength. So being under it with no magic or equipment was a sure ticket to seeing one’s maker.
Once he was back on his feet, Blake didn’t distance himself, rather he began bounce stepping as he went into a boxing position.
Seeing the impudent human right in front of it, the sklade opened its powerful jaws as it tried to snap Blake in half.
“Just as planned.” Having studied the behavioral pattern of sklades, Blake had stayed close to the magic beast to make it use its jaws.
With him already knowing what was coming, quickly moved back before repositioning to the right and giving the sklade a right hook to its throat just as it bit on thin air.
The reptile hissed in pain as it clawed at Blake to prevent any follow-up, but that was its biggest mistake.
Seeing that the attack lacked both power and speed, Blake easily dodged the claw before grabbing onto it and using its momentum to perform a Judo throw.
THUD!
The 2 meters long sklade was slammed to the ground, and before it could make sense of what was going on, Blake grabbed its head and twisted it.
Crack!
Although Blake heard the neck cracking, he still made sure its heart wasn’t beating before letting go.
‘Thank the heaven there was no need for a low blow.’ Blake thought as he walked out of the confinement.
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