Chapter 20: The Spatial Assessment

Elara stepped forward. Her incantation was brief, allowing her to instantly cast two Dark Arrows.

Next, she unleashed a new high-tier spell: Shadow Assault.

Her entire form seemed to melt into the ground, transforming into a flowing dark shadow that darted across the clearing. Then, just as suddenly, she solidified and reappeared.

Both spells were executed flawlessly, leaving no room for critique.

Having completed her demonstration, Elara turned her head to look at Sevia.

Their gazes met for a few seconds, conveying a clear message: ‘I’m done showcasing.’

“There’s more,” Sevia stated.

“Is there?” Elara feigned confusion, retorting with a question.

“Acceptable.”

Sevia offered no further words, simply marking a check on the chart in her hand.

Sevia’s intention was straightforward: to assess Elara’s proficiency in spatial magic, given her innate talent. After all, this attribute was so rare that perhaps only one in a thousand possessed it, and even then, their inherent talent might not be high.

Moreover, spatial magic was typically geared towards supporting other spells; it strengthened any arbitrary magic it merged with. However, when used in isolation, its impact was often insufficient. Thus, Elara’s dual-attribute nature was even more exceptional.

Despite having lived for 220 years, Sevia had been confined to Wind Whisper City, never encountering a truly remarkable spatial adventurer.

Yet, Elara, with her rebellious streak, simply refused to demonstrate her full capabilities.

Elara retreated from the open space.

“Of course, she’s not as formidable as the Captain!”

“She’s just rather average.”

“How can she compare to the Captain, who ascended from B-rank to A-rank so quickly?”

Rex’s squad members whispered among themselves, their voices just loud enough for Elara to hear. However, Elara couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge them. In such situations, the more vexed or agitated one appeared, the more triumphant they became.

Next was the second phase of the assessment, which Sevia had personally and temporarily designed.

Originally, participants were meant to separate and venture into the forest to acquire the tail feathers of an A-rank demonic beast, the Shadow-Winged Owl.

“The second phase of the assessment has changed,” Sevia calmly announced.

‘It’s not changing again, is it?’

Elara had a nagging feeling that something unsettling was about to happen.

“Thundercloud, step up.” Sevia gestured towards the clearing.

Rex, unable to fathom her reasoning, strode forward without overthinking it.

Once Rex had taken his place, Sevia rose and positioned herself opposite him.

Rex thought, ‘I’m fighting the Guild Master? Is this for real?’

“The new assessment is to attack me.”

“Guild Master, are you truly serious about this?” Rex’s words were polite, yet a glint of eagerness flickered in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, you can’t injure me yet,” Sevia stated indifferently. “Come.”

Her words instantly ignited Rex’s fighting spirit. He had long yearned to test the gap between himself and an S-rank powerhouse.

“Guild Master, forgive my offense.”

Before his words even finished echoing, he launched a fierce assault. Mid-tier and high-tier spells poured forth, bolts of electricity crackling and arcing.

Sevia was enveloped by faint magical runes. She either dodged or met the attacks head-on with the wind barrier around her.

Elara swiftly used her Appraisal skill.

[Magic Name: Thousand Winds Grand Veil (Excellent)]

[Effect: A powerful current barrier that can be adjusted at will into three forms: defense, reflection, or piercing.]

Elara was slightly startled.

‘This magic is truly formidable. Currently, it must be in the Guild Master’s defensive form.’

She then mused silently.

‘If the Guild Master were in reflection or piercing form right now, that man (what was his name again?) would have already been subdued. It’s a shame the Guild Master is only using one spell; I can’t discern any other moves.’

Elara wished to observe more of the Guild Master’s techniques. In combat, information disparity often dictated a portion of the outcome. The closer the opponents’ strengths, the greater the impact of that information gap.

Of course, facing Sevia, such a gap was irrelevant. Her left fist dealt high damage, and her right fist dealt high damage; a mere A-rank was utterly beneath her notice.

After some time, Rex, whose fighting spirit had been soaring, found his mana reserves dwindling and his techniques exhausted. He had no choice but to admit that he truly could not harm Sevia.

“Guild Master, I concede,” he said through gritted teeth.

“You’ve passed,” Sevia replied, adding, “Barely passed.”

Rex’s ears automatically filtered out the word “barely.” He returned proudly to his squad, where the four of them cheered in celebration.

Next, it was Elara’s turn.

The four members of the Thundercloud squad unanimously deemed Elara weak. Elara had been stuck at B-rank for a long time; logically, her ceiling was B-rank.

Rex held contempt for anyone weaker than himself.

“Let’s see Black Rose’s performance,” Rex said, crossing his arms. “Let’s see how much of my strength she can match.”

“How can she compare to the Captain?” a squad member immediately chimed in, praising him. “How can dark-elemental magic compare to lightning-elemental magic?”

“The Captain even made the Guild Master dodge. As for her, I bet the Guild Master won’t even bother dodging.”

The three women took turns disparaging Elara.

Rex thoroughly enjoyed their remarks, his face betraying undisguised satisfaction. He turned his head and cast a disdainful glance at Elara.

Elara had already taken her place opposite Sevia.

In truth, Elara felt they weren’t wrong; purely in terms of destructive power, dark-elemental magic truly couldn’t compare to lightning-elemental magic.

She was about to activate a spell when Sevia raised a hand, signaling a pause.

“I attack, you defend. You cannot leave this clearing. Three moves.”

Elara was stunned, as was the Thundercloud squad. Logically, unless her magic was utterly useless or severely ineffective, Elara would either be gravely injured or reincarnated.

But Elara was not one to be judged by logic.

The three women of the Thundercloud squad fell silent, a rare occurrence. The Vice Guild Master wouldn’t kill Elara, so they were curious to see how things would unfold.

“Captain, what does the Guild Master mean by this?”

Rex, however, had his own interpretation.

“Her dark-elemental magic isn’t as powerful as mine, so the Guild Master is testing her speed. What’s so hard to understand about that?”

“As expected of the Captain!”

“I told you to think more often. This is what a brain does, huh?” He scoffed. “Dark-elemental users are only fit to scurry around like rats.”

Sevia paid no heed to the Thundercloud squad’s chatter. As long as they didn’t violate guild rules, it was fine. She knew Elara’s excellence far surpassed what these four could achieve.

“First move.”

As her words fell, several wind lances coalesced around her.

It was the high-tier spell, Wind Lance.

Elara recognized the magic. Though it was a high-tier spell, in the hands of an S-rank individual, its power was absolutely incomparable to an ordinary high-tier spell.

‘The Guild Master truly thinks highly of me. If I took a hit from one of these massive Wind Lances, I can’t even bear to imagine it.’

Elara swallowed hard, her Shadow Assault spell already primed for activation.

Here it comes!

The Wind Lances shot forth one after another. Each one that grazed past created immense air currents, whistling winds, and a disorienting suction from its high-speed passage.

‘Damn, she’s serious.’

Elara cursed inwardly. She alternately vanished into shadows and leaped out to dodge.

She barely evaded the first move, and Sevia had clearly held back. If all the Wind Lances had been unleashed simultaneously, Hilvyn would have had to fight for her life even if she were present.

Rex sneered, “Hmph, a rat indeed.”

“Second move.”

Before her words could fade, emerald magical runes slowly emerged in the air all around.

Elara’s eyelids twitched at the sight of this formation.

Appraisal.

[Magic Name: North Wind Lance Rain (Excellent)]

[Effect: Unleashes an indiscriminate barrage of wind lances over a designated area.]

‘Good heavens, it’s only missing a targeting effect compared to Blazing Inferno.’

Elara slowly closed her eyes.

‘You win, old veteran.’