Fourteen examinees remained standing in the center of the Eastern Garrison.Maya, Rona, Bren, Bram, Bigolo, Judy, Glendo, Marco, Mary, Reaver, Kota, Lora, Fulei… and finally, Tyda.These were the ones who had survived the first two difficult trials. They stood in a single straight line, facing the viewing platform. Some had fresh bruises or swelling on their faces. Others had torn clothes and scraped skin. A few hid their tiredness better than the rest, keeping their shoulders high and their breathing steady. But every single one of them stayed on their feet. That alone showed how determined they were.General Wensel stepped forward. His heavy green armor caught the bright sunlight and shone as his sharp eyes moved slowly across every candidate.The whole garrison grew quiet. Even the guild commanders stopped talking and leaned forward in their seats. The soldiers along the walls stood up straight. Everyone waited to hear what would decide their future.General Wensel crossed his arms

The soldiers were slowly starting to lose their advantage.At first, none of them expected the examinees to push back this hard. They were elite Tier 5 fighters, men and women who had survived many battles. Going up against a group of young people—most of whom had barely left their home villages—should have been an easy task.But it wasn’t. Especially not because of one boy standing right in the middle of the field. The boy who had no mana at all.The Knight wiped sweat from his forehead and clicked his tongue, looking annoyed.“Tsk. Do you all really think you can win just because you’ve held your ground for a few minutes?”Outside the fighting area, the group of candidates who had already failed watched in total silence. Their eyes followed every move, every clash of weapons, every spell cast, every swing that cut through the air.One young man swallowed hard, his voice tight with excitement.“The fight is getting more intense every second. They’re actually matching them blow for bl

“Mana Synergy.”Bigolo’s voice rang out clearly across the battlefield. In the next moment, bright golden mana burst outward from their group, rolling over the whole garrison like a warm, powerful wave.Every soldier froze in place. Every examinee stopped moving. Even the leaders up on the viewing platform leaned forward, staring in disbelief at the group of young fighters from Lerin Village.General Wensel narrowed his eyes, watching the golden light swirl and link each of them together.So they actually did it. I heard they grew up as orphans in that small village, raised side by side. No wonder they can connect their mana so naturally. Still… isn’t this way too soon for them? Most experienced adventurers spend years just trying to learn the basics of this skill.His face stayed calm, but his eyes held deep interest.They probably don’t know the cost yet. The longer you keep Synergy active, the heavier the strain on your body and mind. It uses up energy and focus faster than any nor

Reaver, Marco, and Kota rushed forward at the exact same moment. The three quickly took their positions at the front line, while the other examinees shifted smoothly into supporting roles right behind them.Marco gripped his spear tightly. Bright golden mana swirled around his body, and intense flames slowly wrapped around the blade until the metal turned red-hot. His eyes stayed locked on the enemy formation, focused completely.“Let’s finish this. We’ve already come this far, and I’m not planning to lose here.”The soldiers tightened their ranks, raising their shields and holding their weapons ready. One of them, a veteran with scars across his face, smirked with confidence.“Big words coming from a bunch of kids. Show us what you’ve really got.”Marco smiled coldly.“Gladly.”A wave of golden fire burst outward, bringing a rush of heat with it.[Spiral Flame]Flames spun rapidly around Marco as he dashed forward. His spear cut through the air with terrifying speed, forcing the Knig

General Wensel stepped forward and looked across the wide training grounds. His sharp eyes moved over every examinee still standing. He took note of their injuries, their posture, and the determination still burning in their looks.“The Third Trial has ended.”His voice was loud and clear, carrying all the way across the garrison.“All fourteen examinees who remain, line up immediately. We will now check your Tier Rank using the Mana Crystal. Based on the result, you will receive your class recommendation and your next path forward.”The tired examinees slowly gathered in front of the high platform. Some walked with a limp, supported by their friends. Others were covered in bruises, cuts, and dried blood. Even so, bright smiles could be seen on most of their faces.They had made it. Against trained soldiers and against great odds, they had survived.Tyda stood at the very end of the line. His whole body still ached, even after the simple healing he had received earlier. The bandages w