The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 33

Battle Survival Test.

This large-scale test takes place on a vast training ground in the mountainous region of Gangwon Province.

It’s a 32-hour test spanning two days and one night.

The test is simple: survive as long as possible within a gradually shrinking area.

Of course, just because the rules are simple doesn’t mean the training is easy.

You have to survive attacks from randomly placed monsters.

You also have to be prepared for attacks from other students.

The shrinking test area makes it impossible to avoid fights, and the constant threat of attacks makes it impossible to rest properly.

In many ways, it’s a grueling test that wears people down.

‘I didn’t think we’d have this test this year.’

Battle Survival Test.

This was a test that was once canceled because of Leng Smith.

Traces of him tampering with the auxiliary artifact were also discovered, so I thought they wouldn’t hold this test this year at least.

But it seems they couldn’t completely cancel it, as it’s a test based on the rules of an internationally recognized regular competition.

‘Well, it’s good for me since I can practice for the Olympiad.’

It’s a test I was personally looking forward to.

I’m very satisfied.

‘So, how should I go about getting first place?’

As I was walking through the forest.

‘Die, Shin Hayul!’

With a sudden shout, a flow of mana was detected.

A student hiding in the bushes yelled and rushed at me.

After throwing fireballs with both hands, they dove under my body.

‘What, are you announcing your ambush?’

I dodged the fireballs and lunged at the attacker’s flank.

‘Ha! What are you going to do with your fists!’

The attacker, wary of my punch, cast a barrier.

A translucent barrier rose between me and the attacker.

At this moment, there were two options.

‘Do I go outside the barrier and use magic, or do I smash the attacker through the barrier?’

The thought was quick, and the choice was even quicker.

‘I’ve decided. I’ll break through the barrier.’

Tap-

I touched the attacker’s barrier.

‘It’s a good opportunity to practice interference [disrupting or altering the flow of magic].’

At the same time, I circulated my circle [a mage’s core of power], synchronizing my mana with the opponent’s.

‘The magic formula is confirmed.’

It was a very simple basic magic, so there was no need to confirm the formula.

‘The mana isn’t too unusual either. Mana synchronization complete.’

Mana synchronization was also successfully completed.

‘Location information confirmed. Distance is zero.’

All conditions for interfering with the magic were met.

‘Interference conditions all clear.’

My Infinity Circle rotated violently.

‘Interference.’

‘Reduce the strength of the barrier within a 30cm radius in the center.’

Mana seeped into the attacker’s barrier in an instant.

According to my planned interference formula, it created a 30cm gap in the middle of the barrier.

‘I succeeded.’

If I succeeded this far, the next step is simple.

I just need to poke magic into the 30cm gap.

‘Earth Sphere.’

Simultaneously with the interference, a 30cm diameter spear made of earth flew towards the barrier.

‘You think you can break my barrier with an Earth Sphere?’

The attacker scoffed as if it were ridiculous.

‘Yeah.’

His relaxed expression was so absurd that I scoffed back.

Clang!

My Earth Sphere shattered the attacker’s barrier.

Because I aimed for the gap in the barrier, the Earth Sphere flew without any loss of power.

‘Good job. Take a good rest.’

‘Ugh!’

The earth spear struck the attacker’s chest.

Knocking the attacker unconscious.

Thud-

The attacker kissed the ground in an instant.

Beep!

[Student Kang Gi-hak eliminated.]

A red light flowed from the test auxiliary artifact on his wrist, announcing the attacker’s elimination.

[Kill Point +10 points]

The phrase ‘Kill Point 10 points’ appeared on my wristband.

‘I’m lucky from the start.’

To get kill points for free like this.

It’s a good start.

This brings me one step closer to first place.

‘Interference has become easier too.’

It was easy to interfere because it was right at hand and it was a very simple magic.

But whatever, it was much easier than yesterday.

‘I’m starting to get the hang of it.’

It feels like theory and experience are starting to merge, like I’ve gained some kind of enlightenment.

‘I’ll definitely master 2-circle interference before the survival ends, right?’

At this rate, I’ll at least master 2-circle interference.

If I’m lucky, I might even be able to interfere with 3-circle magic.

Pshhh!

‘The sound of stepping on grass?’

While I was lost in thought, I heard the sound of rustling bushes.

Grrr!

I quickly turned my gaze to the source of the sound.

‘Bloodclaw Wolves.’

Three Bloodclaw Wolves emerged from the bushes.

‘They must have come after hearing the sound of the fight.’

The Bloodclaw Wolves are known for their excellent hearing.

They must have come to investigate after hearing the sound of the fight.

‘Perfect timing. I was looking for them.’

An ordinary student would have cried out, ‘Not another fight! This isn’t fair!’ But for me, who needs kill points to overwhelmingly take first place, this is nothing but luck.

‘Fireball.’

Whoosh!

I immediately threw a fireball and jumped into the middle of the Bloodclaw Wolves.

Thanks to my enhanced physical abilities as a 3-circle mage, I was able to reach my target without any special physical enhancement magic.

Grrr!

The wolves quickly went on alert.

‘Too late.’

But it was too late.

‘Wood Bind.’

I immediately bound the feet of the one on the far left.

The fireball I had thrown earlier hit the bound wolf.

[Kill Point +1 point.]

‘That’s one down.’

In the meantime, two Bloodclaw Wolves rushed at me.

‘Barrier.’

‘Wind Cutter.’

I gave each of the two wolves approaching from the left and right a barrier and a Wind Cutter.

[Kill Point +1 point.]

The one with its forehead pierced by the Wind Cutter died instantly.

The one that hit its head on the barrier yelped and whined.

‘Stay still.’

I grabbed the last surviving Bloodclaw Wolf from behind, seizing it by the scruff of its neck.

Grrr, grrr!

It struggled fiercely to get away from me, but it was no use.

I wasn’t going to be fazed by the struggles of a mere E-rank 4-tier Bloodclaw Wolf.

I casually deflected its kicks and stalled for time.

‘Don’t just struggle, call your friends.’

As I said, Bloodclaw Wolves have good hearing.

They are also very loyal to their pack, so they are especially sensitive to the cries of their comrades.

If it’s the cry of a wounded comrade, they can hear it from 5km away.

‘Cry quickly.’

In other words, once you succeed in capturing one, you can lure the others out.

Oooooooo!

The wolf finally cried out.

‘Good. You did well.’

The Bloodclaw Wolf’s help call.

Now, all the Bloodclaw Wolves within a 5km radius will come running here.

‘Then, goodbye.’

Thwack!

[Kill Point +1 point.]

I sent the Bloodclaw Wolf, whose purpose was served, on its way.

Rustle, rustle!

The sound of sand and bushes being trampled was heard in large numbers from afar.

The Bloodclaw Wolves were approaching.

Grrr!

‘Welcome.’

I gifted a Wind Sphere to the first Bloodclaw Wolf that rushed at me.

[Kill Point +1 point.]

Behind the wolf that fell with its forehead pierced, six more wolves appeared.

‘They’re coming, they’re coming.’

After all, hunting in a pack is the best.

I smiled brightly as I looked at the rushing Bloodclaw Wolves.

‘I should be able to get about 60 points, right?’

The rushing Bloodclaw Wolves looked like points to me.

* * *

‘The level of this year’s second-year students is quite high.’

The instructors, who were observing the test through cameras throughout the training ground and the surveillance magic of the auxiliary artifacts worn by the students, were expressing their admiration in their own ways.

‘Adela, Ji Soon-chan, Kim Kang-soo, Ma Jae-hak…’

The names of several students, including Adela and Ji Soon-chan, were called out.

These were the students who were currently showing good performance in the survival.

‘These students are outstanding. If they survive safely until the end, they will definitely be in the top 10.’

The final score of the Battle Survival Test is determined by the sum of survival points and kill points.

The biggest of these is survival points.

It’s hard to get a high score if you don’t survive until the end.

‘But isn’t it hard to survive until the end?’

‘That’s true. But well, it’s not like an international competition where you have to survive for 72 hours. Surely they can survive for 32 hours? They’re all capable students.’

The instructors smiled proudly.

‘By the way, there won’t be anyone who doubts Shin Hayul’s skills anymore.’

Shin Hayul’s homeroom teacher, Instructor Go Chang-soo, who had been quietly observing the training ground, spoke up.

‘……Yes. Well.’

‘He’s not in a form that can be ignored as an unsuitable person.’

‘He also took first place in all the previous training sessions…’

The ‘Shin Hayul bubble theory’ that had been circulating since the end of the mid-term evaluation had now completely disappeared.

‘He’s currently in first place with an overwhelming score.’

‘It’s definitely not a bubble. Haha.’

Since the mid-term evaluation, Shin Hayul has overwhelmingly topped all the training sessions.

The current training is no exception.

Even though the score of Adela, who is in second place, is not low, it looks low compared to Shin Hayul, who is in first place.

The score difference is a whopping two times.

‘Transformation magic. It’s truly a magic that suits Shin Hayul.’

‘How can he use magic so skillfully? When I watch him, my mouth drops open without me even realizing it! Haha!’

The instructors joked with each other and praised Shin Hayul.

‘At this rate, we can really expect good results in next year’s Olympiad.’

‘That’s right. With Shin Hayul’s transformation magic as a wild card, and Adela, who has grown to a 4-circle mage…’

‘I wonder if we’ll get a second silver medal after Kim Kang-in!’

The most rewarding moment for an instructor is when the students they’ve been in charge of show good results.

It’s especially thrilling when they stand out after graduation.

On the day a student comes to thank them on Teacher’s Day, it feels like they could fly to the sky.

Anyone who has felt this feeling can never quit being an instructor.

Of course, they’re not just happy for these emotional reasons.

‘Instructor Go Chang-soo, you must be happy. Thanks to Shin Hayul, your bonus this year will be substantial.’

‘Yes.’

The Obelisk Academy has adopted a strict performance-based system.

If a student in charge shows outstanding performance, a special bonus is paid to the homeroom instructor.

Of course, they don’t raise students just for the money.

They make money and nurture excellent talent. How great is that?

‘Ah, thinking about the bonus suddenly makes me angry. If it weren’t for that Leng bastard…’

For reference, as it is a performance-based system, bonuses are reduced if something happens.

They had their bonuses reduced for not noticing anything in the Black Magic Tower scandal.

‘Come on. It’s already in the past. Let’s not worry about it too much.’

‘That’s right. Let’s think of it as bad luck. We can always make up for the reduced bonus.’

‘Even if the Olympiad is difficult, the current form of the second-year students means they can win some international competitions. Let’s all do our best.’

‘We should hold some special training sessions.’

‘I’ll help you too.’

Passion doesn’t move people.

But money moves people.

The chairman of the Obelisk Academy knew this better than anyone, so he introduced a performance-based bonus system for instructors.

‘Before that, we need to finish this test safely. Everyone, let’s stop chatting and focus.’

Even though they are weak, they are still training with real monsters.

There are also frequent fights between students, so there is a high risk of injury.

As it is a dangerous test, they can’t take their eyes off it for even a moment.

‘It’s also the time when the area is about to shrink.’

‘Everyone, be alert.’

When the area shrinks, the population density increases.

That means the frequency of fights increases, and as the number of fights increases, so does the number of injuries.

From now on, they can’t let their guard down for even a moment.

‘Th, th…!’

It was then that an instructor shouted.

‘S, Shin Hayul is engaging a named monster!’

The Battle Survival Test is an international standard competition. In other words, it is a test that follows the rules of an entertainment competition, so there are various variables.

One of them is the ‘named monster system’.

Those who defeat a named monster are given a huge number of kill points equivalent to survival points.

…But.

Usually, no one even looks at them.

That’s how difficult it is to attack a named monster.

‘I didn’t think there would be a student who would try to attack the Emerald Turtle…’

Moreover, the named monster prepared this time is the Emerald Turtle.

It’s a reptile-class turtle monster corresponding to C-rank 4-tier, and it’s like a natural enemy of mages, boasting tremendous magic defense.

It’s impossible for even a decent 5-circle user to defeat this monster alone.

‘What confidence does he have?’

‘Is he overconfident in his abilities?’

Shin Hayul was trying to defeat such a monster alone.