The Greatest Sinner

"One second, next."

"One and a half seconds, next."

"Two seconds, next."

"Half a second, next"

"Three seconds, next."

The newbie magicians came out to fight Draven, but none of them could last even five seconds. With each passing moment, the belief that it was possible to become an "Inner student" became less and less.

Initially, almost everyone in the group were sure that they would pass the exam, but after seeing Draven's power, their former confidence was gone.

Nevertheless, it was not as bad as it might seem at first sight. Draven didn't just call the time that the student was able to last. Every half second showed the challenger's skills and strength.

The magicians in the stands judged their apprentices based on how they had performed and how long they`d lasted. For some, the second factor was even more important than the first.

Also, many apprentices didn't quite understand what it meant to be an "Inner student". They thought of it as a mere privilege, but it was actually much more serious than that.

"Inner students" did have privileges, but no one in the group had any idea how serious they were.

Most importantly, the new students didn't know that becoming an "Inner student" wasn't just a matter of passing a test. Any student, after paying "Moon Coins," could take the test again. It was held once every three months, so the majority of the "Inner students" were actually originally the "Outer students". Moreover, most of the time, disciples managed to pass the exam only when they were in their second or third year.

For the same reason, every newbie magician who became an "Inner student" in the entrance exam, was considered a genius. In this case, it didn't matter what color of the "Warp" that student had.

Evan looked at the faces of the magicians in the stands and thought to himself, <They're watching every fight so closely, it looks like every one of them really wants a capable student>.

While Evan was thinking, Draven knocked out a few more students. A little over ten minutes had passed since the exam began, but a dozen applicants had already dropped out in that time. Within the next few months, they would definitely be "Outer students".

"Two seconds, next." Draven said calmly.

Immediately after his words, a charming girl with a snow-white rapier entered the arena.

<Fien... hmm, I bet she`ll last for five seconds.> Evan thought to himself, watching the serious expression on the girl`s face.

She had lost to Roland very easily at the "Tournament of Precious Stones", but that didn't mean she was weak. It was just that Roland wasn't someone she could do anything against.

Still, Evan didn't believe she could be the "Inner student". In his opinion, five seconds would be a true miracle. Ten -was something out of the impossible.

Fien entered the arena and stepped far away from Draven.

She prepared for the fight and swung her rapier in an instant.

Whoosh.

Two dense wind blades appeared in the air, and went straight for Draven. Fien hoped to buy herself some time this way. Draven would have to dodge the blades, at least that's what Fien thought.

Whoosh.

Draven lunged at Fien and didn't care if the wind blades were coming at him at that moment. The girl thought that now she could wound the examiner. Then something happened that she could not have expected.

Whoosh.

When the blades should have reached Draven, he simply swung his arm and swept them aside like from the annoying flies.

Fien didn't expect something like that to happen, but she quickly figured out what she should do.

Whoosh.

The wind swirled around her rapier and when Draven got close enough, Fien threw her weapon right at him.

Whoosh.

The rapier whistled and flew in Draven`s direction. To the challengers' surprise, he decided to dodge this attack rather than toss the weapon aside.

In the next second, he reached the girl and struck with his left hand. Unfortunately, Fien was unable to dodge or block this blow. All she had managed was a couple of attacks.

Bam.

The blow landed on the girl's right arm and was strong enough to break it, knocking Fien aside.

"Six seconds, not bad, next."

Draven's words raised a storm of emotion among the participants. Fien proved to be the first person to last more than five seconds.

<It looks like Fien has gotten stronger, or I'm just a bad predictor.> Evan thought to himself looking at the defeated girl.

Just like all the other times people ran up to Fien and helped her up. They were about to carry her away, but the girl suddenly stopped and said: "Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead, just quickly."

"Why did you dodge my rapier?" It was important for Fien to find out, for if Draven had done it, it showed how capable she was.

"Ah... if I had fought her off I would have broken your Catalyst, that's all. Next."

Those words were like a thunderbolt to Fien. She had no idea that Draven's reason for acting was so... simple.

< He dodged because he didn't want to break it? He answers indifferently, but his words and actions continually increase the fear in the hearts of the challengers. Maybe I should enter there, too.> Evan thought to himself.

He understood the point of this exam and even came up with a plan, so he was ready to enter the arena. But while he was thinking about it, another contender approached Draven.

He was a blond man of medium height, with a long staff in his hand and lots of Magic Artifacts. Apparently, he had decided to prepare for this exam to the best of his ability.

Like Fien he stepped away from Draven and all his Magic Artifacts glowed brightly at once. He was going to use all the mana he had, but to hold out those ten seconds.

Crack.

Suddenly huge slabs of stone appeared from beneath the ground. They looked very solid and dense.

<If I were in this situation, I'd have to sweat my way out>. Evan thought to himself.

The slabs moved quickly toward Draven and the next second they slammed shut with a rumbling noise.

Crack.

Nevertheless, it was completely useless. With one powerful blow, Draven shattered the stone slab into small pieces. He didn't run at the kid, he had another way to deal with him.

Whoosh.

Draven picked up a large stone that had broken away from the slab and threw it at the contestant with all his might. The young man saw the attack, but didn't have time to react.

Bam.

The stone hit its target - his right leg. It was broken, and the young man could no longer continue the fight.

It did not matter to Draven what the student was using: Magic Artifacts, "Catalysts", spell scrolls, potions, and so on. If the contestant could hold out for ten seconds then he was worthy of it, and if not, nothing would help him anymore.

"Three seconds, next." Draven said calmly.