The SSS class adventurer is a divine cleric
Chapter 45: The real test

Chapter 45: The real test

Day three arrived with a heavy air of anticipation.

The final duels for both categories casters and warriors were scheduled to wrap up before the announcement of the top ten from each group.

The tension among the students was palpable.

Neal once again breezed through his match.

His opponent was no noob, but against the blazing might of the Solari Imperials class, they had no chance.

With his legendary class and combat form, Neal made short work of his foe, ending the fight in less than three minutes.

Kaelen, ever composed and calculating, secured his victory with minimal effort. His precise mana control and efficient healing kept him untouchable.

Even without overwhelming offense, his strategic skill and battlefield awareness ensured he was always two steps ahead.

But for Jered, the day was far from easy.

His name was called again, and the crowd’s cheers became louder.

His opponent stepped into the arena a tall, broad-shouldered young man with gleaming silver armor forged from condensed mana.

His name was Varn, and he was a healing-type tank like Jered, but with a class built solely around self-sustain and battlefield stalling.

His class: Bastion of the Cradle. It was not as offensive as Jered’s Dauntless Warden, but it was an epic class for a reason.

The duel began.

Jered charged forward, flames already coating his fists.

Varn braced himself and activated his combat form.

A shimmering dome of golden light surrounded him momentarily before receding into his body, reinforcing his skin and joints.

Jered struck first, landing a heavy left hook that echoed through the arena.

CLANG!

It sounded like metal on metal. Varn barely flinched. He retaliated with a slow but crushing hammer punch to Jered’s ribs.

Jered coughed, but didn’t back down. The fire around him surged.

Minutes passed.

Neither fighter gave ground.

Jered’s blows were relentless. He threw punches, elbow jabs, spinning kicks, all laced with his dauntless flame. But Varn’s healing was phenomenal. For every injury Jered inflicted, the light from Varn’s core pulsed, slowly closing wounds and reinforcing his structure.

They traded blow after blow, neither relenting. Sweat poured from their brows. Jered’s knuckles were bleeding, scorched from his own heat. Varn’s arms were bruised, his armor cracked in places.

The crowd watched, mesmerized.

Ten minutes turned to fifteen.

Jered’s breathing grew ragged, but so did Varn’s. The Dauntless Warden’s flame never dimmed, continuing to burn hot with every scream and every hit. Varn’s defense had begun to falter.

Jered feinted left, ducked under a sweeping blow, and slammed a rising knee into Varn’s abdomen. It lifted the bigger man off his feet.

"Still standing?" Jered panted, his grin wild.

Varn groaned, light flickering from his body. "You’re insane..."

"You’re damn right."

Then they clashed again. Another flurry. Another dozen hits were exchanged.

It was no longer a fight of power, it was a test of spirit.

Varn’s healing began to slow. His mana reserves dwindled. Jered’s regeneration from the Dauntless Flame barely kept his battered body functional.

And then it happened.

Jered, half-slumped but still fighting, watched Varn stumble. The tank tried to lift his arm for one last punch but collapsed.

His knees buckled.

He fell forward, unconscious before hitting the floor.

Jered caught him, gently lowering him to the ground before sitting beside him, wheezing.

"Damn... You almost had me," he muttered.

Jered respected this tank sympathising with his own class.

The host stepped into the arena, arms raised. "Match over! Winner: Jered Dallas!"

The audience erupted into thunderous applause.

Jered raised one hand weakly, fire flickering between his fingers before extinguishing. He fainted.

Later, as the sun began to dip, all remaining students were gathered in the Grand Plaza.

Two massive mana projections hovered above, one labeled Warrior Category, the other Caster Category.

A council member’s voice boomed through the plaza:

"Congratulations to the top ten students from each category. You have earned the right to receive an Ascend Berry."

The names appeared on the lists:

Warriors:

1. Neal Throdan

2. Jered Dallas

3. Trad Sol

4. Yeol Alrik

5. Sorell Hart

6. Mino Trax

7. Leon Kuver

8. Jolten Scutz

9. Gavin Rey

10. Durein Veld

Casters:

1. Era Nyss

2. Holen Tark

3. Renn Bosh

4. Marla Feen

5. Kaelen Maglor

6. Zevra Kind

7. Vasha Nore

8. Tonric Dall

9. Feldon Gree

10. Lurin Shea

Students clapped, some cheered, others stood silently shocked, impressed, or jealous.

Jered had woken up and leaning against the nearest wall, he croaked "We... made it"

Kaelen helped him up with a rare gentle smile. "Barely."

Neal crossed his arms. " They better not throw us into another round. This should be it."

As if on cue.

Just as people thought the event was over, a voice echoed throughout the arena.

It was the Dean. Vasra himself had come.

"Congratulations to all who have proven themselves worthy. However, this examination is not yet complete."

Murmurs spread across the plaza.

Jered groaned, "you’ve got to be kidding me"

Neal’s eyes narrowed "I knew it , the test was just too easy"

Kaelen grinned. "I’m ready."

"There is one final challenge. A battle royale between the top ten of both categories."

Then Tashi stepped forward and cast an instant regeneration spell healing all the top tens of both categories to their peak.

Vasra then with a wave of his hand distorts the laws of space inside the arena making it way more larger than it physically appeared to the audience.

"Wait I’m not" Kaelen barked. His grin has disappeared. How is he supposed to fight warriors without skill? That was just so unfair.

All the casters had the same questions in their mind but none daring to complain.

Who would dare offend the Dean, not even their parents would be bold enough to do that.

"Warriors versus warriors or Casters versus casters or warriors versus casters . Only those who truly rise above shall walk away as champions. The match starts in a minute."

"Oh and one thing, skills and weapons are allowed in this upcoming match. You don’t need to worry about wounds or dead because not even a single piece of your hair would be harm inside this arena"

Professor Vina of illusionary magic has cast another spell, making the arena stuck in something between reality and illusion.

It was simply magic.

Silence fell.

Then a roar of excitement.

The test... was just beginning.

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