"I can’t believe your progress is so fast, Zelir. You’ve even learned Level Three Magic... It’s just a shame I wasn’t at the Guild that day to see it for myself."

"It’s alright. You’ll be able to see it this time," Zelir said with a smile.

"Huh? What do you mean by that..." Bev was a little confused.

"Because today, I’m taking the Junior Mage assessment," Zelir said.

Bev, who had been about to walk away, froze mid-step, her eyes slowly widening.

Instructor Marvin had the exact same expression.

When Zelir had found him and said he wanted to take the Junior Mage assessment, his eyes had widened in the same way, and the monocle in his left eye socket had nearly fallen out.

Marvin readjusted his monocle, then stared at Zelir for several seconds.

’That’s it... this is the feeling.’

Marvin knew very well that Zelir wasn’t here to take the assessment just to give it a try.

He could feel that the Magic Power emanating from Zelir was much stronger than it had been half a month ago.

Marvin had thought Zelir was exceptional, but he never imagined he would be *this* exceptional.

’Going from Magic Apprentice to Junior Mage in just over a month?’

’How can any Mage progress this quickly?’

Marvin’s mind was in turmoil.

He himself had started diligent Meditation from a young age, backed by numerous resources, and even then, he hadn’t become a Junior Mage until he was twenty-one...

"How... how on earth did you do it?"

"Hmm... I don’t really know how to explain it. If I had to describe it, I guess it just came naturally?" Zelir said, scratching his head.

"’Just came naturally,’ huh? I can’t tell if you’re showing off or just being arrogant."

Zelir’s words made Marvin laugh. "Come on, then. Let’s open the eyes of those Magic Apprentices and show them what a true genius looks like."

The news spread like wildfire, immediately circulating throughout the Black Stone Town Mage’s Guild and causing quite a stir.

Many Mages who had been in Meditation or reading in the library couldn’t help but be drawn over by the commotion.

Someone who could potentially become a Junior Mage at sixteen—this was definitely something worth witnessing.

「Martial Arts Arena」

The number of people in the stands was far greater than usual, and more Mages were still streaming in.

Zelir glanced around and was taken aback by the sheer size of the crowd.

’So many people actually came...’

But he didn’t have stage fright.

Quite the opposite, in fact. Under the gaze of so many, a sense of confidence and pride welled up inside Zelir, and he lifted his chin slightly.

A gentle breeze stirred, lifting Zelir’s black hair. The sunlight illuminated his fair face, further accentuating his handsome features.

In an inconspicuous corner of the stands, even Instructor Manlin had arrived.

She leaned against a pillar, quietly watching the high-spirited youth in the center of the arena.

Manlin wore a wide-brimmed sun hat, the shadow of which concealed most of her face, revealing only the corners of her lips, which were turned up in a gentle smile.

"Zelir, are you ready?" Marvin asked, looking at Zelir.

Zelir nodded slowly.

Marvin gestured and stepped aside. "Then, begin!"

Zelir took a deep breath, centering himself.

A moment later, one magic spell after another was unleashed.

Fireball Skill, Wind Blade Technique, Lighting Skill, Water Ball Skill, Heavy Pressure Technique, Ice Cone Skill, Vortex Skill, Rock Bullet Skill, Frost Technique, and Cloud Mist Skill.

Zelir cast these ten completely different Level Two Magic spells with an ease that was almost second nature. It was like watching an artist at work.

The different colors and forms of magic blossomed from Zelir’s hands, dazzling and brilliant.

His Casting was relaxed and fluid. The charging and releasing of each spell transitioned seamlessly, and without exception, his Casting Speed for each was under two seconds.

What was even more astonishing was that after continuously casting ten Level Two Magic spells, Zelir’s expression barely changed. He showed no sign of the weakness that comes from expending Magic Power.

He didn’t need an Energy Crystal to restore his Magic Power at all, a complete contrast to Riley’s earlier performance.

"Flawless," Marvin praised softly.

’This is how a Junior Mage should be.’

After the Spring Seed undergoes its transformation, both Casting Speed and Magic Power reserves experience a qualitative leap.

For them, the standard set by the assessment wasn’t a goal that required their full effort to achieve, but rather a natural culmination of their power—a simple display of what they could do.

Gasps of amazement rose and fell from the stands, and the image of the black-haired, black-eyed youth was deeply etched into the minds of many.

On the arena floor, the assessment continued.

Next up was casting a Level Three Magic spell within five seconds.

Zelir raised a hand, and a thick stone wall erupted from the ground. He had nonchalantly cast a Stone Wall Skill.

Then, Zelir began his Energy Storage Magic.

Dazzling blue light converged in his palm as a Rhombus Missile began to take shape.

Some of the Mages in the stands had been present when Marvin first instructed Zelir, and they could immediately see how much progress he had made in gathering the energy for his Arcane Missile.

In just over four seconds, an Arcane Missile, brimming with terrifying Magic Power, was fully formed.

"BOOM!!!"

A violent explosion echoed through the Martial Arts Arena. Faced with the furious Arcane Energy, most of the solid stone wall was instantly destroyed!

Assessment successful!

Instructor Marvin had never doubted for a moment that Zelir would fail.

After the Arcane Missile was released, he walked over to Zelir.

"Congratulations, Zelir. You are now a Junior Mage." Marvin’s face was filled with admiration and gratification.

The arena was silent for a moment, then erupted into loud applause and cheers.

"A sixteen-year-old Junior Mage... Oh my god."

"I’ve just witnessed the Kane Rodri of Black Stone Town with my own eyes!"

"I’ve never even heard of him before... What’s his name, Zelir? Which noble family’s young master is he? How many resources must have been spent to train him..."

"You’re all wrong, you know."

Bev’s clear voice rang out, her face beaming with vicarious pride. "Zelir isn’t from the Nobility."

That statement made the Mages who were in heated discussion even more astonished.

’A commoner Mage... can actually achieve something like this?’

Bev didn’t explain further. She gazed out at the center of the arena, her eyes shining with adoration.

She was genuinely happy for Zelir.

On another side of the stands, Lante was also in the crowd.

His face was flushed with excitement as he clapped for Zelir, boasting to the Mage next to him.

"I’ve been on a mission with Zelir before! He’s seriously amazing!"

...

Taking in all the cheers and applause from the stands, Zelir felt a strange sensation.

He suddenly remembered his first time coming to the Mage’s Guild, when he had stood in the Martial Arts Arena and witnessed two Junior Mages blasting each other with spells.

Back then, he had only just become a Magic Apprentice. Seeing the Flame Breath Skill and Arcane Missile, he had marveled inwardly at how strong they were.