The final assessment was self-explanatory; Real Combat.

Michael didn't have much time to prepare himself because he was one of the last applicants to arrive for the final assessment.

He went for a quick shower, ate his fill, and observed the people around him. Each of them was his competitor for a spot in the Saphirelake Military Academy.

'Is that all that is left out of 100,000 applicants?' Michael wondered. It was almost 4 pm and it seemed that the preliminary tests were over.

Not more than 100 young men and women were on the second floor of the Golden Sun College's Gym. That meant only 0.1% of applicants made it to the final assessment!

At 4 pm on the dot, everyone gathered in the open arena. A middle-aged man wearing a military uniform stepped in front of the young applicants, his eyes as cold as ice.

His gaze moved through the crowd of less than 100 applicants and a menacing smile appeared on his scarred face.

"Good afternoon dear applicants," He said in a husky voice, "My name is Silverian Schild, and I am one of the many Combat Instructors in the Saphirelake Military Academy, and I was told to monitor the Real Combat assessment today."

Silverian Schild sounded nonchalant as he introduced himself to the crowd. He looked like he didn't want to be here.

Nonetheless, Michael couldn't help but feel his chest tightening. The pressure radiating from the Instructor was terrifying, and Silverian Schild was not even doing anything. He merely stood in front of them, one hand resting in the pocket.

"The rules for the Real Combat assessment are simple. We will put students against each other and give marks for the fights. Every student will have to fight three times before they can go home. In a few days, you'll be notified whether the Saphirelake Military Academy will accept your application, or if you have been rejected."

When Silverian Schild finished the explanation, many Awakened looked at each other. Usually, the final assessment was different.

In the last few years, the final assessment had always been a fight against an Instructor to test the applicant's combat prowess. But this time they were supposed to fight other applicants? What if going all out led to their death?

"I don't want anyone to hold back," Silverian Schild said as if he could read the minds of some applicants. He smiled devilishly as realization sank in the minds of the applicants, and it widened further when he saw the expression on the faces of the young Awakened.

"Let's start then!"

In the next ten minutes, the staff separated the open space into several arenas. Referees with enough strength to interfere in the battle of the young Awakened arrived, and a medic team set up a small medical tent for the worst-case scenario.

Once all preparations had been completed, the first few students were called up for their first fight, and the referees started the first round of Real Combat.

Michael watched the fights with great interest at first, but he quickly lost interest.

It didn't even take a full minute before his slightly excited expression turned into a deep frown.

"What is that?" He mumbled, as he watched the young Awakened fighting – if one could call it a fight, in the first place.

To Michael, the fight looked more like a friendly spar between two best friends, who would never want to hurt each other.

The young Awakened of the first round was too afraid to go all out and cripple their opponents, possibly even kill them, and were playing safe.

"How were they even able to survive in the Origin Expanse like this?" Michael murmured in utter confusion.

He had been disgusted with himself for killing monsters before, but he did it nonetheless. Michael left his comfort zone and killed the monsters that threatened his territory first. Now, he had gained enough confidence to attack monsters living far away from his territory.

It was not as if Michael didn't feel bad for killing them, however, the Origin Expanse was a place where the strong devoured the weak to become even stronger. Since Michael was stronger, he devoured those weaker than him.

Silverian Schild and his assistants stared at the friendly tussle with an impassive faces. Their expression didn't change watching the friendly spar-like fights, and Michael could slowly unravel what was going on.

'They're disqualifying those who're too scared to fight seriously. Is that the point of fighting other students? To figure out who can be a good soldier and fight others at command, and cripple, or even kill them?'

Then there were those spars in which one opponent was considerably stronger than the other. In such cases, most young Awakened who were too afraid to fight seriously were getting thrashed by their opponents. However, that was something everyone should have expected when one party held back while the other went all out with the intention to win by all means.

'I won't hold back.' Michael told himself when it was finally his turn to enter the arena.

"Michael Fang versus Niklas Liekhofen. Please enter the arena and prepare for battle!"

Michael, who had been ready to enter the arena, stopped in his tracks. He looked through the open space and found Niklas. Niklas Liekhofen stared back at him, his eyes shot wide open.

'This fool made it to the final assessment? That's to be expected, I guess,' Michael thought before he gave it a shrug.

It was not as if it mattered whether Niklas Liekhofen made it to the final assessment or not. Michael felt that it was much better to have someone like Niklas Liekhofen as his first opponent in the Real Combat assessment, in the first place. He wouldn't have to feel guilty for beating the shit out of his first opponent!

With that in mind, Michael entered the arena, where he patiently waited for Niklas. He expected Niklas to make fun of him, but Niklas Liekhofen remained silent. He stared at Michael while gritting his teeth.

Niklas clearly recalled the archer competition and Michael's archery skills. He hated himself for losing, but even more so Michael for defeating him. According to him, Michael and Kaleb cheated him in the competition. They were at fault for his loss and the humiliation he suffered afterward!

A huge broadsword manifested in Niklas' hands, and a bluish leather chestplate covered his upper body as he moved into combat position.

Michael materialized the Onyx Dragon Armor Set, and Tigerfang at once. He wielded Tigerfang in front of him and entered his combat stance as well.

Even if Niklas had barely reached the Late stage of Tier-0, Michael wouldn't underestimate his opponent. It was possible for Tierless Lords to defeat someone at Tier-1. Michael was the best example for something like that. His Soultraits, the enhancement of his Artifacts, and his combat prowess allowed him to fight Tier-1 Monsters while he was Tierless.

"I won't hold back, bastard!" Niklas cursed through his gritted teeth.

Michael didn't respond. Instead, he activated his Eagle Eyes and angled his body slightly.

The referee looked at the two combatants and lifted his hand. His hand shot down and his voice thundered through the arena.

"Fight!!"

The moment the referee's voice rang out, Niklas charged forward. A bronze-colored aura enveloped his entire body, and his speed accelerated further.

Michael's Artifacts were engulfed by a white light, further enhancing their external enhancement.

He pushed his feet off the ground and shot forward like a cannonball.

Two blades made huge arcs through the air, and blood splattered.

A second after the battle started, a loose arm flew through the air followed by an ear-splitting scream.