To be a true knight, one must possess more than just physical power—one must also have the spirit of determination. The essence of a knight's strength lies not only in their muscle but in their grudge—their unyielding fighting spirit.
A knight is defined by their ability to cultivate this grudge. Without it, even someone who possesses strength far beyond ordinary people cannot truly be considered a knight.
The knight breathing method is a secret technique that hones this very fighting spirit.
When Julian spoke these words, the noble students seemed indifferent, while the civilian students looked on with eager eyes, filled with anticipation.
Breathing classes were typically offered to fourth-year students and came at a steep price, a luxury that most commoners could never afford. Now, however, they had the chance to access this coveted knowledge for free, and they couldn't help but feel excitement building within them.
Luciel, too, felt a surge of anticipation.
"This time, I'll claim first place in the mid-term assessment!" he silently promised himself.
The Mid-Term Assessment Begins
Julian swiftly announced the start of the assessment, which was divided into two parts: strength and swordsmanship. He would evaluate each student's performance, and the final rankings would be determined by their combined results.
The first portion of the assessment was strength testing.
Julian took out a stone slab that stood about half a person's height, with ten gray crystals embedded at the top.
"This force plate can withstand the impact of a knight-level blow. Each crystal represents a certain level of power. Two crystals correspond to the strength of an average adult. Four crystals is the passing mark," Julian explained. "Reaching four is equivalent to nearly the strength of a third-level apprentice knight—not too difficult."
Anderson, hearing this, let out a breath of relief and slapped his chest with a grin. "Thank goodness I'm already a third-level apprentice knight," he said, looking at Luciel with a hint of sympathy. He was certain that Luciel would fail.
"Alright, let's begin," Julian called out, turning to the list of names. "First up, Peter Raman."
A well-dressed, pudgy boy named Peter waddled up to the plate, rings glittering on his fingers. He carefully removed each ring before stepping up to the force plate.
"Here we go," he muttered, taking a deep breath. With a dramatic punch, his fist hit the stone slab.
The result was less than impressive. A faint muffled sound echoed, and Peter winced in pain, retracting his hand immediately. His knuckles were red and swollen, and tears welled in his eyes.
"It hurts…" he groaned.
The crystals on the plate began to light up one by one: one, two, three… By the time the fourth crystal lit up, it stopped halfway, flickering out.
Julian looked on, unimpressed. "Pain tolerance is one of the fundamental traits of a knight. If you can't even handle this, then your strength, no matter how much it is, is useless."
"Unqualified!" he announced, and Peter sulked as he walked off.
"Next, Warren!"
Warren, a dark-skinned boy with determined eyes, stepped forward. He punched the slab with all his might, and the stone vibrated under the force. Four and a half crystals lit up, nearing the five-crystal mark.
"Good work," Julian acknowledged, his face softening. "Next."
Warren smiled, bowing slightly to Julian before stepping aside. The next few students took their turns, and most of the civilians performed better than the nobles, who were often too delicate or fearful of the pain. By the end, more than half of the noble students had failed to meet the passing mark. Julian's expression grew sterner with each failed attempt.
"Joy!"
The crowd stirred as a tall, muscular young man named Joy stepped forward.
"I've heard that Joy already has the strength of a fourth-level apprentice knight," one of the students whispered. "He's going to light up five crystals, at least!"
"Joy's a hard worker. He should definitely be the best in this mid-term assessment," another student added.
Joy walked confidently to the plate, and even Julian's usual cold demeanor softened as he nodded at the boy.
"Ready, Joy?"
"Yes, sir!" Joy replied, and with a powerful yell, he slammed his fist into the center of the force plate. The slabs trembled under the impact, and the first few crystals lit up quickly. By the time five had lit up, he wasn't finished. The plate flickered with the light of a sixth crystal before it stopped, just shy of completion.
The onlookers gasped in awe. Many of the civilian students looked at Joy with admiration, seeing him as the ideal they strived to reach.
Even some of the noble students, who were usually too proud to show respect for their peers, had admiration in their eyes.
Joy's fist was red and swollen, and blood oozed from the torn skin, but he didn't flinch. He stood tall, pride radiating from him as he basked in the attention.
"Excellent score!" Julian said, his voice carrying a note of approval. "You've earned it."
Joy walked off, clearly pleased with himself. No one managed to outdo him, and it seemed that the throne of the strength assessment was firmly his. Most students scored between four and five, with only a few reaching the higher levels.
Anderson took his turn next, his teeth gritted as he struck the plate. He managed to light up four crystals, barely passing.
Luciel, who had always thought of Anderson as little more than a womanizer, was surprised by his result.
"Next, Luciel Lanster."
There was a brief pause as Julian glanced down at his list. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, as though he was remembering something. Then his eyes sharpened as he recognized Luciel.
Wasn't he the one who performed perfectly during the basic swordsmanship class a few weeks ago? Julian recalled that Luciel had caught his attention with his form and discipline, but his talent seemed to be lacking.
Shaking his head, Julian prepared himself for Luciel's performance. He is certainly hardworking, but his foundation is weak.
Luciel stepped forward to the force plate, his heart pounding.
"Analyze the most efficient method of applying force," he silently instructed his mind.
[Analysis in progress…]
[Analysis complete: optimal force exertion method identified.]
In an instant, a small figure composed of light blue energy appeared in Luciel's mind. The figure, a visual representation of himself, began to move, showcasing the perfect technique for applying strength. The data streamed in as the little figure threw punch after punch, demonstrating the ideal movement of each muscle group in Luciel's body.
With the information ingrained in his mind, Luciel prepared to take his turn, determined to succeed.
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To be continued...