[ The comprehension test starts in 5 seconds… ]

[ Basic Mastery Test: Use 'GreatSword of Retaliation' to counter and possibly defeat your opponent ]

[ Opponent: has achieved complete Basic mastery over 'GreatSword of Retaliation' ]

[ Test Results:

1. You will receive...

2. Completely defeating the opponent will reward you… ]

Just like earlier, my essence has been restricted to only sword essence and my elements to only Earth elements.

[ The comprehension test starts now! ]

As the name of the technique suggested once Ian.0023 materialized, a greatsword also materialized in my hand.

This time, the weapon was actually crucial as it was the main body of this defensive-offensive technique.

The principle of 'GreatSword of Retaliation' was quite apparent from the name, it was the counter attacking type of a defensive technique.

At the same time, a wave of sand-like shield enveloped both my sword as well as Ian.0023's, this was the initiation of the technique.

Covering the sword with mixed earth elements and sword essence, not only gave the sword a great shell for parrying attacks, but it also sent the attack over back to the attacker!

As we clashed for the first time, both of us retreated as a part of both our swords' shell broke.

The exact part that parried the attack was the one that had its earth essence shell broken from the impact, as the broken shell gathered to form something similar to a bullet, shooting towards both of us using the power of that impact.

This was the meaning of 'Retaliation' in the technique!

Thankfully, this test seemed to have slightly less limitation as we could use sword essence indepently to destroy the counter earth bullet that bounced off the swords.

'This was a bit tricky…'

After clashing swords with Ian.0023 for a whole 10 minutes and repelling over 100 earth essence bullets, it seemed a bit harder to take this clone out due to the technique's defensive nature...

'But it's over.'

Due to the lower strength of Ian.0023's earth bullets, it was obvious that his essence and earth elements were already worn out after this clash!

That didn't mean that he was running out of essence or elements, it was actually the opposite, he had enough to last for an hour more just like I did, but the basic skeleton of the technique was the thing that was worn out.

The nature of the 'GreatSword of Retaliation' was that of a continuous technique, once one constructed its basic shell, it couldn't be changed before restarting the technique, only the outer shell would be replenished over and over after it was broken down constantly, which naturally had its own effect on the basic inner shell.

As a result, as long as the damage was stronger and too repeated like it was in the current case, the basic inner shell would…

Thud!

Increasing my strength at the right moment easily allowed me to break Ian.0023's 'GreatSword of Retaliation' with how weak it's inner shell has become and by the time he managed to recreate it…

[ You have successfully eliminated your opponent! The full point reward will be handed out! ]

[ You have received 999 Achievement Points! ]

[ Would you like to proceed to the next test? ]

"Yes."

[ Choice confirmed! Preparing for the commencing of the next test… ]

[ The comprehension test will start in 1 minute… ]

Knowing that achieving a draw this time would be impossible, let alone a full defeat, I readied myself to do the same thing that the other apprentices did according to my assumption… displaying the limits of my technique to scavenge as many points as possible!

`~~`~~`~~`

As the tower's gate opened once more, Blake, the man clad in dark red, walked out while the gathered apprentices were all staring at the ranking board as he couldn't help but let out a small hidden smirk…

'This should do it!'

He was quite proud of himself as he actually managed to obtain almost 2000 points in the intermediate mastery test, a feat that he was usually incapable of.

While he did practice this technique for one month only, which was much lesser than he did with the other techniques, after spending that much time practising the earlier techniques, his mastery of using elemental weapon techniques had risen in itself.

Besides, from the three elements that he was capable of using he had kept Fire, the element that he had the highest mastery in using, for last as to astonish the whole sect as well as consolidate his place as the top ranker, and potentially obtain the third personal apprentice spot that was rightfully his!

Having actually lasted against the intermediate opponent for about 10 minutes boosted his confidence in doing so and the shocked faces of the other apprentices did so even more!

"He had already risen to the 2nd rank! He must have finished the basic mastery test for the new tome as well!"

'What…?'

"What do you mean by the second rank?"

Blake was confused as he heard the shocked call-out, he was sure that he was in the first rank before he entered the tower, and after the points he managed to get as well as the fact that he was the only one who entered the tower before that new candidate who came to test it, so there was no way he could fall in ranking…

'Could it be that Diana or the other two entered while I was inside?'

While the tower did have limitations to the number of challengers, it could still allow 3 to simultaneously undertake the test, so maybe his junior apprentice sister and one of the lower ranked duo went inside and were climbing the ranking against each other, possibly even taking his place…?

{ 1. Blake Dread - 7016 }

'No?'

As he saw his name and the huge amount of points beside it still at rank one, Blake sighed in relief as he went down by his eyes to check who of his fellow Central Division members had managed to change his ranking, only to see something unexpected…

{ 2. Lan Storm - 4595 }

"What…? Who the hell is that?"