...…

Jillian frowned her brows and glared at Arthur quite sharply. But at the same time, she was also surprised at the latter as she couldn't take her hands back from Arthur's gentle grip no matter how hard she pulled.

Meanwhile, Arthur was maintaining his smile, refusing to let go of the soft hand that he was holding. And due to that, Jillian glared even more sharply at Arthur before using her Mental Energy to free her hand from Arthur's grip.

"Oops! Relax, relax! You will attract the attention of the people around us if you act too recklessly," said Arthur while finally letting go of Jillian's hand.

Pak!

And that was only when Shin and the others arrived behind Arthur and hit him at the back of his head.

After that, Shin looked at Jillian before apologizing. "Sorry about that. This guy really loves to fool around."

"Hmph!" Jillian wanted to say something but she immediately restrained herself from talking since she sensed that the other candidates around them were starting to take notice of their group.

Meanwhile, the girls walked towards her. Cloe was quite curious about her since she heard about her from Lorraine. She wanted to know what kind of girl the troublemaker young master of Springfield Family took fancy of.

On the other hand, Alice was curious about Jillian because she was also from a Mentalist Family just like her. The Stuart Clan and Potter Clan were the top Mentalist Families of the Soaring Continent, she wanted to know which techniques were stronger. Unfortunately, this was not the right time to know the answer.

Noticing her gaze, Jillian couldn't help but also think the same after recognizing Alice. But since she was also aware of their current situation, she also didn't have a choice but immediately drop the idea.

Due to all of that, the atmosphere surrounding the group immediately turned weird, making Shin got a headache for such a strange team composition. And adding the deadly glare from the other groups around them, he couldn't help but sigh helplessly before muttering dejectedly. "Beauty always attracts trouble."

"You guys can 'greet' each other later. How about we focus on the exam first?" said Shin, breaking the awkward atmosphere surrounding the group.

He didn't wait for them to respond as he quickly walked towards a corner of the gymnasium, planning to distance himself away from the groups.

Seeing that, Cloe immediately followed after him alongside Lorraine and Leonard before the others quickly followed suit.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Leonard as he wore a deep frown due to the ill gazes directed at their group.

"Just ignore them. No matter what happens, don't start a fight," said Shin, understanding what Leonard was currently feeling.

And just like earlier, he cast a barrier around them to prevent the other groups from overhearing what they were going to discuss.

"What do you think are our main jobs now? Does the Academy want us to break those doors and get out of this place?" asked Lorraine while casting her gaze at the tightly shut doors of the gymnasium.

Hearing her words, Jillian immediately shook her head and said. "That is impossible. The whole place is under the protection of a powerful reverse Defensive Array, so it is impossible to get out of this place unless you are strong enough to break it."

"Eh!? Then it really means that we are trapped in here," said Arthur with a deep frown before quickly adding. "What do you think about my first impression in this second test? Do you think they really want us to fight each other from the get-go?"

Hearing that, Jillian couldn't help but laugh mockingly before saying. "If you want to fail, then you are free to go and start a fight."

"Huh?" Arthur frowned his eyebrows even deeper when he heard those words as he couldn't understand why starting a fight with the other groups would immediately fail him.

Seeing that look on his face, Shin immediately explained what Jillian meant. "From what I can see, the nature of this quest is to test our patience."

"And with what grounds?" asked Alice with a knitted brow.

Shin was silent for a moment before explaining further. "From what I can remember, there is a famous phrase within the Magic Ace Academy-… Battles are not all about strength as willpower, composure, and intellect are also part of it."

"So, I am thinking that they are trying to test us if we have those three factors before proceeding to the real deal," he added after a quick moment of pause.

"Tsk! Boring~! Battles are meant to determine who is stronger. Those three factors are not important as long as you emerge victorious in the end," said Arthur while clicking his tongue.

Ignoring his comment, Cloe nodded her head before saying. "Given that the principal already tests our willpower earlier, then they are now trying to see if we can remain calm in this situation."

"Heh! That's easy! So, all we need to do is stay here and remain quiet?" said Arthur smirkingly before quickly adding. "If that is the case, then all I have to do is take a nap and hope for all of this to end early."

Hearing that, the group simultaneously slapped their foreheads due to his simplemindedness.

"Idiot! Of course, it is not that easy!" said Cloe in a helpless manner.

"Do you think that those guys are thinking the same as you?" said Shin while pointing at the other candidates at the center of the gymnasium before quickly adding. "Did you already forget where we are? We're in the place where completion is everywhere."

"The younger generation present in this place are from different countries. Some of them are rivals – Heck! There are even some mortal enemies. And since all of us are equally talented, it is quite hard to suppress the urge to test each other's strengths."

He then paused for a moment to sweep his gaze at the other candidates before continuing. "And since we are all gathered together, conflicts are bound to happen."

Just like what Shin had said, the silence didn't last long as some of the rivaling groups started to get on each other's nerves.

Conflicts always started from eye contact before the most impatient ones took it as a form of provocation. Then the dispute started to spread like a wildfire rampaging in a peaceful forest.

"It already started," muttered Jillian as they watched the other candidates get in an argument with each other.

Not long after, some of the rival groups started fighting with one another, inviting the others to follow suit. And with all of that, the whole place immediately fell into chaos, turning the whole place into a battlefield.

Thanks to Shin's barrier, their group seemed to be forgotten by the other candidates as they were being ignored.

'He can already cast some lesser formations? This guy's progress sure is insane given that he is also a Martial-Artist on top of being a Mentalist,' thought Alice and Jillian as they observed the barrier surrounding them.

In the meantime, Shin was intensely staring at chaos filling the whole place while taking note of the most noticeable individuals.

Naturally, their group was not the only one watching from the sidelines. There were also some groups that were observing what was happening calmly. They were also using their respective means to lessen their respective presences to avoid unnecessary aggressions.

And just like Shin, they were also taking notes of the individuals that were most likely going to be their main rivals for the upcoming tests.

**********

Meanwhile, the teachers of the academy were currently gathered in a certain conference room where they watched what was happening in the gymnasium.

"Tsk! Kids these days, they are always hotheaded and impatient," said one of the teachers with a bulky body.

"Then they are not going to be kids anymore if they don't act like that. Being a youth is all about being free and hot-blooded," said another teacher smirkingly as he combed his long hair with his fingers.

"Well, at least we have some kids who are worthy of our attention," commented a teacher in a formal suit without removing his eyes from the huge virtual screen in front of them.

They were discussing with each other in high spirits as they spotted the most noticeable individuals in the gymnasium. Some of them were even arguing with each other as they spotted some candidates that they wanted to take as their students.

Clack!

While they were arguing with one another, the door of the conference room suddenly opened as the Academy Principal entered. "Hoho! I see that all of you are quite excited about this. Did you already find who you want to take under your wings?"

With his entrance, the room immediately turned silent as they quickly stood up and greeted him. And not long after, they immediately noticed the other old man following closely behind the principal.

If Shin was here, then he would be able to realize who it was since this was the same old man that paid him a visit when he first arrived in their new house.

"Oh~! It is rare to see Old Henry join us on selection. What makes you get out of your hole?" said the bulky man with a sneering tone after seeing the old man behind the academy principal.

Hearing that, Henry Cortez wore a mysterious smile before casting his gaze at a certain young man at the corner of the virtual screen. "Let's say that someone finally piques my interest."

...