Yui says "While it is possible, you have to wait one month before you can re-enter. Why?"

"The benefits I received are amazing! I want to do it again! But a month is too long, guess I will take the captain's test."

Yui says "Before you just jump in you should know the two tests are nothing alike."

"How is the captain's test different? Is there another test similar to the first test?"

Yui says "The captain's test is a lot more complicated, it isn't just a simple combat test. The captain's test is a simulation based on the real world, it tests all your abilities in different situations. The only similar test is the first mage test, but the monsters are immune to physical damage."

I quickly activate the mage knight blade and wave it around.

"Would this count as magical damage or physical?"

Yui says "Scanning. Those blades inflict magical damage, but the monsters would not receive the extra damage from your strength since that is physical damage."

Hearing that I turn and walk over to the first of the mage rings and wait as it starts spinning and absorbing mana. Yui doesn't say anything, I guess she knows that since I can't die there isn't much risk. Either that or she has just given up after realizing how stubborn I am.

As soon as the gate stabilizes and opens I confidently walk through and am transported to another hallway. Immediately I start walking, since I know what's going on there is no reason to waste time. I continue walking for a few minutes until I finally spot my opponent, which is much bigger than expected.

After a few more steps I can see it clearly so I stop, it isn't an orc, it is a big humanoid made of rock. A rock elemental, no wonder it's immune to physical damage, this is going to be challenging. First I summon my knight blades, then I activate storm armor, and then as I start charging at it I start firing wind blades.

The first pair of wind blades hit the elemental before I reach the twenty foot line. It wakes up with a roar and starts moving towards me, it doesn't even try dodging the wind blades. I manage to fire off ten sets of wind blades before the elemental is close enough to take a swing at me.

The wind blades, however, have only left scratches on the thing, and my mage knight blades have the same effect. Luckily it's attacks, while powerful, are slow and easy to dodge so it has no hope of hitting me. As I dance around the elemental hitting in constantly the scratches slowly start adding up.

It quickly becomes a one sided beating, all it takes is time to slowly wear down the elemental. Between throwing wind blades and reactivating my armor and swords, I use up almost all of my sacred power before the elemental finally dies. If the fight had lasted any longer I would have been in trouble, without sacred power I have no way to hurt the thing.

??? says "Opponent defeated! Skill Upgrade triggered!"

'Skill upgrade? That sounds promising!'

Skill Upgrade: Wind Blade Level 4 upgrading to Wind Slash Level 4!

Wind Slash

Level: 4

SP Cost: 40

Blades: 3 Range: 30 feet Damage per blade: Int x3

'Both the damage and number of blades went up? Perfect!'

??? says "Skill Fusion Triggered!"

'What? Skill fusion as well? This is even better than the mage knight test!'

Skill Fusion: Dodge Level 3 + Evasive Steps Level 3!

New Skill: Basic Evasion Level 1!

Basic Evasion

Level: 1

Agi +10

Reduces opponent's hit chance by 20%!

'What?! That's amazing!! Such an OP skill! It was totally worth coming in here!'

*DING*

Congratulations! Skill Storm Armor has progressed to level 2!

Storm Armor

Level: 2

SP Cost: 140 Duration: 2.5 minutes

Projectile Defense: 60% Magic Defense: 20%

Damage to attacker = Int x 2

Well, even if I gain nothing else in here it has already proven to be worth entering. Since all mages were required to take these tests I can just imagine how powerful they were. It makes me wonder just how powerful the archmages that went through all six gates were.

If I can get a few more spells and increase my sacred power then maybe I can pass the rest of the tests. It may take a while but if I can complete all six then I could inherit the tower. The question is going to be if I can become strong enough to do so before the demons invade.

While I am thinking about ways to become stronger I continue down the hall to the break room. Since my sacred power is almost gone I actually need to stop and rest, unlike in the mage knight test. So as I sit and meditate to recover my sacred power I continue thinking of plans that will help me grow in power.

Since I can't die inside a test I should definitely try the mage knight captain test. Even if I can't complete it, I will at least know what the test is so I can work towards completing it. I forgot to ask Yui how time passes in the tests, I've already delayed heading for the temple for several days now.

As I try to come up with plans and methods to grow stronger I keep a close eye on my sacred power. As soon as it is full I end my meditation, stand up, and head for the next hallway. Even if I can't complete this test I still want to try out Wind Slash and see how much stronger it is.

Not to mention even if I lose I might still be able to level up some more skills. After a few minutes of walking I get to the point that I can see my next opponents. This time it is a pair of rock elementals, which is going to be tricky, if I'm not careful I will fail.