A few hours later, Hayden was already seated in front of the Headmaster in his office.
Headmaster Mensa leaned back in his chair while his eyes studied Hayden.
There wasn't really anything impressive about the child and his physique wasn't the best either.
However, his intelligence was something that he couldn't see.
Hayden just kept his silence waiting for the Headmaster to speak. He didn't even mind listening to the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. He knew that the Headmaster had a lot of things in mind after three professors requested that he advance his current grade.
After a moment, the Headmaster reached into a drawer and pulled out a small, intricately carved artifact—a dark crystal orb that seemed to suck in anyone looking at it.
'Is this the Magic Items made by the Magicians?!' Hayden's eyes widened as this was his first time seeing such a thing.
The Headmaster noticed his reaction and smiled.
"This," he said, holding the orb up for Hayden to see, "is the Orb of Trials. It creates an illusionary battlefield where time stands still, and fatigue is nonexistent. You will face a series of opponents, each more powerful than the last. Your task is to defeat them using your skills, wits, and determination. Do you understand?"
"Ah…"
This was so sudden. He expected to be tested in written examinations since he was only seven at this point. Physical examination should not be a method to assess his abilities since he was still in his growing phase.
Even if he got to be tested physically here, it would not really help determine his true physical potential. It was simply too early.
However, he suddenly realized that fatigue was inexistent in the Orb of Trials. It probably means that he would really get tired of fighting and the test was most like related to how he would handle the battle if his physique's weakness was not limiting him!
'This might be his way to see my potential as a knight… Very well.'
Hayden nodded, his heart pounded in excitement but his expression was calm.
"Yes, Headmaster."
Headmaster Mensa smiled placed the orb on the table and gestured for Hayden to place his hand on it. "Then let us begin."
As Hayden touched the orb, the room dissolved around him, replaced by a vast, open battlefield under a blue sky.
'It feels real…' Hayden thought since he felt that the ground beneath his feet felt solid and real.
Of course, he immediately tried to use his cheat.
Thankfully, his Ocularis Lens was still working and it already started analyzing the environment and confirming that this was not as simple as an illusion that tricks people's eyes... It seemed that his mind or soul was actually dragged to this place!
Mostly like, his physical body was in a slumbering state!
Before he could think more, a voice echoed in the air.
"Begin the trial."
Whoosh~
The first opponent materialized before him. It was a tall, armored warrior wielding a long spear.
Hayden then saw his practice sword on his hands and it seemed to have just manifested out of nowhere.
In any case, as the spearman made some moves as it warmed up, his Ocularis Lens already started analyzing the spearman's techniques.
In just a few moments, the spearman no longer wasted his time and charged at him.
The spear thrust was aimed toward Hayden's chest!
'Slow…'
Even without the Lens' help, he felt that he could defeat this person if he really wouldn't get tired at all.
'Let's try it out…'
Hayden then sidestepped, evading the strike by a hair's breadth. It wasn't luck and completely calculated.
Then, Hayden continued dodge as he wanted to see the limit of this 'illusion'…
'Amazing… I'm really not getting tired… Although my strength and speed it the same, my stamina is not a problem at all.'
It was such an amazing feeling. After all, he had always been weak ever since he had woken up in this world!
Soon, he tried and used his cheat!
Just like that, the Ocularis Lens projected a trajectory of the spear's path, allowing Hayden to anticipate and counter each strike.
'It may not be useful against weaker opponents but it's good to see that I'm not feeling any strain in my stamina while using the Lens. This place is perfect for me!'
After a series of exchanges, Hayden decided to end this. Soon, he found an opening. He feinted to the left, then spun to the right, and delivered a simple to the spearman's side.
He didn't use a powerful strike but just placed the tip of his sword to the spot where spearman would lean on.
Indeed, he used the momentum of his opponent to its demise.
Whoosh~
There was no splatter of blood or any reaction as the warrior simply dissolved into mist…
***
In the meantime, outside the illusion of the Orb of Trial, as soon as the Headmaster was thinking how long Hayden would last, he immediately noticed a flicker in the orb, signifying that he already cleared the first trial!
Although he couldn't see the battle itself, he could tell the progress of the battle with those flickers!
'This…'
Headmaster Mensa's hands trembled… This was a result he didn't expect at all. After all, only those graduating students were capable of defeating the first opponent.
'Did he just defeat a squire at the age of seven? This is impossible. What kind of monster is he?!'