With the massive World Tree looming overhead, precise branches extended across the arena, shaping themselves into simple wooden brooms before floating down to each examinee.
“The first exam begins now!” William Vangeance announced.
“Your task is simple: fly using these broomsticks!
This test evaluates your innate magic control.”
A wave of panicked muttering swept through the crowd, but within moments, several skilled examinees began taking off.
High above, Yuno floated effortlessly, standing completely upright on his broom with perfect composure while the nine Captains nodded in admiration.
Down on the stone floor, Asta stood holding his wooden broom, making no effort to mount it.
Flying with magic power…?
Yeah, that’s not happening, Asta thought dryly.
I tried floating on my Demon-Slayer Sword back during my training, but that didn’t work either.
I need access to the Anti-Magic that Lieber has control over.
Without it, I don’t think I can use the sword for flying, calling it back, or making it bigger than a building…
“Bah-ha!
What’s the matter, kid?
Can’t even get off the ground?” Sekke floated casually right above Asta’s head, leaning over his broomstick with a condescending grin.
“Flying is the simplest thing in the world!
A mage who can’t even float isn’t much of a mage at all, bah-ha!”
Asta didn’t even look up, completely ignoring Sekke as if he were a buzzing fly.
Seeing Asta remain grounded while everyone else hovered in the air, the surrounding examinees began snickering and hurling insults.
“Look at him…
completely stuck on the dirt!”
“So what if he had a scary aura earlier?
In the end, he has zero talent!”
“If I were him, I’d run home in shame right now!”
Hearing the crowd’s arrogant laughter, Asta raised his chin slightly, his amber eyes sharp and calm.
“If moving on a fucking stick like a monkey makes you all this proud, then I don’t want to be the same as you,” Asta said coolly, his voice echoing clearly across the arena.
The mocking laughter instantly died.
The examinees who had been proudly floating around froze in mid-air, their faces turning bright red with embarrassment.
After Asta pointed it out, hovering on a broom suddenly felt less like demonstrating power and more like performing tricks for an audience.
Several candidates awkwardly lowered themselves back to the ground, feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness.
Up on the high balcony, the nine Captains reacted to his brazen statement in vastly different ways.
William Vangeance simply smiled behind his mask, quietly amused by the boy’s sharp tongue and absolute lack of reverence.
“Gahahahaha!” Yami Sukehiro burst out into a loud, roaring laugh from his seat, puffing a cloud of smoke into the air.
“I like this kid!
He’s got guts!”
In contrast, Nozel Silva and Fuegoleon Vermillion both wore deep frowns, visibly displeased by Asta’s blatant disrespect toward the traditions of the Magic Knights.
As for the remaining Captains, they remained largely indifferent, watching the spectacle below with unreadable expressions as the first test drew to a close.
“Why does this kid give off the same feeling as that woman…
though slightly less intense?” Nozel Silva muttered from the high balcony, his brows furrowed in genuine confusion.
The moment the words left his mouth, an ice-cold chill suddenly ran down Nozel’s spine.
Beside him, Yami Sukehiro immediately blew out a nervous puff of smoke, waving a hand hastily.
“Hey, hey…
we don’t go there.
What if she hears us?” Yami then subtly pointed a thumb toward Fuegoleon Vermillion, who was standing a few feet away, completely oblivious.
Nozel looked over at Fuegoleon, offered a small, tense nod, and instantly quieted down, refusing to speak another single word on that dangerous topic.
The surrounding Captains all cast brief, sorrowful glances at Fuegoleon, their eyes filled with deep pity.
Meanwhile, the Crimson Lions Captain remained standing tall with his arms crossed, proudly watching the examinees below, completely unaware that every single one of his fellow Captains was currently feeling sorry for him.
Down on the arena floor, a few arrogant examinees were still glaring at Asta after his biting comment.
“You magicless trash!” one noble youth shouted angrily after landing his broom.
“You failed the very first test!
What right do you have to call us monkeys?!”
Asta raised an eyebrow, sneering down at him.
“With your IQ, calling you a monkey is an insult to the monkeys.
Who said anything about me being eliminated?”
“Isn’t it obvious?!” the noble sputtered, bewildered.
“You didn’t even pass the first test!
You’re automatically disqualified!”
Asta shook his head in exasperation.
“Think for a second.
Captain Vangeance said we will undergo several tests, and the Captains will evaluate us based on our overall performance.
This isn’t a strict system where one mistake won’t end in failure.
It’s a comprehensive evaluation.
Otherwise, what if someone has poor magic control, but possesses massive mana reserves or rare magic?
Wouldn’t instantly disqualifying them bury genuine talent?”
The noble youth blinked, completely at a loss for words.
“I…
well…
that actually makes sense…”
Up on the balcony, Nozel adjusted his silver sash, his expression returning to his usual cold demeanor.
“A rational argument, but it doesn’t change the fact that he is a peasant with zero aptitude for magic control.” With that single statement, Nozel mentally closed the doors of the Silver Eagles to Asta permanently.
“Don’t be so quick to judge,” Gueldre Poizot preached smoothly.
“Look at the four-leaf boy beside him.
They both come from the same backwater village.”
“How can you compare the two?” Nozel replied coldly.
“A Four-Leaf Grimoire grants a path to greatness.
This boy has nothing.”
As Nozel spoke, his sharp eyes caught a glimpse of silver hair near the archway below.
Excusing himself, he turned and walked down toward the lower corridors.