Global Necromantic Specialist

Wang Zihao didn't hesitate. He immediately chose the "Hell" difficulty level. In his mind, killing one monster on Hell difficulty was the equivalent of killing five monsters on Normal difficulty. He had supreme confidence in his combat skills.

"The first-place kid might have won the first round, but he won't beat me in the second round," Wang Zihao muttered to himself, gripping his giant saber, his chosen weapon as a Berserker.

"Hey, someone's picking Hell difficulty," one of the examiners commented.

"Wang Zihao, Level 16, Berserker," another examiner observed. "Berserkers are known for their continuous combat ability. He should perform well in this round."

Jeny, the third-place finisher from the first round, selected Normal difficulty. As an Elemental Mage, she wasn't as suited for close combat or fighting high-intensity monsters on her own without a tank. She planned to rely on quantity, assuming she could overpower weaker monsters with consistent attacks.

Her choice didn't go unnoticed. The examiners, who had been keeping an eye on the top scorers, nodded at her decision.

"Smart choice," one examiner said. "Elemental Mages have explosive power, but they can struggle against monsters that get close without proper crowd control. Given her lower level and incomplete skill set, Normal difficulty is a safe bet."

Zuo Mei, the second-place finisher from the first round, chose Hell difficulty as well.

"Zuo Mei, Level 16, Stalker," another examiner remarked, analyzing her decision. "Stalkers are a rare assassin class, known for their strong close-quarters combat abilities. Whether she chooses Nightmare or Hell, she can handle it."

The examiners were intrigued. "She's a solid contender. Let's see what she can do."

They all now turned their attention to Marsh.

Marsh had been quietly listening to the exam instructions and formed his own conclusion.

"In this round, the real test is everyone's continuous combat capability," Marsh mused. "A battle that lasts for 30 minutes is a lot of pressure for any profession... except mine."

A smile curled at the corners of his lips. Marsh had already made his decision.

"I choose Hell difficulty."

For Marsh, the higher the difficulty, the better. His skills were top-notch, and he knew that the more challenging the battle, the greater the rewards. The harder the test, the more points he would earn.

"Of course he chose Hell," one of the examiners said, chuckling. "He's a mage and a summoner. He can handle the monsters with his summoned creatures, and his skills are ridiculously powerful. No doubt he'll do well in Hell difficulty."

The examiners continued to discuss, and it became clear that many summoners had opted for Hell difficulty in previous exams. Marsh's choice wasn't surprising to anyone familiar with his capabilities.

---

Outside the examination room, the principals of all major high schools in Jiangning Province had gathered.

"David, you're in for a treat this time," one principal said, nudging David with excitement.

"0.1 seconds in the first round? That's an achievement we haven't seen in years."

"Yeah, and you're in second place with your students. If Marsh can come back with the provincial championship, David, you're going to be a legend."

David, overwhelmed with joy, flushed with excitement. He hadn't expected Marsh to perform so well, and the realization of how far Marsh had come left him speechless, his body shaking with excitement.

The countdown to the second round began, and soon, the exam was in full swing.

A ball of light appeared in front of Marsh, spinning in mid-air, resembling the entrance to a dungeon. From it, a monster clad in armor emerged, roaring as it stepped forward.

Without hesitation, Marsh activated his Soul Flame. His skeleton warriors, already summoned, charged forward and began attacking.

One of the skeleton warriors raised its weapon and struck at the monster.

With a single blow, the wolf-like monster staggered. Marsh's Detection Skill immediately identified the creature's stats.

[Wolf Orc Warrior (Elite)]

Level: 13

Power: 500

Agility: 300

Spirit: 150

Physique: 400

The monster's stats were weak. Marsh instantly realized that this was far weaker than the monsters he had faced in the West Sea Mine dungeon at Nightmare difficulty.

"It's clear this is an exam designed for most people, so the monsters aren't meant to be too powerful. Otherwise, there would be mass eliminations," Marsh thought to himself. "The goal of the exam is to select the best, not eliminate them."

The skeleton warrior's blade swung again, and the Wolf Orc Warrior fell dead.

"Two hits." Marsh thought to himself. He pointed his finger again, summoning a new skeleton warrior.

Now, two skeleton warriors stood guard by the light sphere, each ready for the next wave of monsters.

Five seconds later, the second Wolf Orc Warrior appeared. Just as before, the skeleton warriors attacked. With two strikes, the monster was slain.

"That was too easy," Marsh mused, barely breaking a sweat.

After a few rounds, he figured out the pattern. For every monster killed, another would appear five seconds later. The exam's real challenge was about sustaining combat over time, but for Marsh, the monsters were too weak to be a challenge.

The examiners watched in astonishment.

"Why is Marsh's summoning so powerful?" one examiner asked.

"It's stronger than any summoner we've seen," another remarked. "And there are two of them!"

"Indeed," a third examiner said. "This profession... it's extraordinary."

Marsh's side of the room became boring to watch. His two skeleton warriors stood guard by the entrance, and every time a new monster emerged, it was immediately slain within half a second. The monsters never stood a chance.

The examiners, feeling the monotony, turned their attention to other candidates.

Jeny, who had chosen Normal difficulty, was having a different experience. The monsters on her difficulty level weren't too strong. A couple of spells were enough to defeat each one.

She focused on managing her energy, making sure to use the least amount of magic possible to conserve her mental stamina. While her battle wasn't as intense as Marsh's, it was far more engaging.

---

In the end, Marsh's exam was far too easy for him, but the sheer simplicity of it drew less attention from the examiners. The other candidates, on the other hand, were facing much more challenging battles. Despite his effortless dominance, Marsh knew the second round was just one step in a much larger contest.

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