No! I don't want to be a Super Necromancer!

"Both." Professor Kong Hu replied simply and pointed to a row of strange looking blue coloured rocks the size of a human head.

There were exactly eleven of them, one for each of the elites.

"Try your best to destroy this rock in 1 strike. No weapons, no tools, but you may use your elemental energies. Who will be first?"

The Lin Triplets stepped forward immediately. They were still simmering with frustration from being overtaken by so many first years during the run.

Lin Xiu went first. He inhaled deeply, red fire energy swirling around him like a vortex. With a sharp roar, all of it surged into his right fist and he launched a full-bodied punch directly into the center of the rock.

Crack.

A thumb-sized chip flew off and landed with a sad little clink.

Lin Bao stepped up next, electricity dancing across his arms. He dropped into a low stance, then launched forward with a thunder-charged knee strike.

Crack.

Another chip.

Finally, Lin Fei slammed his fist down like a hammer, his condensed earthen energy flaring in a blinding flash of light.

Crack.

Same result.

Three strikes. Three chips. No breaks.

The crowd murmured uncertainly. The Lin Triplets stepped back, jaw tight, eyes darker than before.

Professor Kong Hu nodded his head. Their strength was good.

The stone was called Beta Stone and it was called that simply because only B Rank strength and above could damage it.

The Lin Triplets managing to break off a thumb sized chip from it indicated that their effective strength was low tier B Rank.

The Mu Triplets stepped forward with quiet confidence, their movements graceful and deliberate as they took their positions in front of the blue testing stones.

Unlike the Lin boys, who had charged ahead with something to prove, the Mu sisters radiated calm precision.

They didn't speak. They didn't need to. Everyone knew who they were—top-tier students of the second year, lightning-element specialists with nearly flawless synchronization. If the Lin Triplets were known for raw aggression, the Mu Triplets were praised for their elegant control and deadly precision.

Mu Qingling went first. Her mana surged through her body in steady waves, and arcs of lightning began to dance along her arms. With a slow exhale, she pulled back her fist and struck. The impact cracked across the stone's surface, and a piece the size of a large coin chipped away, landing with a soft clink.

Next was Mu Qingxue. Her aura flared as she stepped forward, lightning rippling across her fingers like water. Her strike was swift and direct. Another chunk flew off the stone—not massive, but slightly larger than her sister's.

Mu Qingyu, the youngest of the three, followed without hesitation. She moved with a more aggressive style than the others, her strike echoing sharply through the air. The chip that broke away from her stone was clean, controlled, and just a touch deeper than her sisters'.

The crowd responded with a ripple of quiet appreciation. There were a few whistles and some impressed murmurs. It was clear to everyone watching that the Mu Triplets were stronger than the Lin Triplets, but not by a dramatic margin. Their performance was better, yes but not shocking.

Among the instructors, a few took notes without comment. Professor Bai Lian tilted her head slightly in thought but said nothing. Another instructor leaned in to murmur to his colleague.

"Better execution. Good mana shaping."

"Yes. But they haven't crossed that threshold yet."

"They'll be elite officers one day."

"But not legends."

It was a fair assessment. The Mu Triplets were polished, gifted, and dangerous. But they hadn't made the stone tremble. They hadn't made anyone hold their breath.

So far, their strength was real but it was within expectations.

Zhao Rui stepped up next, fire mana flaring along his arms with a sharp, crackling hiss. His expression was focused, serious—gone was the cocky grin from earlier. Whether it was the humiliation from the morning run or sheer pride, he was determined to leave a mark.

He drew in a breath, clenched his fist, and with a low growl, slammed it forward.

Boom.

A deep thud rang out as the stone fractured with a sharp, cracking noise. A chunk the size of Mu Qingyu's—perhaps slightly more—broke off cleanly and bounced across the training field.

Several instructors raised their eyebrows in approval.

"Controlled aggression. Good channeling," one muttered.

"Better than expected from that flashy brat," another murmured with a nod.

Professor Wu gave a rare approving grunt. "That one's got meat on his bones after all."

Zhao Rui stepped back with a proud grin, lifting his chin as he flexed his fingers. The fire still curled faintly around his knuckles as he turned to glance at the watching crowd.

"Not bad, huh?" he sneered at Damien Bloodbane. "Let's see you make a bigger dent, E Rank. Oh wait, you're E Rank! You won't be able to even scratch this stone! Hahahaha!"

A few of the instructors looked at Damien Bloodbane with pity in their eyes.

Damien Bloodbane's E Rank status was notorious. But it was what it was.

In the eyes of the world, strength came in letters. And E was the letter they gave to sheep - they who would graze quietly while the lions fought.

Jennifer Aquafrost approached next. Her movements were graceful, deliberate—like a ballerina preparing for a strike. Her mana flared cold and crystalline, forming delicate snowflakes that shimmered around her hand. She delivered a swift, cutting strike to the stone.

A clean chip broke off, about the same size as what the Lin Triplets had achieved.

The instructors glanced at one another in surprise.

"Not bad," said one. "You're as strong as the Lin Triplets."

"Excellent." Professor Bai Lian was smiling warmly at her.

Damien Bloodbane frowned slightly. Jennifer Aquafrost was definitely holding back. That was a measured strike. Too measured. It was like someone making a point without giving away the truth.

Ji Chen moved up next. There was no flourish to his stride. No unnecessary buildup. Just calm silence and presence. He stood before the stone, let out a long breath, and tapped into his wind mana. Silver energy coiled up his arm, condensed tightly along his knuckles.

He struck.