"So, you've come. Are you both ready?"
As Neries arrived at the practice ground alongside Hugo Clay, she nodded vigorously in response to Uno's greeting. Melt and her other friends were already visible in the spectator seats, having come to cheer her on (Ryuga, as expected, was nowhere to be seen). Heartened by their presence, Neries watched as Uno cleared his throat and addressed her officially.
"Neries Celein... We shall now begin the practical exam to gauge your abilities. Your chosen partner is Hugo Clay, correct?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Understood. Before we commence, I will explain the procedures and safety precautions once more. Listen closely."
Uno cleared his throat again after confirming her choice. As Neries took a deep breath to steady her nerves, he began outlining the parameters of the test.
"The exam itself is straightforward. We will summon targets, and you must work with your partner to defeat them. My judgment on whether you pass or fail will be based on the performance you demonstrate during the encounter."
"So, it’s not just a matter of whether we win or lose, right?" Yugo interjected.
"Precisely. Conversely, even if you fail to defeat the summoned targets, you may still pass if I determine your individual performance was sufficient. Do not forget—I am evaluating your movements and decision-making, not just the final outcome."
"Y-yes, sir!"
The core of the exam wasn't just victory, but whether Neries could properly fulfill her role. Uno was making the criteria clear: he wanted to see if she had recovered enough from her previous mental instability to function in the field. Seeing Neries nod with newfound understanding, Uno continued.
"I will choose which targets to summon based on how you fight. I have no intention of sending out enemies that are needlessly powerful, nor those that are too weak to test you."
"Got it! One question, sir! How many enemies are we talking about?" Yugo asked.
"I cannot give you a specific number. If I wish to see how you handle a crowd, the numbers will increase; if I want to see how you deal with a powerful individual, the count will decrease. However, expect to demonstrate your skills across roughly three distinct combat patterns."
"Understood! Thank you for the info!"
To Yugo, this sounded like a standard three-wave battle. Whether the enemy count was high or low, he figured there would be plenty of opportunities for Neries to show her worth. As he mused on this, Uno held out an object to him.
"Clay, take this. You are required to wear it for the duration of the exam."
"Huh? What's this... a bracelet?"
Yugo tilted his head, peering curiously at the large golden bracelet Uno offered. He slid it onto his right arm as instructed, and Uno explained its purpose.
"That bracelet is designed to apply weakening magic—a debuff—to the wearer. The specific intensity of the weakening will be managed from the control room. Rest assured, we do not intend to apply anything excessively debilitating."
"I see... It's a measure to stop me from hogging the spotlight so Neries actually gets a chance to do something, right?"
"That is part of it, yes. But it is also to see how Celein handles the situation if her partner is compromised. Do not attempt to remove the bracelet, Clay."
"I wouldn't dream of it! Besides, once I deploy my Blaster, it’ll be locked on anyway!"
Yugo laughed off the handicap, seemingly unbothered. Uno then turned his focus back to Neries.
"Finally, once the exam begins, a barrier will be erected over the practice ground to prevent outside interference. Prove your strength alongside Clay and secure your place here. Is that understood?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"...That is all. If you have any further questions, ask them now."
Seeing that neither had anything else to say, Uno prepared to leave the field to observe from a distance. Just before he exited, he paused and looked at Neries as if a sudden thought had struck him.
"Celein... You likely know this already, but your score on the written exam was well above the passing line. If you clear this practical, your school expulsion will be officially rescinded. Give it your all."
"Yes! Th-thank you so much!"
Technically, revealing the written results ahead of time was a breach of protocol, but Neries was deeply grateful for the encouragement Uno had dared to give her. Yugo also found himself smiling, reflecting on what a student-centric teacher Uno really was—especially after he had been kind enough to facilitate Misery’s temporary move.
A moment later, Uno’s voice boomed over the speakers from the direction of the supervisor's room.
"We will now commence the exam. As soon as the barrier is active, I will summon the first targets."
"Roger that! We're ready whenever you are!" Yugo shouted back with a wave.
Uno signaled the control room. A heartbeat later, a pale blue, wall-like barrier shimmered into existence around the perimeter. Simultaneously, three Arachlaws materialized in the center of the arena. The reality of the situation hit them both—the test had begun.
"Gigi! Gugigigigi!!"
"Yugo-san, they’re coming! Prepare for combat!"
"You got it! I've been doing the whole dark hero thing lately, but today... I'm going back to my roots as an orthodox hero!!"
As the Arachlaws screeched and lunged, Neries called out to her partner. Yugo’s fighting spirit flared. He extended his right arm straight out and angled it sharply to the left, channeling his magic power into the Blaster. He let out a thunderous roar.
"Transform!!"