Chapter 698: They Are A Different Bunch
Back within the Dark Knight Academy, inside the Eastern Grand Hall where the authoritative figures remained gathered before dozens of floating magical screens, the atmosphere had slowly shifted over the course of the day.
When the assessment had first begun, the hall had been filled with calm observation and occasional discussion. Instructors monitored students evenly, making remarks here and there regarding decision-making, adaptability, and combat efficiency.
Now, several hours into the first day of the assessment, the mood had become noticeably more engaged.
Because the second years were performing far better than expected.
Floating projections illuminated the dimmed hall from every direction, each screen displaying different parts of Nalim.
Some students were shown building temporary shelters before nightfall. Others were hunting smaller creatures for food, navigating difficult terrain, or avoiding demonic territories altogether.
A few screens showed combat.
One student was currently fighting off a pair of Horror-class demons near a ruined stone structure.
Another group of accidental encounters between students had already occurred throughout the realm, some cooperative and others tense enough to nearly turn violent before the parties separated.
Yet despite the chaos of Nalim...
Not a single student had triggered a Forced Extraction.
And that alone had become a topic worth discussing.