Chapter 745: What It Takes To Be Top Five
Sir Regulus stepped forward again, his expression measured as his eyes rested on Dylan. "Dylan Wellington, you were quite an interesting student to watch during this assessment."
Dylan lifted his brows faintly, as if not sure whether that was a compliment or warning.
"For me, at least," Regulus added.
Dylan gave a tired little grin. "I’ll take it."
Regulus continued as if he had not heard him. "You displayed many qualities during this assessment that, under different circumstances, would place you firmly within the top five. Your environmental awareness is among the best in your year. Your survival instincts are sharp. Your ability to read terrain, create distance, and use surroundings to compensate for disadvantage was on full display throughout Nalim."
The screen showed Dylan sliding down a slope while firing backward at pursuing demons. One arrow struck a tree root, another split through a hanging branch, and a third hit a rock formation just as the leading demon stepped onto it. The demon lost balance, and the ones behind it crashed into it, buying Dylan enough time to vanish into thicker brush.
Another highlight showed him setting up a crude alarm system with thin wires and metal scraps, catching a stalking Horror before it could ambush him while he rested.
Regulus’s voice carried a faint but unmistakable note of approval.
"Your skill with a bow remains impressive. I understand that some may consider my praise biased, as I am an archer myself, but that does not change the truth. Your draw speed, your accuracy, your ability to fire multiple shots within seconds and still maintain practical aim are exceptional. As I told you once before, almost a year ago, you are one of the best prodigy archers I have seen at your age in a long while."
Dylan’s grin became slightly more genuine, though his exhaustion prevented it from fully becoming his usual bright expression.
Regulus went on. "Your magic is also worth mentioning. You possess an affinity that is complicated, unusual, and, as far as academy records show, unprecedented in its exact form. Despite that, your mastery over it is very good. You have developed ways to apply it creatively, not simply as a direct weapon, but as a means of control, misdirection, and support for your archery."
The screen showed Dylan using steel magic to alter the path of several small projectiles mid-flight, curving them around obstacles and forcing demons into exposed positions. Another clip showed him reinforcing arrowheads at the moment of release, allowing them to pierce through armor that normal arrows likely could not have penetrated.