Chapter 29: Passed
The training hall was dimly lit by rows of crystal lanterns embedded in the walls. The air smelled faintly of polished wood and iron. The ground beneath Ryu’s feet was firm, layered with a soft texture designed to absorb impact. Along the far end of the room stood a line of humanoid wooden dummies. Each of them engraved with faint runes that shimmered faintly in the light, indicating they were reinforced for testing Awakened individuals.
A middle-aged man with a square jaw and a clipboard in hand stood beside him. His uniform was neat but worn, the emblem of the Hunter Association etched on his shoulder.
"Name?" the man asked in a flat, professional tone.
"Ryuzen."
"First-time applicant?"
"Yes."
The man gave a single nod. Then, with a sharp clap of his hands, another man pulled a lever. The dummies straightened, and faint hums of magic pulsed through the room.
"You will begin with the standard sequence. Three tests. First, raw strength. Strike the dummy ahead of you with your full force. Do not hold back."
Inhaling calmly, Ryu took a step forward. He raised his fist and tightened his knuckles.
Then with a clean burst of motion, he drove it straight into the chest of the wooden dummy.
Bang!