"This sword actually possesses the ability to erase mana!"
"What is going on with this silver-haired boy? Judging from the previous exams, no one in the entire place was worse than him, but how can his combat power be so terrifying!"
At this moment, the nine Magic Knight Squad Captains were also shocked. They truly hadn't thought that someone else's spotlight could overshadow Yuno, who had been chosen by a clover grimoire!
"This year's newcomers are truly full of surprises!" The Crimson Lion King Squad Captain exclaimed.
"However, that silver-haired boy doesn't seem to have used any magic from the start, and he failed all the exams related to magic. Could it be that he doesn't have a shred of mana?" The Purple Orca Captain speculated.
"Can a Mage without mana still be called a Mage? The potential of taijutsu is ultimately limited. Such a boy is only showing strength now; once the other candidates' mana grows in the future, they will be able to defeat him easily." After the Verdant Mantis Squad Captain finished speaking, everyone fell silent. The Magic Knight Squads were called Magic Knight Squads precisely because everyone was a Mage! And judging from Asta's performance just now, although his combat power was strong, he hadn't used magic once from start to finish. Indeed, no Magic Knight Squad dared to want a boy whose background was so unclear.
"Haha." The Black Bulls Captain's face beamed with joy. The other Magic Knight Squads didn't dare to take him, but he dared! He had originally been worried about how to tuck this oddball with powerful taijutsu under his wing, but now it seemed no one was going to fight him for it.
"This should be enough, right?" Asta retracted his sword and looked at the exam grounds, which looked like they had been demolished. Having fought to this extent, he believed that joining the Magic Knight Squad should be a sure thing.
"Look, his eyes turned red! So cool!"
"Now he will definitely be snatched up! After all, he defeated the most promising Clover boy. Even if he got zero points on the previous exams, he will surely be admitted exceptionally!"
"I didn't expect his strength to be this powerful..."
Those who had previously mocked Asta lowered their heads in shame. They had truly experienced what it meant for bronze to mock a challenger; such ignorance was truly embarrassing.
"But how are we supposed to compete from here on? I originally thought I was a genius, but compared to them, I don't even have the face to go up now..."
At this moment, many candidates were thinking this way, so when it was the second group's turn to compete, it took a long time before two nobles went up. Their magic would have been enough to amaze everyone under normal circumstances, but now, with Asta and Yuno's brilliant performance before them, they seemed almost comical.
The subsequent matches were mostly unremarkable, with only a few nobles putting up dazzling fights.
Because there were so many candidates, this exam lasted until the sun was about to set before it finished.
Many candidates had already become sleepy, but when the last group finished, everyone perked up, because the moment that would decide their fate had finally arrived!
"God, please, you must select me! I don't want to go back to the boondocks. Just thinking about that hopeless life makes me want to die!" A boy from the countryside prayed devoutly. After witnessing the prosperity of the outside world, he was no longer willing to go home and farm.
"Hmph! This world has become chaotic precisely because of these restless bugs." A noble boy crossed his arms arrogantly. Originally, his eyes were filled with disdain for the lower-class people, but he immediately lowered his head, because Asta happened to be passing by!
"I thought nobles were so powerful; turns out they have times when they're scared too!"
"Exactly, you dare say that to his face?"
Several boys who also came from the countryside felt a surge of secret satisfaction at this scene. This was the benefit of having powerful strength; just passing by was enough to scare off those monsters and demons!
"Am I being used to intimidate others for no reason?" Asta walked away, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. There was still a long wait ahead, because he was number 165, and there were still over a hundred candidates waiting to be selected.
"The exam is now completely over. We will now begin the final selection. Candidates will be called forward in order. If you are selected by one or more Captains, they will raise their hands. If no one raises their hand, it means you do not have the qualifications to join a Magic Knight Squad, so please leave the exam grounds immediately!" The previously silent Blue Rose Squad Captain stood up and said. After her brief introduction, the candidates roughly understood the rules for the final selection.
"Starting now!"
The exam staff began calling out candidates' numbers in order. Each time a candidate was called forward, they were given three seconds to consider their fate—a three-second window that would determine their entire life. As a result, every candidate became tense; some with weaker nerves were already trembling!
"I must be chosen!"
Candidate No. 1 was nervous beyond measure, for he was the first to be called. Whether the outcome was cruel or wonderful, there was no buffer time!
"Candidate No. 1, step forward!"
"Yes!"
Candidate No. 1 stepped forward, trembling. He looked up at the nine Magic Knight Squad Captains on the second-floor balcony with reverent awe. As the seconds ticked by, he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, hoping for a captain to raise their hand. But after three seconds passed, not a single captain raised their hand. This cruel reality caused him to collapse to the ground, and he eventually had to be helped off by the staff.