Sword God in a World of Magic

The two of them traveled to the western border of the Deepcore Turtle Zone.

There, Shang saw a hundred-meter-tall tower, which meant that many Mages were stationed there. This was probably the central headquarters for the actual offense.

However, the commander brought Shang to a field quite a bit north of the tower, behind one of the mountains.

When the two of them arrived at their destinations, Shang could see five Mages with differently colored robes and hair talking to each other.

In front of them were around ten barbarians, and nine of them were at the Commander Stage, or Champion Stage, as it was called here.

There was one younger man at the Peak General Stage amongst the group of older Commander Stage barbarians.

Yes, the Commander Stage barbarians were nearly all, at least, middle-aged. Some of them even looked to be in their sixties.

'I guess there aren't many young Commander Stage barbarians,' Shang thought.

Shang joined the other barbarians, who looked with surprise at Shang.

Warriors would be impressed that someone at the Peak General Stage could pass the exam, but barbarians were different.

These barbarians were more powerful than Shang, which meant that they didn't need to respect Shang.

They didn't take his potential and talent into account.

What use did talent and potential have? They could still beat him up.

The Commander spoke with the Mages for a bit, and the Mages threw interested glances at Shang from time to time.

They hadn't expected any Fighter Stage barbarian to pass the test, but now there were two.

After a while, the commander saluted, handed one of the copies of Shang's Magic Contract to them, and left the area.

Now, only the five Mages remained.

The Mages talked amongst each other for a bit more as the barbarians waited.

About ten minutes later, the Mages stopped talking, and one of them stepped forward.

It was an older man with long grey hair and grey robes.

"Over the next day, you all will undergo several tests. We will test you in different aspects to gauge the limit of your coordination, flexibility, endurance, will, and many other categories."

Not every barbarian understood what the Mage was saying. They only knew that they had to undergo some tests.

"First, we need to test how much stress your body can handle," the Mage explained as he gestured to a big Magic Circle on the ground beside him.

The other four Mages stepped around the Magic Circle and waited.

Mage said to a random

puffed out his chest and stepped into the Magic

on your

Mage stepped on a free spot around the Magic Circle while the barbarians watched with

began to cast Spells, but they were all

of the Spells, but that already gave him an inkling as to what they were

barbarian. I think I get it. Quite clever, actually,' Shang thought. 'The Blackshadow

began to sweat, and

places, and blood flowed out

and he gritted

a minute, the barbarian fell to the ground, blood coming out of all

and looked with furrowed brows at

enough," the grey-robed

he said as the other barbarian was pushed out of the Magic

waiting for him, but he wasn't

deal

his turn, the Mages tested the

remained after this round

barbarians that didn't pass were sent back to wherever

with

and

"Next test, flexibility…"

"Next test, agility…"

"Next test, accuracy…"

went through

to go with Shang

other barbarian had better marks on several tests, but he also only barely passed two of them, while Shang was very comfortable in the upper middle

left, leaving Shang alone with the five

he looked at Shang. "Congratulations. You will be

Shang didn't answer.

tell you what

…

Dark skies.

had been years since the Plague Rat Zone had seen natural

Plague Rat was a Zone Beast with a Darkness Affinity,

was barely any vegetation in this Zone, and if one saw one of the plants, one could be sure that the plant was

a nearly lifeless wasteland full of

see

nearly all the beasts in this

There were no fights.

was only one-sided, quick

Rat Zone stood an army comprised of over 200

with