Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 140 (Part 1):

This test is a form of powerful magic. If one attempts to pull out their Vis to repel the magic, the test itself cannot proceed.

Helmut accepted the magic cast upon him. The power of the magic invaded him, temporarily altering the sensations throughout his body.

‘Now it begins.’

Though it’s called illusion magic, it’s different from merely showing hallucinations. In this special space created by pouring in the essence of various magics, it’s possible to produce vivid illusions that seem truly alive. If you strike the illusion, you can even feel the touch. It has even replicated the strength and texture of the skin.

On the other hand, since the other side is an illusion and the test taker is real, they don’t actually get injured when attacked. They may feel pain mentally, though.

However, the test also calculates how much the illusion affects the test taker and reflects this in their score. The test ends if the test taker is hit in a vital spot. Minor hits on arms or legs are acceptable.

But one must not expose their critical vital points. The test recognizes the physical condition of the test taker to determine this.

The faster one advances through the stages, the higher the score, but there’s also a time limit for each stage. A maximum of 15 minutes per stage.

To pass a stage, one must defeat the magical beast that appears. If you just stand off and endure, the test will end.

If the test ends at the same stage, the score is determined by whether you endured or not.

Those who endure score higher than those who do not. It’s not just about being proactive. If it’s an unbeatable opponent, choosing to endure might be the right decision.

Conversely, acting too conservatively in a stage you could have overcome and not advancing to the next stage is a loss.

Most of the second-year martial arts students taking the test will likely fall at stages 3 or 4, so there will be a significant difference in scores between stages.

‘Any magical beast is fine.’

Hunting magical beasts is his specialty. Helmut’s heart, having lived in the Forest of Roots, is not so frail.

He would not blink an eye, no matter how horrific they appear or how loudly they scream. Dispatching them is a matter of moments.

The surroundings were dim, as if just before dusk – neither day nor night. In an empty room with nowhere to hide, Helmut waited. Soon, a figure revealed itself before him.

‘Easy.’

The first to appear was something like the rabbit beast Helmut first hunted.

It was nostalgic, not a rabbit but a giant rat. As soon as it showed itself, Helmut’s sword cut through the air. The first stage ended in less than 10 seconds, and Helmut waited unenthusiastically for the second stage to begin.

The second stage test became more beast-like. It was a fox. Quick and agile, with sharp claws and teeth.

But Helmut’s sword was faster. His blade separated the fox’s head from its body. It took less than 5 minutes to pass through stages 1 and 2. Helmut leisurely predicted the next sequence.

‘From a rat to a fox, what’s next, a wolf? A leopard?’

Thinking of a leopard made him frown. He hoped it would be a different beast.

Helmut, when he kills, only consciously reaps the shadow of darkness without feeling guilt. He had no hesitation in hunting animals or magical beasts, but felt uncomfortable about feline beasts.

It seemed like harming his own kind, whether it was a cat, a leopard, or a tiger.

But soon, a magical beast of an unexpected form appeared.

“A frog?”

Helmut was puzzled.

The third stage was a frog, a giant one at that. From animal to reptile, the pattern was unclear. Generally, frogs are considered less threatening than rats, but such common sense didn’t apply to monsters.

The frog’s tongue, acting like a whip, was long and flexible, striking swiftly at its opponent. If hit by the frog’s attack, the force was set to send one flying to the wall.

The slimy tongue, spewing saliva as it flew, was repulsive at first glance. Even if it didn’t actually splash, touching the sleek, slime-covered body was undesirable.

‘This is a proper illusion.’

It was astonishing to visually feel the stench. They’ve managed to create it disgustingly well.

Helmut had a strong stomach, but he decided to quickly move past this stage. Dodging the incoming tongue, he leaped into the air. The tongue curled flexibly into a circle, the sticky pink tongue constricting like a snake.

Helmut skillfully dodged through it. The tongue was fast, but the body was slow in movement. With a single strike filled with Vis, he split the frog’s head.

Squelch! With a realistic noise, the frog spewed brain matter as it collapsed. The sight of the white brain matter oozing out would have made most vomit.

Indeed, the imagination of magicians is extraordinary. Even to him, who grew up seeing monsters in the Forest of Roots, it felt unusual.

‘If the third stage is like this, what about the next stages?’

Helmut caught his breath, feeling a bit of tension. It took 10 minutes to get through the third stage. A good pace, but he was slowing down slightly.

Forth stage. An unremarkable creature appeared. A snake with flashing yellow eyes. Its body, glossy black, just like a fish, aggravated the disgust that the snake brings.

‘It’s small and slender.’

It looked unimpressive, not even a two-headed serpent. But, regardless of Helmut’s sour assessment, it was large enough to swallow an adult man whole.

Compared to Naho, it seemed merely cute.

As soon as it appeared, it attacked Helmut. Its combat style was reminiscent of Naho’s. It quickly encircles its prey, narrowing the distance, crushing bones with its coil, or attempting to swallow with its mouth. Another method of attack was headbutting.

A well-replicated monster. Its fangs likely harbored poison. Of course, being an illusion, it wasn’t real, but a bite would be considered fatal, ending the test.

‘I’m immune to poison.’

It would be unfair if the trial ended with a bite. However, it seemed unlikely that such factors would be taken into account.

Grrrr! The snake’s scales scraped the floor as it swiftly coiled around, tightening its grip with Helmut at the center. Ashen mist rose from Helmut’s sword.

‘Let’s test its strength.’

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