Whoosh~
The Knight Candidate's sword suddenly appeared in front of Hayden's face, and he barely managed to dive out of the way.
'I need to find an opening,' Hayden thought. 'I can't win in a direct fight.'
Although he was losing, there was no way he would simply give up and wait for defeat.
His Ocularis Lens then started simulating possible strategies, as it always did.
One projection stood out... It showed that the Knight Candidate's Aura usage was inconsistent. It seemed he was conserving energy, likely because he wasn't yet a full Aura Knight. This was quite similar to his earlier battle against the Paladin.
'Can I even make them spend most of his Aura? Ugh... But if I can, I might have a chance.'
The odds were low, but having a plan was better than nothing. Hayden decided to focus on defending and deflecting the Knight Candidate's attacks.
The basic martial arts he had learned in his previous life, combined with the assistance of his Lens, allowed him to redirect the force of the incoming strikes.
It was similar to Aikido but enhanced by the Lens' precision.
However, this strategy made him appear weak and seemed like he was about to collapse.
The Knight Candidate, believing victory was within reach, attempted to finish the fight with a powerful strike—only to have it deflected by Hayden's unusual martial arts.
At this point, if Hayden's stamina weren't infinite inside the Orb, he wouldn't have lasted this long.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
After a few more strikes, Hayden was still able to block the attacks, all thanks to the Lens' precise calculations. Even the Knight Candidate was already feeling confused about how he was being blocked.
'Good… keep going,' Hayden thought as his Ocularis Lens tracked the Knight Candidate's Aura levels.
Finally, the Knight Candidate raised his sword high, gathering Aura for a finishing blow. "You've done well, but this ends now!" he declared.
Hayden saw his chance. This scene was reminiscent of his battle against the Paladin. After confirming the exact trajectory of the attack, he mustered all his strength, dodging the sword by a hair's breadth and striking the gap in the Knight Candidate's armor at his side.
His blade connected, but the Knight Candidate's Aura was simply too powerful! Even with a direct hit, Hayden couldn't pierce through his muscles. The attack only managed to scratch the surface of his skin.
"You're incredible! It's as if you can predict all my movements," the Knight Candidate said, clearly impressed by Hayden's resilience.
It seemed the Knight Candidate had figured out Hayden's strategy but was still curious about how he could keep up with his movements as if Hayden could read his every move. Unfortunately, he couldn't uncover Hayden's secret, so he decided to end the battle.
Hayden, however, wasn't listening. He continued to attack relentlessly.
The Knight Candidate sighed, knowing that even if Hayden landed a hit, it wouldn't cause any real damage. "Enough of this…" he said.
In an instant, the Aura he had been suppressing surged through his body, and he struck Hayden with his sword. The Ocularis Lens projected the attack's path, but Hayden's body couldn't move fast enough to evade.
The sword struck him head-on, cutting through his body—or so it seemed. To Hayden's surprise, the blade passed through him harmlessly.
'Hmm?' Hayden was confused. He had expected his death to end the trial and wake him up in front of the Headmaster.
Thud… Thud… Thud…
While Hayden was still processing what had happened, the Knight Candidate approached his ethereal form and smiled. "You fought well, for a child. But this is as far as you go. I hope to see you again."
Before Hayden could respond, the Knight Candidate dissolved into nothingness.
'If only I were stronger… if only this body wasn't so weak…' Hayden thought, wryly smiling as he looked at his hands, which were also beginning to dissipate.
Just like that, the battlefield dissolved, and Hayden found himself back in Headmaster Mensa's office while his hand still resting on the Orb of Trials.
At this moment, the Headmaster was sipping a cup of tea, studying Hayden with a faint smile.
"Well done, Hayden," he said calmly, as if he weren't incredibly astonished by Hayden's progress.
"You have not only demonstrated exceptional combat skills but also the ability to adapt and think strategically under pressure. You are ready to advance to higher-level classes."
Of course, the Headmaster hadn't witnessed the battle within the Orb, but he understood the kind of challenges Hayden had faced.
Hayden nodded. His experience within the Orb had broadened his horizons, and he was more determined than ever to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
"Thank you, Headmaster. I won't let you down."
Headmaster Mensa leaned back in his chair, giving a satisfied smile.
"I have no doubt you will continue to exceed expectations. As for the trials you faced today, make sure not to speak of them to anyone. The Orb is quite special, and I normally can't use it without approval from another person… Ahem… Now, go and prepare for your new classes. Hannah will continue to assist you."
Hayden smiled, feeling even more grateful to the Headmaster for giving him the opportunity to prove himself and for providing such a valuable experience.
"I will do as you say, Headmaster."
As Hayden left the office, Headmaster Mensa watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but tighten his fist in excitement.
The fact that Hayden had reached the fourth trial and lasted several minutes in the fifth trial meant his potential had already surpassed anyone else in the Academy.
"It won't be long before this Academy finally makes its mark on the national stage…"