Assessment

[Chapter 5 Comments.]

The hallway echoed with the sound of footsteps as Theo and his students made their way to the field. Theo's gaze shifted to the comments panel for Chapter 5 and noticed that it was empty. A sense of concern washed over him. Was it due to an error or a lack of participation? He had never encountered this situation before, and he worried about the progress of the story without active engagement from the readers.

As the group walked, one of Theo's students, Serena Nightshade, approached him with a serious expression. She voiced the question that had been on the minds of many. "Teacher, how will you test us? Are we going to fight against other creatures?"

The other students, now aware of the conversation, leaned in to listen. Theo shook his head, a smile playing at his lips. "No, it will be something simpler. You will just have to fight me a little. I'll try to match your power if possible."

Surprise flickered in Serena's eyes. How could Theo, with his illusion abilities, match the powers of each individual student? It seemed like an impossible claim. "With all due respect, Teacher, I think that's impossible."

Theo's smile grew enigmatic. "Do you think so?" he asked, as if planning to prove her wrong.

Mia, who had been observing silently, raised her hand and sought clarification. "I don't need to fight you, right?"

Theo's reply was accommodating. "If you wish to assist your fellow students, I don't mind."

Politely declining the offer, Mia shook her head helplessly, stating, "No, thank you. I don't wish to engage in a fight I am destined to lose."

The conversations among the students only served to further ignite their determination to make Theo eat his own words. They were eager to demonstrate their true capabilities and prove themselves against their formidable teacher.

After a short while, they arrived at the designated field. The students were clad in durable uniforms crafted from strong fabrics and materials sourced from monsters. These uniforms offered both durability and flexibility, allowing for unrestricted movement once they grew accustomed to wearing them.

Upon reaching the field, all eleven students positioned themselves in front of Theo, prepared for the challenge that lay ahead. Avalon, displaying a serious expression, stepped forward, raising his hand. The blue ring adorning his finger emitted a faint glow before transforming into a blade. He inquired, "So, who will go first, Teacher?"

Theo, with a hint of arrogance, retorted, "I don't mind if all of you come at me together, though." His wink and dismissive demeanor clearly conveyed his disregard for their abilities.

Avalon clenched his teeth, suppressing his annoyance. He had informed Theo of his commitment to uphold his code of chivalry and refrained from actions that would violate it. Consequently, he chose to remain silent, refraining from responding to Theo's provocation.

Stepping forward, Li Wei volunteered to be the first to engage in combat. Raising his hand, he made a grasping motion, conjuring a sword out of thin air, much like Avalon had with his ring. The students observed in awe as it became apparent that the ring possessed the ability to store and manifest various objects.

Expressing gratitude, Li Wei courteously clasped his hands and addressed Theo, saying, "Thank you for your guidance."

Theo, wielding an illusory sword, waved his hand, beckoning Li Wei to come forth. "Come," he said, ready to face his student's challenge.

Internalizing his resolve, Li Wei charged towards Theo, brandishing his blade. He mused inwardly that as long as he didn't succumb to Theo's illusions, he would be able to strike his opponent's sword and gain the upper hand. However, to his surprise, when their swords clashed, a resounding click echoed through the air.

Cling!

Perplexed, Li Wei widened his eyes, unable to sever Theo's blade with his own. Theo maintained a calm composure as he observed Li Wei's movements, remarking, "A good swing."

Determined, Li Wei gritted his teeth, and a faint golden light enveloped his blade. Through the application of this ability, his strikes gradually managed to cut through Theo's sword.

Intrigued by this display, Theo inquired, his sword still intact, "This is an interesting ability. What is its name?" He maintained a firm grip on his sword, allowing some leeway to converse with his student.

Proudly, Li Wei roared, "This is Sword Intent! Essentially, if I do not intend to cut anything, not even the most delicate leaf can be severed. However, if I do intend to cut something, there will be nothing I can't cut!" As he reached the climax of his declaration, he intensified his assault, pushing Theo backward.

Understanding Li Wei's ability, Theo jumped back, creating some distance between himself and his student. He raised his sword above his head, its faint light belying the potential danger it possessed. Although Li Wei's instinct urged him to avoid the impending strike at all costs, he remained steadfast.

Contemplating his words, Theo muttered, his sword descending, "If I intend to cut something, there will be nothing I can't cut, huh?"

Li Wei's fellow students warned him, fearing the consequences of this attack. Despite their caution, Li Wei persisted, attempting to block the strike with his own sword.

To his astonishment, the sword strike extended beyond expectations, slicing through not only his blade but also Li Wei himself and even the school building behind them.

Bam!

Li Wei found his vision split in two, his mind reeling from the impact. "Did I just..." he murmured, unable to comprehend the situation.

Quickly regaining control, Theo snapped his fingers, restoring everything back to its original state. Chuckling, he approached the bewildered Li Wei and flicked his forehead. "That was a bit too much," he remarked, claiming his victory.

Still in a state of confusion, Li Wei struggled to grasp Theo's strike. Even though it had been an illusion, his instincts warned him of the imminent danger. Theo had manipulated the illusion to prevent any harm. Overwhelmed by the experience, Li Wei couldn't help but gulp, questioning the nature of the monstrous teacher he had encountered.

The intense moment was disrupted by a blue star symbol appearing beneath Theo's feet. Haruka Kimura, hailing from the Exorcism Realm, had sidled up to Theo and clapped her hands twice, signaling her involvement. "Khan!" she chanted, causing the star symbol to emit a brilliant blue light that shot skyward.

Theo experienced searing pain as his body was consumed by the blazing light. Despite the torment, he made no sound.

Seizing the opportunity, Theo snapped his fingers. Suddenly, a trigram materialized above Haruka, radiating a golden light accompanied by intense heat. Haruka's agonized scream reverberated through the air, causing her spell to dissipate.

Witnessing Theo's defeat of two students, the twins, Luca and Lucas, flanked him from two sides. Luca conjured a giant red fireball above her, while Lucas formed a snowflake symbol in his hand. Together, they converged on Theo, channeling their respective powers.

"Fire..."

"...and Ice..."

"Great Seal!"

Fire surged and ice expanded, encasing Theo within their confines. Yet, to their astonishment, instead of being trapped, Theo merely waved his hand, causing the flow of their elements to twist and curve around his body. Consequently, the twins inadvertently unleashed their own powers upon each other.

"Impossible! How can he manipulate our elements?"

"Is his control superior to ours?"

Gritting their teeth, the twins inadvertently triggered a steam explosion that sent them hurtling away.

Theo stood firm, immovable. Lancelot Drakeheart from the Sword and Magic Realm and Oliver Beaumont from the Modern Realm seized the opportunity to strike Theo from different angles, taking advantage of the slight gap in his defenses.

Unfortunately for them, their attack relied on their weapons. Lancelot wielded a spear, while Oliver brandished a knife and a gun. Oliver fired at Theo, buying time for their assault.

Unperturbed, Theo conjured a translucent barrier next to him, effortlessly halting the bullet in its tracks.

"Haaa!" Lancelot pressed forward with great speed, creating a distortion in the surroundings as he aimed to ram into Theo.

Smirking, Theo snapped his finger, causing the space between him and Lancelot to expand.

Confounded, Lancelot realized he was running on a treadmill, unable to close the distance no matter how hard he tried. It seemed the realm itself conspired against his charge.

"If you wish to thrust your spear, do it like this," Theo advised, forming an illusory spear and thrusting it forward. Suddenly, the realm stopped expanding, allowing Lancelot to draw nearer. The distortion caused by Lancelot's momentum led Theo's spear to connect with him.

"The spear... it's twisting?" Lancelot gasped, hastily evading the attack, desperate to avoid its consequences.

Theo admonished him, "Pay attention to me, will you?" Oliver aided his companion by hurling a flash grenade, which detonated before Theo.

Oliver, knowing he would suffer the echoing effects, deemed himself better off than Theo. Seizing the opportunity, he lunged at Theo, his knife in hand.

Theo surprised Oliver by catching his knife, even using his teeth. "To both of you, don't believe everything you see," Theo sighed.

Oliver smirked, considering it all a diversion. With Theo's attention diverted, Maya Emberwood from the Post-Apocalyptic Realm and Jayden Lexia from the Demon Realm sprang into action.

Maya donned a robot suit, channeling its power as she attacked Theo. Meanwhile, Jayden's fist pulsated with pulsing veins.

"Feel the power of the machine! I won't rely on my weapon to defeat you!" Maya shouted, delivering a powerful blow from above.

"Demon Possession, Goliath!" Jayden struck Theo's head with both fists, accusing him of abusing his authority as a teacher.

Unfazed, Theo caught Oliver's knife with his mouth, leaving both his hands free. "Never underestimate your opponent," he admonished, raising both hands to halt Jayden's and Maya's attacks.

Bam!

The ground cracked beneath Theo's feet, but he stood unwavering, successfully stopping their onslaught.

"Impossible! He can withstand all of this? Isn't he an illusionist?" Maya gasped, struggling to comprehend the situation.

Swiftly rotating his body, Theo conjured a tornado, launching all three assailants into the air.

Unbeknownst to the students, Serena approached Theo from behind, clutching several tubes filled with colorful liquids. She hurled them at him, but Theo caught her hands, ensuring the tubes were positioned before her eyes.

"This is your greatest weakness. You must learn hand-to-hand combat to protect yourself," Theo explained calmly.

A mischievous smile formed on Serena's face. "That's only if I don't have one," she retorted.

Suddenly, an arrow pierced through the created winds and struck Theo's head. Surprised, he collapsed, blood seeping from the wound, seemingly unable to protect himself from his student's arrow.

"Huh?!" Aurora Faewillow from the Mythical Realm, the archer responsible for the shot, gasped in horror. "Did I just... kill him?"

Panicking, Aurora and Serena knelt before Theo, desperately hoping he was still alive. But their faces turned pale as the realization dawned upon them.

"We need help!"

"Medic!"

Aurora and Serena cried out, seeking assistance. To their astonishment, however, they heard Theo's voice behind them, calling for help. "Medic! This guy needs some help!"

"Huh?!" Aurora and Serena spun around, their eyes widening as they saw Theo smiling at them.

"It seems your bodyguard came along, despite being skilled with a bow," Theo remarked, his smile unyielding.

Aurora and Serena realized they had been deceived by their teacher. The person they shot earlier was nothing but an illusion.

Theo turned his attention to the remaining student. "Now, it's just you. Are you ready?"

"I am—" Avalon began, but before he could finish his sentence, he felt a sword pressed against his back. "!!!"

"I warned you earlier not to expect everyone to adhere to your code of chivalry," Theo's voice echoed from behind Avalon.

Avalon realized that Theo had created an illusion of himself appearing behind Serena and Aurora as a ruse.

"..." Avalon clenched his teeth and uttered, "You..."

"I'm not asking you to abandon your beliefs. However, to defeat a mere trick like this, you need absolute power. That's why I'm here—to help you attain that absolute power and familiarize you with such tricks," Theo explained.

Avalon finally comprehended the true purpose behind Theo's words. Reluctantly, he lowered his sword. "I concede."

All eyes were fixed on Theo, utterly astonished by his victory. It was evident that he had not only imitated their powers but also taught them a profound lesson. He had thoroughly bested them.

"Damn. What kind of monstrous teacher did we end up with?" Serena forced a feeble smile.

However, Mia, who had remained silent throughout the ordeal, suddenly spoke up. "Are you sure about that? You haven't seen anything yet."

Confusion clouded their faces. Yet, as soon as Theo clapped his hands, the entire field began to crumble.

Startled, they looked up, wondering what was happening. In an instant, the scenery shifted back to the classroom, and there stood Theo at the front.

He smiled and announced, "Alright. That concludes today's lesson."

It dawned on them that the entire fight had been an illusion. They had never stepped foot outside their desks. In other words, they had been trapped in Theo's illusion all along.

A tacit agreement seemed to form among them—that Theo was indeed a monster.