Chapter 16: Battle Royale

The goblins surged forward, their crude weapons glinting under the arena's artificial glow. Rob's mind raced. He needed to stand out. To prove he belonged here. His Creation skill was his greatest asset, but with his low mana pool, he had to be strategic. Then, an idea sparked—multi-casting. If he could cast multiple spells at once, he could overwhelm the monsters with sheer versatility.

He raised his hands, his voice steady as he began.

Fire Bolt! A precise fireball shot from his fingertips, striking the first goblin and setting it ablaze.

Water Jet! A concentrated stream of water burst from his other hand, knocking two goblins back, sending them sprawling across the ground.

Wind Cutter! A sharp gust of wind sliced through another goblin's torso, cutting it down mid-charge.

Earth Spike! A jagged spike erupted from the ground, impaling the last goblin in his line of sight.

The holographic hunters let out a collective cheer. "Nice work! Keep it up!"

In the stands, hushed murmurs turned into excited chatter.

"He's casting four spells at once?" someone gasped. "How's he doing that?"

Lina smirked, leaning back. "Looks like the he's got some tricks up his sleeve."

Rob barely heard them. He didn't have time to bask in the praise. The goblins kept coming. Fire, water, wind, earth—each spell wove into the next, a rhythmic dance of destruction. By the time the last goblin fell, the arena was littered with smoldering bodies and puddles of water.

The wolves materialized next, their eyes glowing with simulated hunger. They were faster, more coordinated. No room for mistakes.

Rob exhaled sharply. He needed something rapid, precise. Then, a thought hit him.

Fire Bolt x15!

A barrage of small fireballs erupted from his fingertips in rapid succession, striking the wolves one after another. The air crackled with heat as the wolves howled, their fur catching fire. Their movements slowed, some collapsing under the relentless assault.

The holographic hunters shouted encouragement. "That's it! Keep them on their toes!"

But Rob was already feeling the strain. His mana reserves plummeted, sweat dripping down his face. His arms shook. He was running on fumes.

A hunter tossed him a potion. "Here, drink this. You're doing great."

Rob barely caught it, his fingers clumsy from exhaustion. He gulped it down, feeling a fraction of his mana restored. Just enough for the final stage.

The ground trembled as the Goblin Chief emerged, its massive club dragging against the floor. Its beady red eyes locked onto him, brimming with malice.

Rob's pulse pounded in his ears. He had to finish this fast. He only had one shot.

He steadied himself. No more fancy combos. No switching elements. Just raw, concentrated power.

Light Beam Barrage!

Six beams of searing light erupted from his hands, converging on the Goblin Chief from all angles. The light speared through the boss's massive frame, leaving glowing holes in its flesh. It staggered, roaring in agony as its body convulsed under the relentless assault.

The holographic hunters didn't waste the opportunity. "Now!" they shouted, rushing in to land the finishing blows. Swords slashed, arrows struck true, and with one final howl, the Goblin Chief crumpled to the ground.

Rob dropped to one knee, his breath ragged, his vision swimming. His entire body trembled from the sheer exertion.

A holographic hunter clapped a hand on his back. "You did it, kid. That was incredible."

The evaluator watched him carefully, her expression unreadable. Then, with a subtle nod, she made a note on her clipboard.

The stands erupted.

"Did you see that? He cast six spells at once!"

"That was insane! What kind of class even lets you do that?"

"Mindforger? Never heard of it, but damn."

Lina clapped slowly, her smirk widening. "Not bad."

Rob let out a breathless laugh, his arms still shaking. "Thanks. I think."

Rob sat in the stands, his body still trembling from the strain of the test. He could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on him—some curious, some impressed, others skeptical. The murmurs around him were a mix of admiration and disbelief.

"Did you see how he cast six spells at once? That's not normal."

"Yeah, but did you see how drained he was after? He's got no stamina."

"Still, if he can pull that off now, imagine what he'll be like with more training."

Rob tried to ignore the chatter, but it was impossible. He felt a strange mix of pride and embarrassment. It was one thing to perform well in front of the evaluators, but another to have everyone talking about him. He glanced at Lina, who was leaning back in her seat, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.

"You're full of surprises." she said, her tone casual but with a hint of approval. "I didn't think you had it in you."

Rob shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Guess I'm just full of hidden talents."

Lina snorted. "Don't let it go to your head."

Before Rob could respond, the next set of applicants stepped into the arena. The tests continued, each mage showcasing their abilities with varying degrees of success. Some struggled, their spells fizzling out or missing their marks, while others impressed with creative combinations and precise control.

Rob watched intently, his mind racing. He knew he had done well, but he also knew he wasn't the only one with potential. The competition was fierce, and he couldn't afford to get complacent.

After the last applicant finished their test, the evaluator stepped into the arena, her presence commanding immediate silence. The holographic monsters and hunters faded away, leaving the chamber eerily quiet.

"You have made it this far," she began, her voice echoing through the room. "If this were before, you would've received your hunter ID right away. But no. With the new system, a final test for all of you is required."

The applicants exchanged uneasy glances. Rob's stomach churned. He had thought the hardest part was over, but it seemed the Bureau had other plans.

The evaluator continued, her tone firm. "Unlike the Vitality Test, which impressed me and most of the Hunter Bureau staff—especially how a group of applicants gathered together and created an organized system in a survival scenario—this next test will be the opposite of that. You will be pitted against each other."

A murmur rippled through the room. Rob's heart sank. He had hoped the tests would focus on teamwork, not competition.

The evaluator raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. "You will spawn randomly on the map, starting with nothing. You can pick up coins along the way, which can be used to purchase gear, consumables, and other items. You can also steal coins from the corpses of other applicants. Their gear can be sold for coins, which you can use to buy stronger equipment."

She gestured to a large screen that appeared behind her, displaying a shop interface. "The shop offers items ranging from Common to Legendary, with prices adjusted based on their rank. You can buy weapons, armor, potions, and more. But be warned—monsters also roam the map. Eliminating them will reward you with coins, especially field bosses."

The screen shifted to show a leaderboard. "The rewards for reaching the top of the leaderboard are significant. The number one spot will receive one Unique item and one year of tax exemption on all gate earnings."

The room buzzed with excitement and nervous energy. Some applicants leaned forward, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, while others looked visibly uneasy.

The evaluator's voice grew sharper. "This test will be livestreamed on the Hunter Bureau page. Top guilds will be watching, so consider this your chance to make an impression. The reason for this is exposure for our new hunter registration system."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room. "Good luck."

The announcement left the applicants in a frenzy. Some were already strategizing, their voices rising as they discussed potential tactics. Others looked pale, their confidence shaken by the prospect of fighting not just monsters, but each other.

Rob sat quietly, his mind racing. He had barely survived the Vitality Test, and now he was being thrown into a battle royale. The thought of fighting other applicants—people he had just shared a meal with—made his stomach churn.

Lina leaned over, her voice low. "You look like you're about to throw up. What's the matter? Scared?"

Rob forced a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Just thinking about how much I hate fighting people."

Lina chuckled. "Better get used to it. This is the hunter world. It's not all teamwork and camaraderie."

Rob sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I'm starting to realize that."

Nearby, a group of applicants was already forming alliances. "We should team up," one of them said. "Take out the weak ones first, then split the rewards."

Rob frowned. He didn't like the idea of backstabbing, but he also knew he couldn't afford to be naive. If others were willing to play dirty, he'd have to be ready.

The evaluator's voice cut through the chatter. "The test begins in one hour. Prepare yourselves."

Rob stood, his legs still shaky from the earlier test. He glanced at Lina, who was already heading for the exit.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

Lina smirked. "To get ready. You should do the same. This isn't going to be easy."

Rob watched her go, his mind racing. He had no idea what to expect, but one thing was clear: this test would push him to his limits.

And he wasn't sure if he was ready.