What was the purpose of this practical test?
Yes, it was to rank the students; it was to set a hierarchy, but how could that be all?
The students were not the only ones with aims in the Cradle. The instructors had their own goals.
This practical test was important for the instructors as well because this was where they could see the essence of the children's fighting style.
It was a known fact that no child could learn the use of mana before the age of eight. Any fight they do before learning mana control is said to be their innate skills showing off.
Therefore, this battle was held before they learned how to control mana in the Cradle. It was for the instructors to understand the children's fighting style.
But what if, among the children, there was someone who could use mana already?
What kind of change would it bring?
Everyone was about to find out soon because Raven, who had formed his first plate during his first day on the planet, could perfectly control mana.
It was true that in the past eight years, the most he could do was reach plate one level, but that wasn't something normal.
It was already hard enough to absorb mana from the surroundings with his body's mana-related functions inactive, so his reaching the first layer was already a miracle.
Raven had wanted to keep this as his trump card in the battle, to use only when he had observed all he wanted to.
By now, he was done with it.
He had noted the level of everyone he wanted to, and no one seemed to have exceeded the level they were originally supposed to.
Of course, it would change now since he had interfered with the plot, but he didn't care much about it. He had to change the plot, anyway.
Before Raven, his opponents stood tensed, all of them ready to act.
He, however, wasn't looking at them. He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. His breath came slow and measured.
Then—
BOOM!
A shockwave blasted out from beneath his feet.
"Wha—?!" Jessy's eyes widened.
In that instant, Raven vanished.
Swoosh!
He reappeared behind the nearest Wal Vaise fighter before they even registered his movement.
"Too slow."
BAM!
A fist connected cleanly with the boy's stomach. His body folded, launching backward like a ragdoll.
Before the others could react—
BAM!
A second opponent dropped, his ribs shattering under Raven's spinning kick.
BAM!
A third one collapsed, knocked out before he even realized he was hit.
SILENCE.
The spectators froze.
"What just... happened?" An instructor whispered.
The answer came from another instructor—his voice trembling. "That... That was Burst Step."
Gasps erupted from the stands.
"Impossible!" Another instructor jerked in his spot. "Only a Plate One magic swordsman or Layer One knight can control mana to that degree! He's eight! How can he already be a Plate one magic swordsman when he isn't even past the age of ten?!"
And yet—
BAM!
Raven moved again, using the burst movements, his fist flying at the Von Vaise duo now.
In less than five seconds, three of the Wal Vaise children were already downed, and now it was Von Vaise's turn.
Jessy, however, realized the situation quickly.
She knew that once others were defeated, she wouldn't be able to do anything, so she moved.
Clang!
Her Iron Fortress skill activated, her body glowing faintly as she threw herself between Raven and the Von Vaise duo.
BANG!
Raven's kick slammed into her crossed arms, but she didn't move.
Cough!
A muffled cough left her lips, blood dripping from her nose as the ground beneath her cracked and dust rose in a small cloud, but she didn't move.
Raven's eyes flickered as he raised his brow. "Oh?"
The spectators, still reeling, sucked in sharp breaths.
"Iron Fortress..." One instructor muttered. "Only children of the Patriarch's bloodline are taught that technique. Jessy's been trained for this since she could walk."
Jessy's arms trembled, but she gritted her teeth, not faltering. Her Iron Fortress had absorbed the impact.
Yes, it was a bit too much for her body, but she did absorb it.
'... I can't take another hit.' She concluded, but that didn't mean they would lose.
Raven's momentum was broken, and for them, it was an opening.
"NOW!" Jessy yelled.
Swoosh!
And without a second's delay, they attacked.
Raven's speed and strength were monstrous, but he had already used burst four times, and such power drained stamina at terrifying rates.
If he was exhausted—this was their chance.
Jessy lunged, fists glowing as she struck forward.
The Von Vaise siblings flanked him, Phantom Steps making them flicker in and out of sight.
Three simultaneous attacks.
Three finishing blows.
The instructors watching held their breath.
And then—
"…Heh."
Jessy's heart skipped a beat as Raven smirked.
Before anyone could register what was happening—
BAM!
The Von Vaise brother was sent flying, his jaw twisted unnaturally from a counter he never saw coming.
BAM!
The sister followed, a punch to the stomach knocking the air from her lungs. She crumpled before she could even scream.
The arena was now dead silent once again.
"Wha… What?" Jessy whispered.
Raven exhaled, completely unbothered.
"You thought I was out of energy?" His smirk widened. "Sorry, but I'm built different."
He cracked his neck, stepping over the unconscious bodies of her teammates.
"I won't get tired from this much."
Jessy's breath caught.
She now realized—
Raven's mana reserve was nowhere near normal. He had survived the mana baptism for ten minutes, and one of the properties of the Vaise family's physique was a larger mana reserve.
Not just his strength but his stamina, mana, and speed were all monstrous.
'…What the hell is he?'
She clenched her fists, stepping back.
Raven, on the other hand, tilted his head. "Gonna fight?"
Jessy, hearing his words, looked around.
Everyone else was down.
Their badges weren't torn out like Rufus's, but they were all down.
She was alone, and she knew she wouldn't be able to defeat Raven alone.
Her fingers tightened—then loosened.
She sighed.
"…I surrender."
Instructor Gale, as surprised as the other instructors at the sudden turn of events, finally broke out of his thoughts.
Glancing at Raven, who was smirking at him, he clenched his jaw. 'This mannerless, arrogant brat!'
Inwardly, however, even he knew that Raven's achievements weren't ordinary.
He had done something no one had ever been able to do.
He had broken another record.
The record of defeating five children at once during the practical test—set by the first ancestor of the Vaise family—was broken today.
Finally, after a small pause, he announced.
"...Raven is the victor!"
The fight was over.
Silence.
Then—
The entire arena erupted.
"He beat them all—ALONE?!"
"A child... just used Burst Step and didn't even break a sweat?!"
"What kind of monster is he?!"
Even the instructors were left stunned.
Meanwhile, Raven just stretched, yawning.
"What a workout."
Of course, when his eyes met his teammates, he knew his happiness was short-lived.
They were all happy about his victory, but their happiness made their lips loose, and Raven, who had to hear their ranting, couldn't bear to see them happy.
That day marked a day when two more legends were born.
Legend of the boy who formed his first plate as a magic swordsman before turning ten—which was impossible—and the legend of the boy who defeated his ten peers in his first official battle without breaking a sweat.
As Raven grew, these legends became his shields in the Cradle.
Children, be it the ones who had been there before them or those who came after, were all wary of him—especially when he had finally gained backers.
Well, they were not technically his backers but his teammates; they could still be considered his. After all, he was the leader of their disciples.
Just like that, eight years flew past.
The time for the Vaise children to leave the cradle came.
Only one final test remained.