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Seven Sins System Chapter 502. Evaluation I
🕑 Added 2024-10-24 15:17:03 +0000 UTCSeven Sins System Chapter 502. Evaluation I
Days passed. Today was the day they would decide if Puriel—well, Aria to everyone else—was suitable to continue as a mentor or if she would be reassigned to another division. They called it “the test,” but it was really more of a performance evaluation. It was a private test, done after lessons were over, held on the academy’s training grounds. Just a handful of people would be there to assess her abilities.
The assessors were an interesting mix. Katrina, the head of the academy and Red’s daughter, was there. Beside her was Penelope, Katrina’s twin sister, who always had a certain air of mischief around her. Two mentors from other groups were also present, both seasoned veterans who wouldn’t go easy on Aria. And then there was me. I hadn’t told Puriel I would be part of the panel, and when I showed up with an annoyingly smug grin on my face, I could see the flash of irritation in her eyes. She didn’t say anything, but I could tell she wasn’t pleased.
“Surprised to see me?” I teased, sitting between Katrina and Penelope.
Puriel—or rather, Aria—gave me a look that could have melted stone. “I should’ve known,” she muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed but trying to keep it together. It was her big day, after all.
Red had refused to attend, saying that her assessment would be too biased. She made it clear that she didn’t like Aria and didn’t want to interfere with the test. ‘I’ll personally assess her, but don’t expect me to be fair.’ That was what she had said.
I shrugged off Red’s absence. This wasn’t about personal vendettas; it was about whether Puriel—Aria—could lead her team on the next mission. The academy had plans, and the upcoming mission was dangerous. They needed to be sure that Aria could handle the pressure and, more importantly, work well with her team.
Aria was a paladin, and her team consisted of three others: John, a DPS specialist, all brute force and heavy hits; Rachel, the fire mage; and Tobias, the healer, quiet but effective. The four of them had trained together for some time, since Theo left, or dead to be precise. Today’s test was designed to assess their cohesion as a unit, something they desperately needed if they were to survive the mission.
The test was straightforward—at least, in theory. Hologram monsters, generated by the academy’s advanced training systems, would simulate real combat scenarios. The point wasn’t to see if they could win—winning was expected—but how they worked together. How Aria led her team would determine her future at the academy.
The arena was vast, lined with barriers that marked the boundaries of the test. The sky above was artificial. Aria and her team stood in the center, weapons drawn, awaiting the command to start.
I leaned back in my chair, giving her a cheeky smile. “Good luck, Aria. Don’t choke.”
Her eyes flashed dangerously, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she focused on her team, who were already preparing themselves. Rachel, the mage, was twirling her fingers in the air, small flames sparking to life around her hands. John was stretching, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for a heavyweight bout. Tobias stood quietly at the back, his staff glowing faintly with healing energy, waiting for the signal to begin.
Katrina stood up, addressing Aria and her team. “This test will determine your readiness for the upcoming mission. You will face a series of holographic monsters designed to challenge your strategy, teamwork, and leadership. Your performance today will decide if you are fit to lead this team, Aria. Are you ready?”
Aria nodded, her face set in grim determination. “We’re ready.”
Katrina glanced at me, and I gave her a slight nod. With that, the test began.
The first wave of monsters materialized out of thin air. They were humanoid creatures, but grotesque—clawed, hunched figures with glowing red eyes and fanged mouths. Basic foot soldiers, meant to test coordination more than anything else.
Mad Mutant <Level 11>
“John, engage the front line. Rachel, back him up with fire support. Tobias, stay close to me,” Aria commanded, her voice sharp and authoritative.
Tobias cast his Buff skills. John let out a war cry and charged forward, his greatsword raised high. He slammed into the first monster with brute force, cleaving through its holographic body like it was nothing. Behind him, Rachel’s hands burst into flames as she hurled fireballs at the incoming wave of enemies. The fire collided with the monsters, igniting their bodies in a blaze of orange and red.
So far, so good. They were working together well—at least for now.
Tobias hung back, his eyes scanning the battlefield, ready to heal any injuries the moment they occurred. Aria, in the center of it all, was directing the flow of battle, shouting orders. She swung her sword with practiced ease, cutting down enemies with clean, efficient strikes.
But the real test hadn’t started yet.
I could see Katrina glancing at her notes, her expression neutral but critical. Penelope, on the other hand, had a slight smirk on her face, as if she was waiting for something to go wrong. The two other mentors whispered among themselves, scribbling observations.
Then, the second wave hit.
This time, the monsters were larger, faster. They resembled giant wolves, but their bodies were made of shadow, their claws gleaming like obsidian. They moved as a pack, flanking Aria’s team from both sides.
Shadow Wolf <Level 15>
“John, fall back! We need a tighter formation!” Aria called out, her voice steady but urgent.
John hesitated for a split second—just long enough for one of the shadow wolves to leap at him. It tackled him to the ground, its jaws snapping inches from his face. Rachel reacted quickly, sending a wave of fire to blast the creature off him, but the momentary lapse had cost them.
“Tobias!” Aria shouted.
Tobias rushed forward, his staff glowing as he cast a healing spell on John, who groaned as the magic knit his wounds together. But the damage had been done. The team was rattled, and it showed in the way they moved—less coordinated, more reactive than proactive.
I leaned forward, watching with interest. This was the real test. How would Aria handle it when her team started to slip?
