C15 Holy Roland Academy of Magic and Martial Arts

Nestled in the West City of St. Roland's Castle, the Holy Roland Academy of Magic and Martial Arts stood as a prestigious institution, within the sixth largest city of the Heavenly Star Empire.

Zhang Xing, eager to reach the academy without delay, traveled by foot during the day and rode his companion, Black Treasure, at night, foraging for food as they went. While an average traveler would take over half a month on horseback to arrive at their destination, they managed to do so in just seven days.

Their nights weren't spent solely on the move. After hunting and feasting on their prey, they would retreat to Divine Dragon Island for rest. Black Treasure, having undergone a transformation, now spanned over three meters in length. In the days that followed, as Zhang Xing grew accustomed to riding him, Black Treasure became adept at coordinating with Zhang Xing to hunt down Demonic Beasts.

A typical young dragon would require a decade to evolve to the Third Rank, yet Black Treasure accomplished this in mere days. It was then that the Black Dragon's innate ferocity began to surface. No longer content with just breathing fire, Black Treasure seemed to relish the act of tearing apart his quarry.

Another emerging trait was Black Treasure's fascination with luminescent objects. He took to collecting shiny stones and hoarding them in his lair. Whenever Zhang Xing entered, the Black Dragon would eye him warily, protective of his gathered treasures. Zhang Xing often teased Black Treasure about his collection, dismissing the stones as mere rubbish. Unperturbed, Black Treasure only grew more zealous in his search for such treasures.

A third notable habit developed during the dead of night when Black Treasure sought out increasingly formidable Demonic Beasts to challenge. After each victory, he would engage in prolonged meditation. Zhang Xing was certain that Black Treasure's strength would only continue to soar.

Upon their arrival in St. Roland's Castle, Zhang Xing inquired about the Holy Roland Academy of Magic and Martial Arts and soon found his way there. From a distance, the academy's medieval European-style complex sprawled across the castle's westernmost point, dwarfing the size of renowned schools back on Earth.

At the academy's main gate, four soldiers stood guard. To the left, a conspicuous sign hung beside a smaller door, announcing the "Entrance Test Passage."

Zhang Xing entered the school gates and joined a group of young men and women gathering in a square.

This was one of the designated testing sites.

A line of people had already formed, each waiting to take their turn at the test.

Zhang Xing took his place at the end of the queue and waited patiently.

The Holy Roland Academy of Magic and Martial Arts offered classes for both Fighters and mages. Despite being the sixth-ranked academy in the Empire, its graduates were often sought after by prominent Families or even the Imperial Emperor, with promises of boundless wealth and honor.

With a storied history spanning eight hundred years, the academy had produced innumerable formidable Fighters and mages.

Jie Ge, the vice president of the Magician Guild and one of the Empire's last Six Great Devil Emperors, served as the academy's third President.

Slit, a Martial Emperor and vice president of the Fighter's guild, concurrently held the positions of Vice-President and President of the Martial Arts Institute.

The testing process was swift. Up ahead, Zhang Xing observed five gleaming, multifaceted crystal balls, each set upon a separate stand.

Groups of five were tested at a time, with participants simply needing to touch the crystal ball lightly.

A boy around fifteen, dressed in plain grey clothes, passed the test. The crystal ball emitted a red glow, indicating his affinity for Fire Magic.

The boy was visibly thrilled, his face alight with excitement as he walked towards the qualified area, his fist pumping in the air.

For the impoverished, there were only two routes to success: magic or martial arts. The dream of becoming a mage, revered by all, was a common aspiration.

In contrast, the path of a Fighter was less esteemed. For the low-level Fighter, their lot was often that of a bodyguard, a guard, or a soldier preying on the weak.

Should one be fortunate enough to survive service in the Empire's army, they could rise to become a minor leader.

Most of those who had taken the test before Zhang Xing had failed. They had not only invested eight gold coins but also bore the weight of their aspirations and anxieties. What would their futures hold?