The Martial Skill assessment, also known as the practical combat test, carries the highest score weight— a full 350 points! This subject is also called the "Comeback Subject" because among the three Martial Method tests, it alone does not consider Life Strength.
To keep things fair, the test began again with Class 2. The first group of ten students stood inside rectangular grids roughly 2.5 times the size of a basketball court. Each faced a black Educational Training Robot—the same type used in their previous Continuous Power test. These robots were school-owned, with the unique ability to strike just enough without harming the students.
On the robots' foreheads, two numbers glowed: 5.1/0%, 4.9/0%, 5.2/0%... Ryan Ling stood casually in the center of the field, one hand in his pocket.
"These numbers represent your Life Strength levels on the left, and the robot's current Martial Skill level on the right," he explained. "The robots will maintain power equal to the Life Strength of the test-taker. Their Martial Skill will continuously increase during the fight. Once a student is pushed out of bounds, the test ends."
"This isn't your first test, so I won't waste time. Begin!"
Ethan Chen quietly stood aside. Last year, when the robot's Martial Skill hit 56%, he could no longer hold on and was forced out. His score, calculated as the robot's Martial Skill minus 1%, earned him first place in the class with 55%—a small sensation, though his overall results weren't outstanding.
For safety, all robots used the long staff weapon with a defensive Martial Skill: Complete Circle Staff Technique.
The test began. All ten candidates gained the upper hand and suppressed their robots. But no one was complacent; after all, the robots' Martial Skill started at only 1%.
As time passed, the robots' skill rapidly climbed: 5%, 10%, 15%... The long staff moved so fast it left afterimages—this was the Complete Circle Staff Technique, First Form: Fledgling Eagle Takes Flight!
At 23% skill, some students started showing signs of strain. By 29%, the previously calm test-takers were sweating profusely. At 30%, the robots suddenly accelerated—their staff technique visibly improved in speed and power. Three students couldn't withstand the force and were knocked out.
"Liam Chi, William Barr, Thomas Stone, you're out!" Ryan Ling announced calmly.
Being defeated by a robot with 30% Martial Skill meant their own skill was only at the Beginner Level's upper limit—just shy of Intermediate—and they scored 71.05 points (350 × 29% × 70%).
At 36%, three more students were eliminated: Chen Bo, Zhao Xie, and Yang Wei. Class 2 completed the test, with the best result going not to class leader Liu Yang but vice leader Zhang Jun, who beat Liu Yang by just 1%.
Class 3 followed. Ethan Chen, the first candidate, stepped into the arena wielding a long sword, facing off against the robot.
Ethan chose the sword for two reasons: it was versatile and agile, suited for offense and defense alike, adaptable to any situation; and his idol, Blaze—the top Martial Artist of the Gao Wu Civilization—also wielded a sword.
After the prior tests, Ethan's profile attracted attention. The classes were separated, and total cultural plus martial scores were shown only by grade ranking. Many students had learned that Ethan's Martial Skill had already reached a terrifying 55% at the end of junior year's first semester! No wonder his previous test results were so strong—his body was simply more developed than theirs.
This news frustrated Zhang Jun, vice leader of Class 2, who just topped his class but realized his Martial Skill score still lagged behind Ethan's level from two months ago.
Han Yiming, ever calm, was surprised. "55% last semester? That's impressive. Most Hongzhi Class students don't match that. Good thing Ethan's Life Strength is lower than mine."
Han Yiming had only considered Leonard Chester and Bruce Cooper as true rivals before, seeing Ethan as less of a threat due to his lower Life Strength. Now, he had to include Ethan among the unignorable contenders.
Others also fixed their gaze on Ethan after hearing about his semester-end Martial Skill score.
Ryan Ling, looking serious, was curious if Ethan had reached Advanced Level yet—breaking into this stage was notoriously difficult, with only two Hongzhi Class students achieving it so far.
"Begin!" Ryan Ling commanded.
The robots' pupils flared red as they entered sparring mode. Their staffs whipped through the air like fast-moving whips.
Ethan lightly swung his sword, pushing back the robot. Both had Life Strength 5.1, and with the robot's current 5% Martial Skill, it was no threat.
The skill percentage rapidly climbed: 10%, 20%, 30%. Thirty percent marked Intermediate Level, and difficulty spiked. Two test-takers were instantly knocked out.
32%—one eliminated.
35%—two eliminated.
40%—three eliminated.
Only two remained: Ethan Chen and the class monitor, Harvey Sage, a top student who rose earlier and slept later than most. Harvey ranked 54th in the grade, five places above Ethan, but seeing Ethan's progress since freshman year, he knew Ethan would surpass him someday—he hadn't expected it so soon.
At 45%, Harvey could no longer withstand the pressure. With a cry, the robot's sweeping staff, using Complete Circle Staff Technique, Second Form: Cease War to Practice Martial Arts, knocked him out.
His score of 44%, when converted, was 107.8—good enough for a top-five finish in Class 3 given his modest family background.
Now only Ethan remained. The staff technique that just knocked out Harvey was met with Ethan's "Thunderous Drums" move—Flowing Light Sword Technique, Second Form—which easily repelled it.
Each basic Martial Skill has four forms; Ethan's Flowing Light Sword Technique consists of:
First Form: Drawing the Prison
Second Form: Thunderous Drums
Third Form: Breeze Beneath the Trees
Fourth Form: Azure Dragon's Sting
These correspond to Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Mastery Levels respectively.
"A promising talent!" Ryan Ling murmured, narrowing his eyes.
As Hongzhi Class's Martial Arts teacher with sharp judgment, he could tell from this move alone that Ethan's skill level probably surpassed the two Advanced Level students in his class.
Just then, Ethan flipped his sword, bent his body in a defensive stance, and blocked the robot's "Unerring Strike" with Flowing Light Sword Technique, Third Form: Breeze Beneath the Trees.
The number on the robot's head immediately rose to 60%... 61%.
"He's definitely reached Advanced Level!" Ryan Ling exclaimed.