On the 3rd day, the battle exam commenced. This exam was held like a tournament with a knock out system. The pairing was random and decided by drawing lots.
All of Ben's students in E-Class were paired up against the B and D class. It was really a coincidence they weren't paired up against A or S-Class students.
Although it won't be a problem if they faced A or S-Class students. Ben will be happier that way because his students will face strong opponents which meant better experience. They'll also be able to use their full power that way.
The tournament would be held in a open field outside of town. There are 4 arenas to facilitate the battles of more than 100 students. For the 1st round, there was a 10 minute time limit so it won't take too long.
The school also erected barriers in each arena to prevent stray spells from hitting the audience and other arenas. The referees are from the Magic Council to make it fair.
The kingdom's Magic School Committee took this exam very seriously. After all, the kingdom hadn't seen a strong mage in several years.
Also, there were a lot of problems with Dark Guilds. Now they could only place their hope on the future generation. So they need to be serious with their magic schools because these students will be their future pillars.
The tournament started and one of Ben's students came up on the first group. It was Felice who used Requip magic. Her opponent was a boy from C-Class. He was very confident and even looked down on Felice.
"I'll give you a chance to surrender because you're a girl. If you decide to fight, then I won't show any mercy." The boy said.
"...Have you forgotten the results yesterday? I scored higher than you on the previous exam." Felice pointed out.
"Hah, you might have gotten a better score before, but a fight is different. I will show you that your class is trash and so are your teachers. You even have a kid our age as a teacher. What a joke. He must be as weak as you guys." The boy arrogantly stated.
"Nobody disrespects big brother and gets away with it. I'll destroy you for saying that." Felice said in a angry tone.
The boy suddenly felt a chill down his spine, but ignored it and thought it was just a bluff. Felice's classmates yell at her and tell her to beat the boy to a pulp. Ben noticed this and sighed.
"Mr. Raul, it seems we need to teach them how to control their emotions." Ben said.
"Well, you're right, but I understand their feelings. For them, you are their idol and they really look up to you. They won't accept a insult like that. Even I would be angry if you were mocked like that." Raul admitted.
"Come on, don't support them like that. It can be dangerous if they can't control their emotions." Ben said with a raised eyebrow.
"But that boy also made me angry, so Felice isn't wrong." Wendy said with a snort.
"Wendy, not you too." Ben remarked.
"Ha ha, alright, alright. I will tell them about it." Raul said with a smile.
The battle commenced and Felice's opponent prepared his first spell. He created a yellow magic circle and shot a light beam at Felice. She doesn't prepare a spell and just waited for the beam.
The boy grinned, but that grin vanished when Felice easily dodged the beam. After dodging it, Felice rushed towards the boy while using her magic. She just summoned a long sword and ran at the boy.
The boy fired some more light beams, but Felice dodged them. When she got close to him, the boy used another spell. He made light rain that shoots in every direction.
Felice can easily dodge the rain and deflect it with her sword. Then she reached the boy and swung her sword at his neck. The referee jumped to stop the sword from reaching the boy's neck, but Felice stopped it herself before it reached the referee's hand.
The boy had cold sweat running down his back and he fell on his butt. The referee announced Felice was the winner and she stored her sword in her pocket dimension while looking down at the boy, making him shiver.
Felice walked away without a word. Her classmates happily cheer for her while the teachers and students in the other class were dumbfounded.
They thought the results of the previous exam were a bluff. Now they needed to take E-Class seriously like when they face S-Class students.
Ben praised her which made her happy. But he also scolded her about her rage and told her to control her emotions. She scratched her head and giggled guiltily, but she didn't regret it.
Then the tournament continued and Ben's students came up one by one. Now their opponents took them very seriously and did not underestimate them.
Even so, the E-Class students defeated them easily. Fighting is something Ben often taught them, so they have a lot of experience regarding it. He even took them on hunts for wild animals or magical creatures on occasion, which gave them real battle experience.
That's why on the first day of the battle exam, all E-Class students passed. The first day has sorted all the students into 64 students that will fight tomorrow. It is composed of all S and E-Class students, and the others are from the other classes.
Ben instructed his students to go home and rest to prepare for tomorrow's battle. They did as he said and immediately return home.
Team Ben also returned to their village and didn't attend the meeting. Raul would take care of that because it was just a evaluation for today's event.
The next day, they resume the tournament of the battle exam. Now some E-Class students were paired up against S-Class students. Everyone anticipates their battle because these students have become favorites in the tournament.
7 out of the 11 E-Class students were paired up against S-Class students. They're Ron, Mina, Hans, Dito, Dan, Olive and Yorki. While the others fought students from other classes.
Ben instructed his students to enjoy their battles and use all their strength. He told them not to underestimate their opponents just because they received high scores and won easily yesterday.
The S-Class teacher, however, gave different instructions to his students. The S-Class teacher was the buff man that mocked Ben in the meeting before the exam.
"You guys, that E-Class trash has taken the spotlight from you. Are you going to accept that?" The buff teacher asked.
"No." The students answer together.
"That's right, you are the best students in this school. So show them you are the best. Do what everything you can to defeat them. I don't care if you badly injure them until they're unable to walk again, I want you to win this round." The teacher said.
The S-Class students nod and agree to do anything to win. These students have high self-esteem and think that they're the best. However, their high self-esteem doesn't come from confidence, but arrogance.
Ben can hear them clearly even though they're far away. He is a Dragon Slayer, so his senses are strong. He can hear them even with the long distance between them.
"Heh, what a bunch of clowns." Ben said with a smirk.
"They're very mean." Wendy said with a worried expression. She also heard what was just said thanks to her sharp hearing.
"What is it Ben-nii, Wendy?" Yorki asked.
"Heh, they're looking down on you." Ben said.
He then shared what the S-Class students discussed just now. The E-Class students were mad at the S-Class teacher and students.
"Calm down! Instead of being angry, you guys need to show them your power. Show them that you can win even if they use dirty tricks! But you need to control your emotions so you don't fall for their bait! After all-" Ben wasn't able to continue because the kids cut him off.
"Great mages talk with action, not words." The students said with wide smiles.
"That's right and great mages can control their emotions so they don't affect them. Show them your power and what you've learned in this school! Show them that you are greater than them! We will conquer this tournament."