...

It was no wonder the other Undead Major apprentices were staring with envy.

Typically, at this stage, everyone could only use their Netherworld Contract to summon a single Low Tier Skeleton Soldier with a Soul Fire. It could serve as a fighter and a squad leader, allowing them to command another eight to ten soldiers.

That way, some of the more capable Undead apprentices could lead a total of nearly twenty Humanoid Skeleton Servants.

If they could recruit another wild Soul Fire Undead Unit, even a low-level one, they could command at least another eight to ten soldiers. At full strength, they could form a troop of nearly thirty Skeleton Servants.

That would be an entirely different level of imposing.

If he could actually reach full strength, and Lynch ran into Leon Hollis in the wild, he could easily teach that guy a lesson.

What’s more, Lynch’s Fishman Priest Skeleton was a Magic System unit. It could help command troops and cast spells from a distance to strike down enemies. Just thinking about it was awesome.

This was also precisely why the students from the Holy Light System were so wary. Lynch was already powerful; with one more Soul Fire Skeleton, it was unlikely any student from their year could defeat him in a one-on-one fight.

Ugh...

Only Lynch, looking at the pairs of eyes filled with either envy or wariness, was utterly speechless inside.

’Good thing I had the foresight to get a bone bracelet and hide my real elite units.’

’Otherwise...’

Lynch glanced at the Holy Light System students and sneered inwardly.

’Otherwise, how could I bait the hook for you all?’

As the thought crossed his mind, Lynch shot an annoyed glare at the Fish Priest, which had gotten a little smug, its fish head tilted up as if it were stargazing.

The latter shrank back and scurried to hide wretchedly behind the Bear Goblin Skeleton’s legs.

"Gods, look at that big one... That’s a Bear Goblin, right?"

"And those... are they all elite Goblin Skeletons?"

It was as if the crowd had only just noticed Lynch’s other guards—an entire squad of elite soldiers.

Especially that Bear Goblin Skeleton. It was as burly as a bear, with a ferocious-looking frame, and it carried a rust-spotted Wolf Fang Club. The dark, dried bloodstains on it were a clear sign that it had killed many enemies.

When the Bear Goblin Skeleton, under Lynch’s command, stomped heavily toward Maurice, the faces of the Holy Light System students paled slightly, and they subconsciously backed away.

Surrounded by his Guard Skeletons, Lynch walked over to Maurice and pulled him to his feet. "How are you?"

"Oof... I’m okay, Brother Lynch." Maurice, his face already swollen, spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. His words were muffled. "It’s just that a lot of the soldiers the guys and I saved up were purified."

He looked with a pained expression at the withered bones covering the ground.

’That was a ton of Gold Coins...’

These bones, purified by Holy Light, could no longer be brought back with the Skeleton Resurrection Skill.

Those guys from the Holy Light System had clearly done this on purpose to weaken the Undead apprentices’ combat strength and prevent them from scoring high in the assessment.

"Don’t worry," Lynch said with a smile, patting his shoulder. "I’ll take you all to recruit more later."

"Thanks so much, Brother Lynch~~"

"Long live Brother Lynch!"

Cheers erupted all around.

In contrast, the morale of the Holy Light System students dipped.

"Ptui! *Cough, cough*." After being healed by several rays of Holy Light, Leon Hollis had finally recovered a bit. He spat out a mouthful of bloody water, his expression dark and resentful as he looked at Lynch. "Lynch, you ambushed me!"

"If that’s what you want to think, I don’t mind." Lynch’s gaze turned hostile. "How about we warm up with a one-on-one duel before the assessment?"

Leon’s expression flickered with uncertainty. Lynch’s Skeleton Servants were too elite. In a one-on-one fight, he’d be at a disadvantage the moment they surrounded him.

Immediately, his eyes darted around before he said, "The official assessment is about to start. Let’s settle this in the examination grounds."

When dealing with these filthy, rat-like Undead apprentices, Leon had no intention of observing any knightly chivalry. His main strategy was to overwhelm them with superior numbers.

"Coward."

Lynch scoffed.

Seeing this, the other Undead apprentices also began to jeer.

The Holy Light System apprentices were furious. They began cracking their knuckles, on the verge of starting an all-out brawl right then and there.

Just then,

"Silence!"

The commanding voice extinguished the sparks that were about to ignite.

In the distance, several instructors from the Holy Light System were walking toward the plaza.

Leading them was a tall, middle-aged man in gleaming silver Knight Armor. He was Casper Iron Shield, one of the instructors for the Holy Light Knight major.

He was flanked by two women in white Priest robes trimmed with gold. One had a gentle disposition, while the other looked severe. Both were instructors for the Holy Priest major.

These Holy Light System instructors all had steady auras, with a faint glow of Holy Light circulating around them. Simply by standing there, they naturally exuded an imposing presence that discouraged any insolence.

At almost the same time, on the other side of the plaza, Instructor Annabella also approached at a slow pace, accompanied by two others.

She still wore her simple black Mage Robe, her stunningly beautiful face devoid of any expression. Only her blue eyes swept coldly across the entire scene.

Her expression darkened when she saw the withered bones scattered across the ground, and a flash of coldness flickered in her eyes.

Following behind her were two older men in black robes, both somewhat thin and stooped. They were the other two instructors from the Undead System, Old Harvey and the silent Cole.

Annabella’s gaze fell on Casper. "How do we resolve this?" she asked coldly.

Casper didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Leon Hollis, who looked rather pathetic with several of his teeth knocked out. Casper’s brow furrowed. "Look at you all. What a disgrace. After the assessment, go and receive your ten lashes of punishment."

"Yes, Instructor." Leon lowered his head, but the venomous hatred in his eyes only intensified.

Only then did Casper say, "Instructor Annabella, are you satisfied now?"

Annabella remained noncommittal.

Her gaze swept over Maurice and the other Necromancer apprentices, finally landing on Lynch’s group of Guard Skeletons. Her brow furrowed slightly.

’How are this kid’s Skeletons all such low-quality fodder? With just these, there’s no way he could have taken out a Tier One official assassin.’

’And where is that assassin Skeleton? That Mage Skeleton?’

She couldn’t help but look at Lynch again, trying to read some clue from his expression.

But Lynch kept his head down, not even sparing his instructor a glance.

’Well, well.’

Annabella’s heart stirred. She knew this kid was most likely hiding an ace up his sleeve, planning to make a big splash at the assessment.

Her interest was finally piqued.

This time, in order for the Undead System to get good results in the assessment, she had specially written a letter to bring Amadis back. But she was a high-year student and would be participating in the high-tier assessment.

’If the low-year students have Lynch holding down the fort, maybe they can really achieve something.’

Her standards weren’t high. As long as their results improved by twenty percent compared to last year, securing a dozen or so recruitment spots, it would be enough. After that, she would focus on nurturing the next class and slowly reverse the Undead Major’s decline.

While Annabella was lost in thoughts about the future, students and instructors from all the majors had gradually arrived.

And on the high platform at the front of the plaza, an old man in a plain gray Mage Robe slowly walked up.

He had graying hair and a monocle perched on the bridge of his nose. He had no discernible aura whatsoever and looked just like an old scholar.

However, when the old man came to a stop, all the instructors unconsciously held their breath, their eyes filled with reverence.

"Ah, this..."

Lynch, mixed in with the crowd, couldn’t stop his mouth from twitching as he looked at the old man’s face on the high platform.

’What the fuck?’

’Isn’t that the old Mage from the Elemental System in the trial hall who tried to trick me into switching majors?’

Just then, Instructor Annabella’s voice sounded in Lynch’s ear. "Pay attention. That’s the Dean."

’The Dean?’

Lynch was even more baffled.

...