Without surprises, the Death Team jumped straight into the first position after they killed the Stage Three Inferno Wolf. After all, it gives 1000 points while a Stage Two demon beast gives only 10. It was as if they had killed a hundred Stage Two ones at once.
From there forth, no one caught up to their group. The difference in points was just too big. Having said that, Rean's group returned to the middle of the Inner Region to continue the exam. They still killed Stage Two Demon Beasts, but not as much as before. Roan focused more on Malaka, Julio, and Lenna's training.
On the last day, Roan kept his promise. He really made Malaka's group fight a Stage Two Demon Beast. Of course, Rean went ahead and looked for a weaker one. It was a bull-type that other than its charges and horns didn't have much of a risk fighting against.
Of course, the difference in cultivation was still there. Not to mention that it had a tough skin, so even Julio had some trouble damaging it with his spear. Roan stayed close by while he kept shouting at them mercilessly. It was the first Stage Two demon beast they fought by themselves, so it was definitely much harder. Thanks to that, a lot of flaws were found out. Even Malaka did not escape Roan's rebukings this time.
But in general, Roan was satisfied with the final result. At least, he and Rean didn't need to intervene to save any of them in this first one. Of course, the three kids got quite injured in the end, with Julio being the one in the worst state. Fortunately, they had Rean there.
"Did you finish healing them?"
Rean nodded.
"They are as good as new."
Roan had an evil smile on his face as he looked at those three. That made Malaka and the other two to feel a chill on their backs. They knew what that meant, it wasn't over!
"Great! Let's find another Stage Two demon beast for them to fight. I'll make you spend your last day fighting them. Be careful since these demon beasts are much stronger. It means that Rean and I might not be fast enough to save your lives if something wrong happens."
Malaka's group felt like crying but had no tears. The bull was already as hard as hell, but they will need to fight these kinds of Demon Beasts until the end of the day. How could Malaka, Julio, or Lenna not feel depressed?
Well, Roan didn't give a damn to that, though. So the trio could only begrudgingly follow his orders. In the end, there were still several instances where Roan had to intervene. But Roan was really cold even during these times. He made sure to only save Malaka and the other two in the very last split of a second. He let the deadly attacks of the Demon Beasts miss by a hair or even hurt them but not enough to kill or cause irreversible damage.
Because of that, these three kids couldn't help but think. What if Roan isn't fast enough next time? So they were always on their wit's end, afraid that they might really die here.
Back on the base, it wasn't just Hulian, Tanzon, Wen, and Alanda watching them anymore. Several elders and quite a few of the other kids' relatives were now paying attention to them. After all, they are the first place in the rank. As everybody looked at Roan's training methods, they couldn't help but feel a chill on their backs. But they also understood why Rean and Roan were that strong. With a regime like this, it would be weird if one didn't improve.
Well, the final result was visible. It was the hardest day for the three kids during these two weeks of Practical Exam. Their bodies were bloodied, their clothes were basically torn out, and they could barely move at all by the end of the day.
*Splash! Splash! Splash!*
Well, Roan still threw them inside of the water without a care. This time, they were not healed before entering the river, so one could already imagine the pain. The only one who took it somewhat well was Malaka, who was more or less used to this.
"What are you screaming about? It's just a little pain, nothing more. Consider yourselves lucky, I still have one last set of clothes that you can change. Now quickly wash so that we can eat and sleep."
Rean couldn't help but remember his own time training in the surrounding forests back in the Varen Tribe. His days were not the least bit easier than those kids. Instead, Roan was even more brutal with him since he had his Light Element to instantly heal himself. But it wasn't because he could heal himself that he didn't feel pain, though.
'Forget it, it is better if I don't try to recall that dark past.'
When the three stepped out, they quickly put the new clothes, and Rean healed their injuries. Finally, they ate their fill and once more collapsed on the ground. It probably didn't take even 10 seconds before they went into a deep slumber.
Roan didn't even ask Rean to looked around during the night. They already got used to having Rean watching the first half and Roan watching the second. However, Rean noticed a faint smile on Roan's face, a smile that wasn't his usual snort of evil one.
'He seems quite satisfied with the results of those three.'
Rean shrugged his shoulder and began to watch for the night.
On the morning of the next day, a loud sound could be heard in the entire extent of the forest. Right after, elder Hulian's voice came out.
"The practical exam is over. All killings from now one are not counted. Return to the base."
Rean woke Malaka's trio, and they immediately made their way back. Since everyone was returning in the same direction, the path was quite devoid of Demon Beasts. Around 5 hours later, they were already back. Because they were one of the few teams all the way into the Inner Region, they were also among the last ones to arrive.
