Seeing Ming Yu's gaze, Theresa felt a flicker of anger. To think she had specially arranged Ming Yu's exam slot to be later, yet this kid still almost missed it!
But she was the Principal, after all, and didn't immediately show her emotions, merely making another note about Ming Yu in her little black book.
"Since you gave up the theory test, if you still want to pass the exam, the difficulty of the practical test will have to be increased," Himeko reminded him kindly, considering Ming Yu's situation.
Although she didn't think it was the right thing for Ming Yu to participate in the war against the Honkai at this time, since Theresa had already decided, all she could do was obey.
Seeing Himeko's solemn reminder, Ming Yu nodded with a look of indifference.
This was a very reasonable matter. Since he hadn't demonstrated his knowledge of the Honkai and had refused the theory test, he would have to display combat power superior to others to prove he was qualified to join the Valkyrie squads.
After all, the Valkyrie squads needed warriors who could fight against the Honkai, not just anyone could join.
Moreover, hearing the incessant comments from the surrounding crowd, his mood quickly soured.
Although he kept telling himself that those were insignificant people, those harsh words were ultimately not so easy to ignore. His self-control hadn't reached that level yet.
If he were to be particular about it, this was his first day showing his face in the Far East Branch. And his impression of these Valkyries of the Far East Branch was not particularly good.
Regardless of St. Freya, the Valkyrie squads were ultimately a military organization. Even if it was mostly composed of women, you couldn't expect a group of people who spent their days with violence and gore to speak softly and pleasantly.
But in the end, he was the one who was late, so he didn't plan to argue with them verbally. Besides, one person's voice would be drowned out by the crowd.
Gripping the hilt of the Spirit Blade at his waist, suppressing the anger in his heart, Ming Yu said in a deep voice, "Let's begin."
Noticing Ming Yu's ugly expression, Himeko quickly understood what was going on. Her gaze swept over the spectator seats, and she felt a sense of helplessness.
After all, Valkyries are people too, and they have all sorts of emotions. The sudden appearance of a special case like Ming Yu would inevitably lead to curiosity or rejection.
Moreover, the Far East Branch had always supported the expression of individuality, so they naturally wouldn't place restrictions on the expression of these emotions.
If Ming Yu wanted to join the Far East Branch, these were things he would have to face sooner or later, with no possibility of escape.
If he wanted to gain the recognition of his future colleagues, he could only rely on himself. In this regard, even Theresa couldn't interfere, not unless Ming Yu wanted the label "got in through the back door" added to his name.
Understanding this, Himeko didn't delay any further and quickly began the exam.
As the hidden mechanisms activated, five huge figures appeared in the training ground.
"One Knight-class, two Chariot-class, one Arbalest-class, and one Templar-class," Ming Yu murmured softly, at the same time slowly drawing Sakura Fubuki from its sheath. The cherry blossom-colored blade was revealed to the people of the Far East Branch for the first time.
As the exam began, the chatter from the spectator seats died down. After all, although they liked to express their personalities, they also knew to respect others' exams.
Noticing the Spirit Blade in Ming Yu's hand, Kiana was filled with doubt.
*That sword looks so much like the one the shrine maiden in Nagazora had.*
Normally, because it was sheathed, and because Ming Yu had never shown Sakura Fubuki in front of them, they only knew that Ming Yu had brought back two swords from the Stigmata Space, but they didn't know the specifics.
But at this moment, no one would answer Kiana's doubts. Even Mei and Bronya were focused on watching Ming Yu in the field.
After all, a certain overconfident person's last attempt at single-handedly fighting a Templar-class Honkai Beast had ended in a miserable defeat. Now, facing five Honkai Beasts at once, how would Ming Yu pass the exam?
"Compared to the standard exam's three, the difficulty has indeed increased quite a bit."
More Honkai Beasts didn't just mean he needed to slash more times; it also meant the enemy's attack frequency and intensity would increase, and the danger level would rise significantly.
"Although it's said that lasting five minutes counts as a pass. But, I think I'd rather just kill you all." Speaking in a flat tone, Ming Yu solemnly held the Spirit Blade up in front of his chest.
The next moment, his aura changed abruptly, and an intent to sever everything emanated from him.
At the same time, he activated the Sword Heart he had been quietly preparing since he entered the field, enhancing his perception and control abilities.
Sidestepping a charging Chariot-class Honkai Beast, Ming Yu's Spirit Blade moved without slowing, slashing heavily across the Honkai Beast's thick foreleg, cutting a huge gash.
If it weren't for the Chariot-class Honkai Beast's excessively thick forelegs, this one slash could have severed it directly.
After all, Sakura Fubuki's lack of sharpness was only in comparison to those five-star divine weapons. For ordinary Honkai Beasts, this Spirit Blade was more than enough to easily break through their sturdy carapaces.
The hairs on his left cheek stood on end. Ming Yu tapped his toes on the ground and his body quickly retreated, dodging a Honkai Energy cannonball thrown by the distant Arbalest-class Honkai Beast.
"Boom!"
The Honkai Energy cannonball slammed into the ground and immediately erupted into a sea of fire.
Even from a considerable distance, Ming Yu could still feel the astonishing heat wave.
But he no longer had time to be surprised.
A huge figure suddenly appeared behind him, stirring up a gust of turbulent air, followed by a white spear thrusting towards him.
Holding the Spirit Blade in a reverse grip with his left hand to parry it, Ming Yu quickly gathered Honkai Energy to envelop his right hand and pushed away another large knight's lance aimed at his body.
Facing the coordinated pincer attack of the Knight-class Honkai Beast and the Templar-class Honkai Beast, feeling the solid pain from his right hand, Ming Yu couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
But when the corner of his eye caught the other Chariot-class Honkai Beast behind him raising its foreleg high, Ming Yu's expression couldn't help but change slightly. He hastily applied force with his hands and, using them as a pivot, leaped into the air.
But soon, a violent shockwave kicked up by the Chariot-class Honkai Beast's stomp caught up to Ming Yu's body.
Landing with a slight stumble, Ming Yu still couldn't stop himself from taking several steps back on the ground before steadying his stance.
Looking at the Arbalest-class Honkai Beast in the distance, which was gathering another Honkai Energy cannonball, Ming Yu finally put away his underestimation and stopped thinking about how to defeat the enemies quickly and stylishly.
Even if the Honkai Beasts' bodies were slightly bloated, it didn't mean their movements were clumsy. Clearly, they were all agile fatties.
And with their tacit cooperation, their combat effectiveness was not to be underestimated.
Honkai Energy surged throughout his body. Ming Yu adjusted his condition to his current peak, raised his Spirit Blade towards the Honkai Beasts, and shouted, "Come on, let's have a good fight!"