Heaven's Greatest Professor

Chapter 55  Transcendental Damage

"May I have another go?" Warden inquired.

The woman narrowed her eyes. "If you are one of those individuals who seek to improve their score at the expense of their well-being, I would advise against it," she stated.

"It's acceptable if it doesn't harm my body, correct?" Warden negotiated.

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but rankers who act recklessly tend to receive a lower grade on their badge," she added, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose.

"Then it appears I must give it my all," Warden remarked, considering himself somewhat reckless. He would prefer to describe himself as spontaneous, but facts were facts.

"Be my guest, then," the woman replied, her voice tinged with disapproval.

Warden nodded and faced the barrier once more. This time, he utilized both of his apertures to their fullest capacity. Power surged through him unchecked as the natural dynamics of everyone in the room altered. Many attendees turned their attention towards them, eyeing the eerie-looking blade with concern.

Warden assumed a stance. He lacked knowledge of any elaborate sword techniques, but his fundamentals were impeccably honed. Standing approximately two meters from the barrier, he advanced, executing a full-arc swing with his blade.

The protective scripts glimmered in a golden hue even before the blade made contact with the metal. However, the void energy managed to penetrate the initial layers of scripts, prompting another layer to emerge and counter the unstable energy. The energy obliterated the script as the blade finally embedded itself into the metal.

Warden observed that the blade had merely dented the metal board. He was uncertain of the material, but he was convinced his strike could have decapitated most iron-ranked entities.

"That's..." The woman was at a loss for words.

Jason turned to Warden. "Are you okay?"

Warden nodded. "Why hasn't the result appeared yet?"

"It's still calculating," the woman responded. "This might be considered Transcendental damage."

"What constitutes transcendental damage?" Warden queried.

"An assault capable of injuring someone of a superior rank," Jason explained. "Of course, surprise attacks are excluded. At full strength, overcoming someone of a higher rank is nearly impossible."

The calculation was brief, and soon the golden illumination transformed into a letter.

[A-]

"It falls short of transcendental damage," the woman commented, her tone imbued with a hint of confusion. "I was almost convinced you would achieve it after leaving a mark on the board."

"So, is Grade S indicative of transcendental damage?" Warden inquired.

Jason nodded. "Yes," he confirmed. "Truthfully, even grade A could pose a significant challenge, but S is the definitive benchmark for transcendental damage."

"You might reach it once you attain the pinnacle of Iron rank," the woman said, her demeanor now more upbeat.

"Is it that rare to get grade-S?" Warden asked, intrigued.

"For an Iron ranker?" The woman said. "Yes. Pretty much nobody makes it in Iron, unless you have an epic rank class and have honed your skills for over a decade. There are handfuls who make it in silver and gold ranks."

"I see," Warden nodded. "So I'm not really a common ranker, huh."

What a surprise. Warden hadn't seen it coming, even while he was equipped with two legendary-grade artifacts.

"Let's get to the next test."

All the tests depended on the ranker's class. As Warden was primarily a close combatant, the next test challenged his speed and movements. However, what intrigued him more was that the test took place in a virtual realm. He had to put a helmet on his head and enter a small, sealed cell, which seemed to have just enough space for one person.

"We're starting," the woman said. "If you feel any discomfort, yell out 'Eject.' The device operates on voice command."

As her voice faded, Warden's consciousness shifted to a different plane of existence. There was a sudden pull in his mind, and then he found himself in a rugged outfield, with a vast expanse of mountains and open sky before him.

[Speed test], a notification announced. [On your mark. Get set. Go.]

A meter began counting as Warden burst into motion. He had no idea if he had any parkour training, but he managed well in the hilly outfield. The test lasted longer than he had anticipated, and soon he wondered whether maintaining his stamina at a slower speed would be a wiser choice.

The test only concluded after Warden's legs were exhausted. He had been running for over half an hour, using energy to increase his speed.

"This definitely deserves an S-grade," Warden winced, gasping for breath while lying flat on the ground.

Unfortunately, he was only to be disappointed when the result was a moderate [B].

The run had taken more time than the single attack that had earned him an [A-], but it was what it was. Warden knew he was somewhat lacking in speed. It was something to work on.

[Combat test in 15 minutes.] n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Warden sat up immediately and began meditating to recover his lost stamina and energy. Fifteen minutes should give him enough time to recover half of it.

***

On the other end of the test, Jason was eagerly waiting for Warden when the woman announced the result.

"He received a B in speed," she said.

Jason narrowed his eyes, looking at the image of Warden meditating on the screen.

"With all due respect, Young Master Jason," she asked, "where did you meet this fellow?"

"In a clothing store," Jason mused. "And don't call me that; I hate it."

"As you wish, Young Master," the woman said, amused.

Jason scowled. "What do you think he'll score in the combat test, Jess?"

"He'll do well," Jess said, narrowing her eyes. "A B will be easy, but getting an A will be difficult for him."

"Why?"

"He possesses power," Jess continued, "a great deal of power, to be fair. But I feel he lacks the finesse to use it effectively. I reckon he's new to such destructive power and hasn't yet mastered it."

"Hmm," Jason mused.

"The potential is immense," she added. "If he can have the best trainers, I don't see why he cannot become the next Agnes Araneid or Selas Moon."