Well, not for him. Even if the creature had managed to land a proper attack, Cassian was confident he'd still be fine. His healing ability gave him a significant edge in situations .
For now, his priorities were clear: find some way to fill his stomach and survive until the examiner's unknown time limit expired. With any luck, he might even come across other examinees. Whether they'd choose to team up or fight, he didn't particularly care—he was ready for either.
He wasn't worried about dying—not really. He just needed to be cautious. From the moment he'd entered this place, he'd sensed a presence trailing him. He guessed it was none other than the examiners, which gave him a certain confidence. It was also why he felt a bit more carefree and didn't hesitate to go all out against the other candidates.
Cassian's instincts were spot on. In various parts of the training grounds, examiners were stepping in to save examinees who had fallen victim to the fairies' surprise attacks, unable to fight back effectively.
However, there were those who managed to defend themselves and fend off the fairies without any assistance. Some, like Cassian, didn't even wait for a counterattack—they struck first, catching the fairies off guard. Then there were the truly strong ones, who had already turned the tables entirely, actively hunting the fairies instead of being hunted.
These were the candidates the Valtross Academy was most interested in—so much so that they had equipped each of them with a rare, long-range monitoring devices. Cassian, naturally, was among those being closely observed.
Evans watched intently as several glowing orbs hovered in the air, half-submerged in what appeared to be a mass of pink, fleshy material. Each orb displayed a different examinee's progress, and Cassian's orb was one of the most prominent, his movements clear as day. He could see Rylan and Sarah's orbs as well, but his focus was primarily on Cassian, whose swift and decisive actions stood out.
James stood nearby, observing the orbs with a detached but careful gaze. He looked particularly interested in Cassian's orb, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched him killing another fairy.
Evans, still curious, leaned in closer and asked, "What's so special about him, sir James? Isn't he the one who showed off at the training ground earlier?"
James nodded, his gaze still fixed on the orb displaying Cassian's progress. "Did you sense anything unusual about his domain compared to the others?" he asked, his tone calm but with a hint of anticipation.
Evans furrowed his brow, trying to recall the feeling he had gotten from Cassian's domain. After a moment, he spoke in a confused tone, "Well... yeah. The killing intent I felt from him was... a bit unusual for someone his age."
"Yeah, it is unusual," James said, his tone thoughtful. "And the reason behind it... he's awakened something really special."
As he spoke, his attention remained fixed on the orb, where Cassian was now facing two fairies simultaneously. One managed to thrust its wooden spear into Cassian's shoulder. Yet, to everyone's surprise, Cassian didn't even flinch.
The fairies, momentarily stunned, hesitated, and in that instant, Cassian struck. With a powerful slash, he cut the attacking fairy cleanly in half, following up by dispatching the second one just as swiftly.
James's eyes lit up with excitement as he noticed Cassian's wound healing at a visible speed. Smiling faintly, he added, almost to himself, "A lot more than I ever expected..."
"What was that?" Evans asked, his voice tinged with shock and confusion. First, he was taken aback by the speed of Cassian's healing, and then baffled by how the boy didn't even flinch after being struck.
James, on the other hand, wasn't confused—though he was certainly surprised. With an excited smile, he explained, "Well, that's the ability of rapid healing. And what might also be pain immunity."
Evans's eyes widened further. This was the first time he'd heard of pain immunity, though he had encountered stories of warriors awakening rapid healing. Seeing both abilities in action for the first time left him visibly impressed.
James, noticing Evans's reaction, wasn't finished. He leaned back slightly, his smile deepening as he added, "And it doesn't stop there. That kid also possesses a rare domain—a Killing Domain. As the name suggests, it makes killing somethings or someone significantly easier."
Evans's eyes widening again, his expression now a mix of shock and growing excitement. Despite the fact that, at the training grounds, he had been ordering James around like a subordinate, the way James now spoke with authority and confidence made it clear who truly held the upper hand in their dynamic.
"He sounds perfect for our… project," Evans said, his excitement laced with a touch of hesitation, as though seeking James's approval.
James nodded, his demeanor calm but commanding. "Indeed, he does," he replied, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Evans hesitated for a moment before leaning closer to the glowing orb displaying Cassian's movements. His gaze sharpened as he asked, "Where does he come from?" A thoughtful expression crossed his face before he added, "That red hair… could he be from the Ven Dyke family?"
James allowed himself a faint smile, one that hinted at deeper knowledge. "A reasonable guess," he said, "and correct. But there's more—he carries the blood of two warrior families. One, as you guessed, is Ven Dyke, and the other is Alacio."
This revelation sent a spark of excitement through Evans. His eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "The headmaster will be thrilled to hear this. We finally have the opportunity to infiltrate another powerful noble family of the kingdom—and maybe even gain control over it."
James's smile grew slightly, though his tone remained measured. "Precisely. Two influential bloodlines merged into one. The potential for both influence and power here is unmatched. But let's not get ahead of ourselves," he added, his voice turning serious. "We need to see how far he can truly go before making any moves."
Evans nodded eagerly, already imagining the possibilities. "Of course. But if what we've seen so far is any indication…" He trailed off, leaving the implications hanging in the air, his excitement barely contained.