Moonlight After Sunset's
[S2E74] Target Manipulation

"Not all plans will work and not all successes have been planned."

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The second session defense exam has unique rules. Where participants must prove if the shield they have made before can function properly.

The purpose of defense techniques is to protect and maintain physical condition so that it is always not injured from enemy attacks. This will be very impactful in direct combat where often defending is the best option rather than attacking.

Even so there are still many students who feel that attacking is better than defending, which is the reason why many young people die faster than parents.

They tend to choose ego over open-mindedness. Fighting is not only about attacking but defending is also included in it. In a state of urgency and where owned is exhausted, then surviving to live is the right choice.

"Luckily I have prepared it before," said Dusk slowly.

Honestly, Dusk knows that Prof Deru will not provide a solution so easily. If they succeed in the first session, it is not necessarily in the second session they will succeed as well.

Prof Deru deliberately did not explain what kind of shield should be used in protecting the egg, so many students only focus on the outer shield and ignore the inside.

"If the second session prioritizes strength then I already know the result," shrieked Dusk as he looked at Prof Deru's mischievous face.

A few minutes later the second session began. Where Dusk and nine other students are required to take a queue number to be able to start the exam.

"We'll vote on who of you will start first. If your number is called, then you must immediately climb the podium and put your eggs up there." exclaimed one of the guard staff while pointing towards the small cup in the middle of the podium.

"Do you guys understand? If not, then you can see the details on the notice board while waiting for the turn to be called." he continued firmly.

"Already," shouted one of the students accompanied by a nod of the head from the other students.

"Alright, let's start." exclaimed the Staff before putting his hand into the draw box.

A minute later, one exam number was in the staff's hands. The staff shouted at the owner of the number. A second later one of the male students instantly stood up from the waiting chair and stepped forward towards the podium.

When the student arrived at the podium, he immediately put his egg on the cup. Surprisingly there was not yet a minute of the egg on the cup, it had broken scattered. Both the male student and the guard staff looked shocked.

Even the other students who were waiting their turn looked confused and curious. But strangely Prof Deru's mischievous face grew thicker, he casually said if the student failed and told him to go back home.

"It's so cruel" said the female student who was right next to Dusk.

"I know that Prof Deru has a grudge against us but his treatment is outrageous." the others are unhappy.

"Hush, you have to be careful with your talk. He's very sensitive, you could have been expelled for insulting him." replied another student while mimicking the motion of severing the neck.

"Gosh," said the student who was right next to the female student.

The twilight that saw the scene could only shake its head. He didn't know what to react to. Even after the other students performed, the results were only.

"Hah, they still have time to joke at a time like this," said Dusk in frustration.

"Have three students failed in this session, is it really so difficult. After all, what kind of cup that can provide strong pressure to be able to destroy eggs that have been given a shield."

Dusk continued to think hard about the cup and without him realizing it was now his turn to appear.

"Huh,"

With a long breath of twilight immediately climbed the podium. On the podium Dusk can clearly see the shape of the cup that he had observed.

The cup is not too big but not too small. The cup was so in accordance with the shape of the egg owned by each participant.

"Please" exclaimed the guard staff who made Dusk immediately put his eggs into the cup.

A second later after the egg landed on the cup, Dusk could clearly see that the cup was forcefully pressing the shield on the egg.

"Oh so," the inner twilight after knowing what happened to the eggs of the other students.

It did not take long when a minute later Dusk could see that the eggshell had begun to crack. Dusk felt a little displeased, he was angry as well as confused.

"Excuse me sir, I would like to ask." exclaimed Dusk to the staff beside him.

"Please,"

"Sir, I just want to know how long this test took?"

"Didn't you see the rules?"

"No sir, I saw it."

"Then?"

"On the rules sheet does not mention how long this testing took. It's just written terms and rules in the exam."

The staff was silent, he then took a quick glance at Prof Deru who was answered with a nod of his head. With a long breath the staff looked back at Dusk.

"Five minutes," cried the Staff slowly.

"For a long time, this is not fair" the twilight sneer was upset.

"That's the rule."

Dusk could not argue, he did not want to stubbornly make this exam chaotic. The twilight can only wait until the time is over.

"Well anyway I've put a shield in the inner shell, so I guess it'll be fine." Inner Dusk while refocusing his vision on the cup.

When Dusk refocused, he could see if the crack in his shell grew bigger with time but Dusk was also happy because the second session would end in one minute.

"How's it?" ask Dusk to the staff who are still silent.

"Ah that.., you passed."

With a smile of victory Dusk took his egg. He then descended from the podium while showing his eggs to Prof Deru.

"Look at this, I won," the twilight great-grandson softly with her lips wide open.

Prof Deru who saw Dusk's behavior then gave a mocking smile. He glanced at Dusk with a mischievous look before pointing towards the value note he was holding.

"Damn, does he want to manipulate values?" grunts of Dusk were not happy.

Dusk then went towards the waiting chair with a red face. He was so upset that he did not hear the call of Amir greeting him.

On the other hand Prof Deru mischievously shook his head. He was a little happy and amazed by what Dusk did.

"I didn't expect him to put three shields on the egg. Although the first shield was damaged, but the second and third managed to hold it perfectly." said Prof Deru before telling the guard staff to draw the next number of participants.

****

It took two hours until the second session exam ended and now the remaining students were only five. Among the five students were Dusk and Ronald, and Amir who managed to pass to the next stage.

They were in the same waiting chair as the other two students. Although the state of the field was filled with other students watching but somehow Dusk felt a strange feeling on both sides.

Dusk felt if Ronald who was on his left side was staring intently at him. While on the right side of Dusk can feel the sad gaze of Amir who was looking at him.

"Damn, when does the third session test start?"

The frustrated twilight finally felt happy when Prof Deru announced the schedule of the third session. Where the session will be held at this time also remembers that the remaining students only have five.

"Hahaha, this time the third session exam will be conducted simultaneously," exclaimed the male student who was right next to Ronald.

"I'm so impatient, don't you Ronald."

"Ah yes, you're right." Ronald retorted softly.

Dusk who saw the scene could only sigh deeply before following the two towards the middle of the field. The same thing was done by Amir and the male students beside him.

Arriving in the middle of the field the guard staff immediately informed them of the applicable rules. Where Dusk and the other four students had to impart rune refinement magic to their eggs.

If the runes formed made the eggs break then they would fail. In addition, the runes that must be drawn must also not be the same. The point should be that there should be at least two different rune magic on the egg.

"I know rune magic can make an object stronger but why strengthen a previously defaced egg?" tanya Dusk was upset.

"There's no reason for sure." Prof Deru replied on the sidelines of their conversation.

"The rune magic is only a supporter, if you want to know more, then you can feel that in real combat." continued Prof Deru.

"Professor," cried his fifth in shock.

They don't know if Prof Deru will come to them in the middle of the field. Because since the first and second sessions Prof Deru always sat in a chair that has been special for professors.

"What are you waiting for, start immediately" exclaimed Prof Deru who ignored the questioning gazes of his five students.

"Good prof" cried the five students.

They then stand according to the position that has been set. The position of each student has a safe distance where they will not be disturbed by each other.

The twilight that was aware of Prof Deru's strange intentions immediately took a place away from him. Dusk was somehow aware that something bad would happen in this third exam session.

And it didn't take long before Dusk's bad premonition was finally proven as well. The twilight that had not had time to spit out all of his thoughts had been startled by the flight of one of the male students before a violent explosion exploded under the student's feet.

"Yeah....!!!"

Shouted the student in a panicked tone of voice, but fortunately the student's body was immediately caught by one of the guard staff who had been on standby at the crash site.

"What do you see, go on!" shouted Prof Deru who did not give them a chance to digest the situation.

"Yeah...."

Now it was the turn of the male student beside Ronald who was sent flying away from his position. And just like the previous student, the male student was immediately arrested and sent to the nearest UKS room.

"Damn, what's going on here. I'm bah...."

THE DUAR....!

DUARS...."

Not yet had Dusk finish his sentence, he was already shocked by the great explosion that occurred on his right side. There Dusk saw Amir being sent flying away from his position.

"Damn, what's next for me?" grunts Dusk panic.

He could not focus on what he was doing. That was because the whole incident in front of him happened so fast and Dusk did not even have time to digest it.

"I must focus," Inner Dusk after a single rune pattern was engraved on his egg.

When Dusk was in focus he heard the strange words of Prof Deru. Prof Deru said the three failed students had made a Fatal mistake.

They roughly made rune patterns haphazardly thus triggering direct contact with the magic within the shield. That was what caused the shield to become unbalanced and eventually explode with great force.

"Damn, so it seems. I don't know why I think this class is better suited to be a weapons raft class than a defense class." muttered Dusk who still held back his sense of regret.

Two minutes had passed and now Dusk had only made one abstract engraving to be able to complete his rune pattern.

"Done!" shouted Dusk pleased.

"I'm also done," replied another student who made Dusk surprised.

"Ronald, I didn't even realize he was still here."

His focus is twilight until he forgets if he is not alone. Finally the defense class exam was completed with only two students won.

****

Dusk who was relieved by the results of the exam immediately chose to return to his dorm room. He did not want to stay any longer and wasted all his energy on useless things.

Unfortunately hope Dusk lives memories when he saw Amir who was standing in front of the entrance of his dorm building.

"What is he doing here? It's not that Amir had an accident and he should still be in the UKS instead." murmured Dusk confused.

"Would he like to continue the discussion?" the Darkness is not pleased.

The reason is that Dusk still has not digested what Amir said at that time. The thing that Dusk can capture right now is just some important information.

Because somehow Dusk can always filter the information that enters it like a scanner device. It will only absorb important information and flower the rest that is useless.

"Uhm, Alisa likes Amir while Amir and Ronald are best friends. Besides Ronald and Alisa have a promised engagement."

"What a cliche love story," said the twilight slowly.

"I don't like to interfere but isn't there anything strange" murmured Dusk as he walked slowly towards the entrance.

If in thought Dusk had not seen Alisa since the first day of the exam. Alisa seemed to disappear after saying her warning about Amir.

"In addition, Amir who previously refused to tell a story but for some reason a few minutes later he immediately bombarded myself with various kinds of heavy information."

"I'm still confused..."

"Why?" cut out a voice that surprised Dusk.

With a twilight reflex staring towards the origin of the sound. There Dusk saw a handsome man with a sad face. The man was none other than Amir who had been waiting for the return of Dusk.

"Uhm..., are you okay?" tanya Dusk tried to shift the subject.

"I'm good, what have you been thinking since?"

Amir asked again as if he knew if Dusk deliberately diverted the topic of their conversation.

"Not a special thing." reply Dusk slowly.

"Senja, i..."

"Stop it," cut Dusk firmly.honestly, Dusk was still confused as to what to react but he also did not want to be involved any further.

"Amir, right now I just want to focus on the exam. Can we talk about it later?" continue after a few moments of silence.

"At the same time I need time to process it all. Give me some time before I can digest what's going on between you" explained Dusk once more.

"In addition, the information you provide is not necessarily true. I must be on my guard because you were a little strange before." Inner Twilight then.

Dusk then tried to explain the situation to Amir and somehow Amir accepted it well. Honestly, Dusk had never expected such a result before.

"Alright, I'm leaving first." exclaimed Dusk before leaving Amir alone at the entrance.

Amir who was left alone decided to immediately go to his dorm building. He looked so upset by the bright red light in both irises.

"Huh, did I misstep this time?" gerutu Amir was not happy.

On the other hand, Ronald, who was back in his dormitory building, accidentally saw Dusk and Amir. Immediately Ronald's eyes sharpened and anger rose in the depths of his heart.

"I have to tell Alisa about this." Ronald murmured softly before going to his dorm room.