In this round, Arina had to choose between swordsmanship and magic. However, before making her choice, she first needed to check if she passed the preliminary round. The first round was a basic test, but anyone who didn’t make the cut would be eliminated immediately. Arina walked up to the results board and quickly scanned for her name among the competitors. A slight worry crept in, but when she found her name in 10th place, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, I guess this is good enough," she thought. A brief sense of reassurance washed over her, but the worry wasn't completely gone. She knew this next round would be much more difficult.

She entered the exam room where an examiner was waiting. The examiner looked at her and asked, "What would you like to test in? Magic or swordsmanship?" Arina hesitated for a moment but had already made up her mind. "I'll choose magic," she replied confidently.

"Then please follow me," the examiner said. Arina followed him into another room, where another instructor was standing and waiting. He looked at her and asked, "What’s your name?"

"My name is Arina Aeria," she answered.

"Good. Now, please channel your magic into the crystal ball over there to test your power. If you don’t have enough strength, you’ll be eliminated. But if you pass, you’ll proceed to the next round," the instructor said, his tone firm and serious.

Arina nodded, not showing much concern. She stepped up to the large, glowing crystal ball, placed her hand on it, and began to channel her magic. Her eyes closed as a powerful surge of energy rose from deep within her. The incantations flowed through her mind like a gentle stream, each one infused with great power.

After a moment, the crystal ball began to glow brightly, gradually shifting to a vibrant emerald green. The door behind the instructor opened automatically. The instructor smiled and said, "You've passed this round. Please step through the door and wait for the others."

Arina walked through the door, feeling a bit anxious but also proud. Ahead of her was a long hallway surrounded by magical walls that separated this area from the outside. She walked through, taking in her surroundings. The atmosphere was peculiar—cold and quiet, as if a different world was awaiting her.

After a while, the other competitors began entering. No one spoke; they all stood silently, sizing each other up, sensing the growing tension and competition. A man, dressed in traditional wizard robes, stepped forward and began speaking.

"Congratulations on passing the previous rounds. But this round will be much more difficult. This is also the final round." His voice echoed through the vast space.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "In this round, you will have to face monsters. But the catch is, you must choose either swordsmanship or magic to defeat them. This is no simple test; it's a real challenge. Each of you must form a pair. We will select the 5 pairs with the highest scores to move on to the next round. You have 5 minutes to find a partner."

Arina looked around. She saw people beginning to pair up, but there was one girl standing quietly in a corner, her eyes filled with anxiety. She seemed rather isolated, different from the others. Arina walked over, sensing the girl’s unease. Deciding to approach her, she activated her special skill to view the girl's information. She realized that the girl was Yui Weslen, the daughter of the renowned Weslen family, known for producing skilled warriors. However, Yui didn’t seem as powerful as the rumors suggested. Perhaps she was worried about her own abilities.

Arina walked over and gently asked, "Would you like to pair up with me?"

Yui looked up in surprise, then replied, "You really want to pair up with me? I’m not as strong as the others, I might end up being a burden."

Arina smiled and said, "If you’re weak, how could you have made it to this round? Besides, everyone else has already found a partner." Without letting Yui think any further, she extended her hand toward her. "Together, we can make it through."

Yui hesitated for a moment but then looked at Arina with determination. "Okay," she said softly.

As soon as they paired up, the magical wall began to fade away, revealing a dark and eerie forest. The twisted trees grew thick and tangled, blocking out most of the sunlight. It was a place of mystery and danger, where anything could happen. Other competitors had already started entering the forest, ready to face the challenge.

Arina and Yui stepped forward together, both determined. The air in the forest seemed thick, as if every step could lead to danger. But Arina wasn’t afraid. She was ready. Together, the two girls ventured into the darkness, where monsters lurked, and the final round truly began.