The Strongest Ice God of Black Clover

"Ah, what a pity—I managed to perfectly avoid all three," sighed a man from the crowd.

The "three" he referred to were, of course, being royal, noble, or an elite.

"My expectations aren't that high. I'll be satisfied as long as I get into a Magic Knights squad."

"Same here!"

Indeed, for most of them, simply getting into a squad was already a significant accomplishment. There was no room to be choosy.

After everyone had received their magic broom, the captain of the Golden Dawn closed his grimoire and smiled gently.

"Then, the Magic Knights Entrance Examination officially begins!"

"From now on, you will undergo several tests, with the nine Magic Knights captains overseeing the evaluation. Afterward, we will each select the candidates we deem suitable."

"If you are selected by multiple squads, you will have the privilege to choose which squad you wish to join."

"Conversely, if no squad selects you, you lose your chance to join the Magic Knights altogether."

"The first test is flying with a magic broom. A mage who can control their mana should be able to do this instinctively. It's the most basic method of movement for mages."

"If you can't manage this, you're not even worth mentioning. Let's begin the test!"

As the Golden Dawn captain finished speaking, most candidates began trying out their brooms.

Some struggled to infuse their magic into the broom, barely managing to hover. Others, with better talent, rose into the air as soon as they mounted the broom.

More and more people lifted off the ground, filling the air with novice flyers.

Yuno examined his broom for a moment before it floated into the air under his control.

He stepped onto it effortlessly, instantly outshining the crowd and becoming the first person to fly steadily on his broom.

With perfect balance, Yuno floated gracefully, drawing envious glances from everyone around.

"No wonder he's chosen by a four-leaf clover grimoire—he's amazing!"

"Yeah, with talent like his, he's sure to join the Golden Dawn!"

"Hahaha!"

At that moment, a mocking laugh came from behind two envious men.

They instinctively turned to find its source.

"Joining Golden Dawn? Sure, this commoner might have the skill, but don't forget—Golden Dawn only accepts nobles and royals," the voice sneered.

The two men nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Lin Hao calmly picked up his broom. As he walked a few steps, he noticed Nozel Silva, the captain of the Silver Eagles, approaching Noelle Silva.

Curious, Lin Hao stopped and observed.

"What are you doing here?"

Noelle froze at the sound of his voice, turning stiffly to face him.

"I... I was just..." she stammered, unable to complete her sentence.

(Author's note: Their names are long and tiring for both you and me, so I'll stick to shorter versions.)

"I told you before—royals don't need to take exams alongside commoners. Your path is already set, so stop wasting your time!"

"Yes, Brother Nozel," Noelle replied softly.

Nozel smirked coldly and added, "Then again, your very existence is a waste."

Noelle clenched the broom in her hands tightly, her brow furrowing.

"A royal, huh?" Lin Hao muttered before returning to his broom. He mounted it and, using his mana, effortlessly lifted into the air.

As time passed, the first test concluded, followed by the second: a mana capacity test.

The third test involved mana control.

The fourth was creating magic.

"Now we come to the final test: combat. It will be a one-on-one battle, and you may use your grimoire for attacks," the Golden Dawn captain announced.

"If one side surrenders or becomes unable to fight, the match ends. Fight freely, but rest assured that recovery mages are standing by."

"Does losing affect the evaluation results significantly?" a candidate asked.

Another nodded. "Most likely. Choosing the right opponent seems crucial here."

"Opponent? I think there's someone here who's been terrible from the start!"

"You mean him?"

Their gazes shifted to Asta, and they smirked maliciously.

To them, Asta was an easy target, practically offering them a free win.

On the other side, Lin Hao also glanced at Asta.

"Damn it, if I'd known I'd end up in this world, I'd have finished watching this series!" Lin Hao sighed, feeling regretful.

Although it was true that Asta had no mana, Lin Hao knew from the original story that he would pass the exam somehow.

How exactly he did it, though, Lin Hao couldn't remember. Now, he was eager to see for himself how Asta managed to get selected into a squad.