[CH399+ Continued] Dungeon Diver: Stealing A Monster's Power

Chapter 535

"Well, if it was solely up to me, I wouldn't be at these exams at all. I'm doing it for the safety and well-being of my home region."

I raise an eyebrow at her words, and she continues.

"Every region has to enroll at least one applicant per year to stay in the good faith of the Association and continue receiving its aid and protection."

It begins to make sense why none of the other strong hunters from that region are here. I recall seeing dozens of worthy applicants strong enough to enter these exams in the Talton jungle.

She leans in closer to me.

"If by chance I do manage to pass the exams this year, I'm not accepting a license. I'm just here to show up and do my part."

"Makes sense. I guess we're all here at the B-class exams for our own reasons."

I scan her status again to double-check my findings as I remember them from when I did a brief scan of her in the Talton region and find interesting results.

The armor with mythic-grade body hardening and spear with a +300% strength buff plus all of the other boosts appear to be used and even have grown slightly.

Even in the past few days since I left, it seems she's trained and tested out this gear against some high-level adversaries.

She has advanced grade mana manipulation and a legendary grade body hardening skill. Despite being in the mid-level 600s, her skill upgrades aren't optimized. It seems like she either used an upgrade crystal before level 600 and wasn't able to increase her mana manipulation to extreme grade, or it automatically prioritized her body hardening skill.

I think about ways this could be optimized in the future, and wonder how her mana manipulation skill works without access to any other elements. I want to see it in action.

While pondering this thought, the line of group A applicants moves on and I introduce her to Ember under his false identity of Emrie and we both explain our fake backstory.

For the most part, I think Marcie believes us, but there is a fire burning beneath her eyes that sees this whole exam a lot differently than everyone else here.

I can't quite tell what's on her mind, but decide not to pry and keep the conversation very surface level.

The line doesn't move too slowly, but it doesn't move fast either.

It takes over a full 2 hours for everyone to make it through before the wind magic proctor with the golden collar comes out of the door and floats above us to speak again.

"Group B, please line up in single file according to your corresponding numbers. Stage 2, the physical exam will now begin."

We do as he says and line up, Ember and I agree that we will both go a bit above and beyond during these tests to make up for the lack of information we had in the previous stage. The goal is still to pass these exams and get as close to the upper management of the Association as possible.

I watch applicant 31 enter the door in the wall first, and the line slowly begins to move.

Ember is about a dozen people ahead of me in line. It takes another hour and a half before it's his turn to enter.

Once he leaves behind those closed doors, it takes almost another 2 hours for my turn to finally come.

As the doors automatically open, I'm greeted by the same collared proctor on the other side.

Once the door closes, he speaks up with a confident smile.

"I remember you."

His eyes lower down to a silver tablet in his hand, then down to my wristband.