Florida Man in Magus World: Unleashing Liberty and Freedom

Days later, the 200 elite paladins and 200 top-tier warriors from the Lamia Tribe completed their intensive training. Yet, the journey wasn't over. One final hurdle awaited: the graduation exam—a simulation trial set to take place at the Fate Plaza.

Diana, Clover, Jiji, Zen, the graduates, and other allies gathered at the location, all awaiting Felix's signal to begin.

Unlike the confident air of the warriors, Felix was as much in the dark as the rest of them. Despite his commanding presence, even he didn't fully understand how the system-designed trial would unfold. He had merely told the group and hoped for the best.

"We'll hold your final exam here,"

As the participants assembled in rank and file, Felix revealed 400 enchanted pistols, each uniquely enhanced for accuracy, durability, and mana compatibility. Alongside them, he distributed mana-piercing ammunition.

The girls accepted the weapons with a quiet sense of confidence. They had already trained extensively with their upgraded rifles, fully capable of using the same ammunition. Each was also equipped with Felix's spirit stones, which they could use as grenades, and a single-use philosopher's stone, prepared as an emergency healing or resurrection tool.

When all preparations were complete, Felix stepped toward the Fate Plaza. Placing his hand on the shimmering crystal, he gave the command.

"Initiate the battle simulation for the main quest."

The massive crystal in the plaza began to rotate. A large portal materialized, glowing with ethereal energy. At the same time, Felix's system chimed, displaying a new message:

<Only 400 chosen individuals can enter the Battle Simulation. You can only observe the battle from the external screens.>

High above the plaza, 100 floating monitors materialized in the air. These screens displayed a vivid map of the simulation world—a vast, barren wasteland. The simulated battlefield stretched endlessly, painted in shades of brown and ochre. Windstorms of dust swirled across the horizon, reducing visibility. The air seemed dry, the sunlight merciless under a cloudless sky.

The oppressive environment caused some of the girls to fidget nervously, but Zen stepped forward, her voice calm yet commanding.

"You've fought in worse conditions before! Remember the desert campaign?!"

Her words sparked memories in the group. They had endured far harsher environments, including scorching sandstorms and relentless heat. The paladins straightened their postures, steeling their resolve. The Lamias, too, had no reason to fear. Their evolution had enhanced their natural resilience—scales that now reflected sunlight and inner constitutions strengthened by consuming Jiji's and Diana's "seeds."

With morale restored, the unit leaders rallied their comrades. As one, the 400 warriors turned to Felix and saluted.

"Sir, yes, sir!"

Felix returned the salute, his voice steady. "Come back safely."

Without hesitation, the warriors marched through the shimmering portal. The energy rippled as the last of them stepped through, and then, with a resonant hum, the gateway closed. The largest monitor shifted its display, now showing a real-time feed of the simulated realm.

Zen strolled up to Felix, crossing her arms as she smirked. "Doesn't this feel familiar? We did something similar at the Royal Magi Academy, didn't we?"

Felix chuckled, folding his arms. "Yeah. Back then, I was the one taking the test. Now, I'm the examiner. Funny how life works, huh?"

Zen snorted, her amusement matching Felix's. "How ironic, indeed."

As the two shared a knowing glance, the simulation world on the monitors came to life. Dust storms swirled menacingly as the 400 warriors fanned out into formation, ready for the challenges that lay ahead.

Felix leaned back, watching intently, knowing this trial was not just a test of skill but a measure of their growth, teamwork, and courage.

*DING*

The resounding chime of the bell marked the official start of the trial. A clear, robotic voice reverberated across the battlefield and among the spectators, outlining the mission objectives.

[Simulation Scenario Initiated]

[You are stranded from your main forces and surrounded by hostile troops on all sides. Complete one of the following objectives to pass the examination:

1. Break through the encirclement and rendezvous with the main forces, located 100 kilometers west of your current position.

2. Rout the enemy forces surrounding you.

3. Break through the encirclement and destroy the enemy's main camp, located 20 kilometers north of your position.]

RUMBLE

Before the announcement concluded, blue beacons of light began descending from the sky, illuminating the ground. As the beams faded, countless monstrous figures emerged, forming rank upon rank of enemies. Goblins, hobgoblins, orcs, gnolls, and lizardmen materialized, wielding crude yet dangerous weapons. Their organized formations suggested they were a disciplined army.

The number of enemies appeared on the monitors for the spectators to see.

One million.

The overwhelming force stretched across the horizon, darkening the simulated wasteland with their presence. Unified in purpose, the enemy army roared, their collective war cry reverberating like a thunderstorm.

The sheer sound of it caused some of the paladins and lamias to tense, but they quickly recovered. Their expressions turned confident, almost amused.

"A bunch of ragtag," a dragonewt scoffed, flexing her claws.

"Not one of them looks like a challenge," added her paladin partner with a smirk.

Among the ranks, a paladin with glowing eyes focused her aura, scanning the distant northern lines. "I sense one or two six-star auras at the back," she reported. "Can anyone confirm?"

The company leader, calm and composed, nodded. "Scout teams 1 through 15! Scan for hidden high-tier mages among their ranks."

Fifteen dragonewts immediately spread their wings, taking to the skies. Their sharp eyes darted across the sprawling enemy forces, each delivering concise reports.

"West: five 6th-circle mages, frontline!"

"Straight north: two 6th-circle mages at the center!"

"South: twenty-five 6th-circle mages scattered throughout!"

"East: No threats detected!"

As the information flooded in, the platoon leader processed it swiftly. Meanwhile, additional paladins used aura-imbued vision to locate knights and warriors of similar strength within the enemy ranks.

Within 30 seconds, the leader issued her orders. "Leapfrog formation! Face east! Prepare to move on my mark. Get ready to jump at ZERO!"

The troops responded with precision. Paladins moved into loose, staggered arrays to minimize the impact of enemy spells and arrows. Lamias, unable to leap, ascended into the sky as their flight capabilities granted them an advantage. Dragonewts flapped their powerful wings, heading to the skies as well.

The leader began her countdown.

"Ten… nine… eight…"

The enemy, sensing the shift in their prey's formation, let out another deafening roar. Like a tidal wave, the one million-strong army surged forward, closing the encirclement with terrifying speed.

"FIVE… FOUR—"

The platoon leader abruptly shouted, "ZERO!"

Caught off guard, the paladins surged eastward with explosive force, propelling themselves high into the air using aura-charged leaps. Below, the massive enemy horde scrambled to adjust, but the knights were already 200 meters over their heads.

While airborne, the paladins activated Felix's spirit stones, converting them into makeshift bombs, and hurled them into the seething mass below.

Meanwhile, the lamias ascended higher, gaining altitude for their next maneuver. Like bombers from a bygone war, they locked onto dense clusters of enemies. The dragonewts followed their lead, swooping low with precision.

BOOM

The first wave of spirit stone bombs detonated. The concussive blasts tore through the densely packed ranks, sending bodies and debris flying in all directions.

As the explosions erupted, the lamias and dragonewts unleashed their payloads—bombs coated with ice magic.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A second series of blasts rippled across the battlefield. This time, shards of razor-sharp ice scattered with deadly efficiency, embedding themselves in flesh and freezing entire sections of the horde. Pockets of frost-covered ground and frozen bodies disrupted the enemy's cohesion.

The effect was devastating. Those not killed outright found themselves struggling to move, their limbs stiffened by frost. The once-organized formations of goblins and orcs devolved into chaos.

Above, the paladins landed on the eastern flank, forming defensive lines. The lamias and dragonewts regrouped in the air, ready to strike again. The platoon leader surveyed the battlefield and adjusted her tactics.

"We're still too close. Leap east again!" the platoon leader commanded, her voice sharp and decisive.

Without hesitation, the group pivoted and took flight once more, leaping through the air with aura-empowered precision. They aimed to put more distance between themselves and the relentless horde.

Despite the earlier devastation, the one million-strong army was undeterred. Though their once-organized ranks had devolved into chaos, their sheer numbers made them terrifying. The horde surged forward like a ravenous, unrelenting tide, more akin to a swarm of zombies than a disciplined force.

The paladin and lamia teams landed roughly a kilometer away, quickly regrouping. Dust swirled around them as boots, tails, and claws struck the dry earth. The platoon leader locked eyes with the dragonewt captain, who met her gaze with a predatory grin.

"Tanks?" the dragonewt captain asked, her tone laced with anticipation.

The platoon leader smirked. "Tanks."

Without another word, the dragonewt captain activated her subspace storage spell. A shimmering ripple distorted the air as three Sherman tanks emerged from her magic pouch. Their metallic frames gleamed under the simulated sun. The rumbling of their engines roared to life.

Three slender paladins, trained specifically for mechanized combat, stepped forward and climbed into the vehicles. Meanwhile, the rest of the troops moved into defensive positions.

Ten paladins stomped the ground in unison, channeling their aura into the earth. The soil responded, rising to form a one-meter-thick, 100-meter-wide wall that provided cover for the tanks. Behind this makeshift barricade, the Shermans adjusted their positions, and their barrels swiveled toward the advancing enemy.

The remaining paladins formed a tight line, rifles and enchanted weapons were lined on the approaching horde. The dragonewts divided their forces: half remained airborne, maintaining air superiority and scanning for threats, while the others took up ground positions alongside the paladins.

Above the tanks, three lamias slithered into place, their defensive magic already weaving protective barriers over the barricades. They manned the machine guns mounted atop the Shermans, preparing for the enemy's advance.

The dragonewt captain reached into her storage pouch once more. This time, she pulled out a small metallic sphere, roughly the size of a softball. The sphere emitted a faint hum. Along with it, she retrieved a sleek tablet-like device and began pressing a sequence of buttons.

UP, RIGHT, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.

BEEP.

The sphere pulsed with a soft, ominous light. It was armed.

The captain hovered in mid-air, winding up her arm like a seasoned pitcher. She took aim, and her sharp eyes locked on the densest part of the enemy horde. With a fierce motion, she hurled the sphere with all her might.

The ball cut through the air like a missile. It arced toward the heart of the horde, where thousands of goblins and orcs surged forward in a chaotic mass.

"Impact in five!" the dragonewt captain called out.

The troops braced themselves. Behind the wall, the Shermans' barrels glowed faintly as their enchantments activated, preparing for synchronized fire.

The countdown began, and the metallic sphere landed and released a red beacon into the sky. The enemy forces, oblivious to the impending destruction, pressed forward, their roars echoing across the wasteland.

A mysterious object appeared out of nowhere, dropping to the center of the crowd at the speed of sound. For a brief moment, the crowd of monsters could see a metallic spear in the shape of a needlefish. A second later, it unleashed its power.

*BOOM*

As soon as the massive explosion erupted, the platoon leader shouted.

"FIRE AT WILL!"

.

.

.

*DING*

<You have completed Main Quest #14 - Army of the Future!>

<Your Super Democracy Pass has been upgraded to Class A!>

<Your Alchemy Menu can now craft philosopher stones!>

<Your level cap has increased!>

<New Construction Options!>

<Please note. You have 30 days remaining until the scenario quest starts. Please complete the remaining main quests as soon as possible.>